by Cege Smith
She pushed up on her toes, her lips finding his. She reveled in the fact that he didn’t pull away. She lost another moment before her head cleared once again. “It matters to me. Everything about you matters to me.”
Connor sighed. “It’s a brand.”
“A brand?” The word was startling, as the only context she knew for it was in distinguishing ownership of livestock.
Connor took her hand and turned it so that the palm faced upwards. Then he traced the symbol there as he spoke. “The circle with the slash means that I belong to Alron’s coven. The triangle below it with the M inside indicates that Monroe is my sire.”
Angeline was fascinated and horrified at the same time. “Why would they do this to you? And I thought there was only one coven. Why would Alron brand his own people?”
Connor grimaced. “Think about it. The answer is obvious.”
Angeline felt the blood drain from her face. “He means to create others.”
“There was a time when there were covens all across Altera. Alron has tightly controlled the siring of any new vampires for the time being because the food sources are limited. He has promised the coven it won’t be that way forever though.”
“If the food sources weren’t limited, say because he had control of a much larger territory, then he could set himself up as a king in his own right. And he would need to be able to distinguish his coven from others.” Angeline could see the whole plot now.
If Alron either brokered a new arrangement with Angeline, or took her captive and forced an agreement, then he would achieve his objective. No doubt a young, supposedly inexperienced woman would seem the perfect target for Alron. Unfortunately for him, he had forgotten one thing. Angeline might be young. She might be inexperienced. But she was a Robart.
“I was never told the exact reason for his desire to have you brought to him, but any observer of his actions tells a compelling story,” Connor said.
“An observer like you?” Angeline’s voice was soft. There was something underlying all of it, but she couldn’t quite put it all together yet. But it felt dark and terrifying.
Connor stroked her arm lightly with his fingertips. “It’s nothing for you to worry about now. You are out of the Master’s grasp, and things are different now. You have an advantage you wouldn’t have had before, and you know more now than you would have then. You are a formidable adversary.”
Angeline crossed the room to look in the mirror. She straightened the folds of her dress and pinched her cheeks to create the illusion of color. She looked herself over critically. She had come to terms with the fact that she was a wraith, and that was why she found that she could agree with Connor’s assessment.
The knock at the door seemed to come too soon. Connor cracked it, and Angeline barely heard the murmured exchange.
“It’s time to go,” she said as soon as the door was closed again. “I need you to follow my lead.”
“Always,” he replied.
“Can you still hear me?” she said with her mind.
Connor grinned. “Clear as a bell.”
She felt a small measure of relief. “We will use that to our advantage as well.”
“Are you ready?” Connor asked, his hand on the doorknob.
“Let’s go,” she said.
Connor opened the door, and she swept outside. The moment her foot hit the threshold, she let go of everything that had happened inside the room. There she had been able to be Angeline, the woman, for a short time. Outside the room, she was Queen Angeline Mary Ellen Robart. It was a necessary, but painful distinction. She felt her heart break just a little because she could almost guarantee that she would never have Connor like that in her life again.
At the end of the short hallway, she found a familiar face that she wasn’t expecting. Tobias Jerkin, Second Seat of the Clan council.
Tobias advised her in her preparations for the Trials of Truth. He was also the one who gave her the vial of blood that supposedly came from the Immortal Ones. If his presence was supposed to inspire trust, she found that it achieved the exact opposite effect.
He bowed as she approached. “Your Highness, I trust you were able to rest comfortably.”
Angeline felt the flush of warmth rise in her cheeks. Between her nightmare and then her stolen time with Connor, she had been doing anything but resting comfortably. “You are kind to inquire,” she said, avoiding the question. “I assume you have come to advise me prior to the council meeting?”
“There were a few matters that seemed prudent for us to address outside the ears of the rest of the council members,” Tobias replied.
Angeline was sure that the man was fishing for information that he could use to his advantage to try to take control of the council. That was why she couldn’t trust him even if she wanted to.
“Any man out for his own best interests is a man who should be treated with caution” was one of her father’s favorite sayings. She knew now that she should have been paying attention her father in that same light. Perhaps he had said it because he had been trying to tell her that.
“Of course,” Angeline said smoothly. “Any advice you can offer is greatly appreciated.”
“Shall we convene in my study for a few moments?” Tobias asked.
Angeline murmured her consent. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Connor’s face darken.
“The man can’t be trusted,” he said in her mind.
“But he can prove useful nonetheless,” Angeline chided. She wanted to keep the mind chatter to a minimum. There was no guarantee that the Clan couldn’t pick up on those thoughts as well. It seemed that whatever a person imagined, magic could make it happen. That thought was so chilling that Angeline put it out of her mind before the idea paralyzed her.
When they reached the door to Tobias’s study, he looked over his shoulder at Connor and Marcus, who trailed behind them. “Your guards can wait outside.”
“I think not,” Connor said before Angeline could reply. “Marcus can stay outside.”
