They froze. Then they looked at each other.
I nodded. “You're nectar movers. The humans have a name for you. Let's see, what is it again? Dream dealers. The nectar puts them in a state of euphoria. Once they've experienced it, they cannot resist experiencing it again.” I paused, wondering if I was addicted to an experience as well. Or perhaps a person. I had tasted and experienced, but not fully. I wanted more.
“We are not nectar movers!” a woman hissed.
I lifted a brow at her.
“You're as good as they say.” A man stepped past the others to face me.
“Ah, there you are.”
“Excuse me?”
“You're the one in charge. I've been wondering when you'd come forward.”
“How did you know that?”
“They were going to lie to me further, but your coming forth silenced everyone. You are in charge. You are also the man who was following the King and me. That means you're connected to my case. How complicated. You can't kill me, can you? Hallaxgral wouldn't allow that.”
The Eljaffna gaped at each other.
“How the fuck do you know that name?” my stalker snarled.
“A little Brujai told me. Now, perhaps we can come to an agreement.”
“You'll summon the King? You'll use your blood connection to control him?”
Blood and power—they were the same for an Eljaffna. Of course, the power we wielded over our blood donors only lasted a few weeks. But we can always take another sip and refresh the connection. If it's done subtly enough, the target doesn't even know they're being controlled. And it must be done subtly or the Eljaffna risks exposing our secret to everyone.
If it got out that we can control our donors, no one would offer us blood. Not even for the bliss of our bite. Our race would starve. Die out. We are the one immortal race that can die from a lack of sustenance. When I say that blood is life, I mean it literally.
So, using blood to control the King—a man of great intellect who is monitored by everyone around him—is not only a traitorous act, it's also a foolish one. My refusal to use our connection to control him didn't merely stem from a sense of loyalty to King Tor'rien. It was out of preservation for my race. Even these morons.
All right, I didn't want to betray him. Him, Tor'rien, not the King. That was a separate matter. The King was a symbol. I liked the man. And there were so few people I liked.
“No,” I said at last. “I won't control him. You must see that it would risk all of us. I am trying to protect our race. I cannot control the King of Rushao without anyone noticing.”
“Yes, you can, Claw Shinkai.” The man grinned. “As you know, I've watched you. You have the skill. You have the mind for it. You could become the power behind the throne. Think about it. You could be his consort. Forever. Even if his mateappeared one day, your control over him would overwhelm that magic. You could have him without worry.” He leaned closer. “You are worried, aren't you? That's why you haven't become his lover yet. You're so analytical. You have calculated the risk and decided it wasn't worth it. The only thing I'm not sure about is what you think you're risking. Is it your heart or your freedom that you value so highly?”
“Well, now . . .” I cleared my throat. “That's rather a keen observation.” Then I narrowed my eyes. “And it's not yours. You got that from Hallaxgral, didn't you? You've been watching me, yes. But he's been observing. He sees.”
“Hallaxgral has nothing to do with this!” The Eljaffna slashed his hand down. “I followed you because I've been waiting for the chance to take you. And I know about you because I am wealthy enough to pay for information. You are unliked enough that there were many willing to give me what I sought.”
“Unliked is not a word. You mean disliked. And I am not disliked. My colleagues may not adore me, but they do respect me. There are few who dislike me. The only one I can think . . . of . . . ugh.” My head fell back in annoyance. “Damn him.”
“You are so brilliant and yet so oblivious.” The Eljaffna shook his head.
I just stared at him. When you don't know what to say, say nothing.
“So, how about you summon the King now?”
“No.” That was all that was left to say.
The man roared, his fangs glinting in the low light that streamed in from the tall window behind me. High. Yes. High on the wall. That meant dawn had arrived. It also meant we were in a basement. Why are such underhanded exchanges so often conducted underground? Did criminals think a few feet of dirt could hide them from the law?
But back to the upset Eljaffna.
I watched him have his fit, preparing for what was to come. If he was telling the truth and there was no link between them and Hallaxgral, he might kill me. Was it really worth it? The wise thing to do would be to concede, draw the King there, and then turn on them. Hmmm. Now, there was a thought. But that would mean exposing my race's secret to the King. I would have to tell him how I summoned him. As much as I respected the man, I knew he wouldn't keep our secret. He wouldn't be able to. Not as the King. He would see it as a betrayal of his other subjects. Damn him for being a good man. It was going to get me killed.
