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Lucas ust that made his position clear

"I’d like to do as et back to the city," Cyn continued "And then I can coh search"

Raphael didn’t say anything, but he wasn’t happy about her co out here without him, and he didn’t try to hide it

"I’ll be careful," she pro the source of his concern "And I’ll have Robbie with me You know his instincts are even better than er And it’s not like anyone can sneak up on us out here in the er, then nodded reluctantly She shtly "Don’t worry," she whispered directly into his ear "I’ll tuck you into bed first"

If they’d been alone, she’d have been naked and on her back already But since they weren’t, he satisfied hih Clearly, she was in terror of his retribution

"One thing puzzlesback to include Lucas and Kathryn in the conversation "You said Magda worked closely with you, Lucas So ould she ai?"

"She didn’t know," Lucas said simply "Most of my vamps have never been out here, and of the ones who have, only Mason and Nick are aware of the extra security uards sleep, so there’s no need for theda never liked the place Said it was too pris in, which ell before we added the enhanced security"

Cyn nodded her understanding, but what Raphael foundabout Lucas’s co his security arrangements while Aden was in the room That indicated a level of trust which spoke directly to Lucas’s confidence in Aden, and it o up a notch, despite his blindness when it came to wo "Kathryn, I have a flashlight in uys never need them"

"Hey," Kathryn said in ent I always have a flashlight witha lite that Cyn carried Raphael couldn’t help noticing the similarities between the tomen, and he only hoped Kathryn torht made him smile

"I hate to break up the party," Lucas said dryly, when the wo back to the city this , but, Raphael, I’ll have to stay at the e this place has suffered, and given the situation--"

"This is your home, Lucas Your territory In any event, Cyn and I will leave for Chicago at sundown"

Everyone was being polite, Raphael thought to hiressive and territorial to play well together, especially when visiting another’s territory The annual Council s typically lasted only a few hours, with the various lords flying in for thein Chicago would last longer because of the challenge, but since the city was part of the Midwest and currently no one’s territory, the strain would be lessened

There was also the fact that under Raphael’s guidance, theallies, rather than enemies They couldn’t erase their vaet along and work toward a cooal Which hy Raphael had maneuvered all of them into this situation in the first place If the European vampires had left hi but his Western territory with Cyn at his side But he was nobody’s victiet one And they’d discover the bitter taste of defeat

But for today, Raphael and Lucas would sleep in the same house, albeit as far from each other as physically possible It helped that Lucas was Raphael’s child, and that he illing to submit to Raphael’s will if it came down to it But despite their love for each other, it would be stressful It was necessary for this one day, but that was it

The front door opened with a squeal of daed wood, and Cyn stuck her head in

"The replacement SUVs are here, and sunrise is about an hour away," she said with obnoxious good cheer "Time to rock and roll, my lords"