Page 21

“Your fame will be good for us,” she said.

“Good?” His eyebrows lifted into his hairline.

“I know you thought of your program as a way of exposing the evil Vampires in humanity’s midst, but the show also was to open people’s minds to the possibility of somethingmore,” Rajani stated.

He considered this. “Yes, it could be seen that way. Both Julian and I did want people to believe.”

“Now, when you restart your show, actually telling them and showing them Vampires exist, it will help humanity get used to the idea,” Rajani grinned.

“Wait. When Julian and Irestartour show? You want us to bring back the show?” Christian asked.

“Of course, we do! You will be a key outlet in order to reach the hearts and minds of humanity,” Rajani sounded enthusiastic. “Imagine filming shows with humans who wish to become Vampires! You can have them find out about each Bloodline. That will intrigue people. They will think of it likeHarry Potterhouses.”

Christian tapped his chin. “You want to make the choice seem exciting?”

“Of course! Being a Vampireisexciting. We want them to see the Bloodlines as clubs they want to join,” she said with another infectious smile. “You and Julian are not just newly-made Vampires, but Vampire royalty! Yet you are both very approachable. People will flock to you for the facts.”

Christian laughed softly and shook his head. “Not exactly what Julian and I thought we would be when this all started out.”

“No, but isn’t thisbetterthan what you hoped?”

They had reached the door to the dining room. He could feel the press of familiar and beloved minds inside. His family circle had grown. He and Julian not only had their Masters and the Houses, but they would soon have Julian’s parents back too. Maybe they would do the show together. All four of them.

Christian put his hand on the door handle and said, “Yes, this is so much better.”

Then he went inside to help make history.

LISTEN TO MY VOICE

Julian breathed a sigh of relief as he saw Christian enter the room along with Rajani. Their minds briefly touched in greeting.

Everything going okay in here?Christian asked.

Oh, sure! It’s going great. We’re making progress,Julian stated, trying to think of each moment closer to normalizing human-Vampire relations. But that collapsed quickly upon itself.No, not really, no.

What’s been happening?Christian asked.

A whole lot of… nothing.

Things were a little tense--okay, maybea lottense--between the Vampires and the humans. Well, Daemon seemed immune to the tension as he stared at their human “guests” with only mild, amused interest. The fact that he rarely blinked--and when he did it was slow and catlike--was causing the humans no end of distress though they were fighting not to show it.

Are you trying to freak them out, Daemon?Julian asked the Vampire King.

I do not know what you mean,Daemon professed innocence.

Julian actually turned in his chair.You don’t know--

Daemon gave him a smirk.I am enjoying this. I want to understand these people. Letting them talk is… best.

Okay, but they’ve been stone faced so far. It’s like a standoff here,Julian sighed.

The two groups were at opposite ends of the dining room table. Daemon sitting at the one head with Balthazar to his right and Julian to his left. Arcius was on the other side of Balthazar while Seeyr was beside Julian.

Arcius got up and offered his seat to Christian who was going to wave it away, but Julian felt the mental request from Balthazar for Christian to settle in. Arcius moved behind Daemon to lean against the wall, which is also where Rajani and Fiona were. Christian’s parents were almost in the exact middle seats between the Vampires and other humans. Christian’s mother hugged her son while his father smiled broadly at his boy across the table.

On the other end of the table in the head seat was Colonel Warren Monroe. To his right was FBI Special Agent in Charge Katherine Goddell. To his left was a man that wore black and gray fatigues with no name tag or insignia, but through looking into his mind, Julian knew he was Special Operative Steven O’Connor with the CIA and several other clandestine agencies within the US government.

In the very center of the table, on it, in fact, was Meffy. The cat was attacking a bit of ribbon while everyone--when they weren’t looking at one another--was watching the kitten tussle with its “enemy” that seemed to include its tail. Despite the ridiculousness of it--or perhapsbecauseof that ridiculousness--Julian approved of this kitten centerpiece. After all, who didn’t watch videos of cats? It was somewhat of a common ground. It made the Vampires seem morehuman.