"Some people like that sort of thing even when there aren't any vampires involved," Palamedes says wryly.

Beneath this casual observation, though, Pal is a little bit unsettled--it's one thing to think about vampires drinking blood in the abstract, another to hear Max talk about giving one or two shots a week to his so-called master. The concept reminds him just a little too much of the Eighth House practice of soul siphoning.

But Max's point is a logical one. "Blood is a common tool in necromatic practice as well, though I'd have questions for any necromancer who regularly used a non-adept's blood. For our purposes it would be both less useful and, to be honest, ethically dubious." He flashes an apologetic smile. "Different circumstances, obviously."