"Lissa, we treated you like a baby vampire and that was perhaps our greatest failing," Wlodek admitted.
"Yeah, well, you can't undo it now," I mumbled, deliberately refusing to look at him.
"Go forward with us, instead," Adam offered. He and I had never really talked, but he was there in front of me suddenly, lifting my chin with his fingers. "Leave the past in the past, pretty girl. There's a world of light in front of you now; all you have to do is walk in it."
"I'm not sure I can," the tears dripped down my cheeks.
"Let it go," Adam whispered. Connegar was beside me, suddenly.
"You will try, won't you, little rose?" Connegar lifted me in a warm embrace and never said a word when I wrapped my arms around his neck and sobbed.
* * *
"Mother, Lissa needed to get away for a while." Connegar set me down at yet another large, granite island—the one in Conner's kitchen. Conner was there having a late dinner with Russell, Will and Martin. Franklin, his mates Shane and Tomas were also there.
"Hi, honey," I walked over to give Franklin a hug as soon as Connegar let me go. "Hi, other honey," I gave Shane a hug, too. "Third honey," I hugged Tomas.
"Lissa, why have you been crying?" Franklin pulled me against him and wiped my cheeks gently with a thumb.
"Long story," I sniffled, wiping my own cheeks. "Do I look like shit, now?"
"No, sweetheart," Franklin pulled me against him. "You need to come over and see us more often," he scolded gently.
"I would not object if I were notified more often of the Queen's movements. I have attempted to see her many times," Erland Morphis folded in. I stared—I know I did. I'd seen him once before, in the arboretum above the High Demon's palace.
"He's mated to some of ours," Frank said softly. "That's how he found out you were with us."
"Do you remember meeting me?" I asked Erland, leaning against Franklin and putting my head on his shoulder. Yeah, I missed Franklin. A lot.
"When did we meet?" He didn't remember. Well, Kifirin had taken me to the future, so this Erland had no recollection of meeting me.
"Forty years in the future," I sighed. "Kifirin took me to Veshtul. We met in the palace arboretum. You told me you were a Karathian Warlock, and never cast dark spells."
"Fascinating. Did I also inform you that you are one of two women I would like to have in my bed?"
"Uh, no. And that's not embarrassing or anything. I thought you were attracted to males."
"I am currently attracted to males, but I would beg if it would get me into your bed."
"Uh-huh," I said, snuggling against Franklin. Maybe this conversation didn't embarrass Erland Morphis, but it sure as hell embarrassed me.
"See, I am forever to be rebuffed by the two females I would enjoy making love with," Erland declared, tossing up a hand. It made me wonder who the other woman was—after all, he was the second most beautiful male I'd ever seen.
"And the other is?" I asked, mildly curious.
"Glindarok. Only she treats me exactly the same," Erland grumbled. "My Lissa thinks I am the second most beautiful man she knows. My Glinda thinks I am the most beautiful." Well, he'd just plucked the thoughts right from my head. The schmuck.
"She hasn't met Kifirin, has she?" I asked. She couldn't think Erland was more beautiful than that.
"Avilepha, did you call my name?" The most beautiful man I'd ever met showed up right then, as if he were listening for his name to be called. Nexus Echo. I couldn't decide if that was a good or a bad thing.
"I did mention your name," I admitted. Everybody in Conner's kitchen was now staring at Kifirin with their mouths open. He had an angel's face. I always thought that, anyway.
"M'hala, you are too kind to me," Kifirin smiled.
"I am not, stop fibbing," I pulled away from Franklin and went to swat Kifirin lightly on the arm. "I missed you, you schmuck."
"I live for the day you call me darling or any other endearment," Kifirin sighed.
"Don't count your chickens, honey," I said. Conner snickered.
"I came to take you away for a bit, love. You appear to need a break." Kifirin reached out and touched my face gently. It was probably still blotchy from crying. At least the guys were all too polite to mention it."Where are we going?" I asked, wishing I had a mirror.
"You look beautiful," Kifirin informed me. "And I was going to take you to see Roff and Giff."
"Really?" I wanted to jump up and down with happiness. "They're still alive?" I missed Roff. Loved Roff. Really wanted to see Roff. And Giff, too.
"Of course. I see I chose the right thing," Kifirin flashed his perfect smile. "Come avilepha, we will go." Connegar nodded and smiled at me when I glanced his way, so Kifirin lifted me up and we were gone.
