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“Rohn the Younger,” the hellren replied with a choked sound.
“I hereby proclaim this fine-born male as Rohn, son of Rohn, pride of his mahmen and father, anchor of his bloodline. May he find all blessings in this life, and carry forth unto further years the love and honor of his family. In accordance with the right and proper way, and as my royal sire before me and his before him, I welcome Rohn unto the world corporeal.”
And then the King smiled.
Not in a perfunctory way. Not in a just-doing-my-job fashion. He well and truly beamed, the warmth transforming that harsh, autocratic face into something altogether approachable.
Well… almost approachable.
When he held the infant out, the mahmen took Rohn back—and then the couple fell onto their knees with bowed heads, the scent of their tears of joy wafting up. That dagger hand was extended, and both of the civilians kissed the black diamond, words of devotion and submission whispered over the ancient King’s ring.
Lassiter glanced at Eddie and Ad. They were staring across the long room, their faces serious.
Good. He was glad he didn’t need to state the obvious. Generations of vampires, in the midst of their fragile mortal lives, had fallen in line with this private ceremony, a linkage that went from the current moment to all the ones that had gone before… back to the very first King and the very first young who had been recognized, welcomed, and approved of.
Turning back to the hearth, Lassiter’s eyes shifted over and down to George.
The golden retriever had angled his head toward the exchange, and with his jaws open in an easy pant, it seemed as though he was also smiling at the baby. For certain, he was alert and tracking everything, his blond fur and kind eyes like a second banked fire warming the room.
Lassiter tried to imagine the scene without George’s gentle presence.
And couldn’t.
God… he loved Rahvyn so damned much.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Down in the Brotherhood’s training center, the knock upon the recovery room door was soft and respectful—yet Rahvyn sat up in a rush and put her hand to her skipping heart.
“Yes?” she said over the thumping in her chest.
Although what exactly did she think was coming through that door?
Ehlena, the clinic’s nurse, put her head in. The female had strawberry blond hair and toffee-colored eyes, and always seemed, with her warm smile, a calming and competent presence.
“Hi! You still okay?” When Rahvyn nodded, the female pointed to the bedside table. “You’ve got a call on the phone there? It was transferred in from the main switchboard. Just push the blinking light and pick up.”
“Oh.” She glanced over at the unit. “Oh, thank you.”
“No worries. And remember, I’m just two doors down if you need anything.”
After the female gave a little wave and ducked out, Rahvyn looked at the telephone that sat on the bedside table. She had seen such landlines in use at Luchas House, and yet she had to remind herself how to pick up the heavy handheld unit that linked one’s ear and mouth. When there was no sound, she remembered—the light. She pushed the little square and there was a clicking and a quiet hiss.
“Hello?” she said.
“Rahvyn?”
She frowned. “Shuli?” As the male started speaking, a distortion cut into the connection. “Shuli, I’m having difficulty hearing you—”
“—where are you?”
“In the Brotherhood’s clinic. Is there something wrong?” Stupid question. She might not be able to hear all his words, but the tension in his voice was obvious. “Are you okay—”
There was a crackling that made her flinch and take the phone away from her ear. When she put the unit back, he was much more clear.
“I need your help with Nate,” the male said. “He’s gone off the rails. Maybe you can talk to him.”
“Where is he?” Another stupid question. “Where are you, rather?”
“Outside his house. He just took off.” Now with a fuzzy sound, as if perhaps he were in a breeze that had just intensified. “He says he’s going to go get drunk. I think you’re the only one who can reach him. He’s fucking lost it.”
This was all her fault. “But wherever did he go?”
“Out to the clubs somewhere. Do you know his address? Come here and meet me, we’ll look for him together.”
“I’m afraid that at one point, he told me where he lived, but I disregarded the coordinates?”
There was a pause. “Okay, meet me at Dandelion. You remember where that is, right? We’ll start there.”
As her gut tightened, she thought about suggesting they convene somewhere, anywhere else. “All right. I shall leave the now.”
“You’re sure you know where the club is?”
Between one blink and the next, she saw Nate falling to his knees onto the sidewalk, a small hole in the front of his sweatshirt, a haunted look in his eyes, her name leaving his lips on a gasp.
