Page 60 of A Clash of Moonlight

“I did not give you permission to speak.”

“You rarely do.”

“Do not provoke me, Deagan.”

“I shall do my best not to. I was merely wondering if you had a chance to warn—”

“What part of shut up do you not understand?”

“Your original command was to be quiet. I have not raised my—”

Jared slammed on the brakes and jerked the car to the side of the road. It lurched over the uneven shoulder, tires spinning before they found traction again and rolled to a stop.

“Get out.”

Deagan drew in a breath. “My lord—”

“Now!”

The second Deagan stepped one foot to the ground, Jared hit the accelerator, sending his scion rolling to the roadside as gravel and dirt strafed the air.

Jared considered forbidding Deagan entry into the lake house when he arrived half an hour before dawn. But someone would need to clean up and clear out the place, and Deagan happened to excel at taking care of those inconveniences.

“Over thirty years as a hidden sanctuary ended on a whim,” Deagan said, taking in the streaks of blood on the furniture, on the floor, even some painting the walls.

“Its secrecy would not last.”

“Because of Nora.”

The name caused only a slight discomfort in his chest, one that he immediately quashed. “You may begin searching for a new sanctuary.”

Something shattered in another room. Deagan turned an expressionless face that direction. “Have you been carousing all night?”

“Carousing is a good word for it. Are you feeling left out?”

Deagan took off his longcoat, then draped it over the back of the couch, careful not to touch the stained cushions. “Who all is here?”

“Are you thirsty?”

A muscle in Deagan’s face twitched. “Are there any missing persons cases I need to clean up?”

“We have not meddled with humans tonight.” He held out his arm. “Come. Drink.”

Deagan’s eyes locked onto his wrist. “The last time you offered me your blood, it was an apology for being a lovestruck idiot.”

Jared did not react to those words. He had stamped out his conscience in his master’s lair. Deagan’s thoughts mattered nothing to him.

A high-pitched laugh vibrated through the air. Elsa’s laugh. The youngling was drunk on blood and wine and fucking every vampire who looked her way. Jared had banished them all to the gaming room.

“Who is here?” Deagan asked again.

Jared shrugged. “Whoever wants to be. Gerrard. Silas. Yasmin. Most of Lachlan’s clan.”

“You hate half those people.”

“I care for no one.”

Deagan tilted his head. “Not even Nora?”