We were back in the High Demons' palace, only it wasn't in the future. I'm not sure how I knew that, I just did. Kifirin set me down, took my hand, kissed it lightly and then led me down a wide hall tiled in the beautiful marble I'd seen before. The occasional sculpture lined this hall depicting High Demons, both humanoid and in their Thifilathi. That wasn't scary or anything. Those Thifilathi sculptures were life-sized and around sixteen to eighteen feet tall, which meant the hall itself was much taller than that. We stopped at a door carved in ornate patterns and inlaid with gold, silver and semiprecious stones. The knob was also a carved oval in gold. Kifirin knocked out of politeness and then blew the door inward with Power.
Gardevik stood there with his brother Jaydevik and a woman was held behind King Jayd. Jayd looked as if he were about to explode or go Thifilathi. Garde breathed a sigh of relief when he saw it was Kifirin and me. Honestly, I wasn't looking forward to a battle between Kifirin and Jayd and was glad Jayd backed down.
"We wish to see Roff and Giff," Kifirin announced, as the woman elbowed Jayd aside and then stepped around him.
"Wait," she said. "I haven't been introduced to the person who saved us." She came forward and held out her hand. "I am Glindarok," she said. "Queen of the High Demons." There wasn't any way around it, she was gorgeous. Long, white hair hung down to her waist and she had blue eyes and beautiful skin. She wasn't much taller than I was, either. I took her hand. "I wanted to meet you as soon as I found out you still lived," she said.
"Well, here I am," I replied. "I'm Lissa, but then you already know that. Erland Morphis just told me that you were the first woman he ever wanted to go to bed with."
"Why did that idiot tell you that?" she asked, smiling and releasing my hand.
"Because he informed Lissa that she's the other female he wishes to take to his bed," Kifirin announced. I wanted to elbow him in the ribs for that.
"As if he has time for a female," I snipped. "His first love is Erland Morphis, and any woman would stand behind a long line of males on the rest of his list."
"Exactly what I always thought," Glinda laughed.
Roff walked into the room at that moment, followed by Giff, who was carrying a baby. "Roff," I whimpered, wanting to run to him. I held myself back.
"Is this our Queen?" Roff asked, coming forward. This Roff didn't know me. Had never met me, or kissed me or held me. I missed the Roff who'd done all those things.
"Honey, I've missed you," I said, afraid to touch him.
"You call me an endearment?" Roff was surprised, I could tell.
"Do you not want that?" I asked, worried.
"I should be kneeling at your feet," he said, shocking me.
"Honey, don't you ever do that," I said. "Ever." I couldn't help it; I went to him and hugged him.
"The Queen loves you, Roff," Kifirin said softly. Roff's arms went around me.
"Would you like to offer your blood, Roff?" Kifirin asked; his head suddenly next to Roff's ear. I wasn’t about to take much, just enough to give him satisfaction.
Roff couldn't speak, but he was eager. I held him away from me. "I won't hurt you," I said, leaning in to kiss him. Roff was ready now, and Giff watched in wonder as I leaned in, placed another kiss on Roff's neck and bit him as gently as I could. Roff cried out in ecstasy and I held him while his body convulsed against mine. He was now holding onto me as hard as I was holding onto him. The High Demons were watching all of this, I noticed, when I licked Roff's neck to heal it and leaned away from him.
"Did you like that?" I asked.
"Very much," Roff's voice was hoarse, his brown eyes still clouded with pleasure. "I would like to do it again."
"I didn't take much from you, but you still don't need to do this again for a few days. Is that little Toff back there with Giff? You need your strength to take care of him."
"Yes," Roff was still trying to gather his wits as he motioned Giff forward.
"Hey, baby," I played with Toff's little hands. He was adorable and the proud owner of a full set of teeth—I saw that right away when he yawned in Giff's arms.
"They eat animal protein, straight from the birthing sac," Kifirin informed me.
"Because you made them that way," I looked up at Kifirin, who shrugged.
"What would your first law be, if you were Queen on Le-Ath Veronis?" Kifirin said instead.
"That it would be a death sentence if anyone drank from a child," I replied instantly. "The rights of the comesuli should be considered first, don't you think?" Kifirin's eyes lit up as he smiled at me.
"I will bring you a copy of the old laws," he said. "The first of which levied a death sentence upon anyone who drank from a child." Roff and Giff were listening to us, their eyes shining.