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I kept my expression even—it was only two weeks ago that Mr. Baree had finally stopped asking me if I was okay after every attack he made. If I gave him an inkling that his lava freaked me out, he was going to stop and apologize for at least five minutes.
:)
Yep. That was the gut check. Everyone who genuinely wanted to join House Medeis had all suffered in some way, or lost someone they loved because of a fight among supernaturals.
:(
Great Aunt Marraine’s smile turned devious. “Oh, yes,” she said. “Everything is ready, as per usual.” “Fantastic.” I took in a deep breath, almost purring in my joy. “I do look forward to our weekly trip to the Curia Cloisters. It’s so important to visit the wizards responsible for governing us, and to voice our concerns as citizens.” “So very important.” Great Aunt Marraine agreed. We smirked at each other for a few moments before erupting into cackles.
Oo
What Mason did was wrong. What the Wizard Subcommittee and my so-called allies had helped him do was wrong. And I was going to make sure it couldn’t happen again. Besides, what was the point of grasping for power and maybe surviving an extra generation if we had to ruin lives and harm people in the process?
Point
I wasn’t entirely certain what kind of repressed emotion. With his head still pressed against my neck I couldn’t see his eyebrows—which were the best indicators of his current mood.
0o
Great Aunt Marraine sipped at some kind of fruity drink that I dearly hoped didn’t have alcohol or this meeting was going to be a lot more interesting than I wanted,
;)
“Though he’ll try to boss us all around and might have a go at making you all wear suits whenever you’re here, he’s not going to physically hurt us. He’ll suddenly turn colder than a prissy mean girl in high school, but we can roll with that.” “Such an admirable depiction of me,” Killian mused as he considered an unopened blood pouch.
Oo
Inter-supernatural romances weren’t outlawed or anything—it was the offspring of vampires and humans that became the first vampire slayers, and the descendants of werewolves and humans had become werewolf hunters. But nowadays it was a taboo—and had been a taboo for a looong time.
Oo
“I don’t want to discuss it,” I muttered. “You are willing to forgive me, but not my First or Second Knight?” Killian raised both eyebrows. “I don’t know if I should be concerned or rejoice at the preferential treatment.” “It’s not preferential,” I said. “I expected scheming and manipulating from you—you don’t even try to hide it. But Josh and Celestina treated me like a real friend, and then ripped that from me. Since they weren’t scheming like you, it revealed what they really thought of me.”
:(
in what Momoko had informed me earlier in the day was a “Rococo revival sofa with a mahogany veneer.” Frankly, I didn’t know what that meant besides EXPENSIVE, DO NOT BREAK! (I hadn’t realized how much antique furniture was in the House until I suddenly became responsible for it. I was going to have all gray hair by the time I turned thirty.)
Oo
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Does the entire Drake Family like to act like haughty know-it-alls and then use heart-twisting motivations to excuse their behavior, or is that just an upper management thing?” “We’re not trying to excuse our behavior, but rather explain it,” Josh said.
They have a point
As long as you don’t ice me out again.” “Agreed,” Josh said. “But he’s not going to let you go a second time.” “I doubt that.” “You don’t think he is that desirous of you?” Josh asked. Gavino had been calmly sipping a blood pouch, but abruptly choked on it and started coughing up a storm.
Oo
SUV followed behind us—it contained Felix, Franco, and Rupert. I had hoped the mischievous wizard brothers would keep their mouths shut, but based on the way the car was angrily veering around the road, I’m pretty sure Rupert was close to homicidal.
Oo
My fingers just brushed the fancy pendent that ended the switch, and the House yanked it out of my grasp. I set my hands on my hips. “I will burn scented candles in every room and stink this whole place up if you don’t turn off the ceiling fan.” The flooring squeaked, and around me the House groaned. “I don’t care if it’s fun!” I narrowed my eyes and did my best to channel the look my parents used whenever I’d been particularly disobedient.
Oo
“Uh-huh, I’m following you.” “So it makes me…apprehensive when you are away from Drake Hall,” Killian said. I pressed my lips together. “I live in a magic House with nearly thirty adult wizards, and you’re apprehensive?”
;)
“So, what, you’re moving in?” I asked. Killian perked. “That’s an option?” “No!” He gave me a look of disapproval. “You know you are perfectly welcome to move into Drake Hall, but it seems wizards are not as good hosts as us vampires.” “You’re paranoid, so what do you intend to do?”
Oo
I held my hands up and backed off. “But the House has a personality of its own, Killian. You really don’t want to tick it off.” “Is that so?” Killian said in a factual tone. He flicked off his handgun’s safety and nonchalantly shot the floor. Slivers of wood sprayed the air, and instantly the ground parted beneath Killian’s feet, sending him plunging into the basement. The wood floor sealed up behind him, repairing the bullet hole, making it look as if nothing had happened. I turned to Celestina. “Please allow me to express my congratulations on becoming the new Drake Family Elder.”
;)
About an hour later, Killian emerged from the basement. I wasn’t surprised to see he looked barely disheveled, and not noticeably meeker—but the House is magical, not a miracle-worker I suppose.
;)
(Let’s just call it what it is, positive reinforcement. And I was going to reinforce the crap out of this particular behavior.) I smiled at Killian, fighting the urge to blush as he unashamedly stared back at me, the red in his eyes dimming to a simmer.
Oo
“The best part about being Eminence is that no one can actually tell me what my job description is,” Killian said. “That’s the point of doing all the work to climb to this position.” I scoffed. “You did not do all of the work of getting this spot because you were sick of people telling you what to do.” “No, but it is an added bonus.” Killian’s smirk turned mischievous before his expression cleared all together.