“The events since our arrival have been less than comforting,” Angeline said. She knew that there was no way Connor would let her out of his sight, and she didn’t want to start an argument in the hallway. “If you can simply allow him to stand on the other side of the threshold, that would be sufficient. We can speak on the other side of the room.”
Unless Tobias took the added measure of another sound barrier inside the room, with his enhanced vampire hearing Connor would still be able to listen in on their exchange.
As if he knew exactly what she was thinking, Tobias looked at Connor with a quizzical eye. “Perhaps Malin Baford should be concerned about his position?” Then he chuckled as if that idea amused him greatly. He opened the door and motioned for Angeline to step through.
She felt the ripple through her body, and didn’t have a chance to warn Connor before he entered the room behind her. Then Tobias stepped into the room and closed the door.
“I hope you understand that I also felt it was necessary to take an extra measure of precaution after last night. Extraordinary abilities that could be harmful to me are dulled while inside the confines of this room.”
Angeline saw Connor swing his head toward her. She barely caught the subtle shake of his head. They had discussed this possibility, and were counting on the fact that Connor’s immunity to magic extended beyond Theodora’s spells. The down side was that she had no such protection. Still, at least one of them would be at full strength, and that was an advantage that could be useful. She managed to keep the smile off her face.
“You will tell me how to ward against that when we meet with Theodora,” Angeline said, deliberately raising her voice to ensure that Tobias thought he had rattled her. “I assume there are non-magical means that you can give me.”
“Your Majesty, I am already in a precarious position with the council,” Tobias said. He made his way to his desk where he shuffled around some papers before finally picking one up. “There is talk
that I did something wrong in my instructions and that you didn’t really see the Immortal Ones at all.”
“Then where did I go? Were those visions all in my head?” Angeline scoffed. “Of course, that is what Theodora would say. I assume based on everyone’s reaction to my return that you were expecting something different to happen. She cannot allow anyone to doubt her complete control as First Seat.”
“It is true that we expected the true One to be more…amenable,” Tobias said, putting his glasses on his nose. He held up the paper in his hand. “But as you are aware, this is a unique and historical day for the Clan. No one has ever attempted to meet with the Immortal Ones and returned. So the fact that you did says something.”
“Assuming I can convince them that was where I was,” Angeline said.
“I will help you,” Tobias replied. “This document gives what little information we have about the Immortal Ones’ home and what they look like. I was instructed to bring this to the meeting.”
He set the paper back down on his desk and gave her a long look. “Let me gather the rest of my things, and then I will walk with you to the council chamber.” He turned his back to her and made his way to the corner of the room. He opened a small door there and continued to speak even as he stepped inside.
“Theodora and the other council members have been meeting ever since you retired, so it has been a long night for all of us…” The rest of his words were muffled, but Angeline had stopped listening anyway.
She glided to the desk and picked up the piece of paper that Tobias set down just moments before.
“He wanted you to see it,” Connor said.
Angeline simply nodded. She scanned the small, neatly printed words there and committed them to memory. She was relieved to see that the scant details the Clan did have aligned with her experience. She returned to the spot where she had been standing just as Tobias re-emerged from the closet.
“So it is in your best interests to speak only when spoken to and say as few words as possible. The more you tell her, the more ammunition you give her to hang you,” Tobias finished.
“I understand,” Angeline said. “I am confident that, by the end of the discussion, the Clan council is going to welcome me with open arms. The time you have been waiting for has finally arrived, and we will all find out what the future holds in store for us now.”
“Excellent,” Tobias said with a wide smile. He walked past his desk without a backward glance. As he approached the door, Connor opened it for him, and Tobias gave him the barest of nods in acknowledgment. Angeline knew how much of a struggle even that small gesture must have been for the councilman. The Clan had no love lost for vampires.
Although the Clan members refused to admit it, they were more like vampires than humans. Vampires lived forever as long as they consumed blood. The Clan lived extended lifespans because they consumed magic. Vampires had extraordinary physical capabilities that allowed them to be a near perfect predator. The Clan’s extraordinary mental capabilities because of their magic mastery allowed them to be manipulators of fate for anyone who lived in Altera. They were both equally dangerous to humans, and in both instances, most Alteran residents had no idea they even existed.
The most deadly enemy is the one you didn’t even know was there.
Angeline was starting to wish that Eric Robart would get out of her head.
CHAPTER TEN
Connor didn’t trust the Clan’s Second Seat at all, and he wished that he and Angeline had more time to talk and strategize. She appeared completely serene though and well in control, and so he knew that he had to trust her. She had been raised to be a queen while he had lived in the darkness and shadows for the last hundred years. The most he could hope to offer her was an alternative perspective that might be helpful.
He couldn’t believe the thought that entered his mind then. He was brute force with some knowledge, having been trained as the Master’s Honor Guard and then his subsequent years holed up in the coven’s library. But he wasn’t an advisor, and he didn’t have all the knowledge of all the players.
