Page 311 of Dragon Slayer

Liam tilted his head, the motion as bird-like as ever. He’d always reminded Fulk a bit of a stork in that respect. “I would have thought you’d be all curled up with your little girl in a puppy pile by now. I’m surprised to see you up.”

Fulk’s fingers twitched, wanting to curl into fists, and he forced them to relax. Being around Liam left him feeling his least human: a moment from shifting, fangs long and prominent in his mouth. He swore he felt his ears growing pointed, that he had an actual ruff down the back of his neck that bristled. “She’s my wife. And a baroness.”And your sister-in-lawhe didn’t say.

“I suppose you expect me to show a little respect.”

Fulk said nothing.

“Tell me, Baron Strange, whyareyou out of bed?”

“Why are you?”

A smile cut across Liam’s face, sudden and cold. “You’re going to make him a terrible Familiar.”

Oh. So that’s what this was about. Well, Fulk could stall. “Who?”

“Don’t play dumb. Even if you are. You and I both know why we’re here.”

“This is my house,” Fulk said. “That’s why I’m here.”

Liam really was tired, because a flicker of temper showed through his façade, his jaw tightening. “Come now, brother. You woke Vlad. You know what your purpose is here.”

Brotherwas a hard word to swallow, but Fulk managed. “Do I?”

A humorless laugh. “Oh. Poor fool. It will be easier if you stop resisting. We’re going to work together again, you and I. Familiars for the same master.” He grinned with all his teeth. “Like old times.”

The idea was anathema. It was certainly what Talbot and his ilk had fancied: two strong Familiars, used to the task, with a history of obedience (or something like it), ready to serve as the guiding arms of a vampire with a tyrant’s reputation.

But no one, not even the smug Liam Price, had counted on Vlad. No one had known him, and no one had anticipated that he was not only vicious, but sharp, and self-sacrificing.

Fulk felt a smile threaten, and let it break slow.

Liam looked confused. “What?”

“You are…wildlyunderestimating Vlad Tepes if you think he’ll fall in line with that plan.”

Liam repeated, “What?” Snappish this time.

“If you’d bothered to speak with the prince.” Fulk couldn’t help his chiding tone; it felt magical to be the one in the know. “Then you would understand that he would never lower himself to bind me. He thinks I’m weak, and indecisive. Weak because I worry about my wife. You have a wife, too, as it turns out. What makes you think he’ll want you?”

Liam’s smile was brittle, ready to crack. He held onto it steadfastly, though. “Vlad is a traditionalist. He’ll want to do things the old way.”

“Why? Just because he was asleep for so long? Just because he’ll want to bring back the old days? Liam, did Vlad ever have a mage in those old days?”

“He–” Liam faltered.

Fulk wanted a plaque made to commemorate the moment. He said, “You see, back then, Vlad had a contingent of wolves. The same wolves that had served his father, and his mother. Family wolves. Their own pack. But a mage never darkened the door of the palace at Tîrgoviste. In fact, he’s said he doesn’tlikemages.”

Liam swallowed, the movement of his throat visible in the low light of the wall sconces. “He’s no longer fighting a border skirmish against humans. He’ll see the reason in having a true triumvirate this time.”

“Or so you hope, lest you’ll be out of a job. What happens if he doesn’t want you, Liam? Do you get sent back to your bolt hole, tail between your legs?”

Liam’s laugh sounded more like a cough. “Which of the two of us has a tail, hm? Vlad will want me.”

“Yes, because he’ll see reason, was it? And if the history books tell us one thing, it’s howreasonableVlad the Impaler was.”

Liam opened his mouth to respond–

And an alarm sounded.

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