"I've heard of you—now," Fox smiled brightly. I could see her with Weldon—he doted on her, I could tell that right away. What shocked me was the undiluted love in Wlodek's eyes as he watched her.
"Lissa, we'll talk and I'll grovel later," Wlodek offered. Honestly, I felt a headache coming on. Wlodek looked exactly as he always had—dark eyes and hair; dressed impeccably, still, but his face wasn't as shuttered as it once was. The Saa Thalarr had wrought changes in Radomir and his former vampire sire. It made me wonder what it had done for Merrill and the others.
"And we'll talk about withheld information," I retorted, my voice sharper than I'd intended. Wlodek winced at my words, and that wouldn't have happened before—that was a sure bet. His stone face had cracked—courtesy of the Saa Thalarr.
Lissa, if there were any way to change it, I would, he sent.
"Come on, itty bitty pants, we have shopping to do. There's no time for arguments or depression," Drew leaned down and pecked me on the cheek. I stared up at him. He grinned at me and I blinked, thinking how handsome he and his brother were.
Being able to fold was a special gift. It might have taken me ten or fifteen minutes to get to the shopping mall by misting. Malls were making a comeback, I learned from Grace. They'd fallen in and out of favor many times over the three hundred years I'd been missing.
"You don't know how much we missed you, little girl," Weldon said when we landed in a huge department store. He hugged me tightly, too, before letting me go.
"Weldon, what happened to Winkler?" I asked as we were going through racks of slacks, blouses, jeans, dresses and skirts.
"Lissa, why are you asking about things like that?" Weldon put his arms around me again and kissed my forehead.
"Hey, now," Drake tapped Weldon on the shoulder. Drew was right behind Drake, nodding at his brother's response.
"Winkler did what his father did before him," Weldon sighed, pulling away from me.
"Fuck," I whispered. I wanted to cry.
"Hey, we're here to buy clothes," Drew hugged me. "Dry clothes," he added. Somehow, the twins knew. Winkler's father had forced him to make the challenge, allowing Winkler to take the Dallas Pack and his life. Winkler had given the Pack to one of his children. I'd never get to see him or his beautiful, wolfish grin again.
"I'll be okay," I patted Drew on the back and continued looking through the rack of blouses, though I wanted more than anything to mist away and weep. I forced my thoughts away from Winkler and turned back to the clothing racks. At least Kifirin had given me my hair back; it hung past my shoulders and I'd French-braided it before going shopping. Drake kept playing with my braid the whole time we looked through clothes, and he and his brother had their hands on me as often as possible, offering silent consolation for the hole left in my heart.
"Get everything a little bigger—you still have weight to gain," Devin suggested as we pulled my normal size off the racks. She, Grace, Amara, Kyler and Cleo were doing their best to take care of me, with help from Fox. Of course, Dragon's twins were offering their opinion on everything. Every woman in the store, including the sales clerks, was staring at Drake, Drew, Wlodek and Weldon. Charles showed up after a bit and began pulling things off racks and tossing them into my dressing room. It reminded me of a shopping trip we'd taken so long ago. Wlodek sent Charles and me to London, to buy a wardrobe after I'd been allowed to live by a margin of one vote by the Vampire Council. I figured Wlodek had sent mindspeech to Charles, asking him to come now.
Are they still meeting in the cave? I sent to Wlodek. He was Saa Thalarr—he'd have mindspeech now, even if he didn't have it before. Wlodek knew what I meant.
The cave was bombed several years ago, he replied. By zealots hunting vampire. The Council purchased an old church and excavated beneath it. That's where they meet, now. I heaved a shaky sigh. So many things changed, so many people gone. Moro mou, do not let this upset you, Wlodek added. And you were correct about Nestor and Cecil. They are gone, now. Dalroy, Charles and Rhett are on the Council instead.
Good for them, I returned.
"Oh yeah, keep that," Drake and Drew were both nodding approval at the long black dress Charles found on a rack. It had an empire waist and a halter neckline with thin ties that hung down the back. Most of my back was bare; the back of the dress came down to the small of my back and Drew's fingers touched me there fleetingly as I turned to go back inside the dressing room.
