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“V, you know I love you like a brother, right?”

“Yeah.”

“You feed her and I’ll tear your fucking throat out.”

V smirked, then broke into a full smile. The grin was so wide he had to cover his fangs with the back of his gloved hand. “’Nuff said, my man. And just as well. I’ve never let someone take my vein before.”

Butch frowned. “Never?”

“Nope. I’m a vascular virgin. Personally, I hate the idea of some female feeding off me.”

“Why?”

“Not my bag.” Butch opened his mouth and V held up his hand. “Enough. Just know I’m here if you change your mind and want to use me.”

Not going to happen, Butch thought. Ever.

Taking a deep breath, he thanked God for Marissa’s message. And he’d been right: She’d kicked him out because she needed to feed. That had to be it. Man, he was sorely tempted to head back home, except he wanted to respect her wishes and not behave like a stalker. Besides, tomorrow night, assuming this was about blood…well, then he had something for her, didn’t he.

She was going to drink from him.

When the waitress came back with more Scotch, Rehvenge showed up at the table with her. The male’s massive body blocked out the view of the crowd which meant Butch couldn’t see the guy’s security officer. Which meant he could take a deep breath.

“My people keeping you wet enough?” Rehv asked.

Butch nodded. “Very wet.”

“That’s what I like to hear.” The Reverend slid into the booth, his amethyst eyes scanning the VIP section. He looked good, his suit black, his silk shirt black, his mohawk a dark cropped stripe that ran front to back on his skull. “So I want to share a little news.”

“You getting married?” Butch tossed back half the new Lag. “Where you registered? Crate and Bury ’Em?”

“Try Heckler and Koch.” The Reverend opened his jacket and flashed the butt of a forty.

“Nice little poodle shooter you got there, vampire.”

“Put a hell of a—”

V cut in. “You two are like watching tennis, and racquet sports bore me. What’s the news?”

Rehv looked at Butch. “He has such phenomenal people skills, doesn’t he.”

“Try living with him.”

The Reverend smirked, then grew serious. As he spoke, his mouth barely moved and his words didn’t carry far. “The Princeps Council met night before last. Issue was mandatory sehclusion for all unmated females. The leahdyre wants a recommendation passed and submitted to Wrath ASAP.”

V whistled under his breath. “A lockdown.”

“Precisely. They’re using my sister’s abduction and Wellesandra’s death as the rationales. Which is some powerful shit, as it should be.” The Reverend locked eyes with V. “Word to your boss. The glymera is pissed off at these civilian losses all around town. This motion is their warning shot across Wrath’s bow and they are dead serious about passing it. The leahdyre’s all up in my grill because they can’t hold a vote unless every member of the council is in the room, and I’m a consistent no-show. I can put off the meeting for a little while, but not forever.” At that moment, a cell phone went off in the Reverend’s jacket and he took the thing out. “And what do you know, here’s Bella now. Hey, sister mine—” The male’s eyes flashed and his body shifted. “Tahlly?”

Butch frowned, getting the distinct impression that whoever was on that line was a female and not of the sister kind: Rehvenge’s body was suddenly throwing off heat like a banked fire.

Man, you had to wonder what kind of woman would tangle with a piece of work like the Reverend. Then again, V was obviously getting laid, so those kind of females were out there.

“Hold on, tahlly.” Rehv frowned and got to his feet. “Later, gentlemen. And drinks are on me tonight.”

“Thanks for the heads-up,” V said.

“I’m such a model fucking citizen, aren’t I?” Rehv sauntered down to his office and shut himself away.

Butch shook his head. “So the Reverend’s got a chippie, huh?”

V grunted. “Pity that female.”

“For real.” As Butch’s stare drifted, he tensed up. That hard-ass female with the men’s haircut still had her eyes on him in the shadows.

“Did you do her, cop?” V asked softly.

“Who.” He kicked the tail end of the