by Cege Smith
The wall in front of him was no obstacle for his inquiry. It was merely an annoyance as he concentrated on his memory of the inside of the room. He knew the moment he was through the wall because he felt an assault of fuzzy, vague impressions. It was all a blur, and he couldn’t make out anything useful in the kaleidoscope of colors and sensations.
As he allowed it to wash over him, there was a that he recognized. It was pleasure and pain that bordered on pure bliss combined with a powerful sense of superiority and joy. Connor almost pulled back at that point. His cheeks burned as he put a pattern to the emotions. He was intruding on some very intimate moments between the two occupants of the room.
He berated himself. With the distraction of what they were doing, Sophia was more vulnerable than ever, and he could easily take advantage of it. Still, it made his skin crawl. Keeping his eyes closed, he pressed into the din of emotions on the other side of the wall even further.
This time he was rewarded with images, and he said a few words of gratitude that they weren’t of the actual events unfolding in the room. The images were coming through Sophia’s eyes. Monroe bowing deeply in front of her. A sensation of embarrassment as her eyes drifted over his powerful form. Another image of Monroe slipping into her room while she waited anxiously for him. Then a shocking jolt as she pressed his hand to her stomach.
Connor sat up with his eyes open wide. He closed the rest of his mind tight. Then he stood up straight and fled down the hall. He had to find Angeline and tell her what he had seen, but he couldn’t tell her in front of the others because he didn’t understand yet what it meant or how it affected her. But he was certain that it did.
Searon was not the Master’s son. He was Monroe’s.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Angeline waited for Rhone’s reaction to her story. She felt lighter than she had in weeks. For the first time, she had told someone everything. Rhone knew it all, including the conversation that she had with the Immortal Ones. She had no more secrets and nothing else to hide. Then she corrected herself. She had not told Rhone that she and Connor had shared some intimate moments. That was between her and Connor, and had nothing to do with the matter at hand.
Rhone said nothing for a long time. She understood. It was a lot to absorb and sort through, and she didn’t even know what it all meant. Still, as she stepped through each event and each revelation, she had a strong sense that there was someone who guided her through every part of it. Be it fate or destiny, there was little doubt in her mind anymore that she had a far greater purpose than she ever suspected.
“So we have vampires and Clan inside the palace walls right now,” Rhone said slowly.
She almost laughed with relief. Rhone would be strategizing how to remove any and all threats as quickly as possible. She expected nothing less from him. “Yes, but some are friends. Some are foes. At least one I can’t say for sure.”
“Baford,” Rhone replied. “Your betrothed.”
“He acts as if he cares for me, but you live here. You’ve seen how he’s treated me ever since I was a child. It is difficult to reconcile that person has feelings for anyone other than himself. Yet he has stepped in to protect me, and it wasn’t his fault that Sophia now has control. That was my idea. Well, mine and Connor’s”
“You trust this vampire more than you trust the Chief Advisor?”
She heard the disgust in Rhone’s voice. She just had to hope that he didn’t give into that prejudice and try to kill Connor before she could make him see that Connor wasn’t a threat. She hadn’t been able to include that in the blood oath that she asked of him because she was sure otherwise he would never have agreed to do it. “Since the day that he pledged fealty to me, he has done nothing to make me question his motives.”
Rhone stood and faced Eric Robart’s bust once again. “I will be transparent with you, Your Majesty. I am struggling with this news. You are asking me to go against everything I know and believe. The Clan is an annoying but necessary alliance, but the vampires are another story. They are pure evil. They will twist everything that is good in this world into something ugly and unrecognizable.”
Angeline felt a flash of anger. Rhone wasn’t talking in the hypothetical. He was talking about her. She stood as well. “If my destiny was to become the One, then I believe it was so that I could save my people. I have never been more committed to them than I am today. I put their safety and well-being above my own. When this is all over, if I believe that my rule will not serve that purpose, then I will resign the throne.”
Rhone sighed. “That is blasphemy if I ever heard it. A Robart is meant to sit on the throne of Altera for the rest of time.”
“That is a long time. It might be time to rewrite the histories.” The idea made her sadder than she ever imagined. “But that will be decided in due time. Right now, I need your help, Rhone.”
“I imagine these vampires of yours will need to stay out of sight until sundown,” Rhone replied. “I’ve heard that the Queen is resting in her chambers. A short remembrance ceremony for Lord Redley is scheduled for this evening. That seemed to quiet the nobles for the time being.”
“Then we have some time to plan,” Angeline said. “We must take care of this before the wedding ceremony tomorrow.”
“So you’re going to go through with it?”
“I have no choice. It is what is best for my people.”
“Despite the fact that you care for this other one?”
Angeline shook her head. She underestimated Rhone’s power of perception. The man missed little, and that was what made him so good at his work. “I’m not naïve. He is what he is, and I am what I am. Even if I were just a girl and not the queen, it wouldn’t work. He knows that as well as I do. I can make my people whole again by marrying Malin. I will do what needs to be done.”