Lunch came after we'd bought a mountain of clothing—someone sent all of it back to the villa using the Power available to them. "This is one of Adam's restaurants," Wlodek informed me when we walked inside. I sighed—I'd gone to one of Adam's restaurants in the past—with Roff, Giff, Franklin, Greg and several others. I squared my shoulders and forced myself not to think about it. Frank was gone; nobody mentioned him. And the whole time I'd been on Kifirin, I hadn't seen Roff or Giff. I had no idea whether they still lived or not.
I'd been seated at the table between Drake and Drew—they'd arranged that somehow. If they were only looking for a fling, I wasn't their girl. I just didn't know how to tell them that.
"The prime rib is good," Drew leaned over my shoulder, reading my menu instead of his own. "And this is good, too," he pointed out a chicken dish. He was as close as he could get, an arm draped around my shoulders as he tapped my menu. I knew by scent that he and his brother were a hundred years old. It made me wonder how I should determine my own age. Was I forty-nine or was I three hundred forty-nine? I didn't know what to do about that.
I settled for the chicken dish and it was good, but I couldn't finish it. Drew helped me eat it and Drake fed me a bit of his dessert. We went looking for lingerie and shoes after lunch; Charles, Drake and Drew insisted on coming along. Charles was the only male who'd ever helped me pick out underwear before, and he wasn't interested romantically. I couldn't say that about the twins, and felt my face go hot several times at the suggestions they made. "No, I hate underwires," I poked Drake in the chest over his choice in bras.
"Then get this one," he picked another in the same color—a fuchsia. I ended up with a pile of underthings I was too embarrassed to put back. The twins were grinning when we were done and Devin and Grace were smiling the whole time they shopped with me. Charles was the voice of reason in all of it, while Kyler, Cleo and Amara made quiet suggestions and watched me carefully. Amara was afraid I might break and Kyler and Cleo were struggling to get used to an Aunt they hadn't known about. I'd bet half the zeros on my credit chip that Griffin hadn't told them anything about me—ever. Until now, that is.
After a while, I had so many pairs of shoes I didn't know what to do with all of them. Those and other accessories were purchased after lengthy consideration. And then everything was sent back to the villa, just like all the other bags.
"Now for jewelry," Wlodek announced. Somebody folded us to an exclusive jewelry store.
"We're wearing our girl out." Somehow, I ended up in Drake's lap, yawning as discreetly as I could while we sat at the jewelry counter. A sales clerk showed us tray after tray of earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets. Drake was running gentle fingers down my ribs and that wasn't hot or anything. It was all I could do not to collapse against him and close my eyes with a contented sigh.
"I like this," Drew pointed out a cuff bracelet in hammered gold that held several rows of diamonds. The price on it could have bought me a round-trip ticket to another galaxy. The cuff was placed on my wrist. "See, that looks good," Drew smiled, leaning forward to kiss me. I blinked at him in a stupor. The sad thing? I wouldn't have minded if he'd gone on kissing me, even while I was sitting on his brother's lap.
"We'll take it," Wlodek announced. There was already a pile of jewelry they'd set aside and we ended up with all of it plus several other items. The total was staggering. I thought I might hyperventilate when Weldon and Wlodek split the ticket.
"We owe you," Weldon whispered near my ear. "And the others are chipping in, too."
"Take her home and
let her sleep, she's exhausted," Karzac was suddenly with us, handing out orders.
"I get to hold her on the way home," Drew said softly, and I felt boneless as I was passed from one brother to the other. I was asleep before we ever got home and don’t remember how I got in bed.
* * *
"What can we do about her records?" Merrill asked Wlodek. Wlodek sat in Adam's study at Gryphon Hall, Adam's family home for centuries.
"Are all of them gone? How are some of those things she did explained away?" Adam studied both former vampires sitting before his desk. They were having a brandy and discussing the difficulty they currently faced. Flavio would demand to know how and why a Queen Vampire had escaped his notice.
