Page 61 of The Star's Sword

“Why even allow her at your keep?” I asked.

“You think I can turn down an eighth realm celestial?” Simon asked. “We vampires answer to the celestials. Her angels would attack my settlement if we denied her the right to harvest attention anywhere she wants. That’s what being a celestial is. Double standards. Privilege. Having everyone worship you while you’re free to stomp on everyone.”

“Why do the vampires put up with it?” I asked.

“What else do we do?” Simon asked. “We’ve been demonized to every other race. Even demons don’t like us much. We’re seen as predators, and not traded with. Without Celestial fabricators, and the Drorren suppliers, vampire society couldn’t function. Not to mention, celestials willing to donate blood can save whole settlements.” He thought for a moment. “Though I’ve never heard of her tryingthattactic before.”

“What tactic?” I asked.

Simon eyed me. “Winning adulation through actual service and action and sacrifice. She’d rather invent a monster, or turn a good person she’s attacking into a monster, and slay that illusion, than actually take care of a real problem or help others.” He shrugged. “Hell knows why, since it’s almost more work in the end to be so manipulative.” He groaned. “This is really all my fault. I’ve been too preoccupied with keeping her away from my humans. I have the last settlement in many miles. If she causes them to mistrust me and run, I won’t be able to stand it.”

“We won’t let her,” Cayne said.

“You can’t stop her,” Simon said, his red eyes flashing at his best friend. “So you must promise me you won’t stop me in trying to keep her distracted. Besides, as I said, I have other purposes I’m serving by spending time with her.”

“I don’t want her around you anymore,” Cayne grumbled.

“I know,” Simon said. “But it will also work to keep her out of your hair while you try to do damage control.”

“What are they saying?” Mor asked. “Like I’m still not getting why anyone could hate Cleo.”

“Right now, the word on the street is that she eats babies,” Os said wryly.

“Fucking idiots, believing stuff like that,” Mor said.

“But they also say anything from she’s a fake Morningstar, to a bully to Vasara, to trying to kill the vampires, to hating vampires.” Griffin shrugged. “We’ve been going over the papers and really anything that could be said has been said.”

“That’s so stupid,” Mor said. “Who actually starts that many lies about someone just trying to do the right thing?”

“Maybe she’s just jealous of the attention Cleo has been getting,” Simon said. “You know, she’s always had a crush on Samael. Though she has seemed to move to me.”

“What?” I asked, nearly pushing to standing before Mor put a hand on my shoulder and shoved me back down.

“Easy there, Cleo. No one can make Samael do anything he doesn’t want to.”

Samael nodded. “I’ve seen her in my rounds through the havens and lower celestial areas. She has made overtures.” His lip curled with disgust. “She was rebuffed, as all celestials always will be.” His eyes met mine. “I see only you Cleo. You know that.”

“I know,” I said. “I just can’t shake the feeling she wants everything that’s mine, and won’t stop until she uses everyone around me to take it.”

“We won’t let her,” Sam said.

“Right,” Zadis said. “Simon, what do we need to do next? Cleo still has us as her friends, and we just need to win over some vampires. How hard could that be?”

“Did you see Selis?” Simon asked. “It’s impossible to convince someone that smug that they are wrong. They’d rather die.” He smirked. “So be it.”

I kind of wanted to ask what had happened to Selis, but I also didn’t as well.

“Anyway,” Simon said. “All you can really do is go to the ball and see some elder vampires and try to convince them. Some of them have quite a sway over the other court vampires and common vampires.” He stared at the table darkly. “But to be honest, I am already planning to lose many of my vampires because I believe that at this point they will double down on their foolishness. That just means I need to think of a good plan to suggest for the trials, to make sure Cleo gets a fair shot, no matter how biased the crowd is.” He looked at me. “While Cayne and I discuss it, you should go get ready for the ball tonight. Take as many with you as you can, for support.”

“I think she should just take Samael and Zadis,” Os said, folding his arms. “They’re admired by many at court, due to their overall looks and power. Perhaps they could lend her legitimacy.”

“The rest of us will be there,” Griffin said. “Standing back and making sure nothing goes wrong.”

“We’ve got your back,” Os said, reassuringly. “No matter what is said about you.”

“You don’t believe any of it, right?” I asked, looking around them and feeling disoriented that a large group of anyone could think I would eat babies or bully someone I had totally ignored.

My friends broke into laughter, and then all assured me that no, they knew it was ridiculous.

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