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"That’s the official version, but I think he had been working for Nicolas Chevalier--the Magister’s son--all along That detective, and others like hies If he’s infiltrated the local police so effectively, I have to assuency" He took a deep breath and let it out in a rush Thenprecisely and slowly, he walked to the couch and sat across froht mine, and I couldn’t look away

It wasn’t just the ice-blue pureness of his irises--although they were striking--it was so else that heldar down ainst h the normal channels, he’ll find out I have the brand He’ll bury this--whatever this is His latest sche--all the hints and bits of evidence I can find point to sos I’ve connected him to--circumstantially--that he’s done lately have occurred while I’ve been out of town on vaain next week on business for Luc This tione for years Very convenient ti for him He’ll strike then"

I shookabout the son of one of the most powerful vampires in the country"

"Yes I’m aware of that But Beatrice, if he pulls off whatever he’s working on, it’s going to be bad So that’ll hurt a lot of people And I don’t see hi out some key people first Like his father"

"What do you think his endga Nic? Power He covets his father’s position Hea move to take over" He frowned "But to take over as a local Magister, he’d need local otherworlder support Leaders of various factions And he’d have to deal with any challengers aister would have to have moved on for this plan to work?" Dae upheaval in the local va for the two of us to handle But ere the odds he was right, and that no one had picked up on this big plot except for hireed to step dohich isn’t likely" His tone took on a fervent quality "Nic would have to take out his father either in a challenge fight, which will never happen because Luc would wipe the floor with hi connected to it"

"Have you ever taken this to the Magister? Sounds like so he’d be equipped to deal with"

Claude’s expression turned gri Nic to Luc, but he cannot bring himself to admit Nic’s nature For me to prove this to him, the evidence must be ironclad Undeniable"

"I’ll be honest, you sound a little off-kilter And this is all just a story right now You said yourself the evidence seems thin" My assessment was too honest Unco h the desire to look into that light blue ocean gripped e vampire power I’d never heard of? Or was it just leftover attraction--simple fascination?

Or was I lonely?

Okay, sure, our past etting more information about the vas were just that--leftover froet you into a lot of trouble," I pointed out

"It won’t"

"You think that you’re not breaking any laws by investigating this on your own, off the books?" I couldn’t help the derision in aze locked with his, and raw emotion flashed in his eyes What eet a read on it

"I’ any laws There aren’t any bodies that can be tied to this brand--not yet Once I get that tie, I’ll have enough to ri to be especially difficult The brand must have been spelled, somehow, to affect your power"

"Excuse me?" If I’d been a cat,my poas ridiculous "That’s impossible Why the hell would you think that?"

"Because the face you drew--it’s not possible he was involved"

"What? Why not?"

"Because he’s a friend"

My pride flared at the insinuation that my powers could be corrupted "Maybe you know hi?" He quirked an eyebrow at me and I felt my face flush As if my reaction invited him, he leaned into my space My stomach tensed, but I didn’t move back Not even when he reached up and tucked a bit of hair behind my ear "Now that’s a bet I’d like to lose"