"Mm," Armand hums agreeably, with a thoughtful smile. The name spoken so easily, but with pride, a man relishing the chance to talk about his favoured boy. Danny Johnson is both sacrifice and champion, carrying John's name into the maw of a hungry vampire. A donation.

Fractured memory: had Marius ever spoken of him in the same way, to his clients and friends, with the same wistful note of fondness? No. Set it aside.

"I don't eat often. At my age, there is no need, unless I have been exerting myself. But when I feed, I prefer to hunt for it. It's a way we honor the blood. Tell me -- your misbegotten child, the proud son of your House but not your loins -- will he run for me?"