by Cege Smith
“What are you implying, Vampire?” Malin’s hands were clenched into tight fists on top of the table.
Angeline reached out and put her hand over Malin’s and drew his eyes to her. “He’s saying that the Clan may be acting outside of your purview, Malin. And before you disagree with him, remember the conversation you had last night in the stairwell. Surely you heard as clearly as I did that the Clan had more secrets up their sleeve that they aren’t sharing with you.”
Malin turned pale. “How do you know about that conversation?”
“I followed you,” Angeline said. She wasn’t going to apologize for it.
“What did you hear?” Malin looked defeated.
“I heard you arguing for the Clan to do something more to bind my wraith. It’s the reason I am trusting you now,” Angeline said honestly. “But it also sounded like the Clan is planning to take control of my throne, with or without me on it. We will come back to that.” Malin’s shoulders slumped and he fell back against the chair. “Do you know how Monroe is planning to go after Malin?”
“Yes,” Connor said. He seemed hesitant now. “The woman that you met, Lady Redley. Her real name is Elvry and she is one of the vampires that Monroe brought into the city.”
Connor’s words brought a blood rush to Angeline’s ears. She shot up and started to pace as her heart beat furiously in her chest. “That smell,” she hissed. “And the way that my wraith reacted to her. I should have known. I should have listened. How could you have not known?” She glared at Malin. “We had a vampire in the same room with us. She was standing not more than ten feet away from me! All these words about keeping me safe from harm and you let a vampire waltz right in! And you!” She swung her head toward Connor. “You knew that she was going to be there, didn’t you? And still you let me walk into that room anyway.”
“It wasn’t Elvry’s intention to cause you physical harm, Majesty.” Connor voice was pained. “I need you to understand that I have been forced to do some things so that my true intentions were not detected.”
Angeline knew then that it was Lady Redley, or Elvry’s, perfume that she smelled on Connor’s jacket. Her stomach turned as she thought of him touching that woman. She wondered what other things he had done that he wasn’t telling her.
“The vampire is right.” Malin’s voice broke through her thoughts. “You are absolutely right, Majesty. I should have detected her true nature the moment that I saw her. But I sensed nothing from her. If what you say about my behavior is true, and I don’t remember any of it, then magic was involved. I am sorry that I failed you.”
Angeline spun around and walked to the other side of the room. She couldn’t look at either one of them. She struggled to control the very human emotions that were threatening to overwhelm her. It had nothing to do with her wraith, other than the fact that the emotions were amplified.
“I will deal with Elvry,” Connor said. “I have also already taken the liberty of telling Rhone where he and his men can find Monroe’s hiding place in the city. I believe you know that he kidnapped children this morning?”
Angeline sighed. She nodded but still refused to look at him.
“He will find them there. I told him to burn the place down.”
“You sent Rhone and a bunch of unprepared men into a vampire’s nest?” Malin’s voice, although sarcastic, was tired.
“The general is no weakling,” Connor said. “We are only three. We have enough problems here. There is one vampire intent on cutting you off from your Clan. More importantly, whatever magic was keeping the queen’s wraith at bay is weakening at an alarming rate. Based on what we know, I don’t think we can trust the Clan’s intentions at the moment. We are running out of time and we need to take matters into our own hands.”
“What are you proposing, Connor?” Angeline asked. She felt like there were eyes watching her and she found herself looking up at a portrait of her father hanging on the wall. She thought how disappointed he would be in her right now. Things were falling apart around her.
“Once I take care of Elvry, we can rest assured that we will still have access to the Clan. I think that it is time you took your request to them directly,” Connor said.
“Impossible!” Malin said. “Even if she could find them, they will not give her an audience.”
“You told me that the Clan had a legend,” Angeline said slowly. “A legend says as long as a Robart is on the throne there will be peace.”
“Yes,” Malin said. “But as you heard last night, the Clan may have found a way around that.”
“They cannot deny me if I present myself to them. They won’t,” Angeline said.
“How can you be so certain?” Malin asked.
“Because I’m a Robart,” Angeline said simply. “I will make them an offer that they cannot refuse.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“What are you saying?” Connor wasn’t sure that Angeline even understood the enormity of what she was thinking.
“As you are asking me to trust that you can take care of this…Elvry, you have to trust me that I know what I’m doing with the Clan,” Angeline said.
“You have duties, responsibilities,” Malin argued. “You can’t just leave. If you want to keep the throne, our wedding takes place in two days. Between now and then there are required ceremonies and festivities still for you to fulfill.”
“We need a witch, or a warlock,” Connor said thoughtfully, looking in Malin’s direction. Then he addressed Angeline again. “We just need the people to see you here. I assume that most of these ceremonies are simply things you must attend. I can compel someone to act like you, but I can’t make them look like you.”
The idea of an impersonator was risky, and he knew that she wouldn’t like it, but it was the only way that she would be able to leave the palace and find the Clan with the little time that they had.
“I don’t think I care for that idea,” Angeline said. Her expression was vexed and he watched her chew on her lower lip. “But I admit that if we could make it happen, it would make sense. Assuming Malin can help us find the Clan.”
