“They don’t know, and I’d appreciate if it stays that way.” Luke held her gaze. “They’re human, Layla. Just human.”
“Luke’s bloodlines were latent.” Rikyava spoke as she moved to Luke’s side, as if protecting him. “I traced his ancestry, and his most recent Twilight ancestor was four generations back in Ireland, a British Isles Blood Dragon. But there have been others. A Swedish Blood Dragon six generations ago. A French Royal Storm Dragon ten generations back. And, unfortunately… a White Chalice Storm Dragon High Priest, I discovered today after Imogene’s interrogation. Sixteen generations back.”
“Chalice blood runs strong, and infernally deep.”
A smooth voice entered the conversation, and Layla looked up to see the Associate Hotel Head Quindici DaPonti descending the stone steps with Madame Etienne Voulouer on his arm. Madame Voulouer was resplendent in a gold and tan leopard taffeta ballgown, Quindici tall and sexily haunting in a dark blood-red suit with a black silk shirt framing all that pale Vampire skin. Onyx and gold rings glittered on his long fingers as he escorted the Madame down, matching his dark, clever eyes as he scanned the gathering. Sweeping forward, the Madame clasped Adrian’s hands with tears shining in her feline tiger eyes as she kissed his cheeks. She was quiet as she greeted the rest of the company, while Quindici turned to face Adrian.
“Hotel Head.” The Vampire spoke pleasantly, emotionless. “Shall we sit for dinner?”
“Indeed.” Adrian nodded, some accord passing between the two men.
It was not lost on anyone that Quindici had ceded his authority in this gathering to Adrian. As the Vampire beckoned to the table and everyone moved over, selecting seats, Quindici took a place at the side of the table, leaving Adrian the table’s head with Layla seated to his right. Dusk settled on Layla’s other side, while Luke took a seat next to the Madame and Rikyava on the opposite side of the table.
Dinner was served by the Guards from the string quartet, who went promptly back to playing after everyone settled. The meal was opulent, with everything from lobster fettuccine to Kobe beef, to an edible dragon-sculpture made from tropical fruits only found in the Twilight Realm. Rake mixed drinks, and they were enjoyed, though a simmering tension still lay unaddressed in the assembly. Even the Vampire filled a small plate, having Kobe beef and a helping of fruit. He relished a cocktail Rake made with a blood-red color – though when Layla smelled it, she realized it was only grenadine, not blood. As everyone was finally set, a quiet tension took the table, only the sound of clinking cutlery and falling water heard for a time.
Someone needed to start this insane conversation they were all about to have, and Layla figured she might as well. Glancing at Luke, she took a deep drink of her cocktail, then set it down. But before she could say anything, it was as if Adrian read her mind, speaking up from the head of the table in a resonant baritone that smote all ears.
“So you’re the descendant of a White Chalice High Priest, and they abducted your friends to get you to come join them.” Adrian’s gaze was hard as it pinned Luke, a bitter smile curling his lips. “I should have known Layla’s Bind wouldn’t attract weakness. Or humans.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Luke’s gaze locked to Adrian’s, intensity spiking from him in a crackle of energy once more. At its rise, a whirl of scalding wind rushed out from Adrian. Magic crashed between the two men for the second time tonight and people pulled back as a painful sensation blistered the air. But as Luke and Adrian’s gazes locked, Layla had a feeling their battle wasn’t exactly about her. Putting a gentle but restraining hand to Luke’s shoulder, Rikyava’s lavender gaze went to Adrian and Layla saw something pass between them. Setting his jaw, Adrian took a deep breath, then calmed his fierce winds – allowing Luke’s energy to settle as Adrian’s pulled back.
“Easy, Adrian.” Dusk spoke with a warning in his voice, and it was only then that Layla realized he’d subtly built a crystal shield again between both men. “We don’t know which way Luke’s magic will settle yet. He might be anullaxfrom the Storm Dragon White Chalice, or just a regular Storm Dragon. He might even still become a Blood Dragon.”
“Unlikely.” Rikyava joined the conversation with a soft snort as she let her hand on Luke drop. Watching him with deep interest now, she swirled her cocktail and sat back in her chair. “We could ask my uncle King Huttr to test him, but Luke’s showing Storm capabilities strongly now. We’ve all felt it.”
