"That's when the comesuli become whole, child. While you have no genitalia now, if you are turned one day, you will wake with what you did not have before." Roff's voice was gentle and even.
"But what if I don't believe you?" Toff shuddered at the images he'd seen before—Cheedas' blood, drank by another.
"You should believe me," Roff turned Toff around so he could look into Toff's eyes. "I was comesula, once. Only a few of us—honored among the comesuli—will become Winged Vampires, however. Child, you will be a Winged Vampire one day, if that is your choice."
Toff's shock was now complete. Roff—a vampire? But he'd walked in daylight earlier. Toff's memory was dim, but he thought that vampires were kept in darkness because the sun would kill them.
"I know what you're thinking. There are a few of us who are not just vampire now. We have been changed somewhat, so we can walk in the sun," Roff nodded. "Most vampires still have to live on this half of the planet because the sun burns their skin. I can assure you that one day, if this is your choice and the Queen finds you worthy, you will be as I am—able to walk in daylight as a vampire. Not many receive this gift, child. And it is a gift, make no mistake about that. Someday, I will introduce you to the vampire who is my sire. His name is Flavio and he is a patient parent."
"As is Oluwa," the Queen added. "Oluwa and I have known each other for a while and I trust him. I cannot say that about many people—vampires included."
"Are all your Inner Circle mates vampires?" Toff ventured to ask.
"No, honey. Only Gavin, Tony, Rigo, Aryn and Roff are vampires. Drake and Drew are Falchani, but they are also Spawn Hunters for the Saa Thalarr. Winkler is a werewolf and a Spawn Hunter. Ry's father, Erland, is called Lord Erland Morphis and is high in the court for my grandfather, King Wylend Arden of Karathia. Garde, Tory's father, is Gardevik Rath, Prime Minister and brother to Jaydevik Rath, King of the High Demons on Kifirin. You know what Norian is—you've seen that. What you don't know about him is that he is heir to Ildevar Wyyld, the founding member of the Alliance. Karzac was Refizani, once, but is now a Healer for the Saa Thalarr. Nissa's father, Shadow Grey, is a Master Wizard of Grey House and Grandson of Glendes, Eldest of Grey House. Rigo was once Rigovarnus the First, a High King on Hraede. The Larentii—Connegar and Reemagar—are the most powerful race among those from the light side of the universes. Thurlow and Kifirin, well, let's just say that both of them are minor gods. Kifirin outranking Thurlow, of course."
"Why are you telling me all this?" Toff wiped dampness from his cheeks. "Why are you being so nice to me? Surely it isn't because I might be a Winged Vampire someday."
"No, honey, that isn't the reason." Lissa looked carefully at Roff before she answered Toff's question. "I knew your father when you were tiny, Toff. In fact, I was going to adopt you after your father was in an accident. That's when the Green Fae came along. They thought they were kidnapping King Wylend's grandson and heir to the Karathian throne. They picked the wrong baby. They wanted to force the Karathian Warlocks to help them when they came under attack by the Vionnu and one of their renegade religions. The Full Fae can do what they call flashing to take themselves from one world to another. The Half-Fae can't do it—it causes their bodies to disintegrate. They would have to leave their Half-Fae children behind to be slaughtered by the Vionn army, or they were going to have to force a Karathian to help them. They kidnapped the baby they thought was Wylend's heir to make things come out in their favor. They got you instead. You, who were about to be adopted by the Queen of Le-Ath Veronis. I went to Vionn to keep the Fae—Full, Half and otherwise—from being destroyed, expecting to get you back afterward. I was very wrong."
"Mom, you never told us this," Ry sounded lost.
"Honey, there wasn't any point, was there?" The Queen reached out to take his hand and squeezed it gently. "I thought Toff was lost to me when Tiearan came and told me afterward that Redbird placed a mindbond on Toff. He would think of her as his mother. He didn't even recognize me when I tried to take him. He was screaming and holding onto Redbird. She stole him away from us in a way that couldn't be reversed. Toff was around two when that happened, and the Larentii said that if we tried to reverse the mindbond it could damage his brain, he was so little. I was forced to leave Toff with the Green Fae. Eventually they were attacked again, and in order to make sure Toff remained safe, I had to bring all of them here. Kifirin and Thurlow have promised judgment against them when Toff comes of age. That's eleven years from now."
"Is that why they all despised me?" Toff's cheeks were getting wetter.
"Hush, child, none of this is your fault." Roff rocked Toff carefully. "They should know not to shift blame for their mistakes onto an innocent child. Nearly all of them chose to do the kidnapping, even when they knew it was wrong. And then Redbird thought to keep you for herself, because she could not have children with her Half-Fae mate."
"It's true," Lissa said. "Did you not notice that the Fulls can become parents, but the Halves can't—not with the Fae. They might with a humanoid, but that's it, and their children will be born without power. It's just the way things are with the Fae."
"That was you, then, arguing with Redbird after I was attacked by Haldis and Sark." Toff looked at the Queen, unsure what to feel.
"Yes. Sadly, I sometimes let my temper run away with me. You can believe me when I say, though, that I never stopped loving you, Toff. Never gave up hope that you'd come home to us, where you belonged. I realize that Redbird's mindbond may still have a hold on you, but I can't leave you there when they mistreat you. After they tried to kill you—twice—I had to get you out of there. Corent may come and visit anytime he wants. As can Father Willow. Redbird is not welcome in my home. Tiearan and Rain will never be welcome, either. Rain came up with the idea to do the kidnapping, Tiearan stole you away and then Redbird placed the mindbond. I will not forgive that willingly."
"There is one other who is on that list as well," Roff said quietly, tightening his arms around Toff.
"Yes. I know." Lissa stood and sighed. "Toff, please stay. You will break my heart if you don't, and Nissa will be heartbroken as well."
"I will stay." Toff couldn't look at the Queen when he said the words. He cared for her in some way and he couldn't explain it. And Nissa? Toff would walk through fire for her.