The Bureau sanctioned the Termination Ceremony and accepted Deegan’s smooth mendacity of the situation. Deegan’s status in the hierarchy of the Vampire world was not to be questioned and brooked no refusal. He was lucky there. Tristan grabbed his arm and pulled him aside. “You are not going to allow this!” “It is Raynor’s decision. I will not go against his express wishes.” His voice sounded dull, emotionless, but inside he was a fucking mess. “This certainly puts an end to your Concealment problems, doesn’t it?” Tristan sneered. He shook off his son’s tight grip. “Does it? You forget Raylene and Julian. It may manifest itself in them yet.” “Yet you mated with Raylene, bonded to her. Why?” He asked himself that question. A moment of weakness. He couldn’t fight it anymore. He loved her. All of the above or none of the above. He had no answer. Tristan snorted derisively at his silence. “God, Dad. Is it so hard for you to admit that you feel something? I guess Raylene will just join the other corpses in the family burial ground.
