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Even so, I took dauda-dagr out of the hidden inner sheath inand belted it around my waist before I ventured into the Wheelhouse The first tiation with Cody and the atmosphere was markedly hostile But that was before Stefan had successfully squashed a rebellion and consolidated his power over the Outcast in Pehouls: poor Eed sister, Mary, and herboyfriend, I guess, who I only ever knew as Ray D

I hadn’t been in here since

It hadn’t changed all that uys in leather vests or jackets with Outcast athered to shoot pool and drink beer, htly in the di mortal women who had histories of violence and hardship etched on their faces But it was different It felt different Still dangerous, but somehow not quite as seedy, not quite as dissolute

Huh

"Hey, darlin’" The blond kid froainst He checked me out with an impudent look If I hadn’t known he was ed to death, itman himself, are you?"

"If he’s free" I put out ht?"

"Best you don’t" He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans He wore a chambray shirt with the sleeves cut off and his bare arht" I was having a hard tie with his appearance "So no leathers for you, huh?"

"Haven’t passed the initiation yet" He looked elic blue eyes "No disrespect, er"

"Yeah, well" I laid ht?"

"Oh, I do!" Cooper flashed a grin that was at once charel of death in a feckin’ ponytail C’mon, I’ll take you to see him"

I followed him to Stefan’s office in the rear of the bar Patrons moved out of the ith alacrity Cooper may not have been initiated into the ained their respect No one here showed any inclination to challenge Stefan’s choice of lieutenant

"Daisy" Stefan rose to greet ht the situation resolved"

"It is" The rooet smaller as Cooper exited and closed the door behind hiaze on me, I had a vivid and not entirely unwelco a deep breath, I suppressed it "As Hel’s liaison, I came to offer my official thanks for your assistance"

Stefan sht out the diavein the pit of my stomach and made me wonder if that really hy I’d coah! What the hell rong with me, anyway?

"It was lad that you called upon ain"

"I won’t"

"Good" He sounded serious "With practice, discipline, and will, the Outcast can become a force for order in this community, and learn to take sustenance in the process"

See, he hadsustenance, which unfortunately reminded me that I’d let Stefan take sustenance from me, which meant he was attuned to my emotions, anduht that had blown one of the Mamma Jammers’ amps? He’d probably sensed it And ot hot

I don’t kno Stefan followed ht, but he did Hell, it probably wasn’t that hard After all, he’d had centuries of practice He smiled a little, but soberly, without dimples "Your personal business is your own, Daisy," he said in a quiet voice "It is as I have said Your ely powerful If you desire ive it to you But the bond between us does not exist for the sake of prurience, and I a my awareness at need"

Oh, my God, he totally knew "Can it be broken?"

Stefan raised one eyebrow "I assure you--"

"It’s okay" I held up one hand--the left hand, letting him see the rune etched on ht to know"