“So?” Margarida demanded.
“Amée, Auberi, once again I suggest you don’t try to pick fights inmyhall,” Killian blandly suggested. “Not that I mind, but my Family is possibly more protective of humans than I am, so you might not survive your stay.”
Amée scoffed and looked away.
Auberi looked suitably cowed, but for the sake of his pride he pushed on. “Dress it up as you will, humans are only good for their blood.”
That got a scowl out Killian, but Auberi wasn’t done.
“Your One,” he continued, “will never be your equal, and what you feel for her is a farce.”
My indifference evaporated, and I reacted without thinking. “Enough.” I put my power into the word, filling the room with my presence.
The Dracos children fell silent—because theyhadto go silent. The power in my word kept their jaws shut.
Margarida was trembling like a leaf, Amée was so pale she looked faint, and even Auberi and Baldwin were shaking in fear.
I exhaled deeply.That might have been an overreaction.The sudden burst of anger had surprised even me, and I didn’t wantto internally investigate the source of my outburst, though I had a fairly good idea it involved a certain red-haired slayer.
Perhaps I’m closer to danger than I thought.
I set my mug down and surveyed the table.
All of them—Margarida, Amée, Auberi, and Baldwin—stared at the table surface as they were unable to look at me. Except, that is, for Killian.
He wore a thoughtful expression—one I didn’t particularly like.
I swatted my power off, though the pressure lingered in the air like an unwanted relative.
“Stop arguing,” I said. “You’re irritating me more than usual, and with so many of you in one room I don’t have much patience for your antics.” It had my usual sardonic tone and it seemed plausible, but Killian’s expression didn’t change.
The smallest hint of a smirk slanted the right corner of his mouth, but his siblings didn’t seem to pick up on his good mood. They sat quietly in their chairs.
“Yes, Elder Maledictus,” they murmured.
I sighed and stood up. “Next time I drop in, I expect you won’t be arguing like children. If I do, that will make me worry for you. And if I worry, I’ll have to visit you, at your home, with your vampire Family around you, just to reassure myself.”
Baldwin flinched at the threat, and Amée and Auberi gulped in perfect synchronization—even Margarida looked spooked.
Killian stood; his expression cleared. “Allow me to see you out.”
Guessing he wanted to escape his siblings, I shrugged and said nothing when he followed me to the door.
Only once the door closed behind us did I speak. “I hope you’re having fun with them.”
Killian waited until we were farther down the hallway—out of range of their hearing, no doubt. “I haven’t been here—thoughthey think I am. During the day, I stay with my One in her wizard House,” Killian said.
I stopped walking and turned around so I could frown at him.
Why on earth would he share such a dangerous detail with me? I could use that knowledge for any number of things.
Killian’s expression was placid—not worried, but not defiant either.
“You said you didn’t want to leave your siblings unsupervised.”
“They sleep most of the day. They never even notice when I leave.”
“I see.” I said when he didn’t say anything else. “I’d congratulate you on escaping, but it’s likely you’ll be paying for property damage at some point. The Dracos line is as destructive as they are melodramatic.” I turned my back to Killian again and made my way toward the entrance to his little hall.
