This was one of the demands I thought Killian would bargain to drive me down on—I figured at best he’d send Gavino over for a day or two during the week. I was a little giddy at the thought of having Gavino on hand to train us whenever we liked. Since we added to our numbers there were almost thirty House Medeis adult wizards, and I’d probably have him do some sessions with the teenagers as well…
“If you’re willing, then I don’t think it will be a problem,” Killian said, interrupting my glee. “What else?”
For the next half hour I laid out my more strategic requirements—that we fight together but keep our Family and House business separate, and once the conflict with the Night Court was over the ties to our alliance would be looser—so he couldn’t permanently insert himself into House Medeis business.
It was mostly boring legal stuff, with a few fighting provisions—we each separately commanded our people, blah, blah, blah. (We wouldn’t have to bother with it usually, except this was Killian Drake. We needed things to be as clear and straightforward as possible, or he’d find a loop hole.) But there was one final requirement I really wanted, and I wasn’t quite sure how it would shake out.
Killian looked up from the printed paper that had my list of requirements—as recorded by Julianne on a laptop. “Is there anything else?” he asked. “Or shall we draw the documents up?”
“No, I have one last requirement.”
Great Aunt Marraine whipped her head around to look at me so quickly that the blue streak in her gray hair was a blur. She stared intently at me, and I could feel her confusion and apprehension.
I held in a wince—I hadn’t dared to tell her about this demand. I knew she wouldn’t go for it, but it was important.
I tried to seem relaxed and casual as I gave Killian a shallow, business-like smile. “I want to continue my training here at Drake Hall at least once a week for the next six months.”
Great Aunt Marraine grabbed my thigh and squeezed, and I could hear the faint wheeze of air escaping her lungs.
Undeterred, I added, “If my presence is distasteful to the vampires at Drake Hall, I can be trained at House Medeis as long as skilled vampires come to teach me.”
Since leaving Drake Hall, I had understandably stalled in my combat training.
My family was picking up on the magic skills I’d learned at Drake Hall—like the magic shield—at a much faster rate than I had. Part of that was I was able to actually show them what to do. When I’d been in their position, I was blindly feeling about with only pictures from a book to help me.
But I wasn’t satisfied with my current level of fighting. And while I could keep working on my magic abilities since the Paragon had dropped off the book, I really needed the combat experience the Drake Family provided when I practiced with them. And sadly Gavino wasn’t going to cut it, or I wouldn’t have to ask for this.
“That’s acceptable.” Killian stabbed a straw into a blood pouch and sucked it down quickly. “It will work well with my requirement.”
I warily eyed him. “And that is?”
Killian smirked, losing the business-like manner he’d held on to since we sat down. “My requirement is that once a month, during these next six months while you are getting training and support, you have to stay at Drake Hall.”
Chapter Nine
Hazel
Mr. Clark stood up and knocked his chair over. “What?”
Momoko narrowed her eyes and murmured to me, “He’s joking, right?”
“That’s not happening,” I snarled.
Killian held up a hand. “Wait a moment and think about what I’ve said. I’m asking you to stay at Drake Hall, and you already want to be here to receive training. If you keep a room here, it will be easier for you—and if you want to bring some of your wizards with you we’ll clear out rooms for them, too.”
“You can’t suddenly demand that I spend a week with you every month,” I warned him.
“I understand,” Killian said. “The length of your stay will be up to your discretion, but I will require a minimum of one night per month.”
“There’s something fishy about this.” Though Felix spoke in a lowered tone, I knew the vampires still heard him with their superior senses.
I combed a hand through the wild mess of my blond hair. “Why?” I asked.
“You are referring to?”
“Why do you want me to stay?” I pursed my lips as I studied the vampire. “Everything I’ve asked for has a clear reason. What do you get out of this?”
Killian’s smile turned bemused—but not smug. No, it was almost…sad? “Isn’t it obvious, Hazel?”
He stared at me with such intensity, my nerves made me look away. “I agree to your terms,” I said.
Great Aunt Marraine grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “Adept, are you sure about this?”
“Yes,” I said. “Though he’ll try to boss us all around and might have a go at making you all wear suits whenever you’re here, he’s not going to physically hurt us. He’ll suddenly turn colder than a prissy mean girl in high school, but we can roll with that.”
“Such an admirable depiction of me,” Killian mused as he considered an unopened blood pouch.
“You’ll have the papers drawn up?” I asked. “We’ll have to register them through the Curia Cloisters before we can sign them.”
Killian glanced at Julianne, who bobbed her head. “It’s done. Julianne will correct and format the contract. I’ll give you a copy before you leave, and submit a second copy to the Cloisters.”
I sagged a little in my chair, relieved that negotiations were over.
Killian had given in to everything I wanted—probably a ploy so he could get his one night a month. I wasn’t exactly moved by that request. It was more like I was wondering how he was going to use it—because Killian never did anything just for the heart of it.
“Splendid!” Celestina clapped her hands once and beamed at me and my wizards like a benevolent fairy godmother. “Since we’re going to be working so closely together for the foreseeable future, please allow me to give you a tour of Drake Hall as our esteemed guests!”
My retinue doubtfully looked back at me, and I felt like a mom giving permission for her kids to go play. “You guys should go,” I said. “It’s a big house, and if any of you come with me for my weekly practices, you’ll want to know your way around.”
“This way!” Celestina made her way to the door, resembling a tour guide.
I don’t think it had occurred to my family to wonder why the Drake Family’s First Knight—in other words the strongest vampire after Killian—was playing tourist with them. I was pretty sure it was because her warmer, tawny skin tone that hadn’t lost all its color when she turned and her bright personality would make them lower their guard faster. (Her personality was a tactic that had worked on me, after all.)
“Hazel,” Killian said. “Would you join me in my study?” His faint British accent was ever so slightly pronounced. But I couldn’t see anything in his expression that would indicate why.