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sentence.”
    BLOOD LURE
    J.P. Bowie
    46
     
    Joseph’s silver grey eyes glinted with contempt for the man at his feet. “Death or life without parole, what do we care, so long as he is punished?”
    Quince nodded. “What do you say, Andrew?”
    “I’d like to rip his throat out.” Andrew bared his fangs at Fieldman who squealed and wrapped his arms around Joseph’s legs, whimpering for mercy.
    “That could cause awkward questions to be asked,” Quince said. “Although your reaction is understandable. Take him back, Joseph. Erase all memory of this confrontation, hand him over to the police. Let them deal with him.”
    Quince rose from his seat, effectively dismissing any further discussion.
    Joseph picked up Fieldman again by the scruff of his neck as though he weighed no more than a child. He grinned at the terrified man. “I hope you’ll enjoy your return by vampire express again.”
    “No, no!” The look of terror at the thought of being flown more than a thousand miles in the arms of a vampire caused gales of laughter as Joseph hustled Fieldman from the chamber.
    Marcus turned to Andrew. “I think your apology to Jared lacked a certain sincerity.
    Would you care to correct that now?”
    For a moment Andrew’s icy stare faltered, then Jared touched Marcus’ arm. “That’s all right, Marcus. Andrew has other reasons to hate me.”
    Marcus looked from one to the other, then nodded. “Ah, I understand.”
    Jared knew he had no need to explain further. Marcus was now cognisant of his affair with Andrew Berés. Marcus gave Jared’s arm a gentle squeeze. “Perhaps you should take a moment to talk with Andrew. His mind is still full of grief and torment.”
    “I will, if he will allow it.” Jared took the few steps that separated him from Andrew who was in heated conversation with his uncle. “Andrew,” he murmured. “May I interrupt?”
    Andrew wheeled on him, his handsome face grim, his startlingly beautiful eyes once more cold and unforgiving. “No, you may not. You and I have nothing further to say to one another. You may have triumphed here today, Jared, but in my heart, you will always be the cause of my brother’s death. How I will deal with it is to imagine you no longer exist.”
    “ Andrew .”
    BLOOD LURE
    J.P. Bowie
    47
     
    “Go away,” Andrew hissed, his fangs bared in anger. “Go, before I forget where we are, and strike you down!”
    Marek gave Jared a haughty look. “I think you had better go,” he said with a dismissive air.
    Without another word, Jared turned on his heel and walked quickly back to where Marcus stood conversing with Jacob Quince. Marcus cast him a look of sympathy while Quince’s expression, though welcoming, held a warning.
    “Make sure you avoid any future contact with Berés. He is not satisfied with what happened here. My impression is that he wanted you convicted no matter what the truth was. I will talk with him myself, threaten him with censure if he harms you in any way.”
    “Thank you, Sire, but it’s doubtful that I will ever see Andrew again.”
    “Come …” Quince took both Jared and Marcus by the arm and led them from the chamber. “Share a glass with me before you leave. I have secured something rather sweet, and warm… I am only sorry that Joseph saw fit to leave in such haste.”
    Jared would have liked nothing better than for him and Marcus to return to Los Angeles immediately, but Quince was not one he could refuse easily. He was, after all, their elected leader. Besides, Joey had left a message saying he’d gone home for a few days. A glass of Quince’s ‘wine’ to celebrate his vindication wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
     
    From the other side of the council chamber Andrew watched Jared leave accompanied by Marcus and Joseph. His eyes welled with unbidden tears and the anger he’d held in his heart for so long evaporated, leaving him with a feeling of loss and emptiness.
    What had he just done?
    Apart from the