Angeline needed Malin Baford, as much as that idea pained him. He didn’t particularly trust Baford either, but he did know that the man cared about Angeline almost as much as Connor himself. And as he well knew, a man would do just about anything for the woman he loved.
“The Chief Advisor should be part of this discussion,” he told her grudgingly.
The slight hesitation on her next step was the only outward sign he had of her surprise.
“The Chief Advisor has other matters to attend to,” she said.
“He knows the Clan and Theodora better than anyone,” Connor argued. “If you are going to propose a negotiation of any kind, you need all the back-up you can get.”
“We are adjourning in the smaller meeting room this morning,” Tobias said, gesturing to another small hallway. “We only use the grand hall for ceremonial purposes.”
“I see,” Angeline said. “I trust everyone on the council is in fine health this morning.”
It seemed an odd comment, but Connor had been isolated from any kind of court life by design for many years.
“The council, yes,” Tobias said. “Sickness and disease have been eradicated from inside the walls of Tanagor. The impact of certain other recent pestilence is still being assessed.”
Connor allowed himself a small smile. Between he and Marcus, he knew they had killed almost twenty Clan members the evening before, almost exclusively from within the guard ranks. The Council was no doubt on high alert.
“That is unfortunate,” Angeline replied. “We averted a similar infestation within the cities walls just before I left.”
Connor’s smile dropped off his face and was replaced with a scowl. His actions in Tanagor had put him squarely in the same frame of reference as the coven’s Death Squad. Alron had sent the small contingent of elder vampires to Brebackerin to cause mischief for Angeline during her Ascension. But it had been with Connor’s assistance that Angeline’s guard was able to thwart the whole plan. He gave over Monroe and his former lover, Elvry, in the process. It seemed as if every time he went against the grain to prove himself different from his kind, he came face to face with another situation that required him to be the same or worse.
“In fact,” Angeline continued, “I want to discuss with the Council how to control the clear escalation with Alron. To attack inside Brebackerin is unacceptable, as it is a clear violation of the peace pact. I will not tolerate it.”
“The Clan is aware of Alron’s recent actions, Your Highness. We will be addressing the matter with him.”
They had arrived at the door that led to the meeting chamber. Angeline put her hand on the door even as Tobias moved to open it for her. Her violet eyes glittered in the light from the torches on the walls.
“Make no mistake, Tobias. I will not sit idly by and leave the safety of my people to the political workings of the Clan. If the Clan will not help me, I will take matters into my own hands as I see fit.”
“You will be advised of any interactions through the Chief Advisor,” Tobias said. “Of course, we wouldn’t expect to exclude your input in those decisions.” He moved to open the door, but found that Angeline had not removed her hand yet.
Connor kept his distance. He found that he enjoyed watching Angeline exert her will. If the Clan underestimated her, it would be a grave mistake on their part.
“You have neglected to mention how to ward against the type of magic spell that you used in your study,” Angeline said in a low voice.
“Oh, I’m glad you reminded me,” Tobias said.
Connor thought that the small man was likely anything but glad to be called out on his omission. As long as Connor’s immunity held though, he was certain that he would be able to protect Angeline from anything the Clan tried to do. That was their crux. They were magical people and not warriors. Angeline had told him about seeing their true faces without the protection of their magical illusion
s. They might have long lifespans, but their bodies were still frail and vulnerable. They’d be no match for his strength and speed.
“Here,” Tobias said, holding up a small bag. “Inside are a variety of herbs that will give you immunity to most of the common forms of spells.”
“What about the uncommon ones?” Angeline pressed as she took the bag from his hand and deposited it in her pocket.
“Magic based in blood is much more difficult to defend against than with mere herbs and alchemy,” Tobias said. “I would take care of any food or drink that Theodora offers.”
Angeline gave a single nod and then brought her hand down from the door. “Excellent. Thank you for your counsel, Tobias.”
Tobias opened the door, and Angeline swept by him without another glance. Connor stepped forward and saw that Tobias wanted to tell him to stay outside. “You realize that the Council is aware of all of your actions since you set foot in Tanagor? This isn’t a friendly place for you, Vampire.”
“I’ll take my chances,” Connor replied.
Tobias gave him a small grin. “Suit yourself.” He stepped aside.
As soon as Connor entered the room, he realized why Tobias had been so accommodating. A huge hulk of a man blocked his path with crossed arms. It was Bryant, the Clan’s pet vampire. Connor’s original plan while decimating the Clan’s guard was to frame Bryant for the murders. But the more blood he drank, the fuzzier that plan became, and by the time he freed himself from Theodora’s blood binding, the only thing he had been able to think about was vengeance.
“I’ll leave the two of you to sort out your differences,” Tobias said as he scooted around them. “Bryant, Theodora has specifically asked for no interruptions.”
“Understood,” the giant replied in his low, gravelly voice.
“Connor?” Angeline’s voice whipped through his mind. It was calm, but he sensed panic underlying her tone.
“I’m fine. Don’t let them think that this changes anything,” Connor replied. “Do you still have your abilities?”
“It appears so.”