except

Russia has shown little interest in halting the war except on its own terms.

The mmoatia scramble away, the monkeys scream back, the cats hiss, and all the humans jump—except Autumn, who coolly leans away.

His eyes roved wildly beneath closed lids, and he did not stir, except to mutter something unintelligible.

They were all from his gentlemen’s club or from various banks, except for one thin, stained envelope with no return address but which bore many colorful postmarks and exotic stamps from distant lands.

Everyone was too surprised to speak except Lady Constance, who was adamant about performing her duties as a hostess, despite the fact that she was swinging from a chandelier and had only recently stopped screaming.