Page 4 of Shattered Magic

“I had bills to pay. They are done now, so I am free to leave the city.”

“That would be most inconvenient. Having a consort outside my sphere of influence would be awkward. I would constantly be at war.” He moved in a flicker and was directly in front of her.

The other vampire who hadn’t joined the fight asked in a strangled voice, “She is your consort, Master?”

“Yes, Kyle. She is.” Zerul smiled, slowly raising a hand to caress her cheek. “We simply have not explored the details.”

Serel gasped. “Bitch!”

Zerul turned his horned head slowly. He flicked his fingers, and even the gasping sounds from her were silenced. Serel went crazy and clawed at her throat.

The deputy governor’s eyes widened. “I am sorry, Zerul. She’s impulsive. Still so young.”

Zerul gestured to Hari. “Anhara here is a year younger and charges at vampires to help others. Stupid vampires who are going to be punished for insulting my household.”

The two healthy and two slowly healing men looked nervous.

Hari said calmly, “I am more insulted by the fact that they believed the office of the governor would allow them to drink from the unwilling just because they paid for a lap dance.”

Zerul looked down at her hand. “I see you still have my gift.”

“It hangs on the wall of the kitchen and comes when I call. Thank you.” She lifted the bloody silver frying pan. “Fortunate shape as well. It is very appropriate for me to have it in the kitchen.”

He smiled and stroked her cheek. “How was therapy this week?”

“Good. He’s excited that I am at the end of my payments to the court.”

“Are you going to tell me what that was about?”

She looked at Serel. “She can. I was never quite able to grasp her logic.”

Serel cringed against Prolen as Zerul turned his head to look at her. He nodded. “I will question her another day. I believe that Prolen can benefit from the silence.”

Prolen cleared his throat. “Zerul, she has not mentioned any issues with your consort. I didn’t know that you had chosen one.”

“I chose one five years ago, and she walked out of my home covered in blood. Eberhart wrecked my chance at meeting her then, but he paid a lesser price than what I would have put him through.” His smile showed his predator teeth. “I still hope that his soul flits my way in the halls. So far, he has avoided me.”

Serel blinked in surprise.

Zerul looked at her. “Oh, yes. All souls in my hall remain. If they die there, they stay there until I let them go. I will find him eventually.”

Serel looked ill.

Hari shrugged. “Well, you all have this in hand, so I am going to finish cleanup and get out of here.”

The manager came over and gave a memory stick to Prolen. “Here are details of the attack and the response. Hari restrained herself, as always.”

Prolen smiled. “Thank you. The information is helpful.”

Hari looked at him. “And the file has been sent to the local police detachment.”

He quirked a brow. “I see. Thank you.”

“Yes, well, I would hate for justice to slip through the cracks. Vampires are tricky to deal with.”

Zerul looked at her. “They will be punished. I swear.”

“I also want it on their record that they drink from unwilling donors.” She looked at him and gestured to the others. “And that they assisted.”

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