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J.R.:

(waits for him to say something) So I’m asking about him.

Wrath:

(annoyed) Look, what do you want me to say? He went into the woods to die. Lassiter brought him back to people who remind him every day of his dead shellan. He needs to feed, and of course he’s refusing, and I don’t blame him for that at all. He’s weak and angry and he just wants to be dead. That’s how he’s doing.

J.R.:

(knowing not to push any more) Is it weird having Lassiter around?

Wrath:

(laughs tightly) That angel is a thing all right. I don’t mind him all that much, and I think he knows it. He took a bullet for me once.

J.R.:

I’d heard. Do you feel like you owe him?

Wrath:

Yeah.

J.R.:

He and V don’t get along.

Wrath:

No, they don’t. (laughs) That’s going to be fun to watch. It’s like two pit bulls in a cage whenever they’re in the same room. And before you ask, no, I don’t know all the ins and outs, and I’m not asking.

J.R.:

Talking about ins and outs . . . about the glymera—

Wrath:

Shit, why do you want to ruin a perfectly nice evening.

J.R.:

Well, I was going to ask you how you felt about Rehvenge being appointed Leahdyre of the Princeps Council.

Wrath:

(roars with laughter) Okay, you’re so forgiven. Man, what a trip that is. Who the fuck would have thought that’d happen? A symphath. Leading that group of insular, prejudicial bastards. And they have no idea he is one. Plus, come on, Rehv’s on my side in this growing civil unrest they’re trying to stir up after all the raids by the Lessening Society. They’ve just appointed someone who thinks the aristocrats are as nuts and as destructive as I do.

J.R.:

But do you trust Rehv?

Wrath:

As much as I trust anyone who’s not my brother or Beth.

J.R.:

So the fact that he’s half symphath—

Wrath:

Hold up. He’s a symphath. Whether his blood’s half-and-half is irrelevant. You got any of that shit in you, you’re a symphath. That’s why that colony up north of here was created. They are dangerous.

J.R.:

So that’s why I’m asking if you trust him. I thought they were all sociopaths.

Wrath:

They are, and so is he. Here’s the thing, though . . . with symphaths, the one thing you can take to the fucking bank is their self-interest. Rehv loves his sister. Bella’s married to a Brother. Therefore, Rehv will do nothing to hurt them or me. That math holds in all situations.

J.R.:

Do you think the glymera poses a threat to you as king?

Wrath:

Look, straight up? I don’t like them and never have, but shit knows I don’t want them dead. Right now they’re fragmented, out of Caldwell, and they’re scrambling. The longer that goes on, the better for me, because it gives me time to gather the reins as best I can and try to give people a vision to get through this. As long as I have a base of support among the larger group of civilians, I’m fine. And let’s face it, the glymera isn’t about inclusion, so it’s not as if your average vampire feels an allegiance to them.

J.R.:

What is your vision for the future?

Wrath:

Change. Phury’s absolutely right, we need to adapt if we’re going to survive, and the old rules are killing us. I’ve already outlawed slavery. I’m changing the rules about soldiers and the Brotherhood. The Chosen have been set free. And there are a hundred other things I need to recast, rethink, redo.

J.R.:

About the Brotherhood. So that means Blay and Qhuinn could be Brothers?

Wrath:

Assuming they get enough experience under their belts and can rise to the level. The threshold for being a Brother is going to be set very high in terms of skills. Blood’s not going to get you in anymore, how you fight will. And I’m freeing up other restrictions. You know, Qhuinn is John’s private guard, and in the past that would have disqualified him, but not anymore.

J.R.:

I’m surprised that you let him and Blay into the house. Glad, actually.

Wrath:

(after a moment) Well . . . Darius built that place, and he loved having people around. Those two boys are tight, and shit knows,