"You," the vampire hissed at me between the bars of his cage, "will die. I'm sorry I couldn't hand that death to you myself, but Solar Red will come for you, I promise. You are marked for death, bitch." Well, those words, marked or not, were his last—both his companions sliced him to death before he could turn to fight them. They hadn't intended for the information concerning Solar Red to get out—I could see it in their faces.
Gavin and Aryn took over after that, but the sketchy information we got from the remaining two ringleaders only told me one thing—that the one who'd died was right. They'd been contacted by Solar Red and the payment they'd received was for something they wanted to do anyway—come after me eventually. I hadn't approved any of these to come to Le-Ath Veronis, and I felt overwhelmed. It was a chore to examine every request, and many had been approved by others in my absence.
"Fuck," I muttered when the questioning came to an end. Gavin and Aryn wisely advised that we keep the Solar Red conspiracy out of the charges brought against the remaining vampires. It was enough that they'd committed treason against the crown, in addition to murdering other vampires. Their deaths were assured once they were put on trial during the next Council meeting. I nodded in silent agreement at the suggestion. The Alliance didn't need to know that Solar Red wanted me gone.
"Come, Lissa, we have more important things to attend." I accepted Erland's offered arm and we stalked away from the prisoners. After the first one died at the hands of his fellow conspirators, the vampires in other cells no longer wished to talk. Just as well—I wasn't in the mood to listen.
* * *
"What's this?" I asked. Grant had handed a comp-vid to me the moment I arrived in my private study.
"The summons to attend the Five-Year Conclave, complete with a list of more than three hundred agenda items," Grant said, hauling Toff into his arms. Toff had been running around my desk and laughing as Davan struggled to pick up the string of papers, envelopes and office supplies that Toff dropped in his wake. Grant had just curtailed Toff's race.
"Come here, baby boy," I lifted Toff from Grant's arms and settled him on my hip. He grinned at me and swiped at the comp-vid in my other hand.
"No, you don't want to go to a meeting with a bunch of dried-up politicians," I held the comp-vid away from Toff's tiny fists. He giggled. I tossed the comp-vid onto my desk. The Conclave agenda could wait—the meeting was two months away and I had more pressing personal business.
The rest of the day was spent putting the application together for Toff’s adoption. I held the baby on my lap while Davan patiently filled out legal papers. He smiled often as we went through the required forms—Toff would be a member of his family, too, once the application was approved. My Uncle was good with paperwork and he and Grant made suggestions on what to write in as the reason I'd be adopting Toff. When we were finished, there was only one thing to do—I had to call Giff into my study and ask her permission.
Rolfe ushered her into my office only a few minutes after I sent for her. She’d grown her hair longer and had taken to wearing women’s clothing, even though she was young and far from making the turn. I’d added a stipend to her salary for clothing, and Rolfe generously added to that amount.
"Raona?" Giff nodded to me. I could tell she’d been crying.
"Giff, I’ve asked you here to get your permission to adopt Toff," I said. "Your father’s memory has worsened, it seems, and I worry that you’ll have your hands full with your own child very soon. This will ensure that Toff will be cared for. He'll still be your brother, of course."
"Raona, I appreciate your offer. Rolfe said you might suggest this, and we think it is a good thing," Giff sniffled. Grant held out a box of tissues. Giff accepted it with a tearful nod of thanks.
"Good," I breathed a relieved sigh. "I’ll present the application to the committee that handles the surrogate sire applications—this won’t be much different. It may take a month or so, but I’m sure it will be approved."
Toff chose that moment to giggle while he patted my cheek.
"You want to be a prince?" I smiled at him.
"Mmm-mmm," Toff laughed.
* * *
Gavin found his way into my bed.
"Honey, we hardly ever have time to talk," I grumped as he settled my head on his shoulder.
"Cara, I miss the days when we sat upon rooftops and discussed the rules, or any other thing that came along," he kissed my forehead and brushed hair away from my face.
"Me, too," I sighed. I ran a finger down the center of his chest. Gavin is all muscle, and just as broad across the chest and shoulders as the Falchani twins, who'd been working out with blades for around a hundred years. His skin was clear, though—no marks or tattoos. "Have you had time to visit with Aurelius? How's he doing?"
"My father is fine," Gavin was doing more nuzzling and kissing. "He likes you very much. You know he wishes to sit in on all the Council meetings."
"I want to add him to the Council, then, if he wants it. I don't care if he's a Spawn Hunter. Anybody who is such a good parent and taught you and René, well, I think I'd like his advice, now and then. I get good advice from Garde, too, and he can even run the meetings if I'm not there and Kifirin doesn't want to."
"Anthony has been asking how old Gardevik is," I felt the smile in Gavin's words.
"Well, Garde is over a million years old—those High Demons don't kid around about immortality."
"You are joking with me, cara mia, surely." Gavin tipped my face up so I could look into his beautiful, brown eyes.
"No, honey. Kifirin verified it. Garde even remembered seeing Kifirin a few times when he was younger, before Kifirin slept."
"That is astonishing," Gavin took the opportunity, while our faces were so close, to give me a proper kiss. "How old is his brother, Jaydevik?"
"Jayd's a little younger—apparently he was number-three son. They had a brother in between, but he threw himself into the volcano in his humanoid form and that was it for him."
"I see you have had some talks with Gardevik, then."
"Yeah, he doesn't mind answering questions for me. He's pretty patient, actually."
"I like him. He and I agree on most things."
"I can see how that might be." I ran fingers over Gavin's mouth. He kissed them and then got down to business.