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"We are possessed--wait" She shook her head, dark hair dancing over her shoulders "I’ll explain a different way But first, the good news"

A stalling tactic, he knew, but he didn’t stop her

"The designs you see on the walls? Well, we have them burned into our skin All of us"

"You have these ar any marks on her And he’d looked Hard

"Yes I have them"

"Where? And why?"

"On nored the first part of her words because yeah, he wanted to stare at the area in question, and focused on the second "Wards?" Aden blamed the pills for his inability to fit the pieces of this crazy puzzle together

"As I said, we each have a htmares Humans would probably liken our condition to that of demon possession Anyway, the wards in our skin keep thosethe earth" Now she squeezed his hand "Believe me, you never want to encounter one of these creatures They are savage and brutal and crave the death of those we drink from Destruction is all they know"

He was quiet a et them? And do you have one inside you?"

As she started to reply, five men stepped forward to for hioblets, thick red liquid swirling inside Blood, no doubt He s

"You re relieved that their conversation about the monsters was over

Not even a little "Of course" Hethose ain Very soon Then he turned back to the…councilmen, he supposed they were called They were older, al builds and only slightly lined skin Plus, their fangs were visible, poking frory? For hiht have been scared No way could he fend off five determined vampires at once Sure, his blades were anchored in his boots, as always, but those blades were useless against such creatures

The only useful weapon he had was Vlad’s ring Oh, yeah He glanced down at his right hand and saw the opal winking in the light He was suddenly grateful to Riley for insisting he wear it

"Now that Victoria has explained about the beasts, let ussubjects," one of the council than monsters, he continued, "There is much we must decide upon"

"Where will you live, for one?" another said "Here or with your hu him with questions as briskly as Thomas had earlier

"And if you are with your humans, how then e call upon you e need you?"

"Also, you ?"

"Also, you must choose a queen"

"And you--"

"Give hi them

Aden was surprised when the ized Riley was a guard, not a prince or a vampire at all, yet they’d obeyed hi

"So, to answer your questions I’ll live at the D and M Ranch, just as before," he said, and all eyes returned to hi "I’ll meet your allies sometime next week--" this as for the witches "--but it’ll have to be after school Just let me knohen, and I’ll be there" Or here Wherever And ere their allies? As far as he’d known, the vampires and olves warred with everyone "As for a queen, that will be Victoria" No question Not that he was ready to get ain, she squeezed his hand

All five councilmen frowned at him "You can’t simply pick the princess Victoria You have yet to spend time with our other females," one said

"I don’t need to spend tie my mind"

"Complaints will be raised," another said, irritated

Aden shrugged "I don’t care"

"Fathers of eligible daughters will rebel, for they desire a chance, at the very least, to forge an alliance with the royal house You don’t want to cause a rebellion so early in your reign, do you?" a third asked

"No, but I--"

"Good, good It’s settled, then" Each of the five raised their goblets, s now