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lusting laugh； but his brother's soul was silent。 For once Mark Sabat was in plete control。 Quentin would not interfere against the Oke Priests。 Also； had not Sabat challenged the might of the Hirschlanden Warrior of L'lmpernal； an evil arch…druid from ancient Rome who had once ruled by terror with his Cult of the Severed Head？ And Sabat had survived。 His stars； his guardians； were on his side。 Tonight he was very powerful。 And they knew it！
Lola did as she had been manded； taking her visitor on a tour of every room。 The bathroom and shower…room； spare bedrooms； finally the nuptial chamber itself； Lola's new domain now that Marion was no more。
'Excellent；' Sabat fixed her with his gaze again。 'Now I think that you and I might indulge in some pleasure。'
Eagerly her trembling fingers were beginning to unbutton her clothing； a sudden haste as she bared her body for him； a stripper determined to show herself off to her best advantage； turning one way； then the other； lifting her breasts； balancing them in cupped hands。 One leg raised； then the other。 Smiling at his nod of approval； throwing herself back on the bed； splaying her legs then drawing them up； almost feeling the burning heat of his dark eyes sizzling on the soft moistness between her thighs。
Sabat undressed slowly； never for one moment taking his eyes off her； then advanced towards her like a hunting beast that has finally cornered its prey； one hundred and eighty pounds of sheer muscle； quivering at the prospect of the pleasures that awaited him。
For Lola it was an experience akin to drowning； albeit a pleasant feeling； swamped by this dark…haired man who fell on her ravenously yet was so sensuous in everything he did。 His kisses； wherever they were planted； seemed to burn her； his caressing fingertips icy to her hot； fevered flesh。 Mute mands； she knew what was expected of her； that she was subservient to him even when she was astride him； her eyes constantly going back to his； afraid that she might not be pleasing him。
Sabat was powerful and never relented his efforts； one orgasm being the springboard for the next。 Now she was kneeling； head bowed so that her long hair fell over the side of the bed almost brushing the carpet； his thrusts from behind so powerful that once she almost fell forward and would have sprawled on the floor had his arms not encircled her waist and held her。
Still eager to please even when she could climax no more； her spirit willing； her flesh spent。 Even so it was a disappointment when finally Sabat came off her and lay back with a loud sigh of satisfaction。 Exhausted as she was she would happily have lain there and taken what he had to offer all night。
'You are very good； Lola；' rich tones of praise that brought an excited gleam to her blue eyes。 'Very； very good。 I only wish that it was possible for me to stay here with you all night。'
Disappointment which she was unable to voice because Sabat's decisions were final； not to be queried。 Her expression changed； sadness； loneliness。
'However； we shall meet again soon；' he leaned across her； began retrieving his cast…off clothing。 'Now； you have not forgotten what you must do； have you？'
'I have not forgotten；' she stared directly up at the ceiling； a recitation as though she had learned the words off by heart in order to repeat when requested to do so。 'I must e down to Wiltshire tomorrow night and bring Darren with me。 It is vital because Bishop Boyce will be there and unless Darren es the deal might fall through。 Darren must e。 You will give me details。'
'Indeed I shall； and you must listen carefully。 There is a place on Salisbury Plain known as Stonehenge； and it is to be there where you must proceed； parking your car some distance away and going on foot the rest of the way。 In all probability I shall already be there with Bishop Boyce。 You must arrive by midnight； no later。 Allow yourself plenty of time in case of mishaps for it is vital that you are prompt。 Do not fail me； Lola。 Now repeat what I have told you。'
Almost word for word she repeated his instructions； blushing with pride when he nodded his satisfaction and murmured： 'You are very good； Lola。 You will not fail me。'
'I shall not fail you；' she echoed； and added； 'and when I have carried out your mands； my body will be yours again for the taking。 Do as you will with it； Sabat。'
