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Tom’s crooked smile had always char," Anne said

"The smart ones do," Declan said from across the table "Or they have their humans use it"

"So I’m to assume you do?" Anne asked, her interest piqued

Declan looked to Murphy first, but the vampire who’d behaved so rashly in Galway and so politely at the opera only gave a er lay with the three men around her but with a rival who’d openly opposed Murphy at many turns

She hated her sister a little in that moment

"We do," Declan said "It’s still very effective Most iainst theence usually comes from electronic communications from human employees associated with vae human staff, don’t you run the same--or even increased--risk of exposure?"

"If the left hand doesn’t knohat the right is doing," Declan said, "the risk is less Not eliminated, mind you, but--"

"I treatup fro has no need to scavenge" He looked up, focused on Anne "He’ll stay at hisyour hued "Simply an illustration The fact remains: While temptation is always a threat, humans who are treated well have less inclination to look elsewhere for patronage As for immortal influence, I make it a point to knoho is in my city at all times" His eyes flickered with some dark emotion "I didn’t always, but when Iabout Jack

And maybe her?

Anne knew it could very well be both But while her heart was too stubborn to leave hi too easily

"Brigid is late," she said, re else to fill the tension-laced air between them

"She usually is"

As if on cue, a tiny tornado burst through the door "Sorry! Sorry Blame this one" She jerked a thumb over her shoulder at the auburn-haired behe the door since they were the last to arrive