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"A penny for your thoughts?"

"It’s just--well, Ian is speaking to "

Aiden’s body went rigid and his hands curled around the arm of his chair, the wood cracked under the pressure

"I see That can be a bit frustrating It tookof it myself," Aaron sympathized

"You’re bonded?" The question came out a little more skeptical than I intended, but Aaron didn’t seem to take offence

"The entire council is bonded to one another It helps us communicate e are far from each other"

"You can be bonded to more than one person?" I sat up closer to the table, interested in learning more about the vampires

"You can if you all share the saht you much about our kind," Aaron sent Aiden a pointed look "The vainal six, all turned by Nufesuht say We were chosen for our positions, not voted in like some councils," he finished The last part of what he said was directed towards the witches Every twenty years we elected new council lass of so purple in front of me and walked away after Aaron nodded

"Please drink, and I’ll tell you all about it," Aaron smiled as he leaned back I eyed the purple concoction with uncertainty But when Aaron remained silent, I kneouldn’t speak until I drank whatever was in the glass Picking up the drink, I brought it to my lips and allowed a small amount to fill er drink It prickled h my veins

"Okay," Iwrapped in an electric blanket, and s together as I tried to concentrate on Aaron Aiden’s eyes shot over to me, and ertips as I trailed my hand across his five o’clock shadow

Aaron chuckled, bringing my focus back to hi lingered longer than it should "It’s delicious," I purred, ain and downed the last of its contents Aaron raised his arm in the air and motioned for someone The waitress appeared beside the table and another purple drink was set in front of h," Aiden said

"Nonsense, let the girl enjoy her drink Aiden," Aaron said with a s the glass, I took another drink An explosion of desire and heat surged through my body the moment the contents slid down lued to Aiden’s

"Nufesuinals He’s not much to look at, but he is powerful When the vampires were created by the Devil, Nufesue of all of the Dark One’s children But Nufesum couldn’t stay on earth all the time, so he set out to build a council to watch over the children I re the fared creatures I was nineteen then and frozen with fear as I watched the monsters descend upon me and my family Nufesum ordered for me to call for my brothers and sisters and e all stood in front of him, he hypnotized us so ould remain silent and obedient One by one he bitthe their veins with his I still res tear streaked faces and soiled trousers as the monster came for them I was the last in the line and watched his show so I knehat I was in for" Aaron stopped when I giggled My hands searched for the glass again, but Aiden snapped it off the table before I realized it was gone I stared at the spot it had been and frowned

"No et so uptight, rin

Even in my intoxicated state, I could tell the difference in the air around our table It was suffocating coy swirled like an angry tornado within the small space and rippled across"I mean drink, not dink"

"Vampire venom," Aaron spoke, but his focus was on Aiden "My venorew thicker, and I could al each other Aaron’s rubbed against y whooshed in and tried to eradicate Aaron’s power froy was Aiden once explained it was their influence Huht switch to kick into overdrive, but they weren’t affected by it unless a vaaze Witches, however, are sensitive tohis influence, or va our skin

"It’s not wise to fight me, Aiden," Aaron warned "Gwen has asked for our help and everything has a price You cannot pay her debt"

Aiden’s energy withdrew, and a smile spread across Aaron’s face The warripped the side ofout of it