Bennett looked at the dark liquid in the goblet, sniffing it once before taking a drink. Her mistake was taking a drink and not a sip, and a moment later, she was fighting to breathe.

“Sorry,” Max said with a laugh. “I should have told you it’s got quite a bite to it if you drink it like water.”

Bennett coughed for a few more seconds, and placing the cup on Max’s desk, she pushed it as far away as her arm was long. “It’s hot.”

“That’s the alcohol, and the heat you’re feeling is no doubt due to the amount you put in your mouth. Give it a minute, and the sting will dissipate.”

“What’s dissipate?”

“It means dissolves. Goes away.”

“Oh.”

Their heads turned in unison when Victor came back into the room. “They’re gathered as you asked, m’lord.”

“Good, then let’s get this over with,” Max said, getting to his feet.

Bennett stood up, and cognizant of her place, she followed Max on his heels to the mezzanine outside his study which overlooked the great hall. Below them, stood over two dozen of Max’s people.

Max walked up to the railing and looked down at his kind. “I apologize for interrupting your evening festivities, and this shan’t take long, nor is it up for discussion,” he said, his low timbre easily carrying throughout the cavernous space. “Someone reminded me earlier tonight that life is not always easy. However, when the choice is between being monstrous and being decent, we must choose decency. Therefore, from this night forward, when you go to feed, children will not be harmed in any way. The young are now off-limits, and they will not be left parentless, so choose your mortals wisely. We have means to feed without murder, and while the taste of livestock’s blood isn’t as delicious on our palate, it also does what we need it to do.” Max glanced at Bennett and then back at his people, who were now muttering amongst themselves. “I am not saying, however, that all mortals will escape with their lives. I’m merely demanding that we work harder at taming the beast that lives inside each of us. Now, go back to your rooms and enjoy your evening. I bid you good night.”

Max spun on his heel, and Bennett, again, was his shadow. Once inside the study, Max shut the door and returned to his chair, not saying another word until Bennett sat down as well. “It seems I’ve just taken your argument off the table, and in case you don’t understand what that means, I can’t go back in time and correct our mistakes. What I can do, I just did. No more children will be harmed, at least not by my coven.”

“There are other covens?”