Page 14 of Meet Your Maker: Part One

Tomas nods thoughtfully. “As much as I dislike Rurik, he doesn’t like shortcuts. And after losing Lys…” He trails off, his voice edged with something heavier. “I’ll ask him about it. But objects like that have a way of disappearing and reappearing. They’re self-preserving. They vanish when their purpose is fulfilled or when they sense a threat. It’ll probably resurface someday—when it’s fated to… or drawn to a new source of power.”

“Like a bad penny showing up?”

“Exactly. There’s an entire field of study—autonomous artifacts. Fascinating, really…”

“Oh, I’m sure it is,” I say, leaning forward eagerly. “But we’re a bit short on time, Professor Thorne—so, let’s put a pin in it.”

I chew the inside of my cheek, considering. The image of the black bird lingers in my mind—the sharp eyes, the awkwardness as it swooped down, the bits of down caught in the light. Mishka’s shifts are never fully mature.

Suspicion curls in my gut, solidifying into something I can’t ignore.

I set my fork down. “Well, before we go beating down Rurik’s doors, I think we ought to ask our son.” Tomas’s eyebrow lifts, and I lean forward to smooth it with a fingertip. “Speaking of our favorite vampire Tsar…” I tease. “Would one of Rurik’s chyldren be a good pick to take over here?”

Our Alpha exhales a heavy breath. “That’s an interesting idea, but…” He trails off, meeting Ben’s gaze.

“Not agoodidea,” Ben finishes. “Rurik’s already too powerful.”

“I know,” I say, “but I’m talking about Leon or Max. They’re still young and—”

“Sweetheart,” Ben interrupts gently, his silver eyes serious, “anything Rurik’s chyldren do is an extension of him, and everyone knows it. It’s why we talk about vampire houses instead of individuals and families.”

Tomas nods. “If Rurik or anyone from Volga takes over, it could destabilize the region. Leon’s a great pick in theory, but if we want stability, he’s a bad choice.”

“Fine.” I drum my fingers on the table, my frustration mounting. I pick up a piece of fruit, popping it into my mouth as the idea crystallizes. “What about Nessa? We couldn’t have pulled this off without her. This could be a major political plum for her.”

“I agree,” Tomas says, “but there’s the small problem of her Maker. If Roxana shows up, she could force Nessa to relinquish the throne.”

“Right. The whole Maker’s command thing.” I sigh, leaning back in my chair. “Okay, then give me some alternatives.”

Shadow grins, reaching across the table to snag a piece of melon from my plate. “I say let the otters run things. Turn this place into a refuge for demons stuck on this side of the veil.”

Tomas laughs. “Okay, Che Guevara, settle down.”

Shadow scoffs, one eyebrow arching. “I’m not a Marxist.”

Before they can launch into a full-blown debate on Central American revolutionaries, I cut in. “What about France? They already had territory disputes with Roxana, right? And they’re just on the other side of the Mediterranean.”

Tomas smirks. “Still thinking about that townhouse in Paris, aren’t you?”

“It’s awholetownhouse?”

His smile turns indulgent. “We need someone here who’s an ally, someone who participated in the coup. That means Gaul, Bohemia, and Albion should be our top considerations. I think Edward Plantagenêt is a good choice. He’s always been close to Grayson and Vivien. He even extended them amnesty when they were fleeing Roxana.”

Suddenly, Shadow tenses, their eyes locking onto the roofline. We all freeze, the easy morning air turning sharp and electric.

A heartbeat passes—then another. Ben relaxes first, followed by Tomas.

With a swift, decisive motion, Shadow pushes back their chair, folds their napkin neatly, sets it beside their plate, and launches into a gravity-defying leap. They clear twelve feet and land soundlessly on the roof. A moment later, they drop back down, cradling a long, reddish lizard gently in their hands. Its tail curls around Shadow’s wrist, the movement slow and trusting.

I chuckle, the tension breaking like a snapped thread. “You’re going to give Lily a run for her money in the eavesdropping department.” I glance up at the edge of the roof. “Never seen it done quite so literally, though.”

Mishka climbs onto Shadow’s shoulder in his lizard form, perching there expectantly. Shadow holds up a piece of bacon, but he seems unimpressed, his long chameleon tongue flicking out as if to say,Try harder.

“I’ll take him in, find him some clothes… and maybe a few crickets,” they say, flashing a toothy grin.

Shadow disappears back into the suite, leaving Ben and Tomas to exchange a worried glance. Tomas suddenly turns, his head cocked as if he’s heard something, then shakes his head and strides to the doorway.

“Leave Gray alone,” he calls out firmly. “It won’t be funny when he wakes up.”

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