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“I am quite logical and--”

“Not about this. You two are both ridiculous. And I love it.” Julian hugged him more fiercely.

“Well, then I do not mind.”

Julian sighed. “Not to get serious again, but I’ve never been around killing. Except for my parents, and that was devastating. Iknowwhat happens to those left behind. The pain of it. Even Caemorn… it would be one thing if I were to kill him to save myself or someone else. Like in self-defense, but--”

“What if you knew killing him would save many lives? Not at this moment, but down the years?” Daemon asked, easily sliding back into this philosophical conversation.

Julian’s mouth screwed up into a bitter smile. “That’s like the question: would you kill Baby Hitler. Oh, wait, you don’t know who that is. Let’s just say he was a monster. But let’s say I had him in front of me, I would try to change Hitler so hewouldn’tkill those other people.”

“You think people can be changed? Yes, I see you do. You think that the warp and weft of fate can be undone? I see you think that, too.” Daemon smiled at him.

“You think I’m being naive about this?” Julian lifted an eyebrow.

“Idealism and naivety are often confused. I will just say that I am very jaded.” He cupped Julian’s face. His powerful hands gentle as the caress of the wind.

“You’ve lived a long time. Seen so much more than me.” Julian left out a huff. “I should defer to you--”

“The day that happens I shall be very sad,” Daemon chuckled.

“What? You like me questioning you?”

“Yes, I do. You make me look at things in a new light, but…”

“Not in front of others?” Julian winced. “Yeah, I sort of got that afterwards down there. And before with Elena. And before that… Okay, I’ve got to be aware of myself.”

“You can question me over our connection if you can keep your face from showing it.” Daemon was grinning.

“Christian says that I cannot lie worth shit.” Julian shook his head, and laughed. “Crap, I’ve got so much to learn. And I’d be excited for it, except for the fact that you have to deal with all my mistakes.”

“It’s not a mistake for you to have empathy. And you can express it. You will be seen as the soft touch while I am the hammer. That works often in ruling,” Daemon told him.

“But I have to do it in a way that doesn’t undermine you.” Julian gritted his teeth. “I don’t mean to. You know that, right?”

Daemon caressed his cheeks. “Of course! And so do those close around us.”

“I’ll figure this out. I’ll be better. Daemon--”

“You are doing just fine.” Daemon gazed at him with that deep affection. “Better than fine. You are so amazing.”

“Uhm, would you still think I’m amazing if I asked you to do one thing? You know, something that only the fledgling of the Vampire King could suggest and not get in trouble?” Julian asked.

“What? Oh…” Daemon looked over at the ugly ass throne.

“Unless it is like some kind of heirloom and we shouldn’t do anything to it,” Julian said. “I might not want to kill Caemorn, and I don’t even want to make him unhappy… much. But that throne…”

Daemon grinned.

The people at the bottom of the Spire heard a mental command from the Vampire King to get out of the way, just before the Preceptor’s throne came crashing down and shattered into a million little pieces.