Life After Humanity

by Gillian St. Kevern

  “You designed it that way.” Ben shook his head. “Does Saltaire know?”

  “I’m almost certain he has worked it out, but he says nothing.” Hunter waited while the waiter checked that the exit was clear and then slipped out of the room. “Akihiro, once again, it was a pleasure.”

  “Anytime,” Aki said fervently.

  “I am not sure I will see you again after this, Ben. I will not try to look for you—”

  “I’ll keep in touch.” Ben said.

  Nate swallowed. He’ll keep in touch with Hunter—but I don’t get any contact!

  Hunter paused in front of Nate. “It occurs to me that I owe you an apology. I should have remembered that you have Ben’s best interests at heart.”

  Nate felt himself ungainly and in the way. He muttered something unintelligible, even to himself. Hunter smiled, and with a last look back over his shoulder—“Don’t be a stranger, Ben.”—stepped through the door, leaving a disconcerting silence behind him.

  Chapter Eleven

  BEN BREATHED OUT slowly, taking stock of his mental state. It was only after a master vampire left that you realized how far under his influence you had been. With Hunter in the room, he’d felt drunk, his thoughts filtered through a crimson lens.

  “So even Ben’s hot vampire brother has met your twin—and I, your best friend, don’t get an invite? How is that fair?” Aki rounded on Nate.

  “Ben’s vampire brother didn’t wait to be introduced.” Nate held up his hands. “And like I keep telling you, Ethan doesn’t do relationships.”

  “Whatever.” Aki downed the remainder of his wine and put his glass down. “Hunter agrees that you’ve been very rude.”

  Ben winced. Hunter had ample time to pump Aki on the details of Nate’s past. Although… He interrupted the argument between Nate and Aki. “You didn’t tell Hunter that I was human.”

  Aki shrugged, stretching as he stood. “He never asked. If he’d asked, I don’t think I’d have had a choice.” His gaze flickered to Nate. “I figured that was classified info, so I played down that angle—so you can stop telling me that I didn’t know what I was doing.”

  “You—!” To Ben’s surprise, Nate pulled Aki into a hug. “Don’t scare me like that. I was that worried—”

  Unacceptable! Ben took a step toward them, his fists clenched. My consort should know better—

  Consort? Ben came to an abrupt halt. Where did that come from?

  He unclenched his hands, taking stock of his reactions. The stab of unreasonable anger melted away, leaving his shoulders tensed. There was no increase in his breathing. Ben pressed his fingers to his mouth, knowing what he would find before his fingers even brushed his fangs. The vampire’s back.

  Aki wriggled free of Nate’s hold, brushing his hair back into order. “Look, after all the heart attacks you’ve given me, Mr. ‘I Run Toward the Danger,’ I think I’m allowed one vampire.” He dusted off his shoulder with a casualness that didn’t fool anyone. “So…do you think I made an impression on Hunter?”

  Nate gave him a distinctly unimpressed look. “What happened to all the advice you gave me about why getting involved with a vampire is a terrible idea?”

  Aki stuck his tongue out. “You ignored it. I can, too.”

  Nate let out an impatient huff of breath, turning toward Ben in silent entreaty. The vampire purred in satisfaction. Ben found the unconscious gesture touching. He put his hand on Nate’s arm. “Let’s go. It’s already been a long night.”

  “Yeah.” Nate opened the door. “Here’s hoping we’ve seen the end of it.”

  AS THEY MADE their way toward the gallery, loud voices floated up from the ballroom beneath them. Wisner’s strident tones were instantly recognizable. Ben drew back. If he sees me here, I’m finished.

  Aki had no such misgivings. “God. I cannot believe the guy just invited himself into a Vampire Senate meeting. He’s practically asking to be politely beaten up.”

  Ben winced—Aki had clearly bought into the polished veneer vampires liked to present—but before he could stop him, Nate had joined Aki at the railing.

  “You’re very well-informed about vampires suddenly.”

  “Hunter gave me a primer on vampire politics.”

