Demos’ eyes narrowed. “He shouldn’t restrain you–”
“He always has a reason for everything he does. It’s all right.” Ryder looked at Caemorn. “Why don’t you want me to go after them? Don’t we need to deal with those things before there’s a death? If there hasn’t been one already?” Ryder grimaced at that. “It needs to be all Vampires on deck!”
Before Caemorn could answer, another Vampire approached.
“How can we assist you, Kaly?” a flaxen-haired, female Vampire appeared out of the darkness; her hands filled with soul gems. “I know that you can bring all of the Ecthrois back on your own, but if we can help in any small way, we are at your beck and call.”
“Yes, Lisette, you can assist,” Caemorn answered.
Ryder was surprised–though he wasn’t sure why–that the Kaly Vampires addressed Caemorn by his Immortal name purely. Maybe it was because none of the other Immortals did. Eyros was Balthazar. Wyvern was Fiona. Ashyr was Grayson, though he wondered if Grayson would not drop his human name at the first opportunity, but he answered to Grayson easily.
And I am Ryder. For now. Though the others will call me Weryn at times. But this is different. There is no doubt who Caemorn is to them. He is no one else but Kaly. Even if he has changed.
“Do you need more gems? We can get you more,” Lisette offered Caemorn. “These creatures stand no chance against you.”
Caemorn was staring off at where the bounding creature had been. He swept around to face Lisette. His coat flared out behind him. Caemorn was an arresting figure at times, filled with command, and an icy beauty that could not be denied. He seemed like a being of the moon and the stars, but harder like silver-kissed steel. He embodied that at this moment.
“No, I will not be the one dealing with them. You and the other Kaly must,” Caemorn instructed.
Faint confused lines appeared on her brow, but she bowed and said, “Of course, Kaly. Whatever you command. I will–”
“It is a distraction, Lisette. All of this is a distraction from whatever is happening in the Kaly Palace, which only I and the other Immortals can address,” Caemorn interrupted her and answered the question that she hadn’t dared ask and Ryder was wanting an answer on. “I realize I would be the best one to retrieve all of Ecthrois. But that would play into our enemy’s hands. So I need you and the others to do your best to deal with them. Some will undoubtedly have to be killed, but capture as many as you can.”
Lisette blinked. “Y-yes, Kaly, you are wise as in all things.”
She bowed again. Caemorn stared at her in silence for a beat.
“And you are highly intelligent, Lisette. I would hear your thoughts on matters rather than simple obedience,” Caemorn said.
Faint blooms appeared on Lisette’s pale cheeks. “I–I am honored you think so. I am happy to offer anything that could be of use.”
The Kaly were notoriously known for one-upping each other. They strove to be better and more powerful than their brethren. They rarely worked together. And in those unusual situationswhere they did, betrayal was often involved. Before it was revealed who he truly was, Caemorn had played many of those games and won them all. He had not been popular among the other Kaly as gifted Vampires often were not.
But now he was seen differently and he was seeing things differently, too. Or so it seemed to Ryder if he was asking Lisette for her thoughts. Like Balthazar and perhaps himself too, Caemorn kept a distance between himself and his Bloodline. Only Fiona seemed to have found connection there. So Ryder guessed that asking Lisette this was a big deal.
Kaly would never have asked for input from others of his Bloodline,Weryn whispered in his mind.This cannot be Kaly.
It is. New and improved. Changed. Like we all are.
“Use my regard as you will to up your rank with the others. But I would have you speak your mind to me regardless of how others respond to it,” Caemorn said. “Now gather as many of the Kaly as you can. Ask Wyvern and Ashyr Vampires to transport you throughout the city. Have Helm Vampires hide you until you can spring into action. Request Eyros and Siryn Vampires to lure them to you. Killing the Ecthrois would be a waste. I want as many captured as possible. But if it is a choice between one of our human guests being injured or an Ecthrois captured, you are to always save the humans.”
“I understand, Kaly. These humans are under our protection. It would be a loss of face if they should be harmed,” Lisette answered.
“The Weryn will protect you,” Ryder added with a nod at Demos and Siban. “They’ll give you the time you need to capture as many of the Ecthrois as possible.”
“We will make it so,” Demos grunted.
“It shall be as Weryn commands.” Siban bowed their head.
“Let it be known that the Kaly who traps the most Ecthrois will be given a grand soul gem by me,” Caemorn told her.
Lisette’s silver eyes sparkled and she rose up onto the balls of her feet in excitement. Clearly, such a gem was a worthy prize and she intended to win it herself.
“I’ve sent your instructions to all of the Vampires, Caemorn, who are not here,” Balthazar said. “They all know their tasks.”
“Good,” Caemorn nodded. “You are released, Lisette.”
Immediately, Lisette was turning to the three Wyvern Vampires along with Demos and Siban to help her Bloodline. Tarn and Farun were sniffing the air and looking for the Ecthrois. Ryder could feel their great desire to hunt these worthy predators.
