Everything has a price.

I suppose [...] that the most convincing way to fool an enemy would be to fool a friend.

Vlad hated doing the paperwork as much as he did when a human employee quit, which was why they'd both made a promise not to eat quitters just to avoid the paperwork. As Tess had pointed out, eating the staff was bad for marale and made it so much harder to find new employees.

When honor and the Law no longer stand on the same side of the line, how do we choose[?]

Stubborn, snarly male.

It is easier to kill than to heal. It is easier to destroy than to preserve. It is easier to tear down than to build. Those who feed on destructive emotions and ambitions and deny the responsibilities that are the price of wielding power can bring down everything you care for and would protect. Be on guard, always.

Not fault of teaching spider if little spider pay more attention to catching fly than doing lesson.