Hear Me When the Sun Goes Down

by Lisa Olsen

  “Right,” I agreed. “We need the Order to, well… keep order. At their core they provide a valuable service to our community. They deter vamps from exposing us, and keep breeding under control. Those are still good things. But we should be able to dictate how much power they have in our own lands. They shouldn’t be the only stop between a lawbreaker and the final death. Everybody deserves a fair trial, or at least the opportunity to speak in their defense instead of this I am the Law crap.”

  Jennike’s eyes narrowed, unconvinced. “You’re talking about another branch of government entirely. Who will pay for this all?”

  I took a deep breath. Somehow or other, it always boiled down to money. “That’s where you have to decide if it’s worth it to you to take control of your own lands. Are you willing to share some of the wealth? ‘Cause I can guarantee there are vamps out there ready and willing to take up the additional burdens of setting up a judicial system. If we pay them a decent wage, they’ll be less susceptible to bribery and corruption. Or is it only the West that’s run that way?” I could see from their faces that it wasn’t. I could also see the tide turning. They were at least considering my proposal, and that was a huge step in the right direction. Maybe something good could come out of Volkov’s treatment of us after all?

  “There seems a simpler way to go about this,” Jakob observed, his voice cutting through the din. The room fell silent, all of them hanging on his every word. “Disband the Order if they have outlived their usefulness.”

  “Yes!” Jennike declared, her dark eyes shining. That alone told me it was a stupid idea if she supported it. The room was more conflicted, the murmurs flying fast and free.

  “Wait, you can’t do that,” I gasped, my head swiveling to catch his gaze.

  “Can’t I?” he smirked.

  “Have you not been listening at all? We need order, not chaos – we just need to limit the Order’s charter.”

  Jakob spread his hands. “You have the chance to remake the Order as you would have them. Starting fresh will ensure there they are all entirely loyal to you, not harboring a desire to return to the glory days.”

  “He speaks the truth,” Faust agreed. “Were we to build our own force from the ground up, we could shape them as we would.”

  I could see them start to sway the crowd and I couldn’t be sure any decision to disband the Order wouldn’t come with a whole lot of bloodshed. “That would take entirely too long. The infrastructure of the Order is sound enough, it only needs some adjusting. These people are used to following orders, we just have to be the ones to make sure the orders they get are the right ones.”

  Macallister drew himself up, addressing the group for the first time. “I know I’m new to these proceedin’s and all, but it don’t seem like there’s much sense in reinventin’ the wheel here. All she needs is a couple ‘a whacks to get her back into shape again and we’ll be set.”

  “Exactly.” At least someone got it. “Let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water. There’s no reason to start from scratch, and if we do… we run a much higher risk of widespread violence in the process.”

  Faust stood, waiting until he was sure he had everyone’s attention. “But we are all agreed that some change is necessary?” The murmurs were universally in agreement. “Then I move we table this for another day after we’ve had time to think on it. I for one don’t want to rush into any decision, no matter how cruel their treatment of one of our own.” His blue eyes came to rest upon me.

  Was he truly so concerned over the Order’s treatment of me, or was he using my situation for his own agenda? As long as it ran the same direction as my own agenda, I didn’t question it too closely for the time being.

  “I agree,” I nodded. “It’s been a taxing couple of days. I say we adjourn for the night and come back to this with fresh eyes.”

  The meeting broke up then, most of them milling around to try and get in a private word with Jakob, whose ego ate it up. Man, he was going to be impossible to live with if I didn’t get him out of the spotlight soon. Mac approached me, his dimples in evidence as he pulled me aside for a few semi-private words.

  He was tall, casually dressed in a plaid shirt and a pair of Wranglers with pointy toed cowboy boots peeking out below. His sun streaked hair fell over one eye, in definite need of a trim, but still more sexy than slovenly. Clear, green eyes snapped with delight, a joyful smile curving his lips.

  “You really came through, darlin’. We’re one step away from bein’ recognized as a sovereign nation, thanks to you.”

