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"I didn’t get lucky at first, except here to steal those ot all sorts of useless infor a deerous if you don’t kno to properly set up a circle And after finding those books, I had that down Then I found the right de lucky while I was getting lucky"

"This just got gross" I grimaced "Demons are asexual until they take on a body, by the way Just so you know"

"Vlad would have the upper hand in his negotiations if he had you," she said, turning her attention back to me

I met Darius’s eyes "She’s a lunatic, so I’m not worried about her You, on the other hand, have some very sensitive information that Vlad could definitely use I will end you if you try to go to him with that very sensitive information" I really should’ve made that threat when I could stand without assistance

"If it got out that I helped you defeat a demon, it could upset Vlad’s plans," Darius replied "He is the only one who can destroy me What you are--what you can do--is safe with an And if you bond ive you the protection of our entire faction Your de you"

Taet it, do you, vamp? This isn’t sohter The Lucifer, master of the underworld You think a demon spawn can levitate?" She cackled this ti She summoned the demon from my body to hers, then pushed it out so it materialized on its own Do you kno much power that takes?" She licked her lips "She has a throne waiting for her for all eternity Anyone who brings her to Lucifer will receive the highest honors We candirectly to Lucifer? No way He’s talking to an assistant, if that But you could You could take your place above Vlad I could get us through the gates of the underworld With her blood, we’d be granted safe passage You could speak directly to Lucifer himself"

Darius’s eyes widened, then narrowed "That is preposterous He is unable to pass on his bloodline"

"That isn’t…entirely true" I shifted, uncomfortable "It would require an ancient bloodline, status as a high priestess, a certain type of ed "He was drawn to my mother for a reason, whether he knew it or not"

"How did a lower-level demon know of this when I have never heard of it?" Darius said

Tae from John’s house He was alorried about intruders, so he had a couple hidden cameras trained on his prized possessions Whenever he disappeared for a rendezvous with his vampire friend, I would let myself in and watch the feeds so I knehat he was up to He had my books, after all, which allowed hborhood questioning They never questioned hi to need those books back, by the way"

I just shook s

"The way she withstood the fire was interesting," she continued "As was her strength and speed, but her ability to ith fire--ht away Only one can do that Well, noo, I guess, right? He wanted to leave me for her I had to wrestle hi up here in the Brink, I’ll never know You could rule" She stared at me, mystified "You could have limitless power Be trained by Lucifer himself!"

"Chained in the underworld with a bunch of de to irl or two?"

"Men are easier to doet in line Especially the ones craving that next level of power The trick isthe woh They were always asking questions"

"And they turned into zombies and olves I think the moral of the story is that dumb people will follow any whack job, but they’ll also eventually land said whack job in the hands of a very unimpressed vampire"

"I wouldn’t say he’s unimpressed," Tamara said "He hasn’t turned his eyes away fro my ticket out of here after all Men do love power"

I tried to ignore Darius’s assessing stare "How es There is no way you would have risked bringing the the unicorn blood?"

She sneered "Like I’ to tell you"

"I will handle the distribution chain" So I couldn’t identify Tingles of nervousness wory because I didn’t knohy it was happening "I needed you to bring this to fruition, Reagan Thank you"