  “Thrilling.”

  Aki sighed gustily. “I could listen to him talk about patron client relationships all night. That voice, Nate!”

  Ben hesitated. Have they forgotten I’m here?

  “So why is Wisner here?” Nate asked, looking down at the gathering.

  Aki shrugged. “I don’t know. I think he just insisted on having a hearing, and the senate decided to indulge him. I bet they regret that now—listen to him!”

  Wisner was not taking pains to endear himself to his hosts. “I was under the impression that the vampire families conducted their meetings in a more formal setting. Standing around, addressing a crowd from the middle of a dance floor is not my idea of civilized.”

  “How we conduct our meetings is our business, Councilor.”

  Who spoke? Was that Genevieve? Despite himself, Ben crept closer to the railing. He could see the back of Wisner’s head and took some comfort in the fact that Wisner was fully occupied with the vampires surrounding him in a loose half circle.

  Genevieve inspected her nails with studied indifference. “No nonvampire is ever admitted to our meeting. It is an honor to be allowed to address our gathering at all.”

  One of the two men standing on either side of Wisner gave a low growl. An answering ripple went through the crowd, with several of the younger vampires baring their teeth and adjusting their posture.

  “I believe one of the conditions of your escort accompanying you was your word that they would not provoke any quarrel.” Hunter spoke with the same indifference, but there was a note of warning in his voice. “Perhaps you wish to leave?”

  Wisner made an effort to control himself. “You will forgive my men. They are on edge. The current situation in the city is most unsettling.”

  “At last,” drawled a vampire from the back of the crowd. “I fancy the councilor is finally getting to business.”

  Wisner shot him a venomous look. “My message is simple. I come not only to request your cooperation in the speedy recovery of the missing werewolf, but to make you an offer.”

  This time it was the senior vampires who reacted. Genevieve shared a look with Hunter and Allard, before she turned to Wisner. “We were not informed of this.”

  Wisner smiled. “I’m informing you now.”

  “Changing the script on a vampire,” Aki whispered. “Not a good idea.”

  Ben nudged him. “Quiet.”

  Wisner glanced around the crowd in front of him, assured that he had their full attention. “Vampires have long enjoyed the hospitality of the city of New Camden. For many centuries, you’ve had homes here, and you’ve been long invested in the city itself. In fact, you’ve come to view the city as yours. You enjoy a special position in its hierarchy and enjoy preeminence among its supernatural citizens. That ended with the necromancer’s attacks.”

  The ballroom was still. Wisner had the vampires’ attention, all right.

  “You may have permission to speak,” said Allard stiffly. “But I wouldn’t suggest you try our patience. We do not take being insulted in our own place lightly.”

  “What insult? I speak of the truth. You must all have noticed that with so many of your number…culled…in the riots that followed, vampires have lost their former eminence. Your numbers have declined—”

  “Those who died were no loss.” Allard wiped dust from his sleeve. “They were impetuous youths who had not learned to master their hunger. They are as different from us as you are from a true wolf.”

  Wisner’s eyes flashed. “That isn’t how the public sees it. Or how the council does. I’m here to warn you that your way of life is under further threat—unless you take action to undo the harmful impressions acting against you.”

  “What does he want?” Nat
e murmured.

  Ben cast a look down at the crowd. Fortunately, all the attention was on Wisner. “Nothing good.” He stepped back from the railing and gave Nate a tug. Reluctantly, Nate stepped back.

  “You have two choices. Cling to your traditions and see your influence and power wane, until you lose all your privileges and are hunted from the city. Or adapt to your changing circumstances by joining an unparalleled alliance of werewolves and vampires.”

  “So that is your game.” Genevieve did not sound surprised. “It would be a feather in your cap to present such an alliance to the Council.”

  Wisner’s tone was conciliatory. “I think only of the benefit to the city. Having its two most powerful groups of supernatural citizens united in a common cause will surely be a deterrent to any harmful elements—and endlessly reassuring to the citizens whose goodwill enables us to live here at all.”

