Page 28 of The Vampire King's Gift

The doorway to the room was suddenly filled with House Ravenscroft Vampires. William lightly jumped over the back of the sofa and went to help Arcius with the werewolves. He slammed a hand into the werewolf’s stomach and it curled over onto itself. For a “child” he was strong as hell.

Isabel was suddenly grabbing Christian and pulling him away from the fight, using her own body to shield him from danger. He tried to fight her, but she easily caught his wrists and he felt a wave of calm flow from her to him. She was trying to get him to do as she asked. No, not assheasked, as Balthazar did. Christian realized that this had all been agreed beforehand, who was to do what in case of an emergency. Balthazar was sending out commands through his mind and everyone was moving accordingly. But Christian was not leaving his Master and best friend in this room with all this danger.

Then suddenly the word,STOP, flowed out from Daemon. His lips did not move. His expression was peaceful. But there was no getting away from the command. Christian didn’t want to. His arms fell loosely to his sides as he stopped fighting Isabel and she stopped trying to remove him from the room.

And it wasn’t just him, everyone stopped, even the werewolves ceased howling. They all looked like statues.

“Sothisis King Daemon,” Lisette whispered. Her silver eyes flickered over him.

He was dressed--or not dressed really--in his long wolf coat and nothing else. Both his and Julian’s hair was wet. So they truly had been swimming in the ocean despite the fall’s chill. Even just wearing the wolf coat with wet hair, Daemon looked as kingly as he always did. There was something about him that justcompelled. Christian would normally have distrusted this. But he found he could not. But that only slightly bothered him because he knew Daemon, and knew he could be trusted.

“My king, youdoknow who this is?” Balthazar let out a strangled laugh.

“Caemorn Losus. Yeah, we know,” Julian answered for him. His best friend looked grim and not unhappy that Balthazar was throttling the Order’s Preceptor. Christian wanted to go to him, but there was no way to do so. Too many people--and the werewolves--were in his way. He could only send his good thoughts to Julian. His best friend went on, “It turns out that his master is Kaly, and he wants to join our team.”

The news fell like a bomb on the group. Everyone had been still before, but now they seem to go rigid with surprise.

“Caemorn is a lily-livered piece of garbage,” Balthazar said between clenched teeth. “You think a normal Kaly Vampire can’t be trusted? Caemorn brings the idea of betrayal to a whole new level.”

“I hold no love for you either, Balthazar,” Caemorn said crisply. He was remarkably calm for a Vampire being strangled. He seemed completely unafraid. Christian had to acknowledge that he was brave, if nothing else. “One thing you definitely know about me is that I do what is in my best interests. And serving King Daemon is definitely that. I have been betrayed and set up. I want my revenge.”

It was Arcius who spoke next, “It is true that you always do what is best for you, Caemorn, but what happens when you think serving King Daemon isnotbest for your purposes? You cannot be trusted, because you are incapable of beingloyalto anyone or anything.”

Caemorn let out a laugh. “Oh, you would think that way, Arcius. You, who still supports the Order, despite the fact that no one came to your defense. Not even Fiona.”

“To my shame, I did not,” it was Fiona who answered. She was in the doorway. Her eyes were fixed on Caemorn.

“Sothisis where you went,” Caemorn murmured, and Christian could almost see the calculation in the Preceptor’s eyes.

“Yes, are you really surprised? Blood Slaves in Solace? The requirement that fledglings be sent to become Confessors against their will? And, the biggest issue of all, knowing that our texts in the Order were alie.” Fiona’s silver eyes glowed.

“You always wanted certainty, Fiona. Black and white. Fact and fiction. But religion isneverthat. You just wanted to believe it could be,” Caemorn sneered.

Balthazar slammed the back of his head against the wall. Caemorn bared his teeth and his hands curled into fists, but he released them and stood still.

“I cannot believe you let her in, Balthazar. It was your chance to turn her out into the cold. Why didn’t you?” Caemorn asked.

“Because he gives people who deserve it second chances,” Arcius said.

“No, I don’t think so. I think that did it to please you, Arcius. That and he’s never been very bloodthirsty,” Caemorn mocked.

“You should be glad of that,” Christian found himself saying. “It’s the only thing keeping you alive now.”

The Preceptor’s eyes went to Christian. He took in Christian’s form, saw the diamond that was slightly clenched in one hand and then he saw David. David who was still there.

“ASpeaker,” he whistled.

Balthazar must have tightened his hold on Caemorn’s throat because he let out a wheeze. “Do not address or evenlookat my fledgling, Caemorn.”

“B-but I-I can h-help him,” Caemorn offered.

“I am helping him, Caemorn. We do not need your assistance,” Lisette said primly.

“C-can’t g-get h-him to go i-into the stone?” Caemorn addressed Christian again.

Christian hesitated then shook his head.

Caemorn smiled. “S-she’s b-been u-using K-Kaly techniques. You are an Eyros. Be one.”

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