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But the idea that Claude knew--a man I’d admired, a man who had probably never shown a moment of weakness in his life--shook me to my core

Who else knew? Fuck

I couldn’t let hier out of the bit of hair I’d unconsciously wrapped around it, and then sla low thuranite countertops "Tell me now or I’m out of here"

"I’m sorry," Claude murmured, mouth only inches from my hair

I jumped He stood next to ht--"

"Whatever" I waved off the hand he was trying to touch my shoulder with I didn’t need comfort "Just tell hed, almost imperceptibly, then walked at a more human speed back to the other side of the breakfast bar where he’d left his half-drunk glass of wine

"The rabbed the beer he’d gotten me, which I’d left untouched, and tipped it toit as I downed half the bottle

"Are you all right?"

"The Magister" The vampire leader for Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa One of the most powerful vampires in the country And father to the vaister had been involved in my brother’s disappearance, and I’d seen it in my vision I’d convinced otten off ination

But now I kneas a vision, because theexisted

How had I not known? How had I not seen him on the news? He was the vampire equivalent of a local politician--only more powerful Maybe because most vampires were notoriously camera shy, and I didn’t much care about noncriminal-related news anyway

"I know him, Beatrice And I knoouldn’t be involved in this mess Wouldn’t take innocent lives"

"You can’t be certain of that"

"I can--"

"Ho can you say that for sure? Because old vaht? That’s how they survive for so long--excessive honesty?"

"I’ve been friends with the man for centuries Centuries Vae And he couldn’t have hidden ritualistically killing people or torturing the irons for centuries froain, unable to look away from the pale irises He cared--really cared--about this friend of his And the way he spoke, it was as if he needed ister as well

I turned to look at my beer bottle, still clutched in my hand "Sometimes, it’s the people closest to us who are able to fool ushe’s an angel--he’s not--but he’s also not a sociopath I’m not an idiot, mon chou" Exhaustion suddenly soaked his tone, and he leaned against the counter for support

A shiver ran up my back at the fanored it "I’ you are"

"Do you really think that I could be close to hi and not notice that kind of flaw? We can only fool ourselves so ht about that After centuries at the vampire’s side, could he fail to notice a sociopathic nature? Sounded unlikely And for that to happen to a ator at his very core? Hell, I’d heard he’d served in law enforceed as anything o

I forced ish hair, the AC/DC T-shirt, the light blue eyes, and the strong jawline The wide shoulders and obvious strength in his arms

Every instinct in ether--with its abrupt ending--supported the fact that he was an honest man He’d never made me any promises, no matter what ive his friend the benefit of the doubt

Because if Luc Chevalier proved to be a villain, so too, would Claude

"All right I’ll give your friend the benefit of the doubt," I said, finally, voice thick Sohim aboutto share it now

Tension left hi to disappear into the floor beneath hiate this alone"

His head jerked up and his eyes rin How often was Claude Deser