"They were attributed to others," Pheligar folded in and promptly Pulled in a rather large, comfortable chair for himself, temporarily enlarging Adam's office to accommodate it. None of the former vampires present so much as lifted an eyebrow. They were used to this and could do it themselves if they wanted.
"The Larentii hand in all this," Wlodek sighed. "I had memories of taking Xenides' head—until recently."
"It was requested, lest she become a target in the past and make the future turn out differently," Pheligar drew in a deep breath. "A few werewolves were allowed to remember, and they wisely kept that information to themselves. Belen and his superiors had to arrange for the vampires and any others to forget. It was the only way."
"Yet we were allowed to remember it all the moment she died," Wlodek pointed out. "This could not be done for the others?"
"You know Belen does not like to interfere in that way—any more than is necessary, as he says," Pheligar replied, a large blue hand rubbing his forehead. Adam knew that gesture—Pheligar didn't agree with the way things were going.
"So Lissa gets no credit whatsoever—somebody else gets it?" Merrill didn't appreciate that.
"We know what she did," Pheligar muttered. "At least that is how it was explained to me."
"Those High Demons should be kissing her feet, and the only word I got was a request from Gardevik, asking if she'd mind coming back and making an apple pie." Merrill tossed up a hand and snorted at the irony. "I talked with Glinda, and now she's threatening to toss Gardevik Rath into Baetrah herself."
"Jayd's Spawn Hunter status has been removed." Pheligar dropped that information in front of the others. "Glinda is still considered auxiliary Saa Thalarr, but hers is the running of Kifirin with Jayd, so she may be giving that up."
"Why was Jayd's status changed?" Adam asked.
"He wasn't using it and recent events were taken into account." Pheligar's face shuttered and Adam knew he wouldn't get any more from the Larentii on the subject.
"Does he know this?" Wlodek asked.
"He has been informed," Pheligar sniffed. Adam knew then that Pheligar had delivered the news himself, rather than one of the other Liaisons. Pheligar's official title was Archivist for the Saa Thalarr, but he still helped the Liaisons from time to time.
"And how did he take it?" Merrill was very curious.
"He said the reason he accepted it in the beginning was to remain close to Glinda. Now that they are mated, he does not care."
"They ought to care," Adam grumbled. "Do they realize how close they came—how close we all came—to destruction?"
"I'm not sure they know," Wlodek agreed. "Glinda may, but the rest of them?" Wlodek frowned at the complexity of the situation.
"They don't have a fucking clue," Griffin folded in. He seldom used profanity, but he'd been using it regularly during recent weeks. Pheligar Pulled in another chair and Griffin joined the discussion. "My little girl gets killed, and then put back together by an unseen hand and ends up cooking for those fuckers?"
Pheligar placed a calming hand on Griffin's shoulder, forming light around his fingers. Griffin relaxed noticeably and nodded his thanks to the Larentii.
"Tonight may be difficult for Lissa when she sees those blank expressions on Gavin's and Anthony's faces," Wlodek felt a headache coming on.
"What about Dragon's boys? Are they just playing around?" Merrill asked.
* * *
"Bro, what is up with you?" Dragon Taylor had never seen his younger brothers like this. They'd come looking for Tay, just to spend some time, they'd said. Drake and Drew were both restless, however, and Tay didn't know what to think. Drew paced while Drake sat, rose again and then sat a second time.
"You should have been there this morning," Drew said finally. "Dad and Uncle Crane gave us a beating as usual, when we skip sparring for a few days. Dad got Lissa to come and watch, and then convinced Uncle Crane to go a round with her. She got a touch on Uncle Crane in less than ten minutes."
"And that was after breaking one of his practice blades," Drake agreed.
"The Vampire Queen Lissa?"
"Yeah, dude, where have you been?" Drake sounded indignant.
"I heard she came back somehow, but we haven't been able to figure out how that happened. You don't have a M'Fiyah with her, do you?" Dragon Taylor's eyes narrowed at his younger brothers. Even he didn't expect the coughing and clearing of throats that followed his question.
* * *
"You ought to go back to the Southern Continent, brother. You never made it past Baetrah an Hafei." Jayd lifted an eyebrow at Gardevik Rath.