  “And who will head this alliance? Yourself, of course?” Hunter sounded suitably neutral.

  “That is up for discussion,” Wisner said stiffly. “Perhaps, if the senate would like to convene we could discuss it in more detail—”

  There was a definite stir. Ben felt his mouth twitch as he fought the urge to bare his teeth. He dares? He could only imagine the reactions to Wisner’s assumption of entry to the senate. He was not surprised to hear a startled growl—Wisner’s men had probably not anticipated the strength of the vampires’ pride.

  “You presume too much,” Genevieve said flatly. “We will discuss your offer amongst ourselves and let you know the result.”

  Wisner’s growl was a mistake. He must be losing his temper. “This attitude of uncooperativeness is what allowed the necromancer to infiltrate your ranks so effectively—”

  “On the contrary. The necromancer never set foot amongst our members or attended our meetings. You have seriously misjudged the limits of our tolerance, Councilor.” Hunter sounded pleasant, if distant—which meant that he was very close to angry. Ben couldn’t help a feeling of exultation. He flexed his fingers, curling them into fists. The councilor was on very dangerous ground. “Perhaps you should concentrate on locating your missing wolf.”

  There was a pause before Wisner spoke. “We know the wolf has aid. We ask that if any of your numbers are abetting his behavior, you turn him over to us at once.”

  There was a moment’s silence. Ben could imagine the three vampire elders exchanging a look. “You have been assured that none of our kind have any knowledge of your werewolf. At the council’s request, we have searched for him and found nothing.”

  “It is possible that you have been deceived,” Wisner said. “I seek permission to look for him in your territories.”

  “Impossible,” Allard said at once. “It is an insult to even suggest it—”

  “I suggest we consider the councilor’s request not as testament of how little he thinks we know our territory, but as a sign of how anxious he is to recover his missing pup,” Hunter said. “Only four days remain until the full moon. Naturally the city is anxious to avoid having a werewolf loosed on the city…”

  “Indeed,” said Genevieve. “It would be as bad as the necromancer attacks—and we would not wish that on a fellow supernatural community.”

  Nate leaned down to Ben. “She’s threatening him, isn’t she?”

  Ben nodded.

  “See what I mean?” Aki said, not taking his eyes off the crowd below. “Sexy West Wing.”

  “I hope I shall not have to take a report of your lack of cooperation back to the council.” There was a low growl to Wisner’s voice.

  “I believe we can set your mind at ease there,” Hunter purred. “We’ll report our decision directly to the council ourselves.”

  “You have delivered your message,” Genevieve stated firmly. “Now, I suggest you leave that we may discuss our decision.”

  Wisner made an attempt to prolong his exit but didn’t make another attempt to invite himself into the senate meeting. Perhaps, he’d finally taken the hint.

  There was a buzz of conversation immediately after the door slammed shut. Ben felt for Nate’s hand. “Let’s go.” The immediate reactions to Wisner’s speech would cover their exit.

  “Come on, Aki.”

  Aki reluctantly followed suit. “This is probably the only chance I’ll ever get to observe a vampire party. Can’t we just stay a little longer—”

  “Hunter’s going to be occupied,” Ben said. “Vampires are very fond of the sound of their own voices. You probably won’t see him before dawn.”

  “I’m not just interested in Hunter,” Aki said with a complete lack of conviction as he reluctantly followed them down the stairs. “I’m appreciating the anthropological significance.”

  By the time they reached the bottom of the stairs, the council members were beginning to move toward the door. Genevieve took precedence, followed by Allard as was the custom. Hunter took a step to follow them.

  “Not so fast.” A long-haired vampire elbowed his way through the crowd. “I question Emeric’s right of entry to our meeting.”

  Halfway to the door, Ben stumbled to a halt. Heart beating fast, he turned back to watch.

  There was a stir of agreement. “We have never been so grievously insulted on our own turf,” agreed a gentleman with magnificent sideburns. “It was ARX’s oversight that allowed the necromancer to bring our kind into disrepute. Why should ARX’s representative speak for us?”

