" I can see why she's your ex," Sara teased coldly and wiggled her finger for me to come out onto the shop floor. I hesitated and looked across the sh...p, as the door to the boutique slowly opened. "Sorry!" My friend called as my heart leapt in my chest. My knees bent instantly as a regular customer entered the small boutique. "We're closed." I've just come to collect my special candles," the bustling woman called. "I've been waiting for two weeks and I got a call that they had come in." She. .. the condition of peace, to punish our nation for attempting to invade the Ephaemeryl in our arrogance for-" "No." Persephone leaned forward, the strange, soft lobes swelling from her pectoral muscles swaying beneath her shoulders as she stared into Hades. "The Myieaoul have been our allies for generations. The Ephaemeryl are deeply indebted to your nation for their service, and vice versa. Tribute is one reason why our alliance has been so mutually beneficial; leaders of one nation groomed. She looked around the roomwith all the pretty mirrors. "Mommy? Where are you, Mommy?" sheasked, tears welling in her eyes.As Mary exited the tent, she saw the Barker talking with a woman and apoliceman. The policeman was showing them a picture. Mary hoped shecould grow up and be just like the Barker someday - she wasn't muchtaller than her and she was pretty, but not like her mommy.Mary looked at the policeman and wondered if she was in trouble forsneaking into the tent. Would they understand. .. I won't be a moment," she responded.She was still a bit shaken by the incident, but impressed with Tom's quick action and natural instinct to calm Nikki and take away the fear. He kept showing her what a remarkable man he was. She walked into the second bedroom and retrieved her bikini top from the bag and quickly removed her tank top and put the swim top on. She pulled her towel and her wrap out of the bag and walked back out to the deck.Tom had slipped off his shorts, having worn his swim.