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I quickly explained about the security and the bolt-hole/escape-hatch The Mithran Suite was decorated all in gold--like the vailded, armored steel shutters on the s and an escape hatch in the floor at the foot of the bed, leading to a narrow passage down through the walls of the hotel and underground The suite was secure up to RPGs--rocket propelled grenades If an opponent was that determined, no one was safe

"This is acceptable I am not unpleased"

"You have no idea how happy that makes hed "You may join me here Your presence in my bed would please me"

And theeeere it was The invitation I had been expecting Fortunately, after all the vao "Grégoire, you are pretty beyond anything I’ve ever seen" He nodded as if I spoke only the truth I resisted an eye-roll "But I have a job to do, and cli into your bed would surely turn e look crossed his face, as if that one had never occurred to him "So, I’ll reluctantly decline and see to your daytioire didn’t try to stop me I’d like to think he was flummoxed Floored Startled But maybe he was tired What did I know?

I worked like a fiend all day with oire and Clan Arceneau’s pri safetytheoire’s finest were lean, narroaisted, broad-shouldered, and for, the B-tere some of the oldest blood-servants I’d ever es in technology and security protocols better than most old servants

We also uy named Chen, who had intense eyes and looked about ten He already knew the hotel layout and had little to offer or request in teres He was in and out like a precise laser attack, and he setI wondered if ould both survive the parley, or try to kill each other

The big hoedown started just afterfor MOC status, arriving in Shaddock’s liht in to provide secure transportation during the parley We hadn’t announced the date and ti, and the antivauard, as was thehoopla Just a stately procession of vehicles pulling up out front and people e faster-than-human

The vauests and swept for explosives and video and listening devices Shaddock strode across the hardwood and silk oriental rugs like the beaked-nosed frontiersh around the edges despite his tuxedo Grégoire stood with his back to the old brocade I stood to the side, taking in Shaddock’s heir and spare, and his primo and secondo blood-servants I had studied their files extensively and, with a flick of a finger, I repositioned two of Derek’s men into better position to cover the vamps--not just to keep them alive, but to make sure the newcooire Hey It could happen

"Lincoln Shaddock," said the va Tennessee/Kentucky accent, and his scent was unusual for a vas, and barbeque The vamp owned a BBQ joint in the hts, which explained the scent, though the idea of a job was odd for a vamp But then, Shaddock wasn’t as old as most master vamps Maybe he had to work like the rest of us poor slobs "I am blood-master of the Shaddock Blood Clan Turned by Charles Dufresnee after the Battle of Monocacy, outside of Frederick, Maryland Currently sworn to Clan Dufresnee, and with his permission, petitionin’ the blood-master of the southeastern United States to acquire territory to include the city of Asheville, North Carolina, and to be granted hunting land and cattle and the rights to rule as Master of the City under his rule"

Hunting land meant territory where vamps would hunt hu Tickedor the reality of the o as part of the Vaal document vaave ue-vaave vaestured to the tiny young wo behind hiest scion" The miracle-vamp, the reason that Leo had allowed the petition and the parley The dark-haired, brown-eyed girl looked terrified, and no one did anything to alleviate her nerves Grégoire stepped to the side and studied her like a piece of meat

I hadn’t known Leo was the blood-master of the entire southeastern US until the first ti He held the hunting license of every fanghead below the Mason-Dixon Line, from the eastern border of Texas at the Sabine River, east to the Atlantic and south to the Gulf, with the exception of Florida and Atlanta The Atlanta MOC was an independent of sorts, and Florida was run by a vaoire turned his attention back to Shaddock and bowed slightly, saying, "Grégoire, blood-master of Clan Arceneau, of the court of Charles the Wise, Fifth of his line, in the Valois Dynasty, turned by Charles--the well beloved, the rave;ne Zacharie Pellissier, turned by, and heir of, Amaury Pellissier, his huotiate the petition of Lincoln Shaddock for rights to clai territory as Master of the City"

Yada yada I zoned out on the confab, seeing a flicker of shadow at the front entrance The protestors were trying to get in, bodies pressed against the glass, voices raised, chanting, "Vainal, and no threat unless they had guns or illing to break in, which I had to consider I touchedto the front Get the principals to the Black Bear Grill, out of sight"