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"Should I stay down so you can do some kicking? Will that get her back faster? Make me talk sooner?"
Mason was up. For as fast as Greenwald had moved, the copper-haired vampire made him look like a snail. Which meant he could stomp Cai like a bug. Fortunately, Mason had more impulse control than Greenwald.
Greenwald struggled against Mason's hold, but the Council vampire held fast. "Easy, my lord. His behavior may deserve your ire, but he's correct. This is solving nothing."
"I cannot tolerate this despicable...thing, in my home," Greenwald said through gritted teeth to Lady Lyssa. Cai noted she sat quietly, with regal straightness, but her eyes were missing nothing of the interchange. "Pain is the only way to break Trads, my lady. We are wasting time."
"Hey. Georg."
The overlord's head swiveled around, his eyes widening. "You disrespectful--"
"Georg's your name, right?"
"Get to the point and do not goad him needlessly," Mason said. The vampire's gaze was cold, but it wasn't the implied threat that reached Cai as much as the look behind it. While the vampire might understand the reason for Cai's behavior, the even tone was a clear admonishment for Cai to grow up and be the bigger vampire.
Else Mason would rip his arm off to reinforce the point.
It wasn't threats that brought Cai back to his feet, but he did try to tone his abrasive nature down. Somewhat. He squared off with the overlord. "Georg Greenwald? Did you escape from a Harry Potter book? Torture me all you wish, vamp. You can carve every inch of skin off my body and cut off my balls, and you'll still get squat. But here's what will work. How about some fucking courtesy? Instead of saying I'm your guest, actually treat me like one."
Cai turned his attention to Lady Lyssa. She was five feet nothing and should have seemed diminutive compared to the males, and even the voluptuous Helga. Yet she was the only one he felt compelled to address by her title, even if only in his mind. That told him how he wanted to do this.
"I'll provide the information you seek," Cai said. "But I'll tell you. Alone."
Mason's amber eyes glinted. Yeah, he was a scary bastard. So the fuck what? "You do not demand a solo audience with the Council head," the vampire said.
"Why? Is a thousand-year-old queen afraid of being alone with a two-hundred-year-old vamp?" Cai tossed a look at Lord Georg. "It's sure as hell not going to be here, with him interrupting every other word. She can share with him what she wants to tell him. Then I'm out of here, and fuck the lot of you."
As the Council members stiffened and Cai thought he might truly be in danger of being limbless, clicking toenails brought everyone's attention to the door. Rand shouldered open the cracked door and entered the room.
Without a word, he moved to stand at Cai's side.
Leona had fallen asleep again, so when his ears, nose, and the mind linked to Cai had detected the blow, the blood and pain, Rand had left the room, run up the hall and bounded to the top of the stairs, passing a surprised Voltaire on the way.
It had been a kneejerk, protective response. He should have remembered Cai's nature. Now inside the sunroom, Rand could tell the vampire father was quivering with a rage so overwhelming that the one called Lord Mason was staying close, as if anticipating having to restrain him once more.
Stop being asshole, he thought hard at Cai, but met only a silent wall. He was going to pummel the vampire himself.
The other vampires had broken off their conversation as he entered, and Rand was uncomfortably aware all eyes were on him. Evaluating, assessing... Lady Helga's gaze coursed over him from head to toe, so thoroughly it might have been her hands. It suggested Lyssa had shared what she'd guessed he was with the other Council members. He didn't think Georg knew, however, for the way his gaze passed over Rand, dismissing him, suggested he only saw a pet.
"Based on how I was brought here, and what you're all so eager to know, I've earned the right to demand the terms for the information," Cai said, continuing the conversation.
"Oh?" Lyssa's brow lifted, her expression tightening. Rand noticed the room dropped by about twenty degrees. Everyone else registered it with uneasy looks. Could all vampires do that?
You think I'd be sweating my ass off in the summer if I could? She's supposedly part Fae.
"What terms are those, Mordecai?" Lyssa asked.
Cai blinked. "Exactly what I just said. A solo audience." His expression cleared, and he let out another harsh laugh. "You thought I was going to demand something for the information? Money, power? A position?" He snorted in derision. "You all have nothing I fucking want. Except an exit door."
Lamb and pork chops in kitchen. To-go bag nice.
Where his earlier comment hadn't penetrated, he saw an easing to Cai's shoulders at that one, and a deprecating side glance from the vampire. Figures, a wolf would think with his sto
mach.
Better than dick. Live longer.
Blah blah blah.
Voltaire had slipped back in the room, taking his position behind Greenwald with another baleful look at Cai.
"Very well." Lyssa drew Rand's attention as she rose, stopping his internal dialogue with Cai. "You and I will retire to the study." She paused, her head tilting as her servant, Jacob, who'd been standing attentively behind her chair, took a step from the wall. Her lips curved, her eyes reflecting mild reproof, but also something else. Deep regard. Rand sensed Cai's surprise at seeing it.
Rand's cousin had strong feelings for his female vampire, which were acceptable, but he'd told Rand that if a vampire had reciprocating feelings for a servant, they kept them hidden. It was pretty taboo, vampires being in love with their servants. But the connection between Lyssa and Jacob was impossible to miss, even without wolf senses.
"My servant will accompany us," Lyssa said.
"Then so will he." Cai jerked his head at Rand.
She nodded. "I'll meet you there. Third door on the left down the hallway, once you exit these chambers." Her gaze slid to the others. "We will return shortly."
Mason looked the least thrilled by her decision, though no one looked overjoyed. However, they all held their comments, respecting the queen's command. As she disappeared through an alternative exit Jacob opened behind her, Cai turned on his heel and strode out of the chamber, not giving anyone a further look. Rand followed.
Once in the hall, the heavy double doors closed behind them, though Cai caught a last glimpse of Voltaire's sneering face. He was probably planning how to dissect Cai with the help of his buddies, Tyra and Chavez.
Rand bumped Cai's leg, hard enough to knock him off track, and moved in front of him. He brought Cai to a halt with his body and an unexpectedly angry stare.
His daughter in danger. You play games.
Cai knew Rand's emotions were running high, having just come from Leona's side. But Cai was dealing with his own shit, and the accusation in Rand's eyes knocked some of it loose. Maybe that was for the best. Letting it lead him, Cai shoved him out of his way. The wolf moved back, his eyes flickering with annoyance.
