“Relax,”Nyte said through their bond without looking at her.
“You have to be kidding.”
The bastard had the audacity to curve a half smile on his face when taking in the tall expanse of the cave. It had several openings with platforms onto which more vampires spilled out to watch them enter. She imagined this is where many nightcrawlers lived as she took in all the red eyes and leathery wings.
When the last of the tightly compacted groups of vampires parted, Nyte slowed to a stop before a massive table that sat eight vampires down each side. All of them regarded her with shocked outrage as they rose from their seats.
All but one.
Astraea watched the vampire who remained seated. Her shoulder-length, straight hair was half toned in black, the other half in white. She looked from their joined hands to their faces before casting curious gray eyes on Astraea.
“What is the meaning of this?” One of the others who had been seated was the first to bellow the obvious thought on everyone’s mind.
Nyte replied calmly, “I was under the impression that this was a standard vampire resistance meeting.”
“Explain why you have the maiden by the hand and not in shackles,” another snarled.
“She’s my bonded, and that’s all the warning I give to watch how you speak of her, and to her.”
Gasps erupted throughout the room. She didn’t think it changed much about their distaste toward her, but she had come prepared for gaining trust on both sides to be a long road.
Finally, the vampire who’d remained seated stood slowly.
Astraea said, “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
She felt Nyte’s eyes on her, questioning the greeting, but her small smile finally broke when the vampire’s did.
“Nor I you, Astraea Lightborne.”
Astraea tried to let go of Nyte’s hand but his tightened in reluctance.
She said through their bond,“Laviana is the daughter of two of my guardians. She won’t hurt me.”
With that assurance he let her go, but his tension echoed through her, anticipating any slight foul play.
When Astraea reached the vampire, her steps slowed, uncertain what reception was appropriate after many estranged decades. The shadowless didn’t hesitate, however, pulling Astraea into an embrace she didn’t know she’d missed until now.
“It’s good to see you again, Laviana.” Astraea was suddenly choked with emotion when this reunion brought back fond memories of Laviana’s parents, her shadowless and celestial guardians.
“Your time governing on your own hasn’t been light on you since the guardians left,” she said with a note of sympathy.
“I don’t think even they could have predicted this turn of fate.”
“Nor would they have done any better in keeping things as together as you have.”
That burst the warmth of pride in her, especially from one who was like a distant sister in some ways. The six guardians were, for all intents and purposes, her parents too.
“We need your help,” Astraea said quietly.
“Then I’m glad you were brave enough to come.”
“Have you seen the others?”
Since the guardians left decades ago, their children had long since moved on to live their own lives around Solanis.
“The twins left for North Star not long after our parents left; said they wanted to make a life there. You haven’t seen them in Althenia?”
Astraea shook her head. Last she’d seen the nightcrawler brothers was right before her guardians left.
