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The colonel added, “If you attack us, you’re making the entirety of the United States your enemy!”

Daemon laced the fingers of his hand through Julian’s as the door opened and Elgar came in with his skull. The three humans lurched back in their chairs at the sight of him.

“We are not going to attack you,” Daemon assured him. “In time, there will be laws about doing this, but… you weren’t invited and, though you are truly not a threat tous, you are endangering others and yourselves. So we must save you.”

“Save us? How?” Katherine gasped.

Elgar lifted his eyes from the skull and looked at them head on. “You will listen to my voice. My voice is all you will hear…”

There was almost a sussurating noise. Julian watched as the colonel, Katherine and O’Connor’s eyes went blank. Their mouths parted slightly. And Elgar spoke in a gentle, whispering tone that had harmonics to it.

Daemon stood up and pulled Julian gently to his feet. “Come, Julian, I wish to be alone with you. Elgar has this well in hand.”

NIGHTVALLEN

As Julian looped his arm through Daemon’s, the Vampire King turned slightly to look at Balthazar and the others at the table. He was proud of them. They had not harmed one human despite having the provocation to do so and having to deal with modern human weapons and ingenuity.

These three human leaders were not surprising to him in any way. Their behavior was based on fear. Overwhelm the thing you fear with as much force as possible so that it cannot harm you. The problem with that strategy was if the thing--in this case, him, the other Immortals and his Vampires--were quite a bit stronger than one’s strongest attack.

Daemon smiled at the gentle ribbing between Eyros, Seeyr and Wyvern as Elgar expertly Whispered into the three human leaders' ears, convincing them that aligning with the Vampires was the only sensible option and that each of them had thought of it first.

He felt a sense of satisfaction as he saw Elizabeth and Henry drawing closer to the Vampire side than the human one. Henry was quizzing Arcius as usual with the Confessor thrilled to have someone interested in the history of the Order and any number of things. The Thornes would become advocates in the times tocome when parents wondered if they should let their children be turned, when they considered whether they, themselves, wanted to be turned. It would be very good for humanity to see people who were smart, thoughtful and empathetic choose immortality.

The three human commanders were not stupid, not entirely. They had recognized that Julian was the biggest threat. Not because of Julian’s growing access to his gifts, but that Julian was solikeable,so down to earth, so accessible. People were drawn to him. They wanted to be in his light or they wanted to be like him. He would be a poster boy for change. For wishing for a Second Life. After all, if it was what Julian had done, it must begood.

But despite these later triumphs, there would be tough times ahead as those whose power Daemon threatened attempted to harm him and his. The manor--a sanctuary, truly--could not be that right now. Balthazar had assumed that House Ravenscroft would still be on Earth, still be exiled, as the takeover of the planet happened, even though he had ordered everyone else to retreat to the Ever Dark.

But no longer. It was time that Eyros took his place where he belonged. The others, too. He had been waiting to do this. His strength was greatly returned to him. His Childe was by his side. It was time to return to Nightvallen.

“Ah, Balthazar, one more thing,” Daemon said and could hardly hide his smile. He was as excited to tell Balthazar as Balthazar would be to hear it.

Balthazar twisted in his seat and looked intrigued. “Yes?”

What do you have in mind, Daemon?Julian asked, his forehead scrunched as he sensed Daemon’s happiness.

Home. Home for all of us,Daemon answered as he ran a finger down that forehead to clear it.

Home… Nightvallen?!Julian looked up at him bright eyed. He searched Daemon’s face and only lightly touched his mind.Julian was getting better at this too.You want to go back there now?

He grinned.It is quite big enough for us to be alone and the others to have their fun, do you not think?

Yes! Yes, of course!Julian shook his head. The joy in him dimmed slightly.It was just the last time we were there…

I know.Daemon squeezed him closer.That’s why we must go back and make new memories.

Yes, I agree.Julian nodded.Balthazar is going to love this? He’s like a cat sitting on a hot tin roof waiting for you to tell him!

He is,Daemon said, taking in the growing excited confusion in the Eyros Vampire. Despite being able to know most anything, Eyros loved to be surprised.He loved it before.

Not only would it assuage old hurts of being excluded in this life, but Balthazar had, in the past, preferring it above even his own. Most of the Immortals had. They all had magnificent palaces in Nightvallen. It would be more than convenient to have Eyros, Seeyr, Wyvern andKalyall in one place while they awaited the rest of the Immortals to come to their senses or reincarnate. He sent all of this information to Julian.

Bring Caemorn to experience it, too,Julian enthused, rocking a bit back on his heels.Nightvallen should be the place we tell him everything.

Yes, I agree.

With a mental command he requested Caemorn join them. There was a clatter of bony feet coming down the hallway almost immediately and Caemorn’s voice, “No, not my robes. I told you that