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“This way, Elder Maledictus,” Josh said.
I was surprised when he didn’t lead me to the vampire section of the club—marked by a stain glass ceiling that depicted a castle and men and women dressed in renaissance clothing attempting to look menacing with glowing red eyes—a depiction I found absolutely laughable—but instead to thewizardarea, which was marked by a stain glass window of robed humans wielding the elements.
Killian was already seated at a square table, looking at something on a tablet, with several folders of papers spread across the table.
He flicked his eyes up as we approached, and I was pleased to see his eyebrow twitch in irritation. “Con. Where have youbeen?”
I made a show of checking my watch. “What are you complaining about? I’m two minutes early.”
“Not tonight,” Killian impatiently said. “I mean in general! Where have you been in Magiford?”
“Oh.” I sat down giving the area another look. There were elegant glass vases of blood-red roses everywhere—most likely at the insistence of the club owners, one of which was a fae and the other being a vampire. “So, you haven’t figured that out even with all your little minions out looking? Good for me.”
Killian put his tablet aside. “Hardly. Hiding is child’s play to someone with your powers,” his voice was lined with fresh irritation.
I grinned. “Sore that I didn’t arrive tonight in a car for you to track? Killian, I’m hurt you’d think I’m that sloppy.”
I’d been using one of my rarer powers that only came with age—great age, at least two millenniums—to fly around the city, precisely because Killian was competent enough that if I had any kind of vehicle he’d find me in an instant.
“Don’t worry, Killian.” I rested my arm on the back of the chair next to me. “One day you’ll have these powers too. I’d bet you’ll develop them before Vígí, even.”
“Vígí is centuries older than me,” Killian said, sounding slightly distracted as he handed his paperwork off to Josh. I caught sight of the header—something about wizards—before Josh took the folders. “Of course, he’ll get the powers first.”
“Not of course,” I countered. “Because Vígí is an idiot.”And I’ll have to poke and prod him every decade to keep him alive long enough to develop these powers, something I tire of.
“As much as I agree with your estimation of my older brother, you cannot distract me. Where have you been?” His work set aside, Killian stared at me, his hands rested casually on the table.
“Surely you know I’m not going to tell you that.” I eyed the waitstaff—all human, so no supernaturals could pull political moves as Club Luminary was considered neutral territory.
“I still feel honor bound to ask,” Killian said.
“Honor?” Shocked, I sat up straight giving the youngest of my unwanted charges a careful scan. “Sincewhenhave you cared about honor?”
Killian had all the ambition his siblings lacked—one of the many reasons why he was my favorite of the Dracos children.
He waved off my concern. “Stop fretting like a nursemaid and just tell me why you agreed to this meeting. Surely you had some reason?”
I sighed and made a show of pinching the bridge of my nose. “All of you rebellious snake-brats are going to drive me into an early grave.”
“You could just let my siblings suffer the consequences of their asinine decisions,” Killian pointed out.
No, I can’t, because I promised Ambrose I’d watch over his offspring.
Though I’d regretted that asinine promise on a daily basis for several centuries.
A waiter approached the table, placing a crystal glass of blood in front of me and then a second in front of Killian before he bowed and swept off.
I swirled the glass. “I’m not sure I know what you’re referring to.”
“Yes, you do,” Killian said. “Every time one of them is on the edge of letting go and drifting off into an eternal sleep, you pop up like a vulture and either half kill or psychologically and financially destroy them, disappearing once they’re incensed enough to fix all the wreckage you caused.”
I considered Killian as I idly sipped on the warm blood—once upon a time the sweet metallic taste would have been delightful, but the problem with immortality is that the joy of things gradually disappeared so to me it tasted empty.
I figured he’d catch on eventually. Not that it matters. It wasn’t like Ambrose told me I couldn’t tell his children. I just didn’t want them to think I actuallycareabout them.
I’d never turned anyone and had my own offspring and Family line for a reason: I didn’t care about anyone, and I didn’t intend to change that.
Ambrose had been my best friend—closer than blood given the centuries and horrors we’d been through together. Wars, plagues, the changing of eras and empires, we’d seen it all.
