Page 17 of Addicted in Blood
“What do you mean?”
“They—and I don’t know who they are—know you’re here.My guess is that they’ll seek us out when the timing and location is right.”
“And how do we know when and where that is?”I wasn’t a fan of just hanging out and waiting for someone to sneak up on me.
“We stick with our plan.Let them come to us.It will be faster.”
“Easy for you to say,” I muttered.
“Let’s go.We don’t want to keep Lafitte waiting.”
Turned out,Lafitte wasn’t as interested in us as Sergi had anticipated, considering the rumors about Devon that had spread throughout the vampire community.The House leader, a long-time friend of Devon’s, was approaching his limo when we arrived.After a brief introduction, the older vamp with touches of gray at his temples and a goatee kissed me on both cheeks, welcomed me to the city, and told Sergi to let him know if we ran into any problems.
Then the limo was cruising down the driveway, and we were left standing with one of his cadre.
The woman shrugged.“We’ve been having trouble with rogues.”Her gaze locked on Sergi.“Regardless of the rumors about Devon, House Lafitte still stands with House Trelane.Enjoy our city.”She gave a small bow and strode back to the house.
Once we were well down the road in a rented sedan the hotel’s concierge had provided, he broke the silence.“That was unusual.”
I’d been glancing at the passing houses, appreciating the antebellum architecture, my thoughts split between the note I’d been left and what was happening back home with Devon when Sergi’s words hit.I sat up.“Unusual how?”
“Lafitte knew we had an appointment to meet with him.It’s possible the issues with rogues presents a clear danger, or there was some other reason he didn’t want to meet with us.”
I stared out the windshield, my focus a blur as I took in what he said.“But his cadre seemed to make a point to state he stood with Devon.”
“Not Devon,” he corrected, “but the House Trelane.”
“Meaning?”
He tapped a finger on the steering wheel.“He’s putting distance between his House and Devon.He hasn’t stated anything publicly and won’t unless pressured to, but he’s letting us know through his cadre that he’s still aligned with our beliefs and has no issue with the change in succession.”
“You mean with Lyra?”
He nodded.
“How would he know?Simone is meeting with the Council later today.”
He smiled, which was unsettling in the fact he rarely did it.“Simone is striking first.Calling our most critical allies to advise of the situation and gain early support.Once the Council rules and the information is formally announced, Venizi will expect a moment of turmoil, assuming Simone will be playing catch-up with our allies as they storm us with questions.At most, the smaller Houses will look to the stronger Houses to get a read on the situation.With our allies in place, they’ll be proactive in putting the smaller Houses at ease.”
I slumped back in my seat.“I had no idea how political it got.It makes my head hurt just thinking about all the implications.”
“Some have the knack to make it look easy.”
“Like Devon.”
He nodded.“And Simone.I think that was one of the main attributes Devon considered for a new House leader, and why she was selected as his successor.”He paused for a moment, which was good, because I wasn’t sure how to respond to that.If I had a question as to whether he felt slighted, he answered it.“I’m not a subtle vampire and bore easily with court intrigue.While I could step in temporarily, I’m not the best choice to build and maintain a powerful House.”He chuckled, which was a surprisingly pleasant sound.“The Council would never accept me.My strength is in the role I occupy today.
“You’re seeing Simone at her best, and she has so much more to learn.Even then, she’s a force not many would move against.If you want to see someone with the potential to make something of themselves, keep your eye on Lucas.”
I rested my head against the car seat, listening to the information on the cadre he’d never shared before, and found I wasn’t shocked by his comment about Lucas.“If you’d told me that the first week I’d entered the manor, I’d be laughing right now.But these last weeks, he’s really amazed me.His knowledge of your culture and history, his charm, his courage—I can see it.Was that what Devon was like when he was Lucas’s age?”
He snorted.“Just the opposite.You have to remember the difference in ages.Almost four hundred years separate them.If we didn’t have House Renaud to understand the importance of knowledge and keeping records of our history, Lucas, or most any vampire, would only know the stories they could beg from the elders.
“Devon was born in a time where war was common.His knowledge was steeped in battle strategies and effective combat techniques.He honed his skill at leadership during battle, using his natural ability to persuade men to follow him.When wars became less frequent, Guildford, his Father and leader of the House, became adept at the art of negotiation, and it was during those years that Devon learned the basics of political intrigue.”
I wanted to broach the subject of Devon’s addiction to Magic Poppy, but I had to be tactful and find the right moment.When Sergi mentioned Guildford, the only thing I knew of him was from Lyra and how he died.Devon was addicted not long after that and would be a good place to start.
“Here we are.The Renaud Library.This was the first one established in the States almost two hundred years ago.”
