Page 30 of The Vampire King's Gift

I realize, but I need to tell my people first.

Telling the people in House Ravenscroft is only a start. Your people are ALL the Eyros, Daemon reminded him.. Remember that.

Balthazar’s heart twisted with desire to have that kind of power and acceptance, but also nervousness. He had failed before at leading them as the Immortal Eyros. It had gotten him killed. Plus, he would have to be even more responsible if he took up the helm ofallthe Eyros.

You say the sweetest things. I never know whether to be nauseous or excited,Balthazar drawled.

I wish my friend would be at my side and not pretending to be who he is not, Daemon replied mildly.What we do next is a step that is large. You must be yourself when we do this together.

As if bringing Caemorn here and his fuzzy pets isn’t a large step?

This is nothing compared to what we do next,Daemon said with another one of those mild smiles.

What is Daemon saying to you? Caemorn looks like he’s watching a tennis match, Christian asked.

Caemorn was frowning and his eyes had been ping-ponging between him and Daemon. He knew they were communicating telepathically, but, obviously, he couldn’t tell what they were saying.

Daemon wants to get into more trouble. Like usual, Christian, Balthazar said.

And he wants his favorite ally in crime at his side, I take it? Christian shook his head, not needing confirmation to know it was true.He likes to drag you with him into dangerous situations while leaving Julian and I behind.

Yes, and I agree with him on the latter part. Balthazar stroked his fledgling’s back, which only got him a raised eyebrow in response.

“If Kaly still exists and Daemon clearly exists then… why not Eyros?” Lisette murmured, breaking the silence that had fallen. “NotEyros reborn, but Eyros himself.”

Fiona went to Arcius' side then. Her gaze flickered around the room. She had heard, obviously, what Daemon had called her, but she clearly didn’t believe it. Like Caemorn, she likely thought he had been calling her by her Bloodline. Yet now both Caemorn and Lisette were talking about Immortals and she looked a little shell shocked.

Without Balthazar confirming anything she murmured, “Are any of the Immortals actually dead, or did the Order lie about all of that too? Well, religion has always been a lie in and of itself. To comfort. Not to lead people towards the truth.”

It was Arcius, butnotCaemorn who looked guilt-stricken. But Arcius had always been a believer. It hurt to see. Balthazar was keenly aware now that William and Isabel had heard this news. Not to mention the Kaly Vampires, though, ironically, they were theleastlikely to tell anyone. Knowledge was power after all. But William, his beloved little William, leaked like a sieve. And with the wide-eyed look William was giving him now, he knew the information would be everywhere.

“Do not feel badly, Arcius! You only ever believed the good parts anyways. And there are a lot more good parts that you’ll find out,” Sophia assured him.

“You are very kind, Sophia,” Arcius said with a weak smile.

Balthazar scrubbed his face. “Everything has turned upside down for all of us, my friend. Don’t sweat this.”

“I will feel much better after we rescue Seeyr from the Spire,” Arcius growled as he glared at Caemorn. “To think one of the Immortals was imprisoned… How blind everyone has been. When they know the truth--”

“How many people do you think really believe in what the Order says?” Caemorn scoffed. “The Order brings… well,order. Religion is familiar to every Vampire. Everyone and everything in its place.”

“Withyouat the top?” Balthazar made a disgusted noise. “You never believed in any of it. You and all those--except Arcius--used the Order as ahammer. And all of us were nails! The Council does nothing without your say.”

“Can’t we use that?” Fiona’s arms crossed over her chest. “Can’t we use him? Make him contact the Council? He’ll tell them that he believes that Daemon is our king and that he means us no harm--”

“What would the Council consider harm, Fiona?” Lisette laughed softly. “Them losing power, of course! They would definitely see Daemon as the threat he truly is to them no matter what Caemorn says. They’ll just assume our great Preceptor has thrown them under the bus so that he can retain power under Daemon’s leadership--which I’m sure is what’s going on here--or that Eyros here has scrambled his brains. Either way, they will find some reason not to accept him.”

“They are of no consequence,” Daemon said quietly.

Balthazar immediately wondered if this was the bit of trouble that Daemon wanted to get into, but immediately set that to the side. Going after the Council? Until they had arranged their forces that would be insane.

“What about Kaly?” Fiona asked. “Can we not, at least, alert them to who Artemis Alucius really is? Kaly is no one’s favorite Immortal.”

“Is that a personal opinion of yours,Wyvern?” Caemorn asked, his eyes narrowed.

She started slightly and Arcius put a hand on her shoulder.

“You know my name, Caemorn. Use it,” she snapped.

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