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."Davan and I are making arrangements with help from our brother, my Queen.We are working with my associates to ensure a smooth transition." He sat down again."My Queen," another vampire stood, near the middle of the room."You will never be a figurehead to me.When two others and I came to you three months ago, we were not turned away at the door as we expected to be.We were ushered directly into your study and we discussed vacation time for the workers.You told me then that you had already considered it and showed us several plans.You also informed us that the Reth Alliance planets might be possible destinations if we desired to travel off world.Then you took my two colleagues and me to visit the space station, which was being built.I was shocked that the Queen would take time to do this for us.""Don't you think you deserve it?" I asked."Perhaps.But deserving and receiving are generally two different things," he bowed."The four weeks of vacation that you insisted on went over very well with the workers at the blood substitute manufacturing plant.""Well, since we don't have to pay for Social Security or health insurance," I said.He laughed and sat down."Lissa, we've had offers to buy either the formula for the blood substitute or to buy the bottled product itself," Merrill said, attempting to calm me down by changing the subject.He was probably wise to do so, my fangs were pricking my lower lip and my eyes were probably a shade away from red."Well, you guys came up with that, you can do whatever you want with it.""Lissa, you're not being selfish enough over this," he informed me."The plant is sitting on property owned by the crown.You own a piece of this.What do you want to do?""How big is the market?" I asked."Do we have the facilities to manufacture enough to meet the demand? If so, then let's do it from here.If not, then sell the formula.That's simple enough.""I think we can manufacture here," Adam said."If we triple the size of the plant, which can be done soon.I'll have a feasibility study on your desk by next week.""Sounds good," I nodded."Will you consider leaving the palace where it is if we build you a home on the ocean for your one day retreat per week?" Wlodek had been sitting in the back all along."I'll consider it, but the first time somebody drags tourists into this palace without my permission is the day I move it."We got down to business after that.I was tired and yawning when it was all over."Lissa, you have to appear at dinner, the others are about to become more upset than they already are," Gabron informed me as we walked out of the Council Chamber.That was just what I needed.I figured Gavin was going to give me an earful, whether it was over dinner or later.Gabron wasn't high on my list at the moment either."Lissa, I never said I wasn't going to have sex with other women," Gabron said, as we walked down the lengthy hall toward my suite.I almost stopped in my tracks but forced myself to keep going.I wasn't about to be a hypocrite."I know that," I sighed."But I was hoping it would be somebody you actually cared for, if you did.Just do me a favor and don't come home smelling like one of them." I misted away.* * *"I am in the dog house, I think the phrase is," Gabron sighed as he sat down to dinner.They were waiting on Lissa again.He knew that she might not come and he knew he'd be the reason."In your case, I think the phrase might be cathouse," Drake snickered."What did you do?" Garde had come for dinner, hoping he could speak to Lissa afterward."She knows I trained most of my employees," Gabron replied."I told her I never said I would not have sex with other women.She told me she was aware of that, but hoped it would be someone I cared for if I did.Then she told me not to come home smelling like one of them.""I think that is a reasonable request; Lissa's nose is the most sensitive I have ever encountered," Wlodek observed.He, Adam and Merrill had stayed for dinner."She may not come to dinner, I have upset her," Gabron sighed."I will go get her," Garde offered."Karzac told me about last night.She may not be happy to see you, either," Drew said."I have to apologize to her and I wish to see my claiming marks," Garde sighed.He rose from his seat."I will return." He walked out of the dining hall.* * *I sat on the vanity bench in my dressing room, staring at my image in the mirror.I'd lost my appetite after the tiff with Gabron."Lissa?" That was Garde's voice [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]