  “I’m only holding up my end of the bargain,” I smiled back, his good spirits infectious. “Thanks for your support, by the way. Half the time I’m talking to these guys, it’s like they’re speaking a foreign language I can’t keep up with.”

  “Seems like you’re doin’ fine to me. In fact, you had us all reeled in, hook line and sinker.”

  “About that… I’m sorry if I was less than honest with you.”

  “Don’t give it another thought, sweetheart,” he waved my apology away. “Pedigrees don’t make no nevermind to me. I admire a gal who can make herself over into what she wants to be.”

  “Thanks, that’s nice to hear.” I hadn’t thought it would be so easy.

  “Say, you really serious about givin’ the Order a makeover?”

  “Yep, I totally am. It’s what I’ve been pushing for since before I came into office. I think it’s possible to turn them into something great.”

  Mac took that in stride, his head tilting to one side. “Might have a few ideas on that account. We have our own loose form of justice, seems to keep the masses in check just fine. I’d be glad to let you pick my brains over a quiet drink if you like.”

  Okay, so I knew he was flirting with me, but part of me was so desperate for support on my Order reform, I didn’t care. I’d take whatever help I could get. “I will definitely keep that in mind, Mac. But not tonight. I think I’ll end up turning in early.”

  “You bet, I understand completely. All the better for me if you’re bright eyed and bushytailed anyhow. Keep your head up, darlin’, I’ll catch you later.”

  “Not if I catch you first.” Jakob’s voice slid over me as the last few stragglers filed out, leaving Rob to take a position by the door, his face impassive. I turned to find Jakob standing very close, my elbow colliding with him in the process. “Steady now,” he smiled, his hand resting on my hip. “You have an admirer there.”

  At first I thought his head jerked toward Rob, but a half second later I realized he meant Macallister and I shook my head. “He admires himself first and foremost. But he needs the legitimacy I can give him, so he’s pitched his tent in my camp for now.”

  Jakob’s lips curved into an indulgent smile. “You’ve become a political animal. I’m not entirely sure it suits you.” His thumb brushed over the top of my cheek where the pale scar marred my skin. “You look tired, petal. Soon we will quit this place and I will return you to a smaller arena. I could even relieve you of the burden of leadership for a time if you like.”

  “What? No!” My head snapped away from his touch. Was he talking about taking over the West? Hadn’t he said he wasn’t interested in our politics? “You can be in charge of other stuff and have people come kiss your feet and whatever, but the West is mine.”

  “I am not accustomed to people challenging me,” he said, his voice cold in the face of my outburst, and I felt the same dread sneak back into my stomach as when I’d stormed into his public executions. I had to be careful of his temper, but at the same time, I couldn’t back down completely. I couldn’t live in a world where he killed people on a whim because of me.

  “Well, maybe it’s time to embrace change, because I’m not going to jump every time you snap your fingers.”

  I braced myself for his temper, but instead Jakob chuckled. “I wouldn’t want you to. Are you truly well?” A tinge of worry crept over his features. “They didn’t take any liberties of an… intimate natur
e, did they?”

  “I’m fine.” But I didn’t feel fine. Not when he kept touching me, his fingers brushing over my bare arms, sifting through my hair, as though we were a couple. Did he think we were a couple again? “So um, I wanted to ask you, what did that mean about me being your consort? What is that exactly?”

  “It means you are my companion, in every way.”

  “But I’m not. We broke up.”

  A furrow appeared on his brow. “I thought you wanted me to see you safe. I have publically claimed you now, none will do so much as look askance at you.”

  “Hey, I’m super glad you publically admitted to being my Sire, but I’m not yours to claim, claim.” Boy howdy was I in a world of trouble if he didn’t get that.

  “Aren’t you?” He raised a single brow.

  “Not that way.”

  Jakob took in a long breath like he was prepared to say one thing, but changed his mind. “I don’t understand the objection. Have you rekindled your affair with Ulrik?”

  “No.”

  “Surely you don’t prefer the company of that cowboy to mine,” he scoffed.

