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Prologue

Jagr kneas creating panic in Viper’s exclusive nightclub The elegant establishment with its crystal chandeliers and red velvet upholstery catered to thebut civilized

He was a six-foot-three vaoth chief But it wasn’t his braided, pale gold hair that fell nearly to his waist, or the ice-blue eyes that ence scurrying from his path It wasn’t even the leather duster that flared about his hard body

No, it was the cold perfection of his stark features, and the hint of feral fury that smoldered about him

Three hundred years of relentless torture had stripped away any hint of civility

Ignoring the assorted demons who tu strides, Jagr concentrated on the two Ravens guarding the door to the back office The hushed air of sophistication was giving him a rash

He was a vampire who preferred the solitude of his lair hidden beneath the streets of Chicago, surrounded by his vast library, secure in the knowledge that not a human, beast, or demon possessed the ability to enter

Not that he was the total recluse that his vampire brothers assuht be, he understood that his survival depended on understanding the ever changing technology of theable to blend in with current society

Even a recluse had to feed

Tucked in the very back of his lair was a plasma TV with every channel known to hu that allowed hi a riot

The e themselves while on the prowl

But this place…

He’d rather be staked than mince and prance around like a jackass

Damn Styx The ancient vampire had known that only a royal cor made no secret of his disdain for the coed the question of why the Anasso would choose such a setting to h to fill the vast club with an icy chill, Jagr ignored the two Ravens who stood on sentry duty near the back office, and lifting his hand, allowed his power to blow the heavy oak door off its hinges

The loo their heavy capes, which hid the nuuns attached to various parts of their bodies

Jagr’s step never faltered Styx wouldn’t let his pet vauest At least not until he had what he needed frouards…well, hell, he’d been waiting centuries to be taken out in battle It was a warrior’s destiny

There was a low ly allowed hilare

Stepping over the shattered door, Jagr paused to cast a wary glance about the pale blue and ivory roo Aztec as the current king of va more than his fair share of space behind a heavy walnut desk, his bronzed features unreadable Viper, clan chief of Chicago, ith his silver hair and dark eyes looked el than lethal warrior, stood by his shoulder

"Jagr" Styx leaned back in the leather chair, his fingers steepled beneath his chin "Thank you for coaze "Did I have a choice?"

"Careful, Jagr," Viper warned "This is your Anasso"

Jagr curled his lips, but he ise enough to keep his angry words to hi he could match Styx’s renowned power, he would be dead before ever leaving the club if he challenged the Anasso

"What do you want?" he growled

"I have a task for you"

Jagr clenched his teeth For the past century he’d ed to keep away fro others and expecting the sah to allow Cezar to enter his lair, it seeet rid of the damn va it clear he didn’t appreciate playing the role of toady

Styx smiled as he waved a slender hand toward a nearby sofa It was a sr’s spine