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it for themselves。 I think they are absorbing the power into themselves。’
His voice trembled。 ‘On top of what they already are？ They now have the power of a wizard’s gift？’
She nodded。 ‘Yes。 That makes them more dangerous than we could even believe； more powerful than we can imagine。 That’s what scares me the most； not being put to death for making the accusation； but being found out by these Sisters。 If they really are taking the power into themselves； I don’t know how we can stop them。 None of us can match them。
‘I need proof； so the Prelate will believe me。 Maybe she will know what to do。 I certainly don’t。
‘What I can’t understand is how the Sisters are absorbing the gift from the quillion。 The gift of a wizard； his Han； is male。 The sisters are female。 A female can’t just absorb the male Han。 It’s not that simple； otherwise they would simply have bled the Han into themselves when they killed him。 If they are really taking the Han from the males into themselves； I don’t know how they’re doing it。’
‘So what are you doing out here？’
She folded her arms against an inner chill； even though the air was warm。 ‘Do you remember the other day； when Sam Weber and Neville Ranson had pleted all the tests and were to have their collars off and leave the palace？’
He nodded in the dark。 ‘Yes。 I was really disappointed because Sam had promised to e say good…bye； and show me he had his Rada’Han off。 I wanted to wish him well after he was a true wizard。 He never came。 They told me he left in the night； because he didn’t want any tearful good…byes； but Sam was my friend； he was a gentle person； a healer； and it just wasn’t like him to leave in that fashion； without telling me good…bye。 It just wasn’t。 I was hurt he didn’t e by。 I really wanted to wish him well。’
‘They killed him。’
‘What？’ He sagged down a little。 ‘Oh； dear Creator； no。’ His voice broke with tears。 ‘Are you sure？ How do you know？’
She put a forting hand on his shoulder。 The day after he supposedly left in such a strange manner； I suspected something terrible had happened。 I went to see if the quillion was glowing again； but the door was shielded。’
‘That doesn’t prove anything。 Sisters shield their rooms or offices sometimes。 You do it yourself when you don’t want to be disturbed； like when we are together。’
‘I know。 But I wanted to see the quillion； so I waited around a corner； until the Sister came to her office。 I came out from where I waited； timing it so that as I walked past； she would be entering。 As I went by； and just before she closed the door behind herself； I saw into her dark office。 I saw the statue on the shelf behind the book。 It was glowing orange。 I’m sorry； Jedidiah。’
His voice lowered with anger。 ‘Who was it？ Which Sister？’
‘I’m not going to tell you； Jedidiah。 Not until I can take proof to the Prelate。 It’s too dangerous。’
He thought a moment。 ‘If this crystal really is quillion； and it would prove what she is； why wouldn’t she hide it better？’
‘Maybe because she didn’t think there was a chance of anyone knowing what it was。 Maybe because she isn’t afraid and doesn’t take the time to be any more careful than she thinks necessary。’
‘Then let’s go back； break the shield； get the cursed thing and take it to the Prelate。 I can break the shield； I know I can。’
‘I was going to do that myself。 I went back to do it tonight； but the room wasn’t shielded anymore。 I snuck in to take the statue； but it was gone。 That was when I saw her leaving the palace； and I saw others leaving too。 I followed them out here。
‘If I can steal the quillion while it’s glowing； I can prove they are Sisters of the Dark。 I have to stop them before they can suck the life out of anyone else。 Jedidiah； they’re murdering people； but worse； I fear the reason they are doing it。’
He let out a soft sigh。 ‘All right。 But I’m going with you。’
She gritted her teeth。 ‘No； you are going back。’
‘Margaret； I love you； and if you send me back to worry all alone； I will never forgive you。 I’ll go to the Prelate myself and make the accusation； to bring you help。 Though I may be put to death for making the accusation； I know it would raise suspicions； and maybe an alarm。 That’s the only other way I’ll be able to protect you。 Either I go with you； or I go to the Prelate； I promise you I will。’
She knew he was telling the truth。 Jedidiah always kept his promises。 Powerful wizards always did。 Rising to her knees； she leaned over and put her arms around his neck。 ‘I love you too； Jedidiah。’
She kissed him deeply as he rose up on his knees to meet her。 His hands went under the back of her dress and he gripped her bottom； pulling her against him。 The feeling of his hands on her flesh made her moan softly。 His hot lips kissed her neck and then her ear； sending shimmers of magic tingling through her。 His knee forced her legs apart； giving his hands access to her。 She gasped at the contact。
‘e away with me now；’ he whispered in her ear。 ‘Let’s go back； and you can shield your room and I’ll give you more until you scream。 You can scream all you want and no one will hear you。’
She pushed away from him and pulled his hands out from under her dress。 He was breaking down her resistance。 She found she had to force herself to stop him。 He was using his magic to seduce her away from the danger； trying to save her by drawing her away。 She knew that if she let it go on for another second； it would work。
‘Jedidiah；’ she panted in a hoarse whisper； ‘please don’t make me have to use the collar to stop you。 This is too important。 Lives are at stake。’ He tried to reach out to her once more； but she sent a cord of power through her hands on his wrists to stop him。 She firmly held his hands away。
‘I know； Margaret。 Your life is one of them。 I don’t want anything to harm you。 I love you more than anything in the world。’
‘Jedidiah； this is more important than my life。 This is about the lives of everyone。 I think this is about the Nameless One。’
He froze stiff。 ‘You can’t be serious。’
‘Why do you think these Sisters want this power？ What do they need with it？ Why would they be willing to kill for it？ To what end？ Who do you think Sisters of the Dark serve？’
‘Dear Creator；’ he whispered slowly； ‘don’t let her be right。’ His hands came up and held her by her shoulders。 ‘Margaret； who else knows these things？ Who have you told？’
‘Only you； Jedidiah。 I know who four； maybe five； of the Sisters of the Dark are。 But there are others； and I don’t know who they are。 I don’t know who I can trust。 There were eleven I followed out here tonight； but there could easily be more。’
‘What about the Prelate？ Maybe you shouldn’t go to her； she could be with them。’
She shook her head with a sigh。 ‘You may be right； but it’s the only chance we have。 There is no one else I can think of who can help me。 I have to go to her。’ She touched her fingertips to his face。 ‘Jedidiah； please go back。 If anything were