“After overhearing you conspiring to feed me expired blood pouches, I would prefer to choose my own, thank you,” Killian dryly said.
I grinned unashamedly. “Might be a smart move on your end,” I admitted. “The kitchen is this way.”
I started to turn, planning to lead the way up the hallway, but I paused when Killian held out his hand.
He watched me, some of the red igniting in his eyes as he waited for my reaction.
Do I take it? Or is that giving too much too early…
There was something both tired and guarded in his expression—in the set of his mouth and shoulders.
This is hard for him, I realized.
There were still hidden depths to him, and he was absolutely layering his actions. (Although the sappy invite did make me blush, there was a chance he would use my presence as a shield against the others—a way to show them they didn’t need to fight because his attack dog was on the job.)
My eyes drifted to the cat hair on his suit.
But he’s trying. He’s fighting ancient instincts and basic vampire behavior to trust me.
I swallowed hard and took his hand.
His touch was as cool and soothing as always to my hot skin, and a gloating smile settled on his lips.
I was tempted to stick my tongue out at him, but something told me I’d regret that action, so I pulled on his hand. “Come on, Mr. Suspicious. The kitchen is this way.”
Killian allowed me to pull him along, and just before we got to the kitchen he lightly rubbed the top of my hand with his thumb in a caressing manner.
Yep. Those instincts he was fighting were alllll about trust.
Because Great Aunt Marraine was obsessed with time—more like morbidly curious about the vampires—we arrived at the Curia Cloisters almost an hour before the meeting started.
That gave us plenty of time to select our spot in the assembly hall—the same room I’d punched a hole through the ceiling in when I took out Solene, the Unclaimed vampire who had taken it upon herself to go on a murdering spree.
Great Aunt Marraine had campaigned heavily to sit in the balcony area—I think she wanted to be able to freely gawk at all the vampires—but I’d won the battle, so we were all safely seated in comfy, padded chairs just off to the side of the dais where Killian would sit.
Gavino, Julianne, Manjeet, and Josh all sat with us—they were why I had pushed so hard for our selected spot. I wanted the extra security they would provide—though I wasn’t worried about a vampire trying to drag one of my wizards off as a snack. (Our blood would repel them better than a can of mace.)
Since we still had plenty of time, I ventured off to make a pest of myself in the Wizard Council offices for a few minutes.
I got a very satisfying reaction—lots of moans, and a secretary on the verge of tears promised she would make a Wizard Council member review the laws I was suggesting they consider—so I left there in a pretty good mood with a hop in my step and a smirk on my lips as I moseyed my way through the Cloisters, heading back to the assembly hall.
“Adept Medeis?”
Surprised, I swung around. “Elite Bellus, hello.”
Elite Bellus smiled warmly. “Here for the vampire meeting, are you?”
“Yes. I assume you heard about my alliance with the Drakes?”
“Adept, everyone in the Midwest knows about it.”
I laughed nervously. “Yeah, I should have expected as much. How have you been since the attack? I only saw you briefly when we had to come in to give our official statements about everything that happened.”
Elite Bellus gestured for me to keep walking—since I was so much shorter than him my normal paced walk was practically a stroll for him—then clasped his hands behind his back. “I’m quite well. Please allow me to thank you again for getting me out of the building safely. Once things have calmed down some, I mean to lodge an official request that you display your shield technique for House Bellus.”
“I’m glad we could help,” I honestly said. “It’s the reason why we train so hard.”
“Yes,” he acknowledged. “I did want to talk to you a little about the attack. The Night Court is facing some pretty hefty accusations.”
“I imagine Cloister officials were not happy that they breached the neutral territory agreement.”
“Absolutely. They’ve been smacked with the worst fine I’ve ever seen in my career as the Elite. But they’re actually getting the most grief from other fae Courts.”
Puzzled, I peered up at Elite Bellus, scrutinizing the twinkle in his eyes. “Seriously? Why is that?”
“Because their actions were so inexcusable and indefensible, it immediately pitted werewolves and wizards against them,” Elite Bellus said. “Normally it’s us versus Killian so we can try to keep him from overpowering us all. But breaking the Curia Cloisters’ safe haven law is inexcusable. If we let them get off without feeling much pain, our careful balancing act in supernatural government might collapse. We can’t afford that, so we must make it obvious we won’t allow this to happen in the future.”
“Which means you’re siding with Killian,” I said.
“Exactly.” He smoothed his goatee, and a quirk of a smile made it slant oddly. “Already one law and two motions that were set to slightly benefit fae were struck done. The entire fae community is feeling our displeasure, and as such they’re going to mete justice out on the Night Court even if it means backstabbing their distant brethren.”
“What can they do?” I asked.
“More than any of us.” Elite Bellus chuckled. “Several of the Courts have broken trade agreements and various treaties with the Night Court. But I believe the biggest positive impact will be on the Night Court’s plans for war.”
I furrowed my brow. “I’m sorry…what? In what case can a war ever be considered a positive thing?”
“It’s not,” he assured me. “Rather, it’s a positive thing because I believe the other Courts might have stomped out that notion. If the Night Court chose to declare a full war on the Drakes it would be a PR nightmare for the fae—the criminal Court attacking the noble vampire Family, that sort of thing. Killian would have a field day with the spins he could put on it, and the Courts know that.”
“I don’t think Queen Nyte is going to give up just because of the bad publicity,” I said.
“She wouldn’t,” Elite Bellus agreed. “But the other Courts are basically holding a sword to Queen Nyte and Consort Ira. My sources tell me they’ve delivered an ultimatum—challenge the Drakes to a certamen, or swear to stop attacking. The Winter Queen nearly killed Consort Ira when you and the others were attacked just outside Drake land. Truthfully I think the only reason the other fae didn’t kill him is because they’re not sure yet if they mean to let Queen Nyte live.”
I whistled lowly. “Wow. That is big. And based on your wording, I assume if Queen Nyte does challenge Killian to a certamen, the other Courts won’t help?”
“Correct!”
I tugged on the sleeve of my crisp, Medeis-blue jacket. “I can’t say I’m thrilled with the idea of fighting in a certamen against the Night Court, but that will really limit the casualties, and it’s by far the best outcome we could hope for.”