“I didn't know you surrounded by those who think you unable to speak for yourself, Miss Kingston,” Alistair said dryly, rolling his eyes. Although the head of Clan Blackmoore knew he was younger than the man, it didn't mean anything to him – he had chewed and scratched his way up the ranks of his own family, through leaders millennia older than him. Being cowardly didn't spark a change in the world. “An attack dog should go and bark somewhere else while its master is speaking.” He bared his teeth at the older vampire.

Peeling off his gloves, just in case, Alistair gave a toothy grin at Mira – not impolitely. “I'm glad you're here on peaceful business, since I have stuff to do, but your family's presence in the Tortuga is making my own... restless.” He folded his hands behind his back, turning to face Emilia even while he still spoke to the Kingston vampires. “I'm sure yours is feeling the same, however, I advise you to put a leash on it. A vampire war in this age of technology would be [i]just[/i] what our kind needs to get ourselves exterminated – and dealing with exposures is [i]my[/i] business.”

Peering at Emilia, who seemed to have a change of heart (though was still unbearably rude), he said rather patronisingly, “After this diplomatic matter has been dealt with and our [i]guests[/i] are safely out of our territory, we're going for a bite to eat and then a little... after-dinner entertainment, but that last bit's a secret.