It looked like the Chief Advisor was trying to make himself invisible. “You don’t know what you are asking me to do, Majesty.”
“I am asking you to help your queen,” Angeline said, lifting her chin. “I can feel the bindings weakening around the wraith even as we speak. Every moment that I wait for the Clan to decide if they will help me or not is another moment that it grows stronger and I lose more control.”
Malin straightened. He made his way to Angeline’s side and took her hand. The hair on the back of Connor’s neck rose as he watched the intimate interplay. He felt the growl build in the back of his throat. But he kept his feet planted to the ground. Angeline had been very clear that she needed Malin’s help and didn’t want Connor interfering in her ability to secure it.
“You of all people know how important family is,” Malin said. “That is why what you are asking of me is so difficult. I myself am not able to harness as much magic as you will require; my path has always been to co-exist here so my abilities are limited. If you require a witch I will deliver one to you, but you must understand what you are asking me to do. The woman that you saw me speaking to last night was my sister.”
Connor saw Angeline’s stricken face and felt the waves of her despair as if they were sharing a skin. He clenched his fists to keep from moving. He felt a sudden affinity for the Chief Advisor, which was surprising. Betrayal against family was an unforgiveable sin. He knew that better than anyone.
“You never told me you had a sister,” Angeline said.
“Every Baford generation bears twins,” Malin said. “The boy grows up and becomes the Chief Advisor to the throne. The girl grows up in direct service of the Clan.”
“Your sister is a witch.” Connor wasn’t asking, but merely confirming.
Malin looked at him. “Yes.”
“I can compel her to use her magic to help us then. Given h
er unique insight into the queen’s life, she actually would be an ideal choice as opposed to a servant or someone else who was not nearly as close to the life of a royal,” Connor said. He felt that it was necessary to keep the other two focused. If Malin thought too long on it, there was a good chance he would change his mind. Angeline couldn’t afford that.
“You are supposed to meet her at mid-afternoon,” Angeline said. They all looked out the window. The sun, which was visible again through the light cloud cover, had begun its slow descent in the western sky. “How do we get her to cooperate?”
Connor was amazed at Angeline’s ready acceptance of his plan, and that worried him. That could only mean that she was growing desperate. “I don’t have a lot of time before Elvry is going to miss me,” Connor said. “I will need to return and find her before she causes any more mischief.”
“She’s older than you,” Malin said. Connor wondered if the man was stalling as his mind tried to process what they were doing. “She’ll kill you before you can kill her.”
“Not if she doesn’t see it coming,” Connor said. “She believes me to still be loyal to the Master.” Before Malin could ask him anything further, Connor pressed on. “I will go with you to meet your sister. As long as you can ensure I can get close enough to her without her seeing me, I can do what needs to be done. That means you are going to need to draw her into a place out of the path of direct sunlight.”
“How can you be so sure that she’ll be susceptible to your compulsion?” Malin asked.
“I’m not,” Connor admitted. “But we have to try. If it works, we will proceed with the next step.”
“And if it doesn’t?” Angeline’s voice quivered.
“Malin will be able to deny knowing anything about it,” Connor said. “And we will find a way to try again.”
Angeline’s eyes were anxious. “What if she hurts you?”
“I am not worried about any witch,” Connor said with a smile. Inside, he wasn’t so certain, but he wasn’t going to let her know that. “All of this centers on the Chief Advisor here keeping his word, though. If he raises the alarm then all will be lost.”
Angeline turned back to Malin. “Malin?”
Baford’s face was ashen. “I could not stand the idea of any harm coming to you. I will do what needs to be done to help you. Anything you ask.”
“I’d like you to let Connor read your mind.”
Baford’s face contorted and Connor felt a small amount of glee. He would be able to tell Angeline with absolute certainty one way or another if Baford was trustworthy. “I can do it without your permission, of course, but it is easier if you comply,” Connor said.
Baford looked away but Connor saw the slightest nod of his head. Connor reached his mind out. In that moment, Connor realized that the Chief Advisor was truly in love with Angeline. He could feel it because the intensity of the emotion was so raw and unwavering that it completely filled the man’s mind.
Connor’s skin bristled. He didn’t want to share Angeline with anyone, but he realized that he would be forced to in this instance. It was for Angeline that they were doing all of this. His only solace was that as long as Baford believed that Connor was helping Angeline as well then there was no reason for the Chief Advisor to turn on him. At least, not yet.
Angeline was watching him carefully.
“Majesty, the Chief Advisor has no plans to betray us,” Connor said stiffly. He wasn’t going to tell her anything else that he saw in Baford’s mind. “May I suggest that you return to your rooms so that we can carry out our plan?” Connor asked. “I assume that you have no additional appearances until the Ball this evening?” Angeline shook her head. He could tell that she was exhausted. “One more thing. May I have a few minutes alone for a word, Majesty?”
Her violet eyes found his but were unreadable. “Malin, please wait for Connor outside.”
Connor could see that Malin was about to protest, but Angeline’s stare silenced him. Baford made a quick bow.
“Two minutes. She hates when I’m late and that will make this task even more difficult,” he said, as he passed by Connor’s shoulder.
