Koun studied the former master of the city but made no move to go to Leo or to bow to him. He didn’t lift his sword either. He just waited, breathing in Leo’s scent as if it told him something important.
Leo looked at me. “I am not here to take part in or interfere in the events that may unfold tonight. Such is not my place. But if you need me, you may call. Well done, Jane Yellowrock. Well done.”
He placed one hand on the werewolf’s head. Light, brilliant, in the shape of a cat’s eye, burst out. And they were gone.
“Ooookaaay,” I said slowly. “Brute is Leo’s... transporter.”
“No sign of them anywhere,” Alex said. “No alarms, no monitors triggered.”
Eli holstered two weapons. He was armored, which I hadn’t noted until now. He glanced at Alex. “If you got that on vid, send it out on the V-web.”
I didn’t know what that was, but I could wait for info later. “Join me for tea?” I asked Eli. “We need to go over the security for the duello.”
“I am honored,” Eli said, his dark eyes twinkling. “Thank you.My Queen.” Together we left the room. As the door closed, I thunked his head. His laughter echoing down the hallway was the best thing I’d heard all day. “Babe,” he said, “Leo didn’t kill us. And he’s right. You did good.”
***
The original form of La Destreza was different from the vamp version. Vamps had added from other longsword fighting systems, calling it the cage of death. They used two swords, usually one long, one shorter; their armor, when they used it, was no longer the original stuff worn in Spain but was updated. And in real combat, they never covered their faces. Matches took place in a fighting circle, and the goal of this one was to wound one’s opponent so horribly that taking a head was an easy feat. But I didn’t want my enemies inside HQ, so the parley had determined the duello would take place elsewhere, and no one had told me the final location. Which was Yellowrock Clan Home.
I hadn’t been to the official clan residence in ages. I was pretty sure that the last time I was there was the day I shot Derek. Who was now dead.
The memories of his death slammed into me as we drove up. Memories of his body—scorched by lightning, his throat torn out, lying on the street—cut my soul. Silent, I left the vehicle and entered the front door.
Walking into the house was painful. Even though it had been totally redecorated in white and grays and looked nothing like the original, I could still see Derek fall. My fault. Just like his death. He had been healed that first time and healed all the times after, but not this last. His funeral was in two days. Being my friend was deadly.
“You weren’t responsible for his death,” Eli said softly, reading my mind.
From behind me, Thema said, “The long-lived lose our people one by one. Grief burrows and plows into our souls until there is nothing within us except that anguish.”
I turned from the place where Derek had fallen and looked at her. Really looked at her. She was tall and whip thin, with very black skin for an old vamp. Tonight she wore silver in her ears, around her wrists, and on her fingers, a show of power few vamps could match. Her hair was cut close to her skull, and she was wearing white armor, two steel swords, and a number of modern weapons holstered here and there. She looked deadly. She also looked full of sorrow. Kojo stood behind her dressed in all black, his eyes on me.
“That’s why you don’t want blood-servants of your own, isn’t it?” I asked them, the certainty creeping through me. “Even the longest-lived servants are dead at three hundred years.”
“Yes,” Thema said softly. “Our blood is potent. We easily bind humans. They do not wish to ever be far from us. It is difficult to be a Blood Master to such dependent beings.”
“You and Kojo can stay as long as you like, without taking blood-servants. But you have to contribute. This offer is contingent upon you working with Florence, in her position as Infermieri, to heal all grievously injured humans and vampires sworn to me and to mine. If you agree, I’ll make certain that blood meals are provided for you without you having to make them blood-servants.”
Thema turned vamp-black eyes to me. “You are always a surprise, My Queen.”
“Flying by the seat of my pants kinda does that. Is that a yes?”
Kojo looked at Thema, who nodded. “Yes,” she said. Kojo looked away. I wasn’t sure if he agreed or not, and didn’t really care right now.
I glanced at Eli. “We’ll be getting some heavily bound and isolated humans soon. They cared for some crazy vamps in isolation for way too long, and they smoked way too much weed. Once they’ve been dried out andreintroduced to modern life, make sure they feed a few times from Kojo and Thema and Florence.” I looked at the vamps. “The damaged blood-servants and vamps can be test cases.”
“Thank you, My Queen,” Thema said.
Eli dropped his chin a fraction of an inch in what counted as agreement for him.
“Okay,” I said. “Let’s tour the house.”
It was very different. The decor was now shades of white, shades of gray, and dull gold, with brushed brass pulls on cabinets and doorknobs, brushed brass light fixtures. Thankfully the brass had been used sparingly, because I hated it on sight. Too glitzy. But as a place for events, it would do. I got the grand tour, from the formal rooms and the dueling site on the ground floor to the bedrooms on the upper floor and in the attic. It was functional, if a little cold feeling. And empty. The few vamps who had been living here had found other places to be tonight. I couldn’t say I blamed them.
The bedroom that was set aside for me was much more to my taste, done up in shades of warm gray and hints of green. I checked the closets, and sure enough, I had clothes hanging there. Madame Melisende and Quint had been busy. More importantly, there was a set of armor here too. This set was basic black cloth, not leather covered, and it had gold layering around the waist, wrists, and neckline. It looked like something I might wear for formal occasions. It was dang spiffy. I pulled it out and ran my hand over the fabric.
“You would look good in that,” Eli said, “especially walking down the stairs after our guests arrive, nice and slow, weaponed up like you intend to go to war. Want to change? Quint is here somewhere, checking out the security measures, determining the potential points of egress should she need to remove you. She can help.”
I held the armor up to me and turned, spotting a mirror on a stand in the corner. I walked over and looked at myself with the armor. Yeah. I’d look fantastic in this. Especially if I was half-form. I had been human for over six hours, so I should be able to shift easily and soon. “You like Quint?” I asked Eli.
