Demetrius turned to his white-robed companion as the vampires, with Nicholas among them, retreated to the edge of the circle.

"Shall we begin?"

Annick nodded, motioning for the other three. Two men and a slender woman, all dressed in the same white, came forward. The dark haired woman carried a bundle. She offered it to Demetrius with a bowed head. He took it from her, shook it out. Within a moment he was dressed as they were.

"Your power is valuable," he said to ...