Page 29 of The Vampire King's Victory

“I know which room is mine!” Sophia cried happily. “And I love it, Mistress! It’s the best room!”

“Of course, my little chickadee,” Seeyr said, putting a hand unerring on Sophia’s nearest shoulder, missing a cat entirely.

“At least until we get to return here and I get my old room back,” she said with a solemn nod at Balthazar.

But Balthazar had staggered to his feet and was staring at the gate as if he couldn’t quite believe it.

“Nightvallen,” Balthazar whispered. “Tell me that…” He pointed. His arm shook. “We’re going to Nightvallen.”

“Yes, Eyros. And your home there isexactlyas you left it,” Daemon told him.

“I… I can’t remember… remember it yet. But that’s all right! It’ll be like learning it all anew again!” Balthazar was smiling so broadly that he looked ready to cry. He had an arm slung over Christian’s shoulders. “You’ve been there, my darling. Is it as wonderful as they say?”

“Yes, Balthazar,” Christian told him. “It is.”

Suddenly, Balthazar blanched as he realized what had happened the last time that Christian and Julian were in Nightvallen. “Oh, Christian, I didn’t mean to--are you okay with going?”

“Of course! I look forward to this time not being chased down like a gazelle on the plains though,” Christian said with a crooked smile. “This time I’ll get to enjoy it.”

Balthazar kissed Christian firmly on the temple. “Brave boy.”

“Are we going as well?” Elizabeth asked.

“It would be for scientific inquiry,” Henry added, eyes huge behind his glasses.

“Of course, you are coming,” Daemon told them. “Everyone here is.”

Caemorn had been holding himself very stiffly by his skeleton bear, but tried to hide his relief by patting it again.

He, too, thinks he has no place,Daemon thought.He and Balthazar are so very alike.

They really are like brothers,Julian remarked, agreeing with his assessment.

“Let me just tell everyone the plan,” Balthazar said even as he looked ready to jump through the gate. “We need all of our personal effects packed and brought through. Will the gate--”

“It will stay open until the last of our people is through,” Daemon assured him.

Balthazar barely closed his eyes before he was opening them again, already having sent the commands to his people. He reallywasgetting better at this.

“Follow after us,” Daemon said as he led a grinning Julian through the gate.

Julian gripped him rather tightly when they emerged on the other side. He glanced over at his fledgling.

“I really don’t like gate travel,” Julian admitted. “My stomach can barely handle it.”

“We shall have to settle you down then.” Daemon drew a finger down Julian’s cheek.

Julian leaned into the touch, but it was then he realized where they were. He blinked and gazed around them.

“We’re not on the road!” Julian cried.

“No, my gates lead inside the city itself, all others lead outside,” Daemon explained. “And I brought ushere.”

They were right by his old tomb. Julian was gazing at the structure, remembering. He was as well. No longer was he a stone statue on that slab. No longer was he separated from everyone, starving, alone, hopeless. Julian was suddenly hugging him fiercely.

“You’ll never be alone again. I swear it,” Julian told him.

He rested his forehead against his fledgling’s. They had but a moment of just the two of them in the sepulchral silence of Nightvallen before Balthazar’s voice burst upon the scene.

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