Page 76 of Of Shadows and Blood

“They are.”

“How are there so many down there?”

“To ensure the survival of their heirs, many noble families send their children to Demis to be raised together. It also allows for lines to mix.”

“That sounds terribly lonely,” I whisper, evaluating the logistics of that arrangement. How often do they see their parents? Turning, I find Cedric evaluating me from behind. The natural twilight gives his tanned skin a softened glow, like the moon.

“For some, it is, yes. You and I were raised together.”

This is information I do know. “Yes, that’s right.”

He nods, no doubt grinning at the memories of our childhood. “Garreth, Avonde, Sawyer and Rolan, as well,” he adds, searching my face for a breakthrough. I can’t blame him.

“Why was Rolan at Lux?”

He motions to the chairs beside the window. “It’s very complicated.”

“You’ve said that before. But you also said you would answer any questions.”

“And I’m good on my word.” He pauses, in deep thought. “Rolan’s mother, Katrine, was a cousin of my mother. She had Rolan out of wedlock with an… anonymous male. My aunt lost her sense of self and desiccated willingly when he was only a child. It was gruesome. My mother did what she thought best to give him a chance and took him in and allowed him to live, learn and exist peacefully at Lux.”

Liv nodded her head in understanding, then twisted her face. “Wouldn’t that make you and Rolan cousins, then?”

“Indeed. Second. You can’t choose family.”

“I see. That still doesn’t explain how he went from a bastard orphan to being king,” I ponder.

“The anonymous male was Duresden’s king, whose will and testament named Rolan as his one true and only heir to the throne. Just a couple years ago, in fact, after he perished in battle. The old king was evil but largely unknown to his public. My father never made visits. The kingdom used to be isolationist but as the old king perished, things became easier and trade opened up again. What you see now is what Rolan has done to increase his wealth and standing.”

My mind slips away to images of a young boy being whisked away from his dying mother to court training, eventually rising to be the king of an entire country.

“H–How long have we known each other?” The question almost dies in my mouth, but these are the questions I should be asking. I don’t miss the shake in his hand as he pours me a glass of amber liquid.

“Well,” he begins, nearly choking on his drink as it goes down. “We’ve known each other our whole lives, nearly two hundred years.”

“Two hundred!” I cry out, the look of misbelief showing on my face. He quickly strides over to a large book on a pedestal.

“We live to be around a thousand years old, give or take. As long as no one murders us in the process,” he laughs. “This –” he opens the tome and motions me over – “is the royal scriptum. It tells the stories of generations. It is magicked, so it is endless.” His finger runs along the pristine leather. “Open to page 3,692.”

I slide the book onto my lap, heaving open the large book with its thousands of pages. A few moments after figuring out how the book approximates pages, I finally land on the section.

“‘December 21’,” I read aloud, scanning the paragraph below the date. “‘Today, on the darkest day of the year, the most blessed set of births has been delivered in the history of Erees. A most powerful union of the vampyrs and the cess will be secured for the next royal line.’” My voice fades towards the end.

What I read again and again and again does not…

It’s beyond comprehension.

Prince Cedric Nexul, son of Erees, bringer of darkness, was delivered by our holy queen, Desmona. Across the hall, Lady Elmira De Cassas delivered her daughter, Elivienne. The pregnancies were both blessed by our God and now our worlds shall unite and give darkness a new presence in Lux.

I stop reading, my breathing picking up as I rub the delicate pages with my fingers.

“This means…”

“Yes,” he replies.

Gently, he grabs the book from my lap and places it back on its spot.

“I–I don’t understand. If children are so rare, then how did this happen?”