'I shall； I promise；' he smiled； removed a fleck of dust from the sleeve of his jacket and felt the forting weight of the …38 in its pocket holster。 'Now I must leave you for I have an urgent appointment。 Do not fail me Lola； for more depends on this than you can possibly imagine！'
He left the house； stepped outside into the balmy spring night； saw the reflection of his silver Daimler in the starlight； a silent monster standing there in the drive。 So serene； it was difficult to believe that evil forces were abroad； for even Quentin was silent。
Sabat slid behind the wheel and the engine purred into life。 Even before he moved off the car had bee an extension of his own personality； streamlined； powerful。 He glanced back at the house just in time to see the bedroom light go out。 Lola was well satisfied in her hypnotic trance。 There were a number of factors that would bring her and Darren to Stonehenge tomorrow night。 They would e all right； there was no doubt about that。
He eased the sleek nose of the car out of the drive gateway； turned on to the deserted main road。 The Daimler picked up speed； obeying its master's mands just as Lola had done。 Neither of them would fail him。
His brow furrowed momentarily； and he pictured that pentagram back in the curate's house； a few chalk lines and some chalices filled with charged water。 They were all that stood between the imbecilic Kent； the stolen jewelled sword of Alda and the wrath of the dark forces。 The journalist was drugged。 He would sleep soundly until Sabat returned。 There was nothing else that could have been done to protect him。 The Hirschlanden Warrior of L'lmpernal had given his word； but would it be enough？ How many other druids were there who might be blinded by the desire for vengeance on the mortals who had destroyed Alena that they ignored the bargain？
Sabat pushed it all from his mind and accelerated； had the Daimler's speedometer flickering on 80。 At this moment he was powerless to protect his colleague。 All his efforts must be concentrated on a dangerous nocturnal mission which was already in progress。 He had an unscheduled appointment with Bishop Boyce before dawn broke！
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THE BISHOP'S palace was in total darkness； just as Sabat had hoped and expected it would be。 He wondered whether it might not have been easier to have tricked Boyce into acpanying him to Stonehenge on the morrow。 It was too risky； though。 The bishop might have somehow collaborated with Hurst in the meantime and then Lola would not have been able to get them both there。 There was only one way to be sure … to transport Bishop Boyce there physically！
Sabat parked the Daimler； went the remaining three hundred yards on foot。 In his dark clothing he became just another flickering shadow； moving through the night as silently as a prowling cougar。
The Close。 A tranquil backwater in a busy city； the impressive cathedral dominating； its extensive lawns neatly mown and fringed with towering chestnuts； the same trees which might have sheltered Bishop Avenson on his way to munion on a rainy morning two and a half centuries ago。
Sabat paused； breathed in the atmosphere。 It was difficult to believe that in this place lived the spider that had spun its web of evil and corruption。 His lips tightened and he remembered briefly his own days in holy orders； a certain dean who had terrorised not only the residents of the close but many of the townspeople with his dominant； cantankerous personality； made life for the choirboys intolerable。 So Sabat had left； joined the SAS； learned to kill in unarmed bat； and often in his own imagination his foe had been that same dean。 The dean had died a couple of years or so ago from old ago but Sabat's hatred for him had lived on。
Sabat forced himself back to the present； slid inside the palace gates。 It seemed incredible that only twenty…four hours ago he had been breaking into Stone's house； like a re…run of an old film。 It could get boring； make you careless； and then you slipped up。 There must be no mistakes for too many lives depended upon this night's work。
Alert again； listening to every sound。 Somewhere an owl hooted mournfully and his scalp tingled。 It reminded him of that time when the blood hunters were gathering in the concrete jungle； massing for all…out carnage led by Lilith； Goddess of Darkness。* This time the danger was even greater。
The palace window； if anything； afforded easier access than the more modern one in Walter Stone's house had done。 Sabat swung himself over the sill； dropped into a wide hallway。 He crouched there； deliberately regulating his breathing and allowing his eyesigh