Chapter 169

It pained me that the loss of our Julie still stunted him. Once upon a time Ran had intended to end his existence, but sensing his thoughts I kept him grounded by making him Julie's protector. Of course, I always needed as much help as I could get. Maybe it was selfish of me to want him to remain in existence, but the idea of losing yet another friend was not an option.

Ran's brow furrowed. "It's strange, Kim. Something is going on. Changes being made, alliances forming, and all on the Elder level." The entire vampire nation was aware that things had made a shift, but even utilizing our many contacts, no one was able to determine what or why.

What was certain was that every vampire Council in the Nation was now required to keep a strict reign over his or her territory and to monitor the behavior of both the living and the undead. Before, we kept our ear to the grindstone when it came to humans but did not interfere in their affairs. Now we had to answer for any and everything that co