Page 25 of Rafael (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter 28)

“Through Anita I now have a chance for some of that power.”

“You started to gain power when Anita started feeding on all of the wererats through you,” Micah said.

“As Anita and all of Jean-Claude’s people gained through the feeding,” Rafael said.

Micah nodded. “It is an amazing amount of power that you offer through the rodere, but you have gained and offered even more power together since Anita added rat to her beasts.”

“It has exceeded expectations,” Rafael said.

Since I hadn’t realized there were any expectations to exceed, I kept my mouth shut and let Micah do the talking for us. He was a better diplomat than I would ever be. “We will solve the puzzle that Narcissus has set us, and then you will be Anita’s rat to call.”

“But will you solve it in time for me to win the duels that are coming as the rodere begins to rebel at the power we are building?” Rafael asked.

“I am sorry that it is Hector that you are fighting tonight, Rafael. I know what he means to you,” Micah said.

“Have you met Hector?” I asked, turning to look at Micah.

He nodded and reached out to touch me, not in the way that Nathaniel had, but like I was his comfort object; it let me know that he was worried about the fight, too. Shit, how good was this challenger? “Rafael wanted my opinion of some of the up-and-coming wererats. I agreed that Hector was one of the most promising for a future leader, but I’m not convinced that he will ever grow into being a worthy successor to Rafael and what we have built with the Coalition.”

“You did not like Hector as much as I did,” Rafael said.

“No, I liked Luca better.”

“Hector is the better fighter,” Rafael said.

“But Luca is the better thinker,” Micah said. He hugged me a little tighter and reached around to touch Nathaniel and then pulled away from us to go to Rafael.

“If I may speak freely,” Benito asked.

Rafael nodded and said, “Of course.”

“Nestor was the best fighter we saw.”

Rafael and Micah both nodded. Claudia scowled almost as hard as she had earlier in the weight room. She didn’t like Nestor at all. “He fights like a beast,” she said.

“But he wins,” Rafael said.

“Only if it is a death match,” Claudia said. “If it is only to blood, we have seen him lose.”

“His temper can get the best of him,” Rafael admitted.

“If he controls his emotions, I would not want to face him,” Benito said.

I looked at him, because I knew that other than Rafael himself, Benito was one of their best fighters. “I think Luca and Hector are more dangerous,” Claudia said, “because they have more control.”

“Maybe, but I’d rather face them across the pit than Nestor.”

“What do you say, Micah?” Rafael asked.

“I believe I could kill Nestor if I did it within the first few seconds of the fight, because he would see a small man who is not rodere, but if I did not make the kill quickly enough and Nestor could hold his temper, I agree with Benito.”

“And the others?” Rafael asked.

“Hector is a good fighter, he’s controlled and skilled, but if a fight goes on too long, he loses concentration and makes mistakes. Either kill him quickly or stay out of reach until he grows impatient.”

Rafael nodded. “Good advice.”

“It’s why you wanted me to see all the young warriorsthat might threaten your leadership. I am surprised that Hector challenged you first. I expected Nestor to be the first.”

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