  “Mac? No.” Actually I did, but I chose not to make things worse by saying it. “Jakob, the same thing holds true here as it did back in San Francisco. We’re not well suited for each other. I don’t know if we ever will be. I am grateful for you saving us all from Volkov’s inquisition, but don’t mistake gratitude for something else.”

  “I see,” Jakob said, drawing himself up stiffly. “In my time the maiden generally showed her gratitude to the dashing hero in exchange for saving her life.”

  “I’m sorry if you were expecting something different, but we’re not living in those times anymore,” I said as gently as I could. “Things have changed.”

  “Very well, but you will comport yourself as my consort while we are here.”

  “Which means what?”

  “It means you will do as I say without argument while we are in public.”

  “Or what?”

  His brow crumpled in confusion. “How do you mean?”

  “What happens if I don’t agree with every single thing you say or do?”

  “I can see I have erred in my treatment of you, allowing you to cling to your modern sensibilities because I enjoy your free spirit. Make no mistake, my word is law. I am Ellri.”

  “Maybe that’s true in a public arena, but not between the two of us. I’m not going to stick around and let you dictate what I say and what I do.”

  “Have a care, älskling. You have little choice in the matter.” The indulgent tilt to his smile disappeared, replaced by a hardness that made my palms sweat. Cripes, what had I gotten myself into? In the next instant his expression softened again, his touch at my elbow solicitous. “But you are over tired. You should go back to our room, I’ll join you presently.”

  I allowed him to steer me halfway across the room until his words sank in. “Wait – our room?”

  “Of course. I left instructions for your Warden and his feeder to find other accommodations. We’ll have the suite to ourselves.”

  I didn’t dare look at Rob to see his opinion on the turn of events. “You can’t boot them out, the mansion’s full up with guests for the Gathering.”

  “It’s already done. They’ll make do, I’m sure.”

  “So I get no say in this whatsoever?” I don’t know why I was so surprised, I should’ve anticipated a move like this. Jakob could hardly reappear in society and not commandeer the rooms he wanted, but he had another thing coming if he thought he could commandeer me too.

  “I don’t understand why you’re making such a fuss. It’s not as though we haven’t been intimate with one another. I look forward to re-establishing these intimacies.”

  “By ordering me to sleep with you? That’s not intimacy, that’s rape.”

  “Enough drama,” Jakob barked, and it took everything I had in me not to jump back a foot. “I will not force your charms, but make no mistake, we will be sharing a room.”

  “Fine, we’ll share the suite, but not the same bed.”

  His jaw clenched, but Jakob gave a short nod. “Agreed. In exchange you will act the doting companion whenever we are in public.”

  “It’s a deal,” I replied, glad to have gotten off relatively easily. I felt bad for Felix and Bridget, but at least I would get to keep some privacy.

  Jakob gave a broad smile. “Perhaps you will soon remember what it was about my company you found desirable to begin with.”

  I didn’t know what to say about that. “Goodnight, Jakob. I’ll see you later.”

  “Goodnight, petal.” He leaned down to kiss my cheek before releasing me for the night. “Rob… I will have words with you now.”

  Uh oh. I tried not to read anything into that request, and I gave Rob a hopefully supportive smile, but he barely nodded to me as I passed him by. Briefly, I considered standing outside the door to listen in, but Gunnar and Tucker both waited there to escort me up to the room. Besides, I was fairly sure Rob could handle Jakob on his own.

  Chapter Five

  Bishop waited outside the meeting hall, hoping for an opportunity to talk to Anja alone. He’d been cursing himself for the past half hour for allowing her to slip through his fingers without telling her what was in his heart and begging for another chance. In the end, the timing hadn’t been right, not with Rob hovering nearby.

  Rob was always nearby.

  But as she emerged alone, Bishop began to think he had his shot, and he trotted up to her side. Only she looked so tired, he let her go when she blew him off. Not that he blamed her, she’d been through plenty in the past couple of days and deserved a rest. After everything between them, most of it being his fault, he was too afraid to push her. He’d have to tread carefully in order to get back into her good graces again, but that was okay. Bishop was patient, and he knew there was a part of her that still loved him. He just had to help her learn to trust him again.