  Nate groped for Ben’s hand. “This is bad, isn’t it?”

  Ben nodded. He didn’t dare take his eyes off the scene playing out before them.

  “I had hoped that you knew my qualifications well enough that I would not be forced to repeat them.” Hunter sounded bored. “I have been a member of this council almost since its founding. I represent not ARX, but my sire—”

  “Saltaire is ARX,” the long-haired man shot back instantly. “And ARX has no love for vampires. It is only because of Saltaire’s power that we tolerate it at all. You do not have his power—and your sire has abandoned the city. You have no claim on us—you alone do not even have a retinue.” He motioned to the two women accompanying him.

  Hunter raised an eyebrow. “Clients were never a condition of entry to our council, merely a demonstration that we possess power necessary to debate without influence. If I am not accompanied by one, that is because I do not need one.”

  Ben felt Nate shift beside him. He gripped his arm tightly.

  The younger vampire snarled. “Wisner spoke truth about one thing. You have grown too used to having power to know how to defend yourself! I think it is time to shed our society of deadwood.” He looked around. “Our rules state that any nomination to our senate must be seconded.”

  “I represent Saltaire,” Hunter said. “I need no second.”

  “Saltaire isn’t here. He has not been here for many months, and you alone remain of his clan.” The long-haired man smiled in triumph. “You represent no clan but yourself. Unless you can produce a second—”

  Ben stepped forward. “I trust that I am a satisfactory second?” His heart beat fast. Ben projected his voice over it. “Or do I need to introduce myself again?”

  The crowd drew back to stare. Hunter was as astonished as the rest of them. Ben permitted himself a slight smile. So there.

  “But we heard—you were dead.” The long-haired vampire cast a disconcerted glance between Hunter and Ben.

  “Aren’t we all?” Hunter’s smile curved in amusement. “It suited ARX for Bennet to remain out of the spotlight as we…tidied up some of the necromancer’s loose ends.”

  “You made no mention of having a second,” Genevieve said. She stood in the doorway to the meeting room. This comment was her first intervention in the challenge to Hunter’s authority.

  “I did not think it necessary. I have enough power of my own to stand up to any challenge that Julian cares to make,” Hunter said with a bow toward the long-haired man. “But if you should like to test me…”

 
; Julian. Ben gave the long-haired man a closer look. He had only been newly elected to the senate himself but was clearly already in search of more power.

  Julian returned his stare. “It is not our way to settle disputes between principles,” he said. “I am sure I need not remind you. I propose my retinue against yours.”

  He waved a hand and the two women stepped forward. Ben was sure they were disconcerted by this turn of events. One clutched a sequined handbag, the other smoothed her hands over her fitted gown.

  “Two against one?” Hunter’s acting was note perfect. He desperately wanted to get Ben out of the confrontation, but there was no sign of it in his voice. “I am equally certain that our charter forbids that.”

  Julian raised his shoulders in a shrug. “If you cannot provide a third—”

  “You didn’t ask for a third.” Nate stepped up to stand beside Ben.

  Ben felt a thrill. He glanced at Nate, saw him nod in response. His mouth was pressed into a line, but he didn’t seem worried. He stood casually beside Ben.

  “A new addition to our family,” Hunter said. “I’d introduce you, but I’d only delay the meeting further.”

  “Two new additions to the clan in as many years.” Allard sounded amused. “My. You are busy.”

  Julian was not pleased. “He’s not a vampire. He can’t take part in our assembly—”

  “Our rules only prohibit nonvampires from joining the senate meeting,” Genevieve said. “It is not against our rules to make a nonvampire part of a clan—in exceptional circumstances.” She gave Nate an intent look.

  Ben fought the urge to step closer to Nate. “If you don’t like it,” he said to Julian, “you can withdraw your challenge.”

  Julian snarled. He’d bared his fangs, and the vampire in Ben reared in readiness. How quickly the young one loses control! He will be easy to defeat—