Page 10 of The Vampire King's Gift

“What’s wrong? What do you see?” Balthazar demanded to know.

But before Christian answered, he headed into the room, switching on the light–even though his Vampiric vision didn’t require it, but night often played tricks, even on those familiar with it–and scanning the bedroom. There was no one there. He did not smell anything untoward either. But he checked the closet, bathroom and even under the bed. But no one and nothing was there. He turned around to see Christian standing on the threshold, arms crossed over his chest, still looking afraid.

“Christian.” Balthazar reached out to him and, to his surprise and pleasure, his fledgling rushed into his arms. He held Christian tightly against him and ran a hand up and down his spine. “It’s okay. It’s all right. You’re safe. Who was it?” And then, of course, he knew. “Was it David?”

“I must be imagining him,” Christian’s voice was muffled against his sweater.

“No, I do not think so,” Balthazar sighed. “It, undoubtedly, has to do with you being a Speaker to the Dead. Evidently, you can more than justhearthem and talk to them, but see them as well.

“You can’t block that, can you?” Christian looked up at him hopefully.

Balthazar opened his mouth, but then shook his head. “Not without completely scrambling your brain.”

“That doesn’t sound like a solution.” Christian frowned.

“No. We need to talk to Daemon. Maybe he has experience with this. I’m sure that there’s something in the Ever Dark. I’m sure his city has a library,” Balthazar pointed out. “There’s actually supposed to be immense knowledge in Nightvallen. So don’t give up hope. We’ll find a solution.”

He squeezed Christian. His fledgling was still trembling slightly. Balthazar brushed his lips over Christian’s temple.

“Is he still here?” Balthazar asked.

“N-no,” Christian answered with a shake of his head.

“The moment you see him again, let me know. I will havewordswith him,” Balthazar murmured.

Christian laughed. “I do not think he’ll be afraid even of you. He’s dead. You can’t hurt him.”

“I’ll find a way,” Balthazar said grimly. “Or maybe I’ll sick one of our new Kaly friends on them.”

Christian’s eyebrows rose. “Maybe they could help. I mean they control the dead, right?”

Balthazar nodded slowly. “The leader of the House Trarion is coming here tonight. Her name is Lisette. From the grapevine, I’ve heard she’s very old. Perhaps alive before the War. If anyone would have experience with a Speaker, it might be her.”

“But? I hear a but in there.” Christian smiled at him.

“You read me too well.” Balthazar smiled back. “But two things. One, there’s always a cost to such help. Outside of one’s House, anddefinitelyoutside of one’s Bloodline, that cost is substantial. Not that I wouldn’t pay whatever it took to protect you, but the cost is not monetary. It would be–”

“Everyone knows how good you are at changing minds,” Christian interrupted. “They’d asked you to do something that you might not want to do.”

“Don’t worry about me. My morals are flexible.” He smiled with just a trace of wryness in it.

“You aren’t as bad as you paint yourself,” Christian objected.

“No, I am quite a bit worse. You just haven’t seen it yet. You see, when we first came here and had nothing, I did whatever I had to do. And truthfully, I would again. But things are good. So I can be more honorable,” Balthazar explained.

“I don’t want you to have to do somethingdishonorablefor me.” Christian leaned against his chest, seeking comfort and Balthazar couldn’t help but feel a warmth at this.

Christian was not one to show he needed someone. But his fledgling needed him and was reaching for him.

“I would do anything for you, I’m afraid. That just can’t be helped. I’m a complete and hopeless romantic,” Balthazar said flippantly, even though it was true.

Christian turned and put a gentle hand on his lapel. “You really are. But, seriously, I don’t want you to compromise yourself. We’ll find another way.”

“Which brings me to mysecondreason for not wanting to involve anyone else other than Daemon. If people know you’re a Speaker…” Balthazar flattened his lips. “Speakers are so rare that I thought they were a myth. Lisette will see you as aprize.”

“Then we won’t tell her. I can deal with this. Deal with David.” Christian frowned, but shook himself. “I’m not a child any longer. And he’s a ghost. He can do nothing, but haunt me.”

But Balthazar hated that David could do eventhat. No matter what Christian said, it was clear that this man still could hurt his fledgling, dead or not. There was a knock on the door to the bedroom and Arcius was standing there in long black robes with silver trim, looking apologetic.

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