“And don’t let him fool you. He won’t kill himself after he gets Dravyn like he’s been planning. I won’t allow it. I refuse to take the sun protection spell off him, and did you know vampires can’t stab themselves in the heart? There is some sort of strange magic that prevents them from doing so. Us mages have been trying to work that out for centuries. That’s why when an assassin is bitten their partner has to kill them. I suppose they could wait for the sun but the league has convinced them it’s honorable to end their partner in case they join the vampires instead. Not everyone has the will to end their life. It goes against nature.”
Vander let out a snort. “You act like I couldn’t walk into Commander Ace’s quarters right now and she wouldn’t end me. She would in a heartbeat.”
“Vander Vierroson, if you even think about that I will find a way to bring you back to life just so I can kill you myself.”
“So much for your vow to protect life,” he said with a smirk.
She glared.
I understood they’d known each other for a long time, but even his own father disowned him for less. I wondered if she was in love with him...
“Jaeda, did you ever consider... turning him to dust?” I asked, even though it sounded silly.
Jaeda glanced at Vander, then back to me, tilting her head. “No. I hold no love for vampires, but I don’t hate them the way the LOA does. Mages are taught to respect all life, even vampires. We protect, we don’t kill, unless we must to save the innocent.”
“Only someone who has lived inside Nighthaven all their life would say that.” I folded my arms and leaned against the wall. My legs felt watery now that all my adrenaline was wearing off.
“I suppose it is a privileged way to think. I don’t live life in constant fear of being killed. But Vander is proof that we can coexist. I have a proposal to start a program for LOA and warriors who are bitten. I want us to teach them control and help them find their humanity through the cravings. Execution is final.”
“It could never happen,” Vander drawled as if he’d said this countless times. “I am the exception, not the rule. The rule is that all vampires will kill or enslave for blood.”
She brushed her blonde hair behind her shoulder. The low neckline of her maroon dress showed off her ample cleavage. I was envious that she was able to wear pretty gowns and jewelry. “Even if we could save a small percentage, we should at least try. You would be able to live without having to worry about being caught at all times.”
He shook his head. “You think the people of Nighthaven would ever accept vampires living among them? No. The wall was built to keep them out.”
“We’d have to change their hearts and minds of course. It will be a long game. It would help us win the war against the twins and Belladonna. You said yourself the vampires in Nocturnus would fall without them to lead.”
“It will never happen,” Vander argued.
Jaeda shifted her attention to me. “We’ve had this argument many times. I don’t plan on convincing anyone with words.We have to start bringing the bitten back and putting them in protective custody while we help them.” She sighed. “I’m still working through the details before I present my plan to King Sigurd. I already know he’ll say it’s too risky.”
The king was correct. Nighthaven was the only safe place and if they ever got loose... But it didn’t mean that her project couldn’t be worked on elsewhere. “Do you think any vampire could be like Vander?”
She tapped her chin with her long jeweled finger. “Unfortunately not. LOA and the warriors teach loyalty above all. It’s so deeply ingrained that even vampirism hasn’t overtaken that in Vander. With everything that we know about vampires, the blood craving should overpower his need to conform to his guild. And vampires are drawn to the one who turned them. Everyone who has ever turned has become a wildling or joined with the vampires in Nocturnus. They want to belong with their kind the way humans and ducai stick to their own as well.” She wrinkled her nose at Vander. “Except him.”
He wrinkled his nose back. Their interactions reminded me of a sibling nature, and I hoped that was all it was.
“What about love and loyalty to one’s family?” I thought of my grandfathers and wondered if they could have fought off the need to feed and kill.
“Of course it’s a possibility, but I would start tests on LOA first.” She glanced at Vander. “The most stubborn of the guilds.”
He let out a low chuckle and that tight twisted coil inside me loosened some. It was such a normal thing to do. Not vampire-like at all.
“Does anyone else know?” I asked.
Vander frowned. “No. You and,” he gestured toward Jaeda, “are the only two.”
“Well, that’s not entirely true, is it?” Jaeda arched a sleek brow. “There is a very large group that knows.”
“The vampires,” I mused. “And they’ve never outed you?”
“There aren’t open lines of communication between Nocturnus and Nighthaven,” Vander explained. “Who are they going to tell and who would believe it? Everyone believes all vampires are bloodthirsty savages who take and kill for blood as they see fit. I’m not quite that. And I’m not old enough to be a daywalker from what anyone knows.”
Jaeda laughed and drummed her nails on the desktop. “I’m glad you admit that after your speech back there trying to convince your poor apprentice to kill you. So dramatic and for what?”
Vander glared at her. “Don’t make light of this situation. It puts her life in danger even knowing. Your utopian ideals are not shared by anyone I’ve ever known, not even among mages. You endanger yourself by even suggesting it’s possible.”
She pressed her lips together. “That’s why I’d frame it as having an advantage in the war rather than killing perfectly good soldiers. I’m not an imbecile.” She rolled her eyes and stood. After smoothing down her dress, she picked up her staff. “I need to go. The hour is late, and I need my beauty sleep. It was lovely meeting you, Aesira. I hope to see you again soon.” She smiled and pointed her staff at me. “It doesn’t hurt, don’t worry.”
