“I am selfish,” she said softly. “And I can be cold. But I am not unfeeling. And being with you has made me less of all those things.”
His smile was bitter. “Oh, I’m so glad I could be part of your modern humanization program.”
She forced herself to speak. “I will never apologize for taking you to my father, but I am sorry that immortality has forced you to face the things you’ve been trying to hide from yourself. I know that is not easy or comfortable.”
“Fuck you. You’re so full of shit. You’ll blame everyone and everything else to avoid your own responsibility.”
“No. I have never done that.” She considered her answer. “I have never done that about anything as important as you.”
“You’re a liar and a thief.” He stepped away. “And I can’t believe I thought we could be… more. That we could get past you betraying me. Betraying us.”
“I am a thief, but I am not lying to you.” She swallowed the ache in her throat. “And I am here when you need me. Always.”
“I don’t need you.” He walked to the door. “And when this is finished, I want you out of my life. For real and for good this time. Just get the fuck away.”
Ben flew to the forest next to the camp, hovering in the night sky and letting the air soothe his anger. It whispered along his skin, petting him and reassuring him.
Angry? He wasn’t angry. Okay, he’d had a shitty childhood, but he hit the jackpot when Giovanni adopted him, and he’d put that in the past.
His temper leeched into the darkness; the air absorbed it, enveloped it, and whispered it away. He closed his eyes and imagined being curled in Tenzin’s loft in New York, her slight body pressed to his side, her low voice reading from a familiar story.
There was once a witch who desired to know everything. But the wiser a witch is, the harder she knocks her head against the wall when she comes to it. Her name was Watho, and she had a wolf in her mind…
Ben saw Radu in the clearing, under a starlit, cloudless sky.
“Ben!” Radu rose and called to him. “Come, my friend. Come join us.”
Radu was sitting at the table with Kezia. A bottle of blood-wine was open between them, and Radu’s cheeks were flushed. Ben had a feeling he hadn’t only been feeding from the blood-wine.
He looked at them, two decadent immortals with servants hovering around them. He surveyed the other guests—rich beyond what he could imagine—tossing money at strangers to make themselves disappear into luxury while they escaped the chaos they’d likely caused in the outside world. Parasites indulging in games and wine and music every night in fairy-tale settings while others cleaned up their messes.
Ben was so tired of them.
“Radu.” He sat and nodded to Kezia, trying to mask his disdain. “Kezia, how are you?”
“Contemplating how a fine bottle of schnapps ended up spilled across my floor,” she remarked dryly. “Do you have any ideas?”
Ben didn’t feel like playing her games. “Are there earthquakes in this area?”
“Not usually.”
Radu said, “But there are earth vampires, are there not?” He laughed and nodded toward René, who was glaring at Ben from a distant table. “One of whom you invited yourself.”
Kezia smiled. “At your urging, if I recall.”
“Was it?” Radu lifted his glass. “It’s good to see old friends.”
“Like Tenzin.” Kezia looked at Ben. “I know you and Tenzin are old friends, are you not?”
“Whatever Tenzin and I are, it’s definitely more complicated than friendship,” Ben said. “Though I’m sure I haven’t known her as long as you two have.” He forced himself to smile.
“Yes.” Radu pointed his glass at Ben. “In that you are correct. I told you…” He glanced at Kezia. “Tenzin is an accomplished thief.”
You have no idea.
“Foolish men.” Kezia smiled. “Tenzin only steals things that want to be stolen.”
Radu snorted. “What wants to be stolen, my sister?”
She turned her eyes to Ben. “Some things.”
He forced himself to ignore the glaring subtext. “Whatever her reputation, Tenzin has been a good partner in the art-acquisition business,” he said. “Though obviously we only retrieve items for clients like Radu who are the true owners of a piece.” He reached for an empty glass and helped himself to some blood-wine. “Like the icon.”
Kezia and Radu exchanged a look.
“Of course,” Radu said. “So wonderful to have it back in my collection.”
“Yes,” Kezia replied. “A sacred treasure should be with its rightful owner.”
Ben turned to her. “Do you think so?”
“Absolutely.” She pouted. “Now if I could just find a new bottle of schnapps.”
Radu said, “Perhaps Tenzin could steal one for you.” He laughed uproariously and slapped Ben on the shoulder. “I am joking of course.”
He was definitely not joking. Radu still thought Tenzin had the goblet.
Ben noticed Vano lurking along the edges of the clearing. “Your brother is here,” he said. “Should we invite him for a drink?”
“Oof.” Kezia rolled her eyes. “Vano is the definition of that American phrase: buzzkill.”
Radu laughed. “I am afraid I have to agree. Vano is the businessman among us, Ben. He cares nothing for telling stories.”
“Really?” Ben openly stared at Vano as the man stared back. “I don’t know; he seems hungry.”
Kezia said, “He is always working. Work, work, work.” She rolled her eyes. “He is spending the week before Vashana asking the darigan for household inventory. Why? Let them relax!”
Radu waved a careless hand. “His motives are inexplicable.”
“Perhaps he’s worried they don’t have what they need,” Ben said.
“He should look to his own house,” Kezia said. “For mine is well-provisioned.”
Ben wondered if Kezia had as good a grip on her people as she thought. More than one revolution had started because the people were dissatisfied with the excess of their rulers. And he hadn’t forgotten what Radu said when he first took the job.
…if confidence is lost at any time, the mortal and immortal members of the Poshaniya will overthrow that member and choose another.
Ben didn’t want to probe too hard. “Tell me about this festival,” he said. “What does it commemorate?”
“It is a celebration of our sire’s day of turning,” Radu said. “During the first full moon of the summer, all the Poshani gather. It is a party of course, and a chance to catch up with friends and family.”
“But,” Kezia said. “The terrin—my brothers and I—we also take up important matters.” She glanced at Radu. “This year is particularly important for our people’s future.”
“Oh?” Ben was curious how much she’d share.
“Outsiders should take no special notice,” Kezia said. “You are invited for the parties, not the politics.”