Page 36 of The Vampire King's Victory

“Are you really sure you want to go there alone, Caemorn?” Christian asked as he turned his head to the cathedral-like building.

“If there is something to fear there, I would like to find out so that I can use it to my advantage against the others,” Caemorn remarked.

“I just realized that we left Artemis-Kaly back at the manor!” Christian became rigid.

“It’s all right. I zapped him before we came,” Balthazar said. “He will be transported here and, well, he’s going to be in my palace, not the Kaly one.”

“Wise,” Caemorn said with a nod. “They would likely know plenty of secrets about their own palace.”

“True.”

“But do not underestimate them,” Caemorn warned.

“They likely know about all of my palace’s secrets, too?” Balthazar laughed softly. “Yes, I know. But I’m hoping…” He frowned. He almost felt a physical tug from Christian’s mind, whatever his fledgling was hiding was so strong. “I’m hoping they are too arrogant for their own good.”

“Well, I must go and start preparing to bring back the Harrows,” Caemorn said and did that weird half bow which Balthazar almost returned, but just waved. “I will expect my rooms at the Eyros Palace to be thebest, just beneath yours of course.”

“Of course.” Balthazar’s lips twitched and he wanted to smile instead of sneer.

Caemorn then turned on his heel, and with his skeletal bear by his side, started striding confidently in the direction of the Kaly Palace without looking for the brazier to guide his way.

“He almost acts like he’s been here before,” Arcius muttered and he stroked his beard speculatively as Caemorn disappeared out of sight.

“There’s a good reason for that,” Christian said.

“Because he’s Kaly,” Elgar said quietly.

“What?!”

“WHAT?”!

The “whats” were from him and Arcius. Christian looked over at Elgar with a slightly exasperated expression.

“You said you weren’t going to look into my mind untilafterI told Balthazar!” Christian cried.

“I kept my word.” Elgar stroked his skull. “It was seeing him here. I suddenly knew. I recognized him. He is himself here, not those crazed, mad things we’ve faced.”

“There’s a reason for that, too,” Christian said. “Let me… ah, share it with you.”

All four of them gathered round in a circle, touching almost like Wyvern Vampires, as Christian showed what had happened to him and Julian in Moonfall.

After everything had been passed, Balthazar reeled back from the group. He stared down the street that Caemorn had disappeared into. One hand over his mouth. His emotions were all over the place. He, Seeyr and Kaly had planned it all. Every single thing.

“He has no idea!” Arcius cried. “The other Kalys don’t even know!”

Christian shook his head. “They’re drawn to him, but they have no idea why. The rage that Artemis-Kaly expressed towards him as a fledgling is… well, they knew somewhere inside who Caemorn really is, just like they knew about you subconsciously, Balthazar. Both of you are threats to them.”

“He must be told!” Arcius shook his head.

“Why?” Balthazar asked. “Why must he be told?” When all of them looked at him with confusion, he explained, “He’s happy now. He’s free of the past. As his power grows, he’ll just think it's a natural part of--ofhim. He doesn’t need the burden--”

“He’s already been told,” Christian said.

“But he doesn’t--”

“In the future,” Christian explained, moving his hands through the air, “he knows who he is. And he’s happy there.”

Balthazar put his hands on his hips. “This time travel business--”

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