Afterglow (Brotherhood of the Blade Trilogy #2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

All right. Do I need to sign anything to make this official?”
    “ Yes.” Lucas took some papers out of his inside jacket pocket. “I’ll give these to Jade to notarize and file with the government, when the time comes. Upon my demise, or my inability to lead us, then the castle, the land, and the daily operations and the silver, with the forge, goes to you. If you have to remove me as the leader—for example, if I got dementia or made decisions that resulted in loss of life that was my fault—there’s a power of attorney in here. And a medical power of attorney. And a living will.”
    I took a deep breath and let it out. “I hate thinking about anything happening to you and I hope I don’t have to use those documents, but okay, Lucas.”
    He handed me the pen and I began to read. “Wait a minute,” I said. “Is there a way that all of the vampire hunters could share in the property ownership, and make the responsibility for operations mine? I can’t see owning this whole enchilada by myself. I don’t really want to be stinkin’ rich.”
    Lucas opened his hands. “What do you suggest?”
    “More of a democracy. We should all be partners in it. Especially if I got…killed. It makes things easier when people share. It’s fairer,” I said. “And it doesn’t make me this unapproachable rich guy.”
    “ Am I unapproachable?” Lucas asked.
    “ Not for me, but I think too often that people automatically take your side on an issue and don’t discuss enough.”
    “ Because of my power and wealth?” he replied.
    “ Not only that. You have an imposing presence. When you walk into a room, you fill it with this take-charge energy. It’s not a bad thing, but I think that some of the less-aggressive vampire hunters don’t question your authority, and sometimes that would be healthier in a microcosm society like ours.”
    “ Hmmm. You read a lot.”
    I nodded. “All the time. Novels, political discourses, sociological papers, everything I can get my hands on.”
    Lucas steepled his fingers and stared at the contract and then at me. “Okay, I will make it—more democratic.”
    I thanked him and handed him the pen to make the changes. We talked about each clause, and some changes were made and initialed, until finally, we signed the bottom of every page and shook hands.
    “Don’t you dare die on me, Lucas.”
    “ Nah. We’re gonna live forever.” He put the lid on the Sterno can. “That’s enough cheese and bread. Let’s go to the gym and let the Sisters of the Scythe kick our asses.”
    “ Let them?” I said. “As if we could stop them. They are far quicker than us.”
    “ Don’t I know it,” Lucas said. He clapped his hand on my shoulder. “If I could pick men to be my sons, you and Rudolph would have been my sons.”
    A warmth flooded me to the core. “Thank you, Lucas. I will always try to do you honor, even after you are dust.”
    “I would expect no less of you, Rand Sebastian.”
    “ Thank you, Lucas.” I paused. “I have a favor to ask.”
    “ What do you need?”
    “ I want your permission to directly contact Samantha Moon.”
    “ You don’t need my permission. This isn’t the military.”
    “ I know. But I don’t want you to think I am going behind your back to talk to her.”
    He took a breath and let it out. “This is about your missing daughter?”
    “She’s my priority, of course, but I would also like to talk to her about Gabrielle. Samantha is this well-adjusted vampire who lives an exemplary life. She has a job and small children and she is comfortable in her own skin. We need to figure out how to help Gabrielle to adjust to being a vampire. Gabby’s writing this vampire opera like a crazed Mozart and at the end of it is a big fat death wish. She’s not making a secret of it, either. I’m afraid something horrible is going to happen when she writes the last note of her opus.”
    “ I trust your intuition.” Lucas scribbled an email address and phone number