Chapter 138

“Sit, Stefan.” Ricard’s voice was deep and melodious.

Stefan did as he was bid. The wood bench was smooth and comfortable.

Richard stepped closer, remaining on his feet.

“Someone has been feeding in our territory,” he said.

“Yes, my lord. I have sensed it also.”

When vampires fed, others of their kind could sense the feeding across great distances, especially vampires as powerful as Ricard and Stefan.

“There are two of them, I think, traveling together,” Ricard said. “They have fed four times in the last fortnight.”

“Four times, my lord?” This was even more serious than Stefan had known. “I sensed but three. The fourth must have occurred beyond my range to detect it.”

“Once, or even twice, I could let pass,” Ricard declared, “thinking they might merely be wanderers passing through. But this is too much. We cannot risk the