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“Our Master and head of our House will want to know,” Ryder said. “Beyond him, no one will be told.”

“Oh, I’m sure Lawson would! He wants many things that he’s not getting!” Balthazar let out a laugh. His silver eyes narrowed and, suddenly, he did not seem so foppish or unserious. His smile was like a blade and his words were like daggers, “Are you the representative of the Weryn Bloodline or are you not?”

“At the academy, yes, I--”

“Are we not at the academy now?” Balthazar cut him off.

His cheeks flamed. Balthazar was suggesting that he wasn’t a leader. That he could not be the leader. Not if he relied upon Lawson. Arguably, he could say they were in the Eyros Palace, not the actual academy, but he didn’t. He gave a brief nod.

“And did not King Daemon himself request you to represent the Weryn Bloodline here?” Balthazar asked.

“Yes,” Ryder hated that he sounded so unsure.

Not that he doubted this happened or that it was Daemon’s will. But he didn’t know why he had been chosen. And he resented that it had put a wall between himself and Lawson.

“Do you intend to disobey King Daemon’s command and run to Lawson every time a decision is to be made?” Balthazar’s voice was cold. “Or do you intend to act like the leader of your Bloodline?”

Balthazar knew his inner conflict. He had, undoubtedly, read in Ryder’s thoughts everything that had occurred with Lawson already. Maybe Seeyr had foreseen it.

“You already know my answer,” Ryder said.

“No, no, I don’t, because you don’t know it yet,” Balthazar said with an acidic laugh.

Ryder swallowed. “I am Second in my House. Lawson has been the Weryn leader for centuries. I’ve been put in an impossible situation--”

“You doubt our king’s judgment?” Caemorn asked softly and that had Demos shifting uncomfortably.

“I don’t doubt his judgment, but I don’t understand why he is doing it,” Ryder admitted.

“Why don’t you ask me?” A voice as soft as silk whispered behind them.

Ryder and Demos whirled around to see the Vampire King standing on the threshold, smiling benevolently. He wore a long wolf fur coat that fell to his ankles and black leather pants. No shoes or boots or shirt. He looked so much like a Weryn Bloodline Vampire that Ryder was stunned into inaction. He heard more than saw Balthazar, Caemorn and Demos fall to their knees. Demos tugged at Ryder’s leg to get him to sink down too, but he couldn’t move.

Daemon was larger than Ryder. He filled the space as if his shadow was a mountain. Daemon’s eyes were red like the embers of a fire. None shared that shade.

The Vampire King reached out to Ryder. Without thought, Ryder took that large hand and sank gracefully down to his knees. His head lowered last so he could no longer see Daemon’s face, and yet, in his mind it was still there. Smiling knowingly. Smiling as if he had seen an old friend. Ryder had that sensation he always got before a new form was revealed to him. But this was bigger and yet it did not come.

Why did you choose me over Lawson? The thought came unbidden, bubbling up inside of him.

You already know, Daemon answered. His mind voice was as rich and startling as his outside one.

No, I…

But Ryder flashed to a memory of Lawson--drunk and belligerent on zombie-dust infused wine, the only kind that truly made Vampires drunk--swearing at some of the new Weryn Vampires and then chasing them with a broken bottle of wine to see if their blood ran true.

You stopped him. You always stop him, Daemon pointed out.

It’s only when he’s drunk and that’s--

Too often, Daemon interrupted. Once is too much. And it's been more than once.

He apologizes when he comes to his senses! But Ryder knew what a weak defense that was as he said it. Demos and I have stopped him--

From what? Daemon asked. From hunting your own Bloodline? Or other Bloodlines? Be honest, Ryder, why have you not taken a fledgling?

Ryder blinked. That was such an intimate question. It delved into the heart of him. I--I haven’t found the right person! They must match not just with me but with the House and--

And with Lawson? What sort of fledgling would you want with Lawson? Daemon asked.