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"Mine at last, boy Mine at last" Maximus tore a paper towel from a nearby holder and wiped the blood frooatee

Horror washed away the euphoric feeling and I strained uselessly against dias, torso, and neck to a diaing at the thought of his nasty fangs in my body

"The first drink of many, boy" Maximus slid on a pair of dark wraparound shades and pulled on a tight leather trench coat "I have tasted spawn blood before, but there is so different, even more spectacular, about yours"

"You nasty perv," I said, squirust

"And to think those idiots Franco and Marcel let you get away" His eyes narrowed "Serves theo, Maximus"

"Not a chance, boy You took your spawn father from me, but I do believe I’ve traded up"

"You won’t keep h here and clean house"

He chuckled "I hope they try" He leaned in close, the metallic odor of my blood on his breath "I heard a lot of them didn’t make it out of the raid on Franco’s coht," I hissed between clenched teeth "You only wish"

"Oh, I don’t wish, little spawn--I know I supplied those weapons to his drug cartel along with a large supply of cursed aue "I hear those bullets tore right through the ale armor"

My mind flashed back to my wild escape from Franco’s coun Teh it like a knife through paper We’d nearly died thanks to silver poisoning and the harmful spells on those bullets If Maximus was really the supplier, it likely meant he had stash built up here If the Teh theer floodedthis?"

He straightened and crossed his arms across his chest "You should knohy I want you, little fish Spawn blood will increase the potency ofhireeaker and unable to do a da more noms is only a means to an end" He walked to the other side of the table and put a hand to his chin "I grant them life eternal and supernatural powers They will help me overturn the traditional order, the ancients who have ruled us like dogs Eventually, ill overcome the spawn and turn them into our slaves Not only e rid the world of demon spawn, but ill finally be able to live as ere destined"

"As a bunch of blood-sucking parasites?"

The corner of his rin "As the rulers of this world"

"No doubt with you as the alhty dictator of all"

"Perhaps" He looked across the large room and the other tables

The neck strap allowed limpse a part of the room It was obvious he and his cronies could strap down a hundred people in this place, judging froreater even than us who may have a say in who rules, however," the va I couldn’t see

"Daelissa," I said I knew she was involved in thisfroht occurred to me "Where’s ed into my stomach Please let her be okay

His eyes snapped toher? Did you hurt her, you son of a bitch?"

Maxi Understanding lit his expression Then he threw back his head and laughed

Bastard! Suffused with rage, I struggled against the bonds, but the diamond fiber resisted Frustration welled in e rooe, my helplessness My desire to crush Maxiht as horns erupted from my forehead My body swelled And suddenly, I couldn’t breathe I feltat the material As my body atte rated before en, oing to work, little spawn," Maxiht you kne strong dia voice "Laugh all you want, you filthy, leeching parasite, but I’ll kill you and save ery"

The vaood one I’ll have to save it for later" He reached out and casually slappedmildly compassionate, I’ll tell you this, boy I don’t have your sister The joke’s on you"

Myin the va Why would he at this point? I lay co because he hadbecause he didn’t I’d been lured down here Tricked Not even et me out of this mess, and if the Templars tried to save me, Maximus’s minions would tear them apart with enchanted bullets