Rhone’s eyes flickered over her shoulder, and his hand went to his hip. Angeline cursed herself. She had been distracted in her discussion with Rhone, and as such she hadn’t been paying close enough attention to the clues that would have told her that Connor was close by. She held up her arms even as she half-turned to confirm the identify of the presence she felt behind her.
Connor stood just inside the archway. His face was pale, and his jaw clenched tight. He had heard every word that she just said. She knew exactly what he felt because she felt it too. Complete and utter despair that fate was such a cruel mistress.
“Rhone, this is Connor Radwin. He served as an Honor Guard for Alron, and now serves the same capacity for me.” The explanation felt strange, but it was true. “Connor, you know Rhone. As my Chief General, it was critical for him to understand the threats we are facing so that he can ensure the proper defenses are in place against any harm to the people staying here for the Ascension Ceremony.”
She saw Connor’s eyebrows rise almost to his hairline. “He knows?”
“He knows everything,” she said. “Except anything about our time together last night,” she followed with her mind.
Connor regarded her for a long moment, and then he slowly walked to her side. Rhone had his sword out in a flash. “Stop!” she commanded. “I need everyone to work together. You are my two most trusted confidantes. This will not work if the two of you are at odds.”
“I’d rather cut off my arm than work with a vampire,” Rhone growled.
Connor said nothing, which Angeline was grateful about. “Connor has intimate knowledge of the one who you are tracking,” Angeline replied. “He can be useful. He also will know the security measures that will be surrounding Alron for our negotiation. Using that information, we will be able to surprise him and take the upper hand.”
“Why would he betray his own kind?” Rhone said. He stretched his sword out, and this time the tip grazed Connor’s chest.
Angeline needed to diffuse the situation quickly. “He’s a soldier, Rhone. He follows orders, and he has sworn fealty to me. I’ve promised him safe passage to a place where he can live out the rest of his days a
way from vampires, Clan, and humans. He will be able to be at peace.”
She had been percolating on the idea of what Connor would do after everything was all over, and she had a plan for that too, even though the idea of never seeing him again made her want to rip her heart from her chest. She felt Connor tense beside her. She didn’t need to ask what he was thinking.
“The vampire traitor gets a long and happy life,” Rhone said with a sneer. “What about you, Your Majesty? What do you get? It’s because of this buffoon that you are in the situation you are in.”
Angeline put her hand up and pushed gently against the blade. She felt it give, and she stepped in front of Connor. “It was my destiny to become the One. It wasn’t Connor’s fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, and continuing to dwell on it as if we could change it is an exercise in futility. We have to move forward.”
Rhone finally lowered his blade, and Angeline gave a small sigh of relief.
“If I work with him, he follows my orders. No questions or back talk.” Rhone pulled a small bag out of his pocket. “And just so we’re clear, I have a whole bag of Griden here, and I won’t hesitate to use it.”
Angeline had no idea what Griden was, but based on the low growl she heard behind her, Connor did. “Connor will follow your orders unless I tell him differently,” she corrected. “Threats are unnecessary. We are all on the same side.”
“If we’re through with the dramatics, I have information for you,” Connor said. “I can’t stay here long either. Monroe will be after me as soon as the sun goes down if not sooner. I’m putting you in danger by being anywhere close to you.”
“I’m already in danger,” Angeline said. “What news do you have for me?”
“I couldn’t tell you earlier because I don’t think you will want the Clan to know what I’m about to tell you.” Connor shot a look at Rhone.
“It’s okay, Connor,” Angeline said. “Rhone is no fan of the Clan. He must know everything, the same as me, in order for us to be able to adequately defend against all of our enemies. What is it?”
“You remember Searon?”
Angeline shivered. “I do. He’s the Master’s bloodborn vampire son from Sophia Robart.” Right after her transition, Searon and his co-conspirator, Caspian, had held her for a short time against her will. The vampire had been condescending and cruel, but warmed to her once he realized that they were distantly related.
“Searon is Monroe’s son,” Connor replied.
Angeline gasped. Her mind whirled with the implications of that statement. “If Searon is Monroe’s son, then he…”
“Yes, it’s possible that he could also claim Clan lineage,” Connor said with a heavy sigh. “I should have seen the signs of it long ago. Monroe always had a light touch with Searon, despite his insubordination to the Master. I credited it to the Master’s inability to follow through with stricter punishment, but if Monroe counseled for leniency, the Master would have done it. Just like he did for me.”
“She left her only child in the care of that monster? How could she do that?” Angeline said. “Why would she have done it?”
“The Master is not a fool,” Connor said. “If there was even an inkling in his mind that something went on between Monroe and Sophia, he would have acted swiftly and without any remorse. Sophia’s death was a convenient excuse to get her away from the Master, and Monroe remained to keep an eye on the boy.”
Angeline sat back down on the stone bench. “Every time I think I understand, something else appears to make me question everything.”
Rhone touched her arm. “You can’t know everything, Majesty. Even your father struggled at times to make sense of the best path to take. We must focus on the goal at hand. These two vampires must be killed.”
“They are both over three hundred years old,” Connor said. “Killing them will be difficult, as you well know. The element of surprise is key.”
