Guilt stabbed between my ribs.This wasn’t the first time I’d felt like the villain in their story.I was the outside source threatening their relationship and their lives.But if I signed Jared’s list, I’d be contributing to the corrupt hierarchy I was determined to destroy.
The paranormal world wasn’t set up for neutrality or fairness.That was one reason I’d left home before college.I’d tried to make things better before then, but I hadn’t had the power to force anyone to listen.Now I did, and if I caved once, the paranorms would expect me to cave again.I couldn’t give them what they wanted.They would have to find a way to wrap their minds around this new normal.
“Tell the vampires to call The Rain,” I said.“Tell them to ask for a room.”
I wasn’t sure whether either of them had heard me, not until they finally turned away from each other to stare in my direction.
Jared’s brow dipped ever so slightly.“You want the vampires to callyouin order to be sanctioned?”
“This has nothing to do with them being sanctioned,” I said.“I want to know how old they are and whose clan they belong to.I want to know where they came from, why they should be allowed to stay.”As an afterthought and since I was on a roll, I added, “I also want references.”
They both continued to stare, Jared with his signature carved-stone expression, Nora with her left eyebrow slightly raised.
“I will tell you what you wish to know.”Jared made the statement as if it was the obvious and inevitable solution.
I huffed out a laugh and shook my head.“Okay.Let’s try it.First person on your list.Why should they get a room at The Rain?”
He blinked.Then he looked down at his list.He didn’t remember the name, probably didn’t know if they were Aged, depressed and desperate, or if they had a history of violence.
“Let me help you out,” I said.“He or she belongs to a master vampire who is an enemy of your enemy.Ensuring entrance to The Rain for one or more of their vampires will increase the tension between the two clans, hopefully enough for them to attempt to eradicate each other.They’ll both be weakened.You’ll be strengthened.”
Jared’s jaw clenched, basically confirming I was right.It wasn’t a hard guess.Every name added to a sanctioned list was a political move, a way to exert power and influence.I’d seen the chessboard laid out like this hundreds of times before.The pawns were always sacrificed.
The pawns were the ones I wanted to help.
“Want to try the second name?”I waited a second for him to reply, then proceeded on.“I want each vampire to call.Better yet, have them email.They need to give me their names, backgrounds, and the other relevant information.They will also pay me directly.I’ll reply to let them know if and when a room is available.”
“Do you expect anyone born before this century to actually use email?”Nora asked the question with that daughter-of-the-alpha superiority that grated on my nerves.“And where would they send [email protected]?”
Thiswas why it was so hard to be her friend.
Unfortunately, she had a point.The Rain didn’t have a website, let alone an email address.Sure, I could have given them my personal one, but these changes needed to feel official—permanent—like I wasn’t just making things up as I went.So yeah.I would set up a damn email account.
“Your plan will not appease my adversaries,” Jared said, frustration finally bleeding into his monotone.
“Would anything appease them?If they’re set against you, it doesn’t matter what you do.But itwillmatter to the young, the weak, and the abused.All the people Arcuro and the Aged scorn and ignore.Don’t be like the other vampire masters.Be different.”
“Be weak.”
I fought to keep my fists relaxed at my sides.Jared was a multi-centuries-old vampire who'd survived by enforcing a system that kept the strongest on top and everyone else scrambling for scraps.The paranormal world wanted a rigid power structure that crushed independence, silenced dissent, and treated change as a disease to be eradicated.
“If you see it as a weakness,” I said, “everyone else will too.”
His jaw clenched, and he turned away from me to murmur something into Nora’s ear.She nodded.They kissed.Then he stepped back and gestured toward Deagan.“If he does not improve, call.”
“I’ll callwhenhe improves,” I said.
He didn’t acknowledge my words or my existence again.After one last look at Nora, he turned toward the exit and then stepped out into the night.
“Change has consequences in our world.”Nora’s voice was razor-sharp.“Don’t pretend you don’t know what’s at stake.If Jared isn’t named master, it won’t be a vote that stops him.It will be death.”She stepped toward me.“And if he is killed, I won’t care how noble or naive your reasons were, how much the treaty might make me suffer, or if your life is linked to the existence of the Null.I will come for you.”
“I know what’s at stake.”My words sounded strong and confident, but my pulse quickened, my stomach tightened.Nora didn’t issue empty threats, but it wasn’t just my safety I was worried about.Losing Jared would destroy her.I didn’t want to see her go through that kind of pain.
I drew in a steadying breath, then motioned toward Deagan.“Help me get him to a room?”
Her chin lifted a notch.“Sign Jared’s list?”
“Nora.”I tried to keep the exasperation from my voice.I was still bruised and sore from the fight against Arcuro, and I couldn’t get Deagan to a room on my own.But Nora wasn’t refusing just to be difficult.She was sending a message.Our fragile friendship didn’t entitle me to her cooperation.
