Page 27 of The Vampire King's Gift

Balthazar shrugged. “Well, it probably explains why none of us has been allowed to go so far.”

“The Eyros do influence people all over, do they not?” Lisette challenged.

His Master nodded. “Yes, but we are limited in how much we are allowed to do by the Council. And, as you so rightly pointed out, my gift’s strength is unique.”

“So, basically, if a Kaly fledgling uses their gift in such a way that causes harm to them or others you don’t help them?” Christian clarified.

“Not quite so harsh, but those who are unable to control their gift after reasonable instruction are not seen as viable Kaly,” she explained.

Viable?Christian thought. I am glad she’s not in charge of whether I’m seen as viable or not.

Balthazar sensed his unease and drew him closer. “One would think the Master has failed to teach well enough, instead of the fledgling has failed to learn.”

Lisette laughed delicately behind her hand. “We are not romantic about our fledglings, dear Balthazar. Only a few are expected to survive. We accept that from the get go.”

Arcius shifted uncomfortably by the fireplace. “It is a hard thing you must do then.”

She lifted her hands. “You should all bethankingus for our willingness to sacrifice for the common good.”

“From a certain point of view, I can see that,” Christian said softly. “But that means there can never be any true trust between Kaly, not even Master and fledgling.”

“Quite correct,” she answered without hesitation. “Perhaps we should continue your lesson? This spirit of yours is tugging at his leash. Not that he’ll ever be able to escape me, but still.”

Christian reluctantly rose to his feet. There was no real reason to stand rather than to sit, other than it helped prepare him mentally to fight with David. He turned towards the spirit once more and he felt that familiar stab of pain, regret and shame when he saw David. His emotions swirled inside him with the same intensity of the first time. David gazed back at him with anguish.

“You shouldn’t have lingered around me, David,” Christian muttered. “You should have stayed away. But you didn’t. And now look where we are.”

He extended a hand towards the spirit, even though he had no plan totouchDavid again as he had before. He felt rather ridiculous, as if he were trying to use the force or something. And maybe he was. He tried to imagine tugging David towards him and the diamond that he held in his right hand.

David did not move.

He frowned, furrowing his brow, tightening his muscles, imagining his will being imposed upon the insubstantial vapor that David was.

Nothing.

Christian shook his head. “This isn’t working. I feel like I’m not touching him at all.”

“You cannottouchhim. He is a spirit. Do not think of him as a physical object. And you are not an Ashyr, so you cannot move him with your mind. You must command the spirit,” Lisette explained.

“But how?” Christian asked.

Balthazar was suddenly frowning. He put the pointer finger of his right hand to his temple, as he often did when communicating with Daemon telepathically. “King Daemon just informed me that we are going to have another visitor.”

“Who?” Arcius pushed off of the mantle, instantly alert.

Sophia jumped down from the sofa arm and chirruped. “Oh, good, we’re going to be able to get Seeyr!”

“What?” Balthazar stared at her, a little unnerved.

But before she could say more, the corner of the room nearest the fireplace blurred, and between one blink and the next, Daemon, Christian, another Vampire with the classic Kaly pale blonde hair, and what can only be described as two werewolves appeared.

Balthazar’s mouth dropped open. Arcius’ eyes went huge. Sophia clasped her hands together in seeming delight. Lisette and her silent minions all turned to stare. Their feelings were not readily apparent, but Christian knew they likely feltsomethingas their expressions became as blank as dolls.

And then there was chaos.

Without saying a word, Balthazar was suddenly across the room and had the unknown Vampire pinned to the wall by the throat. He was snarling. Silver eyes blazing. Fangs out. The unknown Vampire let out a gasp and spittle flecked his lips, but he did not try to fight, which was strange as it was clear that Balthazarloathedhim.

The werewolves, evidently this Vampire’s protectors, turned to lunge at Balthazar’s back, but Arcius spun towards them. He kicked one in the head that he then pinned that head to the ground with one of his huge boots. He grabbed the other around the neck and put it in a sleeper hold. They both howled and thrashed, but Arcius handled them with surprising ease. It was the first time that Christian had seen Arcius be anything but utterly gentle.

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