“A dragon shifter—she’s Tutu’s hatchmate and sister,” Killian said. “She’s been flying around Magiford since September—or she was. She supposedly left. Though apparently not for long?”
“Possibly,” I said. “She’s holding a grudge against Jade, so I’ll have to eliminate her sooner than later if she returns.”
“Hm,” was all Killian had to say about the idea.
I shifted my gaze back to the other four Dracos siblings. “While you are visiting with vampire nobility, I want you to make it clear that the vampire slayer who works for the Curia Cloisters task force is off limits.”
I kept my voice low, but made sure I didn’t command them—I wanted them at least somewhat willing, and I didn’t throw my power around more than I had to when it came to them. I wanted to appear as hands off as possible—I wasnotAmbrose, who coddled and doted on them like a father.
Besides, I’d save commanding them for a time when it really mattered.
Margarida raised her hand as if she were a student in a classroom. “Is this vampire slayer the one you’re pretending to harbor affection for?”
“Don’t be silly, Margarida, he was lying about that,” Auberi scoffed.
“Sheis, in fact, my slayer,” I said. “Something I want you to make abundantly clear, so if anyone tries to harm her,they realize they are signing the death warrant of not only themselves, but their entire Family.”
“Coming on a little hard, don’t you think?” Killian asked.
Thinking of Jade I fought the urge to snarl. “No, actually. I’m not stating the threat strongly enough.”
If Gisila is as stubborn as I think she is, I have a very limited time to gather protection for Jade. I need to take advantage of every day, starting with exploiting the local vampires.
“I understand, but what’s the con?” Baldwin asked, his tone, for once, serious as he settled his hands on the table. “Is there a Family we’re going after?”
“There is no con,” I said. “For the last time, I’m protecting my slayer. The best way to achieve that is to send you lot out to look like a united front.”
Baldwin twisted in his chair to look back at Auberi and Amée, confused.
Margarida stared at me with more scrutiny than I’d seen in her for at least a century or two. Perhaps she was starting to understand?
Killian slowly nodded. “A united front from the Dracos Family…yes that would certainly scare all the vampires in the area. But I don’t know that it’s necessary.”
“I’m well aware you keep them in hand, but I’m not taking any chances,” I said.
“No—I mean, that’s not what I meant to imply, though I’ll take the compliment.” Killian’s grin was like quicksilver, there and gone as his expression turned serious. “I meant to say I don’t know that it’s really necessary, given that you woke up several powerful, old vampires when you issued your command over the city last week.”
Amée rested her hand on the back of Margarida’s chair. “Wait, Elder Maledictus gave a command? Why did we not hear it?”
“Because you were here, stuffing yourself on my food and lazing around my mansion, and not inside city limits,” Killian said.
“A city-wide command?” Margarida repeated.
I waved off her look of wide-eyed concern. “Killian is exaggerating. It only covered a third of Magiford.”
“Only?” Auberi mouthed the word with horror.
“The point is, that night I received a great many phone calls from elder vampires who haven’t been awake in decades that were yanked out of their sleep by his command.” Killian explained to his siblings. “He caused a number of broken noses and bruised foreheads as the elders snapped so quickly out of their sleep they banged their faces into the lids of their coffins.”
“Consider it the price of idiocy,” I said. “Only a fool would sleep in a coffin. If I met whichever vampire made it the trendy sleeping container of choice, I’d stake them myself.”
Amée and Auberi—whom I had previously dragged out of coffins in which they’d been sleeping for months before I got wind of it—stiffened.
“It’s for safety,” Amée said. “To assure safety during slumber—”
“It’s stupid,” I said. “Most of the idiots are already probably sleeping again, correct?” I glanced at Killian.
He shrugged. “A good number of them, but you frightened a few so deeply they’re still awake.”