"Jayd, there's nothing there except ash and devastation. The animals are dead, the crops are dead or burned in the fields—nothing can survive in that environment, not even rogue Croth or Drith. Besides, Kifirin never said anything when he was with us."
"Kifirin said long ago that he'd never interfere. Why would he say anything? That would be interfering. I think you should plan another trip and check everything, this time." Smoke escaped Jayd's nostrils.
"Fine. I'll put a team together as soon as the fall rains are over on the Southern Continent," Garde sighed. He didn't look forward to going back a second time, and waiting for the fall rains to cease would give him several weeks in Veshtul before he was expected to return.
"The moment the fall rains are over," Jayd gave his brother a hard look.
* * *
"This is not a good idea, my Queen, the H'Morr warns against it."
Friesianna regarded her advisor coldly. "That old thing? If we had the Ka'Mirai, we would not have to concern ourselves with that." Friesianna, Queen of the Bright Elemaiya, had never considered the book of prophecy as anything other than myth and tales for children. She offered a disdainful glare at the mere mention of the book, shaking back thick, brown hair to indicate her displeasure.
"We will not get her back. We know this," Rabis muttered. He knew better than anyone just how accurate the H'Morr was—he'd written it. Only one was better than he at the talent of foresight, and that one none could reach. Rabis was more than happy to keep that information to himself.
"We will gain the Ka'Mirai if I make this alliance," Friesianna snapped, her hazel eyes offering a warning to Rabis. "Then she will be forced to come to us and I will demand she eliminate the consequences. That is how things will be." Friesianna was ignoring her Miriasu advisor, just as she usually did.
Rabis stared at Friesianna in vexed exasperation. "My Queen, the warnings were quite clear. We were advised against making an alliance with either of the two you mentioned. It was foretold that justice will come if we do so. And here you wish to ally your people with both of them. Do you expect the serpents to tell us what their desire is concerning the Ka'Mirai? They are notorious liars."
"Do not annoy me with your constant prattling on this subject. Once we have the Ka'Mirai, the potential for any retribution will be eliminated," Friesianna's voice held a contemptuous, bone-chilling frost. "Go now. We must make preparations to receive the Dark King and the new Ra'Ak Prince." Rabis left her side, muttering. He had no desire to be near either of the two she'd named, and felt the Queen wouldn't remark upon his absence anyway. He walked toward the nearest gate, determined to be far away when the pact was struck. Friesianna would have
to do without his services from now on. He'd prepared long ago for this day, and was now washing his hands of the Bright Queen and the fools who blindly followed her.
* * *
"This is your fault." Veris snarled at Breth. They'd returned to Veshtul three days earlier, and the news that the Vampire Queen was alive had spread swiftly among the comesuli. Veris had no hope of containing the information. Their Queen had left them, however; she'd vanished with Kifirin and not returned. Veris had no idea whom to ask regarding the Queen's whereabouts, or if she might come back to them.
"I did not know it was the Queen," Breth whined.
"You did not treat her well, Queen or not," Veris hissed. "I have questioned the others; they all say you taunted and insulted her. Now you expect her to come back to us? You are acting like a High Demon and not one of the comesuli. Our code says to treat all as if they were our parent, brother or child. This you did not do and we may all pay for your foolishness."
"I beg you, do not tell the others what I did, they will shun me," Breth whined.
"I will not tell because my part in this was nearly as great," Veris muttered. "I cannot stop the others, however. You may be shunned anyway, and it will be your due if you are."
"What did Lord Gardevik say when you asked him about her?"
"He says he has received no replies to his own queries," Veris snorted. "And if the High Demons receive no replies, what can we hope to do?" Veris stalked away from Breth. They'd held their private conversation in a corner of the comesuli barracks, next to the eastern palace wall. So many of the commons were beginning to make preparations—they anticipated a move to Le-Ath Veronis. Veris hoped their preparations were not in vain.
* * *
"How should I dress?" I'd gone to the kitchen to get something to drink and found Devin and Grace there.
"However you want," Devin said. "Although those vampires will show up dressed to the nines." A pretty dimple appeared when she grinned.
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