The twins turned back toward Beth, identical expressions of exasperation on their faces as they pressed their palms to their foreheads in perfect synchronization. The sight was so comical that Beth couldn't help giggling, the sound surprising her with its musical quality - another change from the transformation.
Beth watched the empty doorway, struggling to connect the intimidating Margot with this enthusiastic puppy of a person.
"That's Margot's grandson?" The contrast between the stern, commanding woman and the exuberant young man seemed impossible.
"Yeah, we all wonder about that too." Tyr shook his head, settling back beside her on the bed.
Tobi sprawled across the foot of the bed again, his eyes twinkling with the same mischief as his twin's. "Odds are on that he's a changeling. No way that much cheerful energy came from Margot's bloodline."
Beth had to agree. "He gives off some serious golden retriever vibes."
A shoe flew across the room, smacking Tobi square in the face. "Getting back to Beth's question," Tyr said, ignoring his twin's theatrical yelp, "Gabe is Blood Sworn to Adele, one of our clan. He was hit by a car in NYC, had some pretty grave wounds."
"Adele was giving him blood in the hospital to help him heal when Margot walked right in," Tobi added, tossing the shoe back at his brother. "And Adele - who never loses her cool about anything - explained the whole vampire situation..."
"But Margot just took the whole thing in stride," Tyr finished. "Didn't even blink. Just started organizing everything right then and there from Gabe's hospital room."
Tobi's eyes sparkled with mischief. His theatrical gestures matched his animated storytelling style. "So then Gabe was all healed up and was released from the hospital. The next day, Margot marched straight into the NYC Residence like she owned the place."
Beth's mouth fell open. "She didn't!"
"Oh, but she did." Tobi's voice dropped dramatically. "Lord Damien himself appeared in the foyer, all ancient power and darkness, demanding to know who dared enter his domain uninvited."
"And Margot?" Tobi paused for effect. "She lifted that elegant chin of hers, looked right at him and said, 'Now see here, young man, I'm here to ensure my grandson is properly cared for, and I won't have any argument about it.'"
Beth's mouth fell open. "She didn't." The words came out in a shocked whisper. "To Lord Damien?"
"She did." Both twins nodded simultaneously, their expressions filled with remembered awe.
"Young man," Tobi repeated, mimicking Margot's crisp tones. "To a vampire who's over five thousand years old."
"And he just... let her?" Beth couldn't quite wrap her mind around anyone speaking to the powerful vampire lord that way.
"Let her?" Tobi's laugh held a note of remembered disbelief. "He actually backed down. The Dark Lord himself, ruler of the most powerful vampire clan in existence, took a step back from this human woman with her diamond-studded glasses."
"Oh, but it gets better," he said, his eyes sparkling. "Lady Alyssa was there too - she nearly collapsed against the wall, laughing so hard she could barely breathe. And Margot just sailed past Lord Damien like he was a doorman, demanding to be shown to her grandson's quarters immediately and asking where the linens were kept."
"And Charles!" Tobi shook his head. "You should have seen his face! It was priceless."
"Charles is very... traditional," Tyr explained to Beth. "He's been running the NYC Residence for decades. Think of the most proper British butler you've ever seen, then multiply it by a thousand."
"Watching them try to out-organize each other is better than any entertainment we could pay for," Tyr added. "They're both absolutely convinced their way is the only proper way to run a vampire household."
Beth frowned, thinking that over. "But if she came here to manage the Residence, she left her grandson back in New York City?"
Tobi's shoulders shook with barely suppressed laughter. Tyr pressed his lips together, clearly fighting to maintain his composure.
"Oh no," Tobi managed between snickers. "Margot informed Adele they were coming here."
"Informed," Tyr emphasized, his blue eyes dancing with amusement. "Not asked. Not requested. Just stated it as fact."
"And they did!" Tobi spread his hands in a 'what can you do' gesture. "Adele had the Pledges pack up her household within a week. Didn't even bother to argue."
Beth tried to imagine the scene - the elegant vampire being essentially ordered to relocate by a human woman. Her new vampire hearing picked up Tobi muttering something that sounded suspiciously like "probably safer that way" under his breath.
Beth settled more comfortably against the headboard, fascinated by these glimpses into vampire society. "So Margot just... took over?"
"Actually," Tyr said, his expression growing more serious, "Margot and Adele see eye to eye on most things. They're both incredibly strong, independent women who know exactly what they want. Adele was Turned in the 1920s," he explained. "It was an amazing era for women breaking free of social constraints, and she embraced that spirit completely."
