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Though Mirceo could locate Caspion anywhere in the worlds, he already had a good idea where the deht

Mina said, "I still can't believe you confided your mate's identity to Uncle Trey"

For centuries, backbiting conflict had plagued the Dacian royals Mirceo and Mina's parents had been casualties Now peace reigned--yet another change brought about by Lothaire "It's nice not to continually expect a sword in the back," Mirceo said, an understatement His personality had been shaped by paranoia

Once that had faded, hedonism had been a welcome alternative

He and Mina each fell into their own thoughts, strolling along in easy coht Vampire paradise All it lacked was Caspion

Out of the corner of his eye, Mirceo saw Mina worry her bottoaze locked on her face "What's on your mind, sister?"

Her cheeks flushed "You can always tell when aught is amiss with me"

Because he'd raised her from the time he was fifteen "Go on"

"Do you know that I've never spoken to a strangefor a princess? "Everyone who comes into contact with me is vetted, then introduced As Caspion was"

Mirceo slept with strangers every night Or, rather, he had in the past "So?"

"Uncle Lothaire spoke again about sending dom"

The king considered her too innocent Granted, Mirceo had sheltered her, possibly too much But to dispatch Mina--who'd never seen a car or a skyscraper--outside the realm was ludicrous

"I'm half terrified, half thrilled about the prospect," Mina said, her blue eyes alight

Mirceo shook his head "It's too dangerous Do you forget that a deadly plague still spreads in the otherlands? There's a reason no vaue struck females especially hard

"But if I remain in my o out and secretly investigate, as you and the others always do Forever to observe, never to engage"

Mirceo had broken that rule more times than he'd followed it "Absolutely not"

"But Uncle Lothaire says it's time for us to open our borders and interact with other Loreans"

A had relaxed all travel restrictions He even planned to lift the veil of Dacian secrecy, bringing the kingdo

"This is my final word on the subject, sister I will speak with Lothaire" Mirceo didn't relish the idea Though the Dacianos had brought the rightful heir into the realm to rule, the three-millennia-old Enemy of Old had proven to be a handful "Somehoill make him see reason Or I'll prevail upon our queen if necessary" Lothaire's vah-as-nails irl he'd turned immortal

It hadn't been so long ago when she'd nearly decapitated Lothaire during one of their fights--which, knowing Lothaire, had been a justified response Once he'd healed, the king had cut out his own heart and er and mailed it back in salutations

With his red eyes merry, the Enemy of Old had once summed up their courtship: "There was drama"

If those two could get past their matehood issues, surely Mirceo and Caspion could He told Mina, "Elizabeth will back me on this"

Lothaire worshipped his "hellbilly" queen, and her influence over hiether just thisin one of the castle's shadowy nooks Lothaire had stroked Elizabeth's azed into her eyes "You are everything," he'd said simply

She'd sighed, "I'm sweet on you too, Leo"

Mina stopped in the street "Brother, please just consider the possibility" Her eyes glinted "I feel likelike I' down here"

"As opposed to quickly dying out there?" At the thought of losing her, his lungs seemed to contract I couldn't survive it He just prevented hi his black claws into his chest

He had adored his h they'd been forh

Mirceo would lock Mina in the dungeon before he lost another loved one He pinned her gaze "Mark dom for centuries to come"

TEN

New Rome Pleasure Palace

"Which female would you like, sir?" the palace purveyor, a va, asked Cas "All of theestured toward a pair of busty, redheaded nymphs Just Mirceo's type

Stop thinking about him

Cas had tried to keep busy today, checking on the apprenticeships he'd set up before he'd left for Poly Noas able to fund aseven more pups in Abaddon

For so with those foundlings