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attle strategies. The fact that she was sitting here at all seeming semi-composed was a miracle.<br />
I assumed people who actually liked their mothers would barely be able to function in that<br />
situation.<br />
When no one else looked like they were going to answer her, I finally said, "I suppose. But… I<br />
don't know much about that."<br />
I finished the rest of my drink and averted my eyes, hoping someone else would take up the<br />
conversation. They didn't. Mia looked disappointed but said no more when Mason switched<br />
back to the Strigoi debate.<br />
I took a third drink and sank into the water as far as I reasonably could and still hold the glass.<br />
This drink was different. It looked chocolatey and had whipped cream on top. I took a taste and<br />
definitely detected the bite of alcohol. Still, I figured the chocolate probably diluted it.<br />
When I was ready for a fourth drink, the waitress was nowhere in sight. Mason seemed really,<br />
really cute to me all of a sudden. I would have liked a little romantic attention from him, but he<br />
was still going on about Strigoi and the logistics of leading a strike in the middle of the day.<br />
Mia and Eddie were nodding along with him eagerly, and I got the feeling that if he decided to<br />
hunt Strigoi right now, they'd follow. Christian was actually joining the talk, but it was more to<br />
play devil's advocate. Typical. He thought a sort of preemptive strike would require guardians<br />
and Moroi, much as Tasha had said. Mason, Mia, and Eddie argued that if the Moroi weren't up<br />
to it, the guardians should take matters into their own hands.<br />
I confess, their enthusiasm was kind of contagious. I rather liked the idea of getting the drop on<br />
Strigoi. But in the Badica and Drozdov attacks, all of the guardians had been killed. Admittedly<br />
the Strigoi had organized into huge groups and had help, but all that told me was that our side<br />
needed to be extra careful.<br />
His cuteness aside, I didn't want to listen to Mason talk about his battle skills anymore. I<br />
wanted another drink. I stood up and climbed over the edge of the pool. To my astonishment,<br />
the world started spinning. I'd had that happen before when I got out of baths or hot tubs too<br />
quickly, but when things didn't right themselves, I realized those drinks might have been<br />
stronger than I thought.
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