Page 99 of Envious Of Fire
It’s Peter who nods. “Yes, let’s not.”
Ashara’s gaze snaps to his. “Sorry?”
“Whatifshe were to become Lordess?” asks Peter to the others, “and she were to bring to our country these Old Ways of managing our kind? They are far stricter over there. I hear they don’t hold trials. Nor keep directors … nor hold Bloods, either. They certainly don’t allow the intermingling of mortals and immortals. In fact, any human standing among us listening to these private words would be executed and drained at once.”
Kaleb’s violin playing falters, squeaking out a wrong note.
Peter carries on. “There’re even superstitions about blood, are there not? Only certain blood at certain times of the night is clean to drink? Other blood is forbidden? Ernest, I do recall you enjoy only matured blood of mortals fifty years and older. That would be forbidden. What of you, Cindy, who enjoys the presence of young mortal assistants in your Dallasade office?” he asks, turning his childlike yet wise gaze to her. “You would be required to execute and drain them … and quite possibly face execution yourself for having kept them at all.”
Cindy frowns, crossing her arms.
“Not to mention what just occurred here a short week ago when your Tristan laid his immortal life down for a criminal. It would be seen as deeply offensive to even allow it.” Peter peers over at Tristan, for the first time acknowledging his presence. “You would have never been welcomed back in the first placeafter abandoning your Lord. You would have been ended.”
Tristan feels the eyes of everyone upon him. He bows his head, making a show of shame.I will never forgive myself.
“Oh, stop sucking your own dick,” says Markadian through a scoff, “we all know you ask forgiveness for nothing. You don’t fool a single one of us.”
Tristan peers up at him slightly, eyebrows lifting.
Is that a hint of a teasing smirk on Markadian’s face?
Cindy chuckles, nudges Markadian next to her. “I bet that’s why you keep him around.” She eyes Tristan over the table. “We like to keep asassyone nearby. Keeps us on our toes, am I right?”
Markadian drags a finger over his lip in thought, staring at Tristan, still smirking, remaining silent.
“You know, Iamcurious about that boy you saved,” Cindy goes on, turning fully to Tristan now. “He wassex on a stick. What a thing for you to do, laying your immortal life down for him … So romantic …”
It’s Ashara who lets out an air-slicing sigh. “I grow weary of hearing about this legendary Texan boy who came between my brother and Tristan. Were it up to me, I’d have buried him and forgotten him, let him spend his existence thinking on his pain. I can count on every finger in this room someone I buried and forgot about. They’re probably still squirming in their respective coffins from here to India.”
Tsuki smirks, mutters, “I like your sister, Markadian.” She eyes him. “A lot more fun than you.”
“And more barbaric in her approach,” says Peter dryly, his eyes zeroing upon her, “which only supports my point.”
Ashara, after a moment’s hesitation, laughs it off. “Yes, yes, it sounds coldhearted, the strictness, the severity. But imagine a society without Ferals, without Lawless. Can you?” She turns to Peter. “India has none. It is true, they are stricter, but I wouldnot call it barbaric. Their ‘superstitions’ are actually supported by science and thousands of years of wisdom. Our government here is so terribly young, when you think about it.”
Tsuki peers down at her fingernails, pursing her lips.
Peter’s eyebrows pull together in thought. He stays silent.
“Well, there’s one dang opinion I think we’re overlooking in this room,” announces Cindy, sitting forward, “and it’s one I think worth listening to. How about it, Tristan?”
Tristan blinks.Sorry? My opinion? On what? The shot glasses? I would much rather have served in martini glasses, were I host…
“Oh, that’s so cute,” sings Cindy, “the way you talk, movin’ your lips for our benefit, and yet you’re sendin’ all your words out telepathically. Whydoyou speak that way?”
It is how I’ve always communicated.
“Have you ever sent the words out, but just made your lips move all random-like? Y’know, as a joke? Never mind.” Cindy leans on the table. “I think the person who’s been Markadian’s right hand the longest ought to know a thing or two about his needs. And ain’t none of us gonna ask thatfreakyGeorge his opinion. Tell us.” She lifts her eyebrows halfway up her head. “Do you think Markadian could use another Lord by his side or director takin’ over managing the Vegasyn domain?”
Everyone turns his way. Peter and Tsuki. Ernest, tightly crossing his legs in his pink suit pants. Dull-eyed Zara. Curious Cindy. Even Markadian, who’s in such a good mood, not even Tristan’s presence seems to have soiled it.
It’s Ashara who cuts in. “Don’t harass poor Tristan for an answer,” she says. Then her eyes turn cold. “Besides, we already know his opinion. Lord Markadian is all the Lord this region needs. Tristan would never entertain the idea of another.”
Tristan glances at each face in the room.
Even Kaleb’s.
Then he smiles.Actually, yes, I would entertain such an idea.
