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"It is your Clan," Ethan said "I suspect it’s in your power to stop this war, to wage peace instead Have you discouraged the hostilities? The retaliations?"

"Ethan," Nessa sharply said, reprobation in her voice But that didn’t seem to affect Ethan And it didn’t soothe Vincent

"I don’t care for your insinuations," he said, rising suddenly, irritated , and ill take our leave"

"Vincent," Nessa said, but he shook his head

"I do not believe he is needed But if you’re co, ill send hu the day"

Ethan’s brows lifted "We are coht Sheriff McKenzie was the only human in the valley"

"There are humans in other toho seek membership in the Clan," Vincent said "Those ish to join us h a period of service Including guard duty"

"I see," Ethan flatly said He didn’t voice his concerns psychically or otherwise, but they weren’t hard to guess: Here, in a valley in Colorado, was a dom

Vincent held out a hand to Nessa, who slipped her fingers into his

"Thank you," she said to Ethan, holding out her other hand to hih her, for a moment "We’ll be in touch at dusk"

Ethan nodded "To was e moved to the door, Vincent and Nessa in front, Astrid and Cyril, who’d spoken not a single word, behind thelanced back "Do be careful here There are ht, Vincent Marchand and the rest of his crew disappeared into darkness

"Thoughts, Sentinel?" Ethan asked, when the door was closed and locked and the Clan was on the other side of it

"He’s guarded, ht that would work, then switched tactics to aggressive But he overplays both He’s either very concerned for the welfare of his va it"

Ethan arched an eyebrow "Your analytical abilities are becoly acute"

"Sentinel hears all, sees all And right now, I see and hear a strong whiff of cult"

Ethan nodded "A cult leader, if he’s dangerous A guru, perhaps, if he is not A strong personality, with equally strong opinions, to who the ti s But she seeht her here"