Page 11 of The Vampire King's Gift

“House Trarion is here,” Arcius explained.

“New robes?” Balthazar tilted his head to the rather fancy attire the Confessor was wearing.

Arcius actuallyblushed. He smoothed a hand down the front of them. “I thought it was appropriate to create some new robes that honored King Daemon and were different and separate from those I wore before.”

“The urge to tease you ishuge, but I understand the feeling,” Balthazar admitted.

“You are his best friend as well as closest advisor.” Arcius crossed his arms at the wrists behind his back. “I would hope you would approve.”

“I do. Though our beloved king is playing hooky. You and I have to entertain them until he returns.Ifhe returns. We might have to provide rooms,” Balthazar said.

“Of course. Our king is allowed some time to himself, especially after…” Arcius didn’t finish the sentence. “If you would like me to handle Elena, I will–”

“Why should you do it?”

“Because, as the House’s Confessor, I should have known of her pain and intentions. I knew of one, but not the other.” Arcius lowered his head.

“Even being able to read minds, does not mean you can foretell the future,” Christian pointed out.

“No, but I can,” Sophia said from behind Arcius.

“Yes, you can! Sophia, why didn’t you warn us that this was going to happen?” Balthazar asked sternly, but he didn’t really expect her to provide them with a blow by blow of what was going to happen. Just the telling of it would change things.

“You understand why. Besides, I don’t see everything. Just the important things.” She did that little sway dance.

“Sothat’swhy I’m uneasy seeing you now? An important thing is coming, isn’t it?” Balthazar asked grimly.

She grinned at him. “You’re doing so well, Balthazar! Don’t worry! You’re going to do even better!”

“Don’t swell his head,” Arcius cautioned her.

She just giggled, totally unrepentant, while Balthazar swelled his chest. Christian gave him an exasperated look and patted his chest.

“Let’s go greet House Trarion,” Christian said.

The four of them went to the front room where their guests were waiting for them. There were five Kaly Vampires present. Balthazar recognized all of them.Vaguely. The corpse powder spiked alcohol had made it all a little hazy. Yes, he had made all of them House Ravenscroft and Daemon’s allies, but the details were… hmmmm, well, he didn’t remember much of that night.

Their leader was especially surprising. She was a young woman, really no more than a girl, in terms of looks. She had that same Kaly fairness that all of them had with white-blonde hair and almost colorless eyelashes and eyebrows. She was pretty and doll-like, until you looked into her eyes and then realized that no one would want to play with her.

“Sophia,” Lisette’s voice was high and sweet, but still cutting. Her eyes narrowed. “Still looking for your forever home?”

Balthazar frowned. She made Sophia sound like somepetthat needed a place to stay. It wasn’t Sophia’s fault that almost all of the Seeyr Vampires had been wiped out after the war. They were simply too dangerous.

Sophia’s eyes had narrowed and she had said, “Lisette, still looking for respect?”

Lisette’s pale skin flushed. The two of them glared at one another with undisguised hatred. But then the expression had washed off of Lisette’s face like it had never been, and she let out a soft, breathy laugh as she patted her pale blonde hair.

“When one has power and a House to wield, one has all the respect one needs,” she said to Sophia with a sharp as a razor blade smile. “But when one is alone, one must count on the kindness of strangers.”

“Sophia is not a stranger here,” Arcius had interjected, a frown so deep on his face that it looked like Grand Canyons had appeared rather than wrinkles. “She is an honored member of our house.”

Sophia beamed at Arcius. She laid her head against the Confessor’s broad chest. “You are the absolute best, Confessor! I am so glad to be a part of such a House with such a wonderful spiritual advisor!”

Arcius blushed for the second time that day. He patted Sophia’s arm. “You’re too kind, my dear.”

“I’m just speaking the truth, Confessor. You are the spiritual head of King Daemon’s church,” she said.

It was Arcius’ turn to look a little wide-eyed. She pattedhisarm this time.

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