I hated being backed into a corner. I hated being backed into a corner by a controlling, punchable, shavable vampire even worse. "How do I know you'll deliver on your end of the bargain? How did you find this Senate place anyway? I doubt they invited you in, you being a vampire and all."

"No, they didn't invite me." He unsheathed his sword, and my muscles coiled, preparing to duke it out with my wooden stake against sharp metal. What could go wrong?

"They didn't invite ...