“So we should go now,” Rhone said. “Catch them while the sun is high in the sky before they can do any further mischief.”
“I think I have a better idea,” Connor said. Angeline felt his eyes on her once again, and she looked up into his deep emerald eyes. She wanted to drown in them and forget that the rest of the world existed. “But we’ll need the Clan to help. We need a very specific spell.”
Angeline caught two words in his mind before it was closed to her again. “Blood binding.”
She shot to her feet. “We could lace their drink with spellbound blood. Once they drink it, we can control them.”
“What?” Rhone looked back and forth between them with a confused look on his face.
“We’re assuming that it will work on them,” Connor said, ignoring the older man. “Hopefully Theodora can be more forthcoming on the topic.”
“I will get it out of her one way or another,” Angeline said grimly. “I will go now. No doubt they are anxiously awaiting my return.”
“I will go with you,” Rhone said.
They moved toward the archway and were to the steps when Angeline realized that Connor was not with them. She looked back and saw him sadly watching them.
“I cannot go with you. I have to keep moving in case Monroe catches my scent before you can do the spell. I will do my best to distract him if that happens.”
Angeline wanted to go to him. She didn’t want to leave him. He was supposed to be by her side, but she understood why he couldn’t be. Until Monroe was taken care of, Connor was more a risk to her safety than anything else.
Forcing her face to be emotionless, she gave him a short nod. Then she hitched her skirts up and began to climb the stairs with Rhone by her side. They had work to do.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Sitting across from his mother, Malin thought that he wanted something much stronger than the tea that he was pouring for the two of them. Since Angeline’s abrupt departure, they had barely spoken. It wasn’t a huge surprise. They had nothing in common, and Theodora had only shown a passing interest in him for as long as he could remember.
“Have you any interest in returning to the Clan someday?”
Theodora’s question took Malin completely by surprise. “Outcasts are not allowed to return to the Clan.”
“Perhaps something could be arranged,” Theodora replied as she took a sip of the tea. “Perhaps we have been too hasty in our assessment of what it means to be a member of the Clan. Our numbers dwindle with each passing year. We are a dying species. It seems unwise to cast out those who are blood even if they don’t possess magical inclinations.”
If Malin didn’t know better, he would think that his mother was asking for his council. That thought was so absurd that he immediately dismissed it. Theodora knew all, or at least she thought she did. She wouldn’t ask for advice from anyone, least of all her outcast son. He tried to figure out what her angle was in the matter.
“The guidelines were created for a reason,” he said. He looked at the situation with a critical eye, just as he would if it were the Queen asking the question. “It was important for the original Clan members not to have their bloodlines diluted with those unable to harness the power of magic required to ensure longer lifetimes. Better to send those outcasts to the humans than allow any potential crossbreeding with stronger bloodlines.”
“I understand the logic,” Theodora said. “But if we continue on this path, I’m afraid that there won’t be any bloodlines left. I think we were short-sighted, and it took generations to see the flaw in that argument.”
“I have no interest in returning to the Clan,” Malin said, finally addressing her original question. “I have a home here. I have a pursuit and role here that fits me. There is nothing for me with the Clan.”
“Your Queen is here as well,” Theodora said softly.
Malin didn’t want to speak about his feelings for Angeline, especially with Theodora. His mother would as soon throw them in his face than acknowledge that they held any merit. Emotional connections held little value within the clan.
“Eric Robart asked me to guide and protect his daughter once he was gone. He knew that she would need my counsel and that our union would settle the people. It is a good match,” Malin said. They were words he had said often in the last few days.
“What will you do then if the Queen returns with me to the Clan?”
“Why would she do that?” Malin scoffed. “Her responsibilities are here.”
“She is the One. She has responsibilities to the Clan as well now,” Theodora said. “She carries a heavy burden. The luxury of being concerned about the well-being of just one race is gone.”
As always, Theodora has taken him on a circuitous route to the real thing that she was driving at. “You want me to be the one to convince her to return with you,” Malin said chuckling and shaking his head. “That is humorous.”
“I don’t think so,” Theodora said coolly. “Especially as any offspring will be part Clan.”
“Do you hear yourself?” Malin’s voice raised a notch above an appropriate level. “Offspring? As if your future grandchildren are nothing more than things for you to analyze, observe, and play with at your leisure? I will be damned before I allow any children of mine to be in the same room with you!”
A knock at the door stopped Theodora from responding. Malin could tell by the glint in her eyes and the twist of her lips that he had angered her. On one hand, he didn’t care, but, on the other, he knew that Theodora on a rampage would be much harder to control. He stared at her a moment longer and then got up to go to the door.
He sighed in relief when he saw Angeline standing there, but his relief was short-lived. Behind the Queen, Rhone stood scowling at him.
“Come in,” he said, opening the door wide. After they were both inside, he did a quick scan down both sides of the hallway. It was strange that he hadn’t seen anyone in several hours. Even though the nobles would be staying in their rooms, he still expected to see servants moving about. Making a note to check into that later, he closed the door and turned to confront the new arrivals.
