Ahrun sprawled in his chair, crossing one leg over the other as he regarded her lazily. “Some secrets aren’t meant to be given away. They can only be earned.”
Navya’s face remained blank. Seconds ticked by as the two ancients stared at one another.
Finally, Ahrun sighed. “You break my heart, dearest. All I can say is that as miraculous as my recovery was, the circumstances are unlikely to be repeated.”
A beat went by before Navya’s gaze slid to me, the look in her eyes making me stiffen as dread congealed in my stomach. My body tingled at the phantom caress of a blade touching my neck.
Liam shouldered in front of me. A terrifying sound rumbled from his chest.
Suddenly, I could breathe again. The feeling of impending doom receding.
“Navya, do not mistake past friendship for weakness,” Ahrun purred, tapping one finger on the arm of his chair in a rare show of upset. “I will not repeat the mistakes that placed me on the path to devolution. Call it what you will, being over protective, paranoid, what have you. I built this council. I can destroy it.”
The crowd went crazy as a new set of contenders took their places in the pit.
Thomas and Liam held themselves ready, intent on Navya and the three behind her. The enforcers behind us moved closer. Nathan placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed.
Be ready.
The violence of the impending storm was about to break right over our heads, sending down a deluge that might wash away everything I held dear.
Deborah’s face was pale as her eyes met mine in grim understanding. As the only human among us, she’d be the first to die in any confrontation.
If it was any consolation, I probably wouldn’t be far behind her.
fifteen
“Ahrun, Navya, are youenjoying your evening?” Vitus asked, appearing at Navya’s side.
What impeccable timing. The evening’s orchestrator had finally shown his face.
I was a little surprised he’d stepped in. Given his thirst for our blood, I would have expected him to remain on the sidelines. A scavenger waiting for the more powerful predators to exhaust themselves so he could mop up the remains.
Navya’s expression returned to its normal placid lines. Whatever emotion had threatened to rise moments earlier sinking below the calm waves of her emotional landscape to disappear without a trace.
She padded toward the mouth of the tunnel that Vitus had been watching us from. Her entourage closing around her.
“Leaving so soon? I hope it’s not something I said,” Vitus called after her.
“I’m afraid the evening’s entertainment has grown rather dull,” Navya answered, not looking back.
“That’s too bad. I had hoped to continue the chat we started last time,” he murmured.
Navya’s steady pace never wavered. “No need. I got what I wanted.”
Vitus watched the council member disappear into the tunnel, only turning to the rest of us once she was out of view.
“Father, it’s so good to see you well,” Vitus declared.
Turned in the prime of life, Vitus was attractive if you could ignore the arrogance and conceit stamped on every line of his face. He had an aquiline nose and square jaw that most would have considered a prime example of the beauty Roman classical artists sought to elevate. His hair was long and blond, reaching the middle of his back.
“You haven’t called me that in years,” Ahrun observed in a neutral voice.
Vitus’s smile was as artificial as the warmth he was trying to inject into his expression. “I let hurt and pride lead me astray. Forgive me.” Vitus glanced at me. “Is this the newest member of your line?”
What a pretender. As if he didn’t know exactly who I was.
He was nothing like Thomas or Liam. Too smarmy and greasy. And just a little stupid if he thought this act was fooling anyone.