As soon as the door closed Connor crossed the room and pulled Angeline into his arms. He felt her collapse into them. He stroked her hair. “You just need to hold on a little bit longer. I will take you to the Clan and we will make them cure you.”
Her head lifted and he could see that there was doubt in her eyes. “I have to make them do it,” she said. “I feel…wild inside. The cravings are starting to gnaw at me. I fear to be around my subjects.”
“Baford and I will take care of the witch, and then I will deal with Elvry. We will leave tonight,” Connor said. “You will be safely away and I will help you maintain control until we find them.”
“Do you care for her?” Angeline’s question was unexpected, and he realized that she was talking about Elvry. He had to tell her what had happened in his past, and that she had nothing to worry about, but this wasn’t the time for confessions.
“Elvry means nothing to me,” he said honestly. “You are all that matters.” He felt it important to remind her and she offered no resistance as his lips claimed hers. Her arms slid around his waist and she pulled him closer. Her fingers dug into his back and he felt the hunger and need radiating from within her. He tried to drag his lips away from hers but she wouldn’t let him. Suddenly their roles had changed and she was the aggressor. He felt her lips move from his mouth down the side of his neck and it took everything he had not to groan with pleasure. It was the sucking against the crook of his neck that brought him back to the present.
He gripped her shoulders and firmly pushed her away. “Majesty,” he said. Her face was flushed and her chest heaved. She pushed against his arms, trying to get close to him again. “Angeline, I need to go.”
Finally her eyes cleared. “I wanted…” She faltered. “I wanted to do more.” Her voice was small.
“I know, but you can’t do that,” Connor said. “The wraith is driving you to drink blood, and drinking my blood would be dangerous for you.”
He saw the dots starting to connect in her mind. “Is it possible that I could become a vampire?”
“I don’t know, but you shouldn’t ever chance it,” Connor said. “If you drink blood, any blood, I fear your wraith will become uncontrollable. For now you are still at least partly human. Do you want me to escort you back to your chambers?”
“No.” Angeline shook her head. Her voice was shaky but he saw that for the moment she was still there.
“Meet us there. We will be there with the witch as soon as we can,” he said. He kissed her gently on her forehead. “Be careful.”
He strode from the room before she could call him back. He knew that if she did, he wouldn’t be satisfied with a simple kiss goodbye. For a moment he allowed himself to consider taking Angeline as his own. As a wraith, she would more than a match for him in strength and desire. The idea sent warm shivers of arousal through him. He cleared his throat as he opened the door to the hall.
Baford stood there waiting for him. “What about the guard?”
Connor had forgotten about him. He pulled the man back into the hallway and stood him up as Baford closed the door behind them. The man was starting to moan and Connor slapped him hard so that his eyes fluttered opened. “Look, Chief Advisor, the man is drunk.”
The guard’s head rolled and saw Baford standing there. His eyes widened.
“I will need to speak to Rhone,” Baford said. Connor was impressed that not only had the Chief Advisor figured out the ploy, but he was also playing along.
“I’m not drunk!” the guard started to protest. “I was standing right here.”
Connor let go of him and the guard wobbled. “See? You’re drunk.” Connor felt the moment the compulsion took hold in the man’s mind. “You’re so drunk that you are going to walk around the corner and pass out. You will stay there until Rhone finds you.”
The guard im
mediately turned on his heel and swayed down the hallway, his arm outstretched to keep his balance. They heard the collapse of metal on stone as soon as he was out of sight.
“Was that really necessary?” Baford said.
“The welt across his face is going to be easier to explain.” Connor shrugged. “Let’s go.”
They walked in silence and Connor followed Baford’s lead. “You care for her,” the Chief Advisor finally said. “She didn’t tell me about that.”
“I only want her to be safe,” Connor replied. He had no desire to discuss whatever he and Angeline had with her betrothed. It was a bitter reminder that he had no hold on her and no rights to her.
“That is all I have ever wanted since the day I fell in love with her,” Malin said. “I never expected to love her. It appears that it will be my downfall.”
“Anything done in the name of love is honorable,” Connor said.
“Even betraying your family?” Malin said bitterly.
“Yes, even that,” Connor said, thinking about the fact that his sire was likely now dead. He had killed his human father and even though he had not been the one to actually raise a hand against Monroe, his actions had condemned him nonetheless. He wondered again what Angeline could possibly see in him.
Malin held up his hand for Connor to stop. He pointed at the stairwell in front of them. “You should go down this one. Go to the very bottom and make your way across to the south stairwell. Stay out of sight. I will bring her to you.”
Connor nodded and started to descend the stairwell, then stopped. He looked up at Malin. “What’s your sister’s name?”
“Corrinda,” Malin said. Then the Chief Advisor grimaced and walked away. Connor understood.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Angeline felt her body shudder as Connor left the room, dragging her guard behind him. She made her way over to the table and took the teacup and sipped the cooling liquid. Like that morning, she immediately felt a calm sweep over her. She sighed with relief. It wasn’t like her at all to throw herself so wantonly at a man, but her feelings for Connor seemed to be growing in intensity by the moment. She knew part of it was the wraith, but part of it was also that every time she needed him, he was there.