"She's Swiss." Tobi added, his tone deeply respectful. "She was part of the Resistance during World War II, helping people escape Nazi Germany. Even as a vampire, she refused to stand idle while such atrocities occurred."
"That must have been incredibly dangerous," Beth said.
"It was," Tyr agreed. "But Adele has never been one to let fear stop her from doing what's right. She and Margot share that quality - that absolute certainty in their convictions."
Tobi nodded from his position at the foot of the bed. "You should see them together at the planning meetings. They're terrifyingly efficient. Between Adele's decades of tactical experience and Margot's organizational skills, nothing gets past them."
Beth could picture it - the elegant vampire and the commanding human woman, both refusing to be limited by anyone's expectations of them. No wonder they worked so well together.
"Lord Damien and Charles probably threw a celebration when she announced she was coming here instead," Tobi added with another snicker
Tobi stretched languidlyand slid off the foot of the bed. "Well, I'll leave you two alone." His eyes sparkled with mischief as he backed toward the door. "I'll be in my chambers if you need anything."
"Speaking of which..." Tyr reached over to the wall beside the bed and tugged on an ornate twisted cord Beth hadn't noticed before. The braided tassel swung gently, catching the dim light.
Beth blinked in surprise. "Is that... actually a bell pull? Like in Downton Abbey?"
Tyr shrugged, looking a bit sheepish. "We're kind of old. Some things are harder to let go than others. One pull summons me, two pulls for Tobi."
"And because shouting down the hallway would be unseemly," Tobi added in a perfect imitation of Margot's crisp tones before disappearing through the doorway.
Tyr reached for the bedside table and picked up Beth's phone and purse. "I took the liberty of programming Derek's number inyour contacts. If you need anything, from blood to information, and all you have to do is call. We'll give you his college and work schedules so you'll know where he is at all times."
Beth accepted the familiar items, surprised by how different they felt to her enhanced sense of touch. The leather of her purse held subtle variations in texture she'd never noticed before, while her phone's screen seemed almost too bright to her sensitive eyes.
Tyr's hand covered hers, his touch gentle. "Are you really okay?"
Beth met his concerned gaze, taking in every subtle shade of blue in his eyes. A smile curved her lips as she realized that despite all the changes - the transformation, her new abilities, the entire supernatural world she'd entered - she felt more right than she had in a long time.
"Yes," she said softly. "I really am."
Tyr shifted his weight, an oddly human gesture for a vampire. His fingers traced abstract patterns on the bed covers.
"So..." he began, oddly hesitant.
"Stop." Beth caught his hand in hers, marveling at how she could detect the subtle variations in his skin temperature. "I'm fine with all of this. No regrets." She squeezed his fingers, smiling at him. "How could I regret being alive? Being here with you? Still having Whisper?"
Tyr's shoulders relaxed slightly, though tension still lined his face. "I should tell you... I spoke with Lord Damien weeks ago. Asked his permission to Turn you, if you were willing." His gaze met hers. "I just hadn't found the right moment to have that conversation with you."
A laugh bubbled up from Beth's chest, surprising them both with its musical quality. "That's funny, because I actually talked to Douglas weeks ago about what it's like being married to an immortal." Her smile widened at Tyr's startled expression."I wanted to understand how a human handles being with someone who'll outlive them by centuries."
"You did?" Tyr sounded both wondering and relieved.
"I did." Beth traced her fingers along his palm, following the lifelines that would now stretch into eternity. "Though I guess that particular concern is moot now."
Beth settled more comfortably against the mattress, letting her fingers trail over the fabrics. She still marveled at how her new sense of sight and touch picked up every subtle variation in the silk of the sheets, and the duvet's lovely brocade. "So what else do I need to know?"
"Actually..." Tyr's lips curved into a slight smile. "You'll probably get a written exam from Margot tomorrow night. She's very thorough about these things."
A musical laugh escaped Beth's throat. "Let me guess the first rule - don't let anyone know vampires exist."
"True, though you've had a lifetime of experience with that as a shifter." Tyr's fingers traced idle patterns on her palm. "What else?"
Beth's brow furrowed in concentration. "Number two... don't kill while feeding?"
"Exactly." Tyr nodded approvingly. "And we cannot Turn a human without explicit permission from Lord Damien. That's absolutely forbidden."
"No problem there." Beth shuddered slightly. "I wouldn't want that responsibility anyway."