Oo
He drew himself up, sticking his craggy nose high in the air like a pouting kid. “You two are so mean!” I blinked, internally replaying the Paragon’s words because they were so random and weird that I had to be mistaken. Nope. I didn’t think I was.
Oo
I gritted my teeth and forcibly collected myself into what I considered a more proper reaction of slightly irritated bewilderment. “Are you seriously here to complain that we’re having fun without you and you feel left out?” “Yes! I mean, no!” The Paragon drew himself up again.
;)
“You visited the Paragon while we were fighting?” I asked. “We weren’t actively fighting, we were in a disagreement,” Killian said. “Hmph.” The Paragon leaned near and spoke in the loudest whisper I’d ever heard. “See how he’s trying to nit-pick to distract you from answering your question? Classic avoidance technique.” Killian shot the Paragon an annoyed look.
:D
“You’re falling in line with a meekness I find surprising.” I shrugged. “I live in a magic House. The idea of a cat picking out my tea is hardly anything to get my sword belt twisted over.” “See? Hazel has a grace and maturity you lack,” the Paragon said.
:)
Killian narrowed his eyes. “This is why one always has to be careful when they accept hospitality from fae. They can’t lie, but they’re deviant and frequently homicidal.” He took a cautious sip—which actually was a pretty big indicator of how much he trusted the Paragon.
;)
I sipped my tea and leaned back in my chair, relaxing. “You know, I like it better the more and more I drink it.” “It is surprisingly good,” Killian said. “I didn’t know you liked tea.” “I don’t.” His forehead wrinkled slightly as he stared at his cup. “Which is what makes this tea even more dubious.” I laughed, and then struggled to hold my teacup still so I didn’t spill any on my practice clothes.
:)
When I met his gaze, his eyes glowed faintly red, and he leaned in again. “I’m not going to let you escape, Hazel. If you keep trying to run from this issue just to avoid pain, I won’t stand for it.” It was difficult to swallow. “Deal,” I squeaked. “It’s a good thing I’m such an ancient, elderly fae,” the Paragon piteously said. “So I can’t overhear any secret whispers between you two.”
Heh
The Paragon hesitated and hugged Aphrodite close. “And because…Hazel…there is a possibility your parents’ deaths were not an accident.” My heart sputtered. “What do you mean?” I asked in a shaky voice. “They died in a car crash.” “And within three weeks you had a coup on your hands?” The Paragon shook his head.
Well ... Duh?
“Josh,” I whispered. “What are you doing?” “Writing my epitaph,” Josh whispered back. “Because the end of the world has arrived. Time will soon collapse and all will sink into the ocean. The sign has appeared.” My head sagged on my neck at my hopeless and foolish desire for help. “If the end of the world has come,” June started, “what point is there in having an epitaph? No one will be around to read it.” Josh paused in the middle of writing a word. “This is true…” Murmured conversations kicked up, softening the tense atmosphere.
:)
Down the dining table, one of the Drake vampires I had only seen a few times gaped at us. “What? Did he just—” He wheezed when Tasha, another Drake, smacked him upside the head.
:D
I set my fork down. “Are you legit telling me to eat my vegetables?” Killian smirked. “Perhaps.” “Fine. Then you try it first!” I set the salad bowl in front of Killian with a smirk.
:)
“Nonsense!” Great Aunt Marraine said. “You are such a dear boy. Of course we would be glad to see you!” Rupert—who had roamed farther down the table since he’d been voluntarily displaced—choked on his glass of blood.
mwahahaha
“Fae are diabolical. Vampires at least follow codes of conduct, but fae are like quicksilver, always adjusting for their own selfish good. They are ruthless and awful, and the only way you’ll really be able to surprise them is by using something they think they know against them,”
Oo
I squinted at the Paragon. “Did someone spike your drink?” He rolled his eyes and fanned his face with his free hand. “As annoyingly oblivious as ever.
:)
I forced a smile. “I know precisely what he’s doing, Paragon.” “Oohhh, I see. So this is a trap so he will commence his campaign allowing you to snag him in return? Well done—now you’re thinking like a fae.” He nodded in approval. I looked up at Killian. “Did you follow any of that?” He shrugged. “I generally don’t bother to follow what the Paragon has to say given that he is an idiot. This time, however, I gathered he thinks we’re a couple. Because that suits me, I will approve.”
Oo
You’re a modern Romeo and Juliet…if Romeo had political finesse and fangs and Juliet was capable of snapping someone’s head off.” “I’m not that strong. I think I’d have to fry them with magic,” I said. “But that’s not the point.” “Then what is the point?” the Paragon asked.
Oo
She was sitting on her pet bed, wearing a purple onesie with a hood and floppy rabbit ears. Can I just say it? That cat puts up with a lot.
:)
Talking to a vampire was upsetting because you knew they could kill you and you couldn’t stop them. Speaking with a fae wasn’t much better, because if you weren’t careful they could get you to legally agree to letting them slit your throat.
Oo
The Drake vampires were offering each other curt nods and a few smiles and back slaps, until Momoko hugged Celestina and it became a free-for-all hug fest that involved most wizards chasing down slightly panicking vampires. (My favorite, I think, was when June snuck up on Rupert and gave him a hug. He squealed like a pig, but sat through it like an obedient dog.)
:)
“Do you have to drink from my neck?” “No,” Killian scoffed. “You’re tiny. If I fed off your neck and collapsed on you, you’d suffocate.”
Lol
“Yeah, about that—you could have just been honest and approved the building like you wanted to,” I said. “Why do that when I can convince the committee I’m so head-over-heels for you, I’ll let you push me around? It makes them so much easier to manipulate and test.” “That’s the other thing. You really need to stop picking on the other leaders just because you’re trying to push them to stand by their decisions,” I warned him. “One day it’s going to backfire on you.”
Oo
