“She’s not wrong, really,” Bennett said, crossing her legs. “Ever since Max started throwing these parties, he’s always used them as sort of an introduction to the younger generations who have either chosen to follow in their parent's footsteps or are yet undecided. Just like your daughters, most of the children of guardians are only familiar with whatever vampire their parents work for, and this is Max’s way of broadening their education a bit. By putting them amongst us, they can get a feel of what it’s like to be a guardian because not only will they see the breadth of our community in both guardians and vampires, they’ll also be expected to follow certain rules to the letter.”

“So this is a test?”

“Yes,” Bennett said, mindlessly looking out the window for a moment. “One of the first rules for all guardians to learn is to do as they’re told. So, those serving drinks or hors d’oeuvres will be told to do it without mingling, shadowing their parents around the room, or chatting with each other. They’re there to work, and that’s what’s expected of them. Now, to you and me, that sounds simple, but that’s not always the case for younger people. Plus, hierarchy being what it is, the older ones, the ones still in college, will oversee the younger ones. So, not only will Kenna and Fallen have strict rules to follow, they’ll be answering to people who could literally be only a year older than themselves.”

Gus burst out laughing so raucously that Bennett jumped in her seat. She waited several seconds until the man quieted enough for her voice to be heard. “You find that amusing, do you?”

“Oh, my God,” Gus said, wiping the tears from his cheeks. “I barely know the guy, but I love his sense of humor. A bunch of pimply faced teenagers telling a bunch of other pimply faced teenagers what to do has disaster written all over it.”

Bennett chuckled, thinking back on a few parties where teenage defiance tried to reign supreme. “Which is why Max does it. He needs to make certain that anyone believing themselves able to act as a guardian can rise above their issues with authority, their ego, or anything else for that matter, and act appropriately at all times. If they fail, they won’t be invited back.”

“Wow. It sounds like he’s serious about it.”

“We all are. For us, it’s the difference between living in the shadows and living a life.”

“Gotcha,” Gus said, looking at Bennett in the rearview mirror. “But I guess I would have failed that test—huh?”