Page 25 of The Vampire King's Gift

Caemorn drew in a sharp breath. He nearly went cross-eyed watching the tip of Borage. But then he let out that breath. “The tip isn’t glowing.”

“You think you are safe because of that?” Daemon’s voice was silky smooth, but it was a clever observation.

“I’mnotyour prey. You don’t intend to kill me. Otherwise it would be burning blue-white,” Caemorn pointed out. More cleverness.

I should not be surprised. He did climb the ranks of Vampire politics. He did it very young. He is used to being in difficult situations.

“Don’t be so sure!” Julian growled, hands fisted at his sides.

“I have watched you for nearly two decades of your life, Julian, you are not one to wish someone dead. Even someone deserving of it,” Caemorn responded. He was even more relaxed. “And, strangely, I think King Daemon will honor your feelings in this.”

“For now,” Daemon’s voice was silky smooth.

“You–you–why did you do it?” Julian stepped towards Caemorn. It was not a threatening movement, but one of utter agony. “Why did you kill them and take them from me?”

“My Master ordered me to. There was no choice. The only thing I was able to do was to spare your life,” Caemorn answered, his silver eyes flickering for a moment between them. “If you truly have all the gifts, King Daemon, you can determine whether I am telling the truth or not.”

“Is he? He can’t be!” Julian shook his head.

Daemon looked into Caemorn’s mind. He and his Master, the beautiful boy, spoke in a graveyard shrouded in mist. And he heard the words they had spoken to one another…

“The Harrows have got to be eliminated, Caemorn,” the beautiful boy Vampire said. “Now. Tonight. No more waiting. We cannot take the chance they will reveal this to others.”

“What about…” Caemorn swallowed. He normally had little compunction about killing, but killingchildrenalways bothered him and Julian Harrow was twelve. “The boy? Their child?”

“Getting squeamish, Caemorn?” Caemorn’s Master sounded amused.

“I doubt he knows anything about this. No parent would tell their child–”

“Again with thechild!” Caemorn’s Master tipped his head back towards the moon. He was smiling even as he seemed put out. “If Julian Harrow truly is unaware of his parents’ work then he can be spared. Otherwiseyouhave to get rid of himpersonally.”

Daemon allowed Caemorn to fall to the ground. But the Kaly Vampire was as graceful as all their kind, and even though he was startled to be let go, he landed on his feet rather like a cat. He straightened and smoothed his hands down his front. His gaze locked on Borage, not because he thought it could protect him, but instead, just a longing for it. A longing for a thing of beauty that he had come to see as a connection to the very Immortals that he had been taught to despise and yet did not. Not all anyways. But Daemon kept it.

“He--he--bargained for my life?” Julian turned a disbelieving gaze onto Daemon. “What? Why?”

“He didn’t want to kill a child,” Daemon muttered.

The Preceptor brushed off his shoulders invisible dust. “You make it sound like a weakness. Forgive me for not wanting to kill someone completely unable to protect themselves!”

“The Harrows were the same as their son in that. All humans are prey. They are hardly worthy adversaries,” Daemon pointed out. “You did not want to kill them either. But you were only willing to challenge your Master on the child.”

A flash of temper crossed Caemorn’s face. “You say it like it’s so easy! But you don’t know–or maybe you do.” His eyes narrowed. “Maybe youdo.”

“Who is your Master? Why did he want my parents killed?” Julian asked. He was still so fragile, but not killing Caemorn was actuallyhelpinghim.

Even without the vision of the future, Daemon saw that his instinct was right. Julian was not a killer. Not in cold blood. To defend himself or someone else was one thing, but not to eat an enemy’s heart. If Caemorn--whenCaemorn--had to be eliminated, Daemon would do it.

“Because of who he is and the fact that King Daemon is here.” Caemorn reached up to his neck as if he felt the memory of someone strangling him.

“Who is your Master?” Daemon asked, even as he alreadyknew.

Caemorn met both their gazes. “The Immortal Kaly, and he wants to set me up to take the blame for his machinations against you. But I amdonebeing his pawn.”

ALLY OR ENEMY?

Sweat coated Christian’s upper lip as he tried to draw David into the diamond. But his former lover stayed in the corner no matter how much he willed David near him. David’s eyes were filled with grief but also he was determined not to be imprisoned in the diamond. Lisette wasn’t letting him leave altogether though. She sipped blood, ankles crossed, expression serene as she effortlessly kept David’s soul in the room for Christian to practice on. Christian wiped a hand across his forehead.

“It isn’t working or I’m not doing it right. I can feel him, but I can’t move him,” Christian said and his whole body slumped forward, shaking from the effort.

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