The Rift Walker

by Clay Griffith

  The coronation of Empress Adele had sent the capital into a frenzy of delight and celebration. However, not all of the centers of imperial powers were quite so pleased. Many of the old families were mortified that the new empress had betrayed the great Senator Clark, sent him away, and replaced him with some masked brigand she wasn't even married to. The Persian lurkers would begin to seek undue influence on imperial affairs, as if they didn't already have it. The more fractious provinces would push for greater autonomy. Commerce might suffer and the cost of doing business would soar. Equatoria's foreign partners might lose confidence, and Lord Aden might lose money.

  These were the very disasters that his old friend, Lord Kelvin, had fought to prevent. How ironic. Kelvin had nothing but the good of the Empire at heart; he distrusted Princess Adele, hated Senator Clark, and feared the impact of a long, exhausting war in the north. To prevent his fears from coming about, he had sought the assistance of humankind's greatest enemies.

  However, there were secrets even Lord Kelvin didn't know.

  The scratching outside grew more insistent until finally the handle of the ornate French doors turned. Aden looked up but never flinched at the sight of a nearly bare-breasted female walking toward him, her throat covered by a purple silk scarf.

  The vampire's lips curved into a wicked smile around her teeth. “We have much to discuss, you and I.”

  “Quite,” replied Aden, lounging back in his chair and sipping his drink. “Everything has changed, Flay. I fear we must prepare for an uncertain future.”

  CLAY AND SUSAN GRIFFITH are married. Coincidentally, they write together and have published books, short stories, and graphic novels. They share a love of adventure stories, sprawling epic romances, pulp-action tales, Victoriana, and dark fantasy. And since they both like those things, they put them all in the Vampire Empire trilogy.

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