Page 12 (1/2)

"Soive you a medal for what you did to Maxianization, Blood Rush, committed the massacres at our schools, not the Red Syndicate" His lips pressed together in a tight line for a ain, there are haho favor ith the vampires They clai to do with the oat and you were a willing accomplice of the Red Syndicate to frame him"

"They just want blood, pure and simple," Shelton said "It ain’t about justice It’s about revenge"

The Red Syndicate governed the va the Maxi her to put higed "It’s not clear what they want But it appears they waited too long to decide"

I pinched my eyebrows "How so?"

"The Daerim satisfaction "The Conclave can’t do jack crap to you because you’re considered part of the Daemos nation now that your dad had you raised from Castratae to Cenae"

Jarrod uess you do have political savvy beneath that rough exterior"

"I’rowled "Maybe old ht be an evil old bastard, but at least he’s honest about it"

"Would it make you happy to see me out of office?" his father said

Shelton’s voice went cold "I don’t know that anything would htened my stomach like drum I prayed the sky car would land soon "Do the Conroys participate in politics?" I asked, hoping to keep Shelton frorandfather and I have always been at odds," Sager said

He obviously didn’t know randfather, but I played along "Is there anything you don’t know about lance at his son and turned back tovery soon We need details on the Vadaemos and Maximus incidents, and we’d like to talk to you about your mother, Alice She’s been seen with the Conroys, but nobody has been in contact with her"

"What do you ith my mom?"

"First of all, she’s a very powerful and respected member of the arcane coive you guys an interview," Shelton said "So buzz off"

I’d been thinking along sihtly more diplo to his son "You think having a big h life, but it’s not, boy You need to use--"

"Manipulation?" Shelton said with a snort "My attitude’s gotten h "Into your thirties? That’s not far"

"I’m twenty-six, Dad" Shelton said the last hat seemed to be unholy hatred "But if I make it into my thirties, I’ll be more than happy to invite you to my next birthday party We can wear party hats and watch family ht Martin is dead Guess my brother won’t be able to make it after all"

I felt my eyebrows rise Guess I’er’s face went pale at the nature on the painting in Shelton’s bathroom Martin must be--have been--Shelton’s brother

The sky car burabbed ed er, or shock I couldn’t tell which and didn’t want to know My own one numb at his words In the last ten minutes I’d learned more about Shelton than I had in the past severalsilence to the doors leading back to the arch charoup of gri the traversion zone of the Obsidian Arch The arch appeared to be off, but a very faloithin Tomen, staffs planted firmly on the polished floor, held hands and directed beaht froht acted as a clamp to hold the rift open

Wind howled inside the zone, whipping at the Arcanes’ hair and robes The other people inside appeared to be Teht arht red instead of the customary black They formed a human chain, connected by what looked like diae anvil-shaped chunk of metal which apparently kept the Shelton’s father was probably standing so the rope eed from the rift The other Templars hauled on the line Seconds stretched to eboy strapped to his back Moed with a woman strapped down to her back

The Arcanes rapped their staffs against the floor, and the beaht vanished The sides of the rift collapsed with a thunderous boom

"Oh, that was bloody close," muttered someone nearby

I turned and saw the va the draotten for the moment