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Viktorija had insisted they allow Liam’s victims to watch if they wanted to, and although Luca hated the idea, he trusted his sister’s judgment. Many had declined, but several, including Helena, had stood grim-faced through the execution and left with their heads high.
He’d started his reign with a harsh stance against cruelty, and Luca prayed to any god who would hear him that he could build trust with the people Nikoli had so grievously harmed.
“Have you seen the plans for the memorial?” Viktorija asked, breaking Luca out of his thoughts.
Luca smiled. “I have, and I approved them this morning. I think it will be amazing, Vik. You’ve done a great job. I can’t wait to see that damned hideous throne gone, along with everything it stood for.”
Viktorija had worked with one of the empire’s most treasured artisans and planned to replace the dais on which the throne rested with a stunning white marble memorial wall etched with the names of those who’d fallen to Nikoli’s wrath. Luca had expected he’d have to insist they include the names of the slaves and humans who’d been killed, but Viktorija had already incorporated it into the design.
“Dinnae let her take all the credit, Sire,” a gruff voice with a heavy Scottish accent said from behind them.
Euan Frazier, the king of the secretive berserker wolves, ruled his small clan with an iron fist. All other Therians took on the true shape of their form, but Euan’s wolves were different. They partially transformed, remaining on two feet but having a wolf’s powerful muscles, claws, and teeth. His people were always close to the edge and had nearly gone extinct before Euan had taken control, made the pack reclusive, and instituted strict behavioral guidelines. He’d channeled the insatiable fury of the beast within into art and produced some of the most profoundly moving marble sculptures the world had ever seen.
“Euan! It’s good to see you again.” Luca gave the Scotsman a genuine smile.
A wild mop of red-gold hair haloed his head and blended into a bushy red beard. Bright blue eyes twinkled as he smiled at the siblings. “Dinnae let that canny lass fool you. Ah did all the hard work. She throws endless demands at me and expects me to make ‘em stick.” Euan laughed as he stopped next to them and looked at the workers below.
Viktorija grinned. “You need a strong woman telling you what to do, wolf.”
“Och! Haud yer wheesht, woman. Ah cannae have me wolves hear ye speak like that.” He winked and patted a hand over his heart. “Unless you fancy comin’ hame wi’ me to make an honest man out of this wild reprobate?”
She enjoyed their dynamic. When he’d arrived, the famously single berserker wolf had set the flirtatious tone for their interactions. Having no attachments, Viktorija saw no harm in playing along. They might even have a fling if time allowed. The unruly Scot appealed to her, and he seemed to understand that the woman behind the public mask was virtually unknown. She dropped into a flawless Scottish accent and gave him a cheeky grin. “I’ll nae do that, but thanks for the offer. You couldn’t handle me as a mate, and I like you too much to break you, Euan.”
He let out a genuine laugh and grinned at Viktorija, forgetting Luca’s presence. “For feck’s sake, yer nae even usin’ it right, and ye still wound me!” He gripped his chest like she’d broken his heart and dramatically staggered a couple of steps.
“Oh, shut up,” Viktorija growled, though the smile didn’t leave her face. “You’re an idiot.”
“It’s yer fault,” he protested. “Ye’ve turned me into a lovesick numpty.”
“I’m convinced that half of what comes out of your mouth is utter nonsense. They’re not even words. I’m fluent in more than a thousand languages, but I can’t seem to master Scottish slang. You keep changing the rules.” She pouted. “I’ll bet my ancient Gaelic is better than yours.”
He grinned again. “Och, dinnae fash yersel’. It takes time.”
Luca saw his mother and Mikhail approaching and left to meet them so his sister could flirt without an audience. Gods knew she needed something in her life that helped her relax.
“I’m proud of you, son,” Kittania greeted him as Luca joined her in the hall. “Mikhail’s just been explaining the details of your large and small councils, and I think it’s a wonderful idea.”
Mikhail nodded. “I haven’t seen our people work together like this since I was on the throne, and even then, there wasn’t this sense of unification. It inspires so much confidence to see that you’re honoring our traditions while bringing us into the future. I wanted to ask how the meetings with human authorities are going.”
Luca sighed. “They aren’t. It’s hard to convince humans who think they’re the greatest power in the world to allow their leaders to speak to a king they’ve never heard of about a subject I won’t disclose over the phone.”
Mikhail smiled. “I will make a few calls, but it’s Niletean you need for this. The man is a genius at navigating human bureaucracy, and he has connections around the world. He will know someone who can get you a meeting.”
Luca brightened. “Fantastic. I’ll go see him when we’re done here. Did you two need something?”
Kittania shook her head. “No. We were just taking a stroll and heard Viktorija’s voice. I know you’re busy, dear. Go find Niletean. Just remember to show humanity that we offer much more benefit than harm. We’ll see xenophobic fear and hatred no matter what we do, but if we can frame our case properly, perhaps we can avoid bloodshed.”
“That is my hope. Nadya’s truce won’t last forever, and the idea of leaving the humans ignorant and unprepared feels cowardly and counterproductive. The days of keeping our secret were already numbered. I’ll see you both at dinner.”
As Luca walked away, Kittania called, “Tell Ash I said hello when you call her tonight!”
Vampire Laboratory Compound, December 13, 2012
Nadya growled in frustration as the trembling scientist stammered through an explanation of why he’d failed again. Fury washed over her, and she fought the urge to use her darkness to rip the man apart. She’d learned the hard way that executing scientists for failure was bad for morale and lowered the quality of the servants she could throw at the problem.
“Why can you not complete what should be a simple task?” the vampire queen asked through clenched teeth.
The scientist, who’d only been turned for a month, shook. “M-my Queen, no matter what we do to counteract it, the magic kills every dragon we try to turn before the transformation is complete.”
