Chapter 44

“But do you doubt that I’m correct?”

“No,” I had to admit. “How many…or rather, what percentage of your Children, have survived past their Fledgling years and become what you hoped?”

He grimaced. “Far fewer than I have wished, and even less these days. As I said, too many want to use their abilities to live…wantonly I suppose you could say. They certainly aren’t interested in expanding and improving the vampire stock. Then there are those who have fallen prey to their baser instincts, resulting in their elimination by those of us who don’t want our presence revealed.”

“You’re talking about us as if we were merely animals, like cows or horses.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to. We are muchmore than that and you know it. It’s the only way I can think to phrase my concerns that makes sense. Be that as it may…” He spread his hands as if resigned to what was happening, although I doubted that was the case. “And we have gotten off topic, haven’t we?” He smiled wryly.