“Can someone tell me why everyone is so worried about Luke’s magic?” Layla asked with a frown, wondering why Adrian was so protective over this.
Adrian’s gaze went hard as he set his hands to his chair arms and settled back in a commanding pose. “The problem is Luke’s a mutt, Layla.”
“Fuck you, asshole.” Luke bristled immediately, and Rikyava’s hand went to his shoulder again as Dusk’s wall firmed between the two men.
“What Adrian means,” Dusk spoke solidly, “is that Dragon magic can live latent in humans a long time until it’s triggered, especially if that human holds multiple strains of magic. For Luke, that trigger was you, Layla. When your Dragon attacked him in the fall, his own magic opened, trying to protect him. Unfortunately, Luke carries so many strains of magic they went to war inside him, producing the seizures and bleeding you saw in Seattle. Your magic bit him deep… but the rest of what happened in that room was Luke’s own power.”
“You recognized it when it happened, didn’t you?” Layla asked, turning to Dusk and giving him a good stare.
“I did.” He spoke quietly, though he held her gaze. “Luke was having trouble remaining stable at the hospital; he kept going into seizures and bleeding from his eyes. I thought it was signs of a Blood Dragon opening to their power and found a talisman, got it to him two days after his surgery. That’s why he and I have been speaking on the phone, and Rikyava also. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but a person’s magic opening is a private matter, Layla, it was unethical of me to share that. But now we’re feeling Storm Dragon energy from Luke – something his Blood Dragon talisman won’t control. And if he truly holdsnullaxlike the White Chalice believe they’ve felt—”
“That scares you.Nullax.” Layla spoke, picking up on Dusk’s emotions.
“It does,” Dusk spoke, eyeballing her with gravitas. “All of us are fearful of anullax’s abilities, Layla. And for good reason.”
“Let’s put it this way,” Quindici DaPonti joined the conversation quietly, though it silenced the table as if a sword had sliced their throats. “Even Master Vampires are afraid of White Chalice Storm Dragons, because they have power like a Vampire Revenant, the evilest of our evil undead. The White Chalice were a nightmare in Europe for thousands of years, not just for Dragons but for every clan, abducting and nullifying the most powerful Royals everywhere until Queen Justine began to rise to power. Long ago, the Chalice learned to interbreed with Vampire Revenants and create thenullax-ability from their founder, theSage of the Wilds. It was a terrifying new magical ability. To have a Storm Dragon who can not only char Vampires with lightning, but also use our own arts against us… even to this day, the White Chalice remain a warning tale among the Vampiric Dark Havens. Our kind owe Queen Justine Toulet much for routing them.”
“How was Queen Justine able to beat them?” Layla asked, curious.
“Because of her unique talents reading people, Queen Justine was able to discover their hidden members,” Rikyava spoke. “It’s the primary reason she’s still Storm Queen, because she routed the most frightening cult the Twilight Realm has ever seen. If they’re still around, and trying to recruit new people…”
“Then it’s bad news.” Layla finished.
“Bad news we need to take directly to Queen Justine herself.” Dusk’s gaze moved to Adrian, intensely sober. “We need to visit the Storm Dragons at Chambord as soon as possible, to find out which power inside Luke is most dominant. Not to mention ask them questions about the White Chalice and see if any really do still exist.”
“It’s a good place to start,” Rikyava chimed in, swirling her beverage as she glanced to Adrian also. “My uncle King Huttr Erdhelm is at Château de Chambord right now with my cousin Rhennic, visiting the Storm Dragons today for Yule. With my uncle and Queen Justine both there, they’d be able to scent out which direction Luke’s magic is taking.”
“How is everyone so certain my opening magic will be thisnullaxthing?” Luke asked, scowling as he tapped one finger on the rim of his highball glass.
“We’re not certain,” Dusk spoke, though he kept a watchful eye on Adrian. “Nullaxis rare, but it’s something all White Chalice High Priests have due to their line-breeding. If the Chalice part of your magic steps forward as you mature, you’ll be able to nullify any magical ability used against you – draining a person’s magical life-force until they’re essentially human.”
“So why does that have his panties all up in a twist?” Luke snarled, gesturing at Adrian.
