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I took a deep breath before continuing I’d been constantly in motion since all this happened, so there’d been no tiravity of the situation was hitting hoe had wielded a power I couldn’t easily counteract, and he hadn’t even been possessed That meant that the dehty, and quite possibly sootten myself into?

"Anyway" I put both paluy, because he was so I could handle "The vampire’s claork on that demon-inspired pohich means he needs to stick around If you have a probleer on the phone I’ll deal with your alpha, not you Otherwise, serve me up that whiskey, because I need to talk to my friends"

The bartender’s face crumpled into an expression of wariness He leaned away froht Without another word, he turned and went after the whiskey

"Does your ic work on those demons because you’re a vampire, or because you are an elder?" I asked Darius quietly

"An elder of e and experience can handle her echelons of power Vlad has tested this theory with a few level-five deet at Lucifer’s right-hand deels are beyond our capabilities"

"He is trying to work out a deal with de his abilities to kill theas done, Vlad is willing to do whatever it takes He had to kill a few naysayers to prove his worthiness, and kill a few more who stood to oppose the plan He is one of the , as it were…"

"You have used that joke before"

"It’s funny every time"

"Hardly"

"And that is why you didn’t want e battle?" I asked "You didn’t want to step on Vlad’s toes"

"Correct I am not at Vlad’s level Not yet My power is nearly equal, as are th and prowess, but I don’t have as many fail safes in place I can’t let hi a deht, and pay lasses of whiskey in front of us, his gaze downcast "I don’t knohat kind of , but try to fit in I don’t need no trouble in ht er’s people

"Don’t worry" I hooked a thues"

Darius’s lips thinned

"Whatever Look, I know a couple of theout his hand for ainst the bar He looked away froed Darius "Thanks for the drink" He reached into his back pocket

"They drink in here," the bartender continued "Usually after they do the su about it"

"They flout thea de?" Darius said "Do you choose which laws you uphold based on your prejudices?"