"Avilepha," he put his arm around me to hold me close. I let my forehead drop against his shoulder—his body was warm and comforting. "Lissa," he said after a while, speaking softly, "did you know that a Queen of Le-Ath Veronis always had a small circle of advisors around her, all of whom were her lovers? I have seen as many as twelve in that role, in addition to the comesuli that served her."
"Did she love all of them?"
"They—there have been several Queens. And yes, they did. One even had two King Vampires in her circle."
"Gabron is one of those, isn't he?"
"As is your surrogate sire." That almost made me gasp.
"You know about him?" I asked.
"Avilepha, I have done all my research where you are concerned." That reply made me want to ask him what he was, but wasn't sure I wanted to hear the answer. I watched Kifirin smile. "Kiss me," he said softly, and lowered his head to take my lips with his. His mind invaded mine, just as his tongue invaded my mouth. I drowned in him, almost. His desire was mine—his thoughts were mine. I learned what avilepha meant. He'd been calling me my love, the whole time I'd known him.
"I do not intend to displace your other lover," he said, breaking the kiss. "When I place my claiming marks it will be painful, but it will only happen the one time, hala avilepha. A vampire's skin will not scar, except from my claiming. My marks will show everyone that you are mine." I blinked up at him in a stupor, almost, from what he was doing to me. The kiss had left me boneless; a lump of clay in his hands, with no will of my own.
"Come, lean down just a little," he held my neck in one of his hands, and then cradled my cheek against his chest, holding me securely. I watched in a detached manner as the skin on his arms darkened; it was nearly black and covered with scales before it stopped changing. He then he blew a hot breath on the back of my neck, right over the nape. I was comfortable, relaxed, actually, and totally unprepared for what happened next.
Large canines, upper and lower, gripped the back of my neck, their razor-sharp length sinking into my flesh until they nearly surrounded my spine. I cried out with the pain of it. It will be over soon, he soothed mentally. Try to relax, do not struggle. Your little spine should not be damaged. My fingers were curling and uncurling in my lap; I was held back somehow from forming claws or turning to mist. Hush, it is nearly done, he sent as I whimpered from the agony. My neck was on fire and the sensation ran the length of my spine. The pain renewed itself when Kifirin removed his teeth; I cried out again, and attempted to fight my way out of his lap. He wasn't having it, gathering me up instead and kissing my neck, touching it with fingers that were now cool, taking the pain away. Somehow an ice pack appeared in one of his hands and he held it against my nape.
"It is only the once," he repeated gently. I was crying. "Hush, my little love," I was wrapped up in his arms, which were now their normal color. "The Thifilathi must be satisfied in the claiming. I will not hurt you again. The loving will be gentle and careful, and only if you wish it, from now on." I blinked up at his angelic face, the hurt and betrayal showing on my face as more tears fell.
"When the High Demon claims his mate, he spends the rest of his life apologizing for the pain of it," he said, wiping tears from my cheeks and then kissing them away.
"Is that what you are?" I almost sobbed on the words.
"No, avilepha. The High Demons were made in my image." Kifirin kissed me one last time before placing fingers against my forehead and sending me to sleep.
* * *
"Ilaisaane, we have evidence that you were seen with Xenides," Wlodek toyed with his favorite pen. Ilaisaane sat before Wlodek, chains on her wrists. Merrill, Gavin, Flavio and Radomir were also in the room. Ilaisaane had been lured in on the pretext of judging a human companion. She had come to the holding facility, along with Flavio, whom she thought would be judging along with her. She was placed under compulsion by Merrill, whose power was stronger, even, than Saxom's had ever been. She'd heard of King Vampires but had never suspected that one actually existed. Until now.
"I saw him," her words were unwilling, but Merrill had commanded that she tell Wlodek all she knew concerning the vampire. "He wants Lissa very badly." She couldn't keep the contempt from her voice.
"You voted against her, as I remember," Wlodek said casually.
"That little bitch—she should have been killed," Ilaisaane spat. "No female should hold those abilities, especially one so young and stupid."
"And yet she told me that I should keep an eye on you," Merrill interjected. Lissa had told him that the dark-haired woman should be watched, along with two males, Cecil and Nestor. She hadn't known their names, but she'd described where they sat. Merrill thought Lissa was suspicious of all the members who'd voted against her, until he realized that she hadn't included Jarl in that list. He'd also voted against her. Lissa was certainly correct where Ilaisaane was concerned.
"You sound jealous," Wlodek observed.
"I am. Those abilities should have been given to someone deserving, who could use them effectively."
"Xenides wants her for those abilities, doesn't he?" Wlodek continued.
"Of course. He can get sex anywhere." Gavin growled at Ilaisaane's words.
"What have you told Xenides?"
"I told him that Merrill was her surrogate sire and that Merrill's home was near here. I didn't know the exact location, so I couldn't give him that. He and two siblings, Julius and Quentin, are now looking. I hope they find you soon," she snarled at Merrill.
"Charles!" Wlodek shouted. Charles appeared in the doorway quickly. He had his laptop balanced on one hand and was already typing in the names with the other.
"The only Julius and Quentin are listed as Corvinus' turns, Honored One."
"Are those the ones?" Wlodek turned to Ilaisaane.
"Saxom was clever, wasn't he?" Ilaisaane laughed softly. "Of course those are the ones."
"What was your relationship with Saxom?"
"He taught me, after he killed my sire," Ilaisaane said. "We were lovers for a while, but he was obsessed with someone else. Someone he couldn't have. That blonde bitch you had in the cave four years ago." Merrill growled this time. Ilaisaane shrank back a little.
* * *
"Do you know how to use one of these?" Tony unboxed one of the crossbows he'd purchased. The arrows were wood; he'd taken a page from the books of the enemy when they'd first appeared in New Mexico. He also had portable flamethrowers shipped in. This was the way a werewolf or a human could fight a vampire.