"I did not know it was the Queen," Breth whined.
"You did not treat her well, Queen or not," Veris hissed. "I have questioned the others; they all say you taunted and insulted her. Now you expect her to come back to us? You are acting like a High Demon and not one of the comesuli. Our code says to treat all as if they were our parent, brother or child. This you did not do and we may all pay for your foolishness."
"I beg you, do not tell the others what I did, they will shun me," Breth whined.
"I will not tell because my part in this was nearly as great," Veris muttered. "I cannot stop the others, however. You may be shunned anyway, and it will be your due if you are."
"What did Lord Gardevik say when you asked him about her?"
"He says he has received no replies to his own queries," Veris snorted. "And if the High Demons receive no replies, what can we hope to do?" Veris stalked away from Breth. They'd held their private conversation in a corner of the comesuli barracks, next to the eastern palace wall. So many of the commons were beginning to make preparations—they anticipated a move to Le-Ath Veronis. Veris hoped their preparations were not in vain.
* * *
"How should I dress?" I'd gone to the kitchen to get something to drink and found Devin and Grace there.
"However you want," Devin said. "Although those vampires will show up dressed to the nines." A pretty dimple appeared when she grinned.
"They always do that," I grumped. "It's to intimidate the rest of us." Grace snickered at my comment. "I watched Wlodek fight a truckload of vampires once while dressed in a silk shirt and tailored pants," I added. "Those shoes he was wearing probably cost a fortune, too. He did remove his coat and tie, though."
That made Devin laugh. "Hey, don't laugh, Radomir did the same thing," I added, smiling at the memory. "Russell and Will dressed casually, but then they weren't as old."
I got some juice and went back to my suite to pick out something to wear. I liked Devin and Grace—they were nice and heaven knew I'd not had any female friends the entire time I'd been vampire. Radomir offered to take me to Flavio—although I could have misted there since I knew where I was. Grace explained that Adam, Merrill and Wlodek had purchased miles of land in all directions surrounding Merrill's old home, and kept it in a garden state while the lands past that had gone commercial or were covered in sprawling parts of a now-extended London and its suburbs.
The pants and silk blouse I picked out reminded me of what a 1930s film star might wear. The neck was high with buttons at the side and long, full sleeves cuffed with matching buttons. The blouse itself was in a chocolate brown, the linen-look trousers in a natural oatmeal. Low, dark-brown heels finished everything off except for the earrings. Those were diamond drops. Charles had selected those—at least he remembered what I'd liked. I was beginning to get shaky, too. I didn't think anybody was going to remember me and that made me want to cry again. I was surprised I had any fluid left in my body nowadays.
* * *
"A brief hit, days ago. That's all," Kiarra handed a cup of tea to Dragon. Dragon murmured his thanks and sipped the tea. "Pheligar says none of our shields were detected or compromised, and the Ra'Ak didn't stay long. Probably realized he'd made a mistake coming here and got away as quickly as possible."
"As long as they left no spawn behind," Dragon grumbled.
"I've checked—there's nothing," Kiarra nodded. "But I'll let you know if we detect another hit. I just want to make sure this isn't a reconnaissance mission. They'll be breaking the rules if that's the case, and I'll get Merrill and Adam to help me take care of it."
"Let me know if you want our help," Dragon rose from his seat inside Kiarra's library. "Grace, Devin and I will be happy to assist."
"I will. Take the cup with you—Devin will send it back," Kiarra smiled. Dragon nodded and folded away.
* * *
"I do not understand why we were ordered to come," Gavin muttered, climbing the steps to the Honored One's manor.
"We'll find out, I'm sure," Tony said, attempting to soothe his surrogate sire. Spring had arrived in Kent, and the night sky was unusually clear, with stars twinkling overhead. Gavin followed Tony's gaze and looked up at the stars as well. He blew out a sigh and moved to follow Anthony through the door. Rolfe was there, as always, holding the door to allow both Assassins inside.
"Flavio, Merrill and Wlodek are upstairs waiting for you," Rolfe rumbled.
"What do they want?" Tony sighed.
"Anthony, we will learn this soon enough." Gavin jerked his head toward the stairs leading to the second floor and Flavio's study.
* * *
This wasn't a good idea. I was shaking and felt ill. For the thousandth time I wished I hadn't agreed to allow Radomir and Charles to haul me to Flavio. I wasn't prepared for blank stares and ridicule—from any of them.
"Ready?" Charles and Radomir appeared at the same moment. They'd both dressed well for this, just as they'd done in the past. I suppose Flavio commanded the same sort of respect Wlodek always did. Charles was offering an encouraging smile, but I was too terrified to answer with one of my own.
"Lissa, things will surely work out," Radomir did his best to soothe my nerves; he hadn't failed to notice my shaking hands or unsteady breaths. I watched his hands—they were steady and he wore two rings—one on each ring finger, for each of his wives. He had someone to lean on—two someones, actually. After three hundred years, even if Gavin remembered me, our marriage, as declared by Wlodek, had been over for two centuries. This was a fiasco, no matter how you looked at it. And my rings—the ones Gavin had given me—were missing when I'd come to myself on Kifirin's planet. I had no idea what happened to them. It no longer mattered, more than likely.
* * *
"Charles and Radomir will arrive soon," Flavio offered seats to Tony and Gavin. "I have wine, if you wish it," he added. Merrill and Wlodek were already seated—Flavio had brought in extra seating after Wlodek informed him there would be more coming. Tony accepted a glass of wine; Gavin declined.
"I am also curious as to why we were asked to meet," Flavio nodded as Tony accepted the glass poured out for him. "My sire says it is important—to us and to the race."
"More important than you know," Merrill said softly.
* * *
We didn't bother with the front door—Radomir folded us straight to Wlodek's old study. Only now, it belonged to Flavio. Wlodek's Monet was missing from the wall, as was the portrait of Napoleon I'd given him. Distractedly, I found myself hoping the painting hadn't disappeared, as the memories of me had. Charles placed a hand on my nape as I studied the wide shoulders and dark hair of one of the four sitting before me; Radomir had dropped us behind a row of seats. Gavin's scent hadn't changed, either—it still exerted a power I couldn't name, and I wanted to weep over what I'd lost. He'd turned slightly when we appeared, didn't recognize my scent and kept his gaze focused on Flavio, who sat behind a desk, staring at me in shock.