Page 6 of The Vampire King's Gift

Daemon leaned down and kissed Julian’s nearest temple. “It is not the same. Nothing could ever be the same as what we share.”

Julian colored and then, looking chuffed, said, “Good. I’m not going to deny that I’m psyched that you feel that way.”

“It is the truth.”

Julian beamed again.

As they came into more populated areas, he light shielded Julian’s mind from all the minds around them. He increased that shielding as Julian pinched the top of his nose as if he had a headache coming on. His fledgling looked up at him gratefully.

“The voices are getting louder,” Julian explained.

Daemon nodded. “That makes sense. We are around Eyros himself. You would key into his powers first.”

“I really don’t want to read people's minds.”

“I know you do not.”

“And you know why, too, don’t you?” Julian’s gaze was on him again.

“Of course.”

“So why? Tell me.”

“It is not a magician’s trick,” Daemon laughed, but then he felt how serious Julian was about knowing. “Ah, I see that you are not sure why yourself. Do you want to know the truth?”

Julian nodded. “I would say always, but… maybe not.”

“That is wise.” Daemon rubbed his thumb over the back of Julian’s hand. “But, in this case, you need not fear the truth. It is not out of some terrible motive. You don’t wish to read minds because you fear it will dim your good view of people. You would rather think the best of them.”

“Yeah, that’s likely true. Though it means I reallydon’tthink people’s real selves are all that nice, doesn’t it?” Julian smiled wryly. “I just discovered about myself that I’ve been shut off from people for a long time. More shut off than Christian. Both of us have been in the bunker together.”

“It is understandable. You lost people in your life early. You do not want to experience that pain again,” Daemon guessed.

They were crossing a busy street when a car blew a red light and was about to careen into a group of young women ahead of them. Daemonmoved. He brought the three women, himself and Julian to the opposite sidewalk and the car flew by without causing any damage. There were shouts and honks from many horns, but no one had gotten hurt.

“What the…” Julian looked shellshocked.

The young women were as well. One of them with dark hair and eyes, turned to Daemon and grasped his free hand in hers.

“Thank you! You saved us! How did you–”

But she got no farther. Nor did the man who had pulled over his car who had seen Daemon’s impossible save. Nor did the people on the opposite sidewalk who had seen it all happen. For Daemon sent a wave of power out that touched all of their minds. They now remembered him saving the girls, but it had been merely pushing them out of harm’s way, not teleporting them onto the sidewalk.

“You are most welcome. Go enjoy your evening and think no more about this,” he told the young woman with the dark hair and eyes.

She nodded, much like a person under hypnosis, and she and her friends went on their way. Within half a block, they were laughing and talking normally again. The man who had pulled over got back in his car, feeling kindly about strangers who risked their lives, but he, too, was back to thinking about his own situation before he had driven a block.

Julian watched him out of narrowed eyes. “Balthazar did something like that at the Blood Den. It’s amazing that the two of you can just make people remember something that isn’t true. I’m sort of wondering since Christian and I have lived in the same town as Balthazar for all our lives if that hasn’t happened to us once or twice. Ithinkwe just met him, but can I be sure?”

Daemon had a momentary rush of jealousy that Balthazar being near his Julian before him. “Knowing his penchant for pretty young men–and the two of you in particular–I have no doubt he has.”

“I’m going to ask him. Or, better yet, I’ll ask Arcius. Balthazar might try to lie a little,” Julian laughed.

“He will definitely lie.” Daemon sighed.

“I guess I should be glad that Balthazar is so good at affecting minds, considering…” Julian ducked his head. “Considering he’s going to do that to Elena.”

“Yes.” Daemon smiled.

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