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I sent out a text to another vampire family in Japan—Sachiko’s home—that owed me a favor, instructing them to offer an alliance with her.

Sachiko wouldn’t need it. When she wasn’t mooning over the death of one of her favorite humans, she was possibly the most bloodthirsty Dracos besides Killian. But the offer would offend her as it would spark the idea that others viewed her as weak, which would set her off so she’d clean house and destroy whoever had been stupid enough to attack her in the first place.

There were also a slew of emails from my accountant and my financial advisors sending me the necessary paperwork for some new properties I’d added to my portfolio. I didn’t keep any household staff for myself, but in addition to the various guards I employed to protect several of my homes I hired out legal and financial help.

I was looking over the last of the emails when my cellphone buzzed.

I flicked past the lock screen, then raised an eyebrow.

It was a text message, predictably, from Killian.

When I’d disappeared from his mansion the night after my arrival, he’d had his underlings endlessly call me. That he was deigning to text me was a new turn of events.

Opening the message, I scanned it, then chuckled.

Killian

If your revenge on me for being Ambrose’s offspring is to saddle me with endless messages from overly dramatic vampires who wish to grovel before you, you are succeeding.

How disappointing. I would have thought your fearsome reputation would have been enough to scare them away. I’d hoped for more from you.

Killian

So sorry to disappoint. It seems my fearsome reputation can easily be overcome by the awe they hold for you as a celebrity. Every vampire within the Midwest has begged me to secure an invitation to meet you.

As a whole, we vampires were a power-hungry bunch; of course, they’d want the chance to grovel before me. There weren’t many vampires my age or older, and only a few of us were awake—most had succumbed to permanent sleep.

How unpleasant for you.

Killian

Do you really intend to stay hidden?

Yes. Feel free to celebrate.

I had enough time to drain the remaining blood from my sparkling chalice before my phone beeped with a new message.

Killian

By celebrate I assume you mean curse your name and existence.

I set my cup down so I could respond.

I was unaware my presence meant so much to you.

Killian

It means I’m aware that you are far more dangerous loosened upon my city than you are prowling around my mansion where I can be kept appraised of your movements.

I tapped my phone for a moment, mulling over Killian’s responses, trying to sense if there was any weakness in them caused by the new acquisition of his One. It didn’t seem like it, but I hadn’t had enough time to suss out Killian’s reputation and recent actions in Magiford.

What do you want?

Killian

Meet up with the local vampires—we can make it a party, so you get it all over with at one time.

It was a fair ask, and it would give me an opportunity to see Killian’s reputation among the other vampire Families. However, I couldn’t give in too soon—Killian would be too suspicious.