  Which meant he needed to ensure he wasn’t included in Jakob’s edict to banish the Order from Vetis lands.

  Bishop let himself into the meeting hall, grateful when Jakob barely glanced in his direction instead of ordering him out of his sight. Jakob was much too fixated on giving Rob a dressing down to pay much attention to him.

  “You have failed me utterly,” Jakob spat out, his face a mask of disgust.

  Rob bore the accusation stoically, staring straight ahead. “I did.”

  “I gave you one task – to see to her safety – and she was brutalized right under your nose.”

  “I had to slip away to get word to you.” It came out as more of a statement than the ring of an excuse. “I made a choice, and Anja was forced to pay for it. I take full responsibility for any punishment you deem fit.”

  “I’ve killed men for less,” Jakob said, his voice low, but no less deadly for it.

  Rob wasn’t Bishop’s favorite person, but something needed saying. “You’re the reason she was tortured, if you want someone to blame.” Jakob’s head snapped in his direction, but Bishop held his ground. “You denied her the place in society she was due. She was forced to scramble to survive, it was only a matter of time before someone caught onto the web of lies. You know the laws, you condemned her to death for abandoning her in the first place.”

  Jakob’s mouth turned down in a heavy scowl. “Don’t speak of things you don’t understand, Ulrik.”

  “That’s right, I don’t understand. I’ll never understand how you could leave her in the first place. But don’t take your anger out on Rob, he couldn’t have known how far Volkov would take it in such a short time.” It had surprised even him, and he’d known the man for centuries. “Rob came back to break Anja free. They would’ve gotten away too if she hadn’t insisted on taking me with.”

  “I should be angry with you then?” Jakob posed with a shake of the head.

  “Why don’t you try being angry with yourself for putting her in that position to begin with?”
<
br />   “Do you think I haven’t had these thoughts? Don’t presume to know my mind, boy.”

  Bishop felt the weight of Jakob’s stare like a physical thing, but when the Ellri turned back to Rob, he’d let go of his anger toward the bodyguard.

  “You’ll need to make arrangements for additional security for Anja. Especially after we return to the West.”

  Rob’s eyes lost the thousand yard stare as he finally looked at Jakob. “Yes, sir, I know my job. She’ll be properly guarded.”

  “She’s more than a job to me,” Jakob insisted. “She’s more precious to me than anything in this miserable world.”

  “I understand, sir. I’d sooner die than see her harmed.” There was no doubt in either of the men’s minds at the look in Rob’s eyes.

  “Good.” Jakob found his smile again, clapping Rob on the shoulder. “Your loyalty will be rewarded as usual. Keep her safe for me, Rob. I will not tolerate failure a second time.”

  “As you wish.” With that, Rob slipped out, and before Bishop could draw in a breath Jakob turned his attention to him.

  “Have you seen to the Order’s banishment from Vetis?”

  “Yes, the last will be gone within the hour.” So far, so good. He hadn’t said anything about Bishop getting out too. “I still think you’re making a mistake in doing this.”

  “It matters little to me what you think, Ulrik.” Jakob waved him away, but Bishop couldn’t let it go. It was rare to get a moment alone with a powerful Ellri, and this might be the only chance to openly speak his piece.

  “Jakob, you know there will be ramifications around the world for your dismantling the Order here in Vetis.”

  “I’m starting to think the Order’s outlived its usefulness,” Jakob admitted, settling heavily into a chair.

  “Look, I know you and I have had our disagreements over the years, but I’ve worked with the Order for a long time. All I’m saying is, think long and hard before you do anything permanent. Think about the scope of your decisions. I’m not challenging your right to make them, but consider what it’ll do to leave vampires completely unchecked. There’s a reason you created the Order in the first place, and that reason still holds true. Listen to Anja. Change the laws if you think it needs doing, but don’t cut us off completely.”