Page 174 of Vampire's Choice

“She said she expected it to be creepy, the first time she met Marcellus. But it wasn’t, and she says his eyes are as expressive as anyone else’s. A person just has to learn to read them, like a new language.” Ruth touched his cheekbone. “Something happened. You feel…different.”

“I’m the same. I’ve just reallocated what’s there in more proper proportions. You need blood.”

“I waited for you, as you told me to do. But I shouldn’t have. You were injured.”

“You should always do what I tell you to do,” he said.

He’d coaxed a wan smile from her. “In your wildest dreams, that would be true.”

“Lately, some of my most unlikely ones have been within my grasp.” And I would trade all of them to give you back what you have lost. I know what it is taking you to stand on your own right now. You will let me give you blood.

She pressed her face against his chest again, and he folded both wings over her. Hold, my vampire. You have the strength to get through this. Your queen needs you.

The meaningful nudge surprised her enough to suck it all back in, straighten and turn toward Lyssa. Sure enough, the Council head was looking in their direction, an unspoken bidding that had Ruth squaring her shoulders and heading that way. Merc followed close behind.

Lyssa had her arm around Kane. Jacob had returned to them, and his hand was steady on his son’s shoulder. Belizar was speaking to the vampire queen.

“In all fairness, I told you I was a hammer.”

“Yes, you did. But I’m glad you checked its fall when I reached out to you through Ruth and Merc’s link.”

“I honor my queen,” the Russian said. “But you delay the inevitable. The law is clear on this.”

“Our current laws. Yes.” She gave him an enigmatic look. “We won’t delay further. Have them brought back to chambers.”

“My lady, you can take your ease first. Rest, have a chance to clean up, and spend time with your son.”

“This comes first. It offers an opportunity to handle another matter, one that has waited far long enough.”

As she turned Kane to face her, Ruth saw Lord Brian and Debra approaching. “You did well,” Lyssa said, her jade gaze resting on Kane’s tired face. Still so young, but the man was there, close beneath the skin. A mix of his father and mother both.

Just as she was. Kohana’s words echoed in her mind.

Wherever life takes you, you’ll be your father’s offspring. And your mother’s. You’ll learn that’s not just a good thing; it’s the best thing you’ve got going for you.

“Lord Brian and Debra will take you and Farida to your quarters and examine you, determine what you need,” Lyssa said. “They’ll stay until our business is concluded.”

“I can…”

“Yes, I know you can be by yourself. But after something like this, shadows lie in wait. Farida will do well in your company until Lord Mason and Jessica can be with her. The Council business we have to address requires the presence of the Council’s servants.”

Brian gave Kane a slight bow. While Ruth suspected their relationship was usually more informal, Lord Brian was reinforcing the respect that Lyssa’s words had telegraphed. Kane was not being treated as a child.

Lord Mason and Jessica brought Farida into the circle, and when Kane reached out a hand to her and Farida took it, their fingers interlocked the way their gazes did.

“John will be sorry he missed all the excitement,” Kane told her.

“Our majordomo’s son,” Jacob murmured to Ruth and Merc. “He’s a few years older, but he grew up with Kane. He’s at college.”

“It’s the only reason I’m glad they had a spell to block our minds.” Farida squelched the faint tremor in her voice, squaring her shoulders and tossing back her hair. It was as if she was defying anyone, even herself, to treat her like a victim. “John would have lost his mind, knowing we were in trouble, and he wasn’t close enough to help.”

“He’ll make up for it on the back end. Telling us all the smart things we should have done.” But then Kane’s gaze moved from her to Ruth and stilled. He had peculiar eyes, one green, one blue, the colors shifting with the light. Maybe the two teens had a blood link, because half a heartbeat later, Farida turned toward her as well.

“Your father and mother…” Kane stopped. She saw then he’d thought he’d had the strength to do this, but the words tore something loose inside of him. Suddenly he was swaying on his feet, anguish overwhelming him.

She knew how he felt. She wanted to reach out, to help, but she felt frozen. However, Farida moved under Kane’s arm, her hand on his chest, as Jacob steadied the other side.

“It’s all right, son,” he said quietly. “Maybe later.”