Page 168 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

Jean-Paul wasn't so sure. He was beginning to feel somewhat as though she was conquering him. He took a deep breath, turning her again, and caught her scent. She wore a perfume that was unlike the heavy florals currently in fashion at court. Hers was greener, with a hint of spice and sweetness and a tang that reminded him of lemons. Had she bought it somewhere far away on her travels? Not that it mattered. He was near certain that she could wear no perfume at all and he’d still be fighting his every instinct that told him to pull her closer. To claim her.

He would take her to bed tonight. And tomorrow, well, as skittish as she seemed, he was hoping there might be something more to explore between them.

Her gaze had strayed again to the emperor.

"If it would ease your mind, I could mention to Aristides that the Andalyssians are whispering in corners."

Her eyes narrowed. "Are you making fun of me?"

"No, Lieutenant. You're the diplomat. I trust your instincts."

"Perhaps you should tell Major Perrine. He could set a watch."

"You mean set a sanctii?" he said. Sanctii could move invisible through a room. Part of what made them so valuable to the mages who had them. "You know that's not allowed when it comes to diplomats." Aristides had signed an agreement with the Andalyssians that set the terms of their visit. That included the provision of bags of salt to guard their rooms. He didn't know a lot about sanctii-he'd never shown any talent for water magic, so he had only received the basic knowledge of it that most Anglions did during his schooling, supplemented by somewhat more on the tactical use of the creatures during his service in the army—but he knew salt was their weakness. Too much of it hurt them and, more importantly, could snap the bond of magic between a sanctii and the mage controlling him. At best that meant the loss of a sanctii. At worst, it meant a dead mage if the sanctii had been displeased with his treatment while bonded. "But I can tell both the emperor and the major if that would set your mind at rest."

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