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Aden proceeded through to the loading dock without pause, welco the blast of cold air after the stuffy heat of the hotel corridors The dock was e It was nearly 3:00 AM, ht for , but for noas quiet and, more importantly, private

One of Aden’s other children, Freddy, was driving the liht He’d just stepped out of the vehicle and opened the rear passenger door when two SUVs ca around the corner

"Sire?" Bastien said, his voice urgent, but controlled as the SUVs ht," Aden said cal their strength against hisand finding the "There’s no one who can hurt us"

Bastien flashed hirin, in part because he’d detected the disappointment in his Sire’s voice at as bound to be an easy victory But the other part of Bastien’s grin was because he was a bloody-ht, really

Freddy reached into the liun with one hand, even as he ca death and destruction before the attacking vaed to do more than raise their weapons He rolled over the hood of the li up a position in front of his Sire as he urged him into the protection of the liuns, unfire, sounding like the cackle of a madman Aden had a moment to ponder the fact that his two closest advisors were both ould have been called berserkers in the old country, but then the guns went silent, and the SUV’s door opened to reveal a fa the h that wasn’t saying ’s presence explained the choice of weapons Most vauns They were noisy and drew the attention of hu’s presence also explained the sudden lack of gunfire He wouldn’t want to risk getting killed by a stray bullet from one of his own He’d probably hoped to catch Aden unawares by co off his children with a surprise first strike

Too bad that hadn’t worked out for hi," Aden told his va "Deal with these others however you please, but ht"

Dual grins greeted his decision as Freddy and Bastien engaged their ene in with knives and fists, blood flying Aden ignored their battle, confident in the abilities of his people to get the job done He focused instead on the leader of this poorly-conceived aLakanen was one of Lucas’s children His usual haunt was Minneapolis where he was a rank and file warrior at best He had no chance in hell against Aden in a stand-up fight, and his wary stance indicated he knew it Unfortunately, once a challenge was issued, there was no taking it back

Aden strode over to confront the challenger,ti bullshit The two of the oblivious to the bloodshed behind the the vaala?"

"Fuck you," the blond vaer to die?"

"Fuck you twice"

"You’re really not my type, and I have places to be" Aden attacked without warning, using a slap of power to pin Stig to the SUV, letting a bare s’s eyes widened in surprise

"I don’t knoho put you up to this, Stiggy," he said, using a nickname the other vampire hated "But I’ll find out Tell me who it was, and I’ll make this easy"

"Fu--"

Aden hit hi it into his chest with enough force to crush his ribcage Stig gasped as he strained to draw breath with lungs that no longer worked Aden could feel hiht back

"OneSave me some time, tell ’s eyes ith disbelief, bloody with broken capillaries as he slowly suffocated He stared at Aden, and Aden saw the first signs of pleading enter his expression But Aden had no pity Stig had knohat the game was before he joined it Or, he should have

"The na as they tried to for was difficult with no breath to drawn upon, but his teeth finally clenched around a hiss of air that was a na clamped his fist around Aden’s cuff in a last bid for ive He’d promised tohis right hand, he slarasped his heart The organ thuainst his pal his fist and squeezing until ’s final cry sang in his ears as he focused his power oncedown to join the pile of clothes and dust that had been Stig Lakanen

Aden brushed his hands together and shook his head in disgust What a waste Stig hadn’t been the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he’d been a perfectly fine warrior Silas had wound hi would die Maybe hoping to at least do so Lakanen could weaken Aden in any ful way?

"Sire?"

He turned at the sound of Bastien’s voice, becoaze, he quickly located Freddy who gave hi his tux