Page 118 of Kiss of Light

“No. I don’t.”

“But you are surprised that I would punish one of my own for harming a human?”

“To be honest, yes. Most Vetali seem to see other species as fair game.”

Vassago smiled thinly.

“We are predators, it is true. But that doesn’t mean we cannot be civilised. There must be rules. Otherwise we’re just monsters.”

Now she reallywastaken aback. Vassago wasn’t just the cold-hearted vampire she’d assumed. He was more complicated than that.

“I apologise for brawling in the hall,” she offered. “When I saw him chowing down on that girl, I lost my temper.”

“I am impressed that you held your own with a Vetali. You are a skilled fighter.”

“When I’m motivated.”

“You have a soft spot for humans?”

Tala shrugged.

“I do. I like their resilience. They’re not immortal and they don’t have special powers but they keep moving forward.”

“An interesting way of looking at them.”

“Well, I don’t see them as just food if that’s what you mean,” she said sharply. “They deserve better.”

Vassago held up a hand.

“I agree entirely. That is why I made it a capital offence for Vetali to kill them. I can’t stop my people feeding on them outside Palissandra, but I have done my best to protect their lives.”

Tala suspected he had other motives. Not calling attention to the existence of vampires, for one. But he had stuck by his convictions, even when he could have dropped the death sentence against his son decades ago and allowed him to come home.

She nodded in grudging respect.

“Even though some of your own kind despise you for it?”

“It’s the price of leadership. Sometimes you have to make unpopular or uncomfortable decisions.” He paused. “That is something Lemar will have to learn.”

“I’m sure he will. Lemar will make a great leader one day. He’s strong and compassionate. Just spend time with him, you’ll see.”

Vassago hesitated, taken aback by her enthusiasm.

“You think very highly of my son, don’t you?”

“We went through a lot together. I care very much for him.”

“I wonder. Do you care enough to ensure he does the right thing for himself and his people?”

Tala was nonplussed.

“How do you mean?”

“I mean, one day he will take over from me. And when he does, he will need the right person by his side.”

She stiffened.

“The right person being another Vetali?”

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