---
Dickon flinched.
Then Sekhmet looked back to Reyan.
"And you believed them," Sekhmet said quietly. "That is the funniest part."
Reyan shook violently.
"I can fix it! I can… I can help you! I can give you names! I can…!"
Sekhmet crouched beside him. His shadow covered Reyan's face. Reyan went still, trembling.
Sekhmet's voice was soft.
"You wanted to sell my house," he said. "So I will show you what it feels like to be owned."
Reyan's eyes widened.
"No… no…!"
Auri tightened her foot slightly.
Reyan screamed. Sekhmet's fangs slid out. Dickon's breath hitched. His mouth opened. No sound came.
Sekhmet bit Reyan's neck. Reyan convulsed. His scream broke into a wet choking sound.
Sekhmet drank. Just enough to take control of the moment. Warm blood rushed into Sekhmet's mouth. He stopped before killing. He pulled away.
Reyan collapsed, shaking, eyes rolling back.
Sekhmet's voice stayed calm as if he had simply signed a contract.
"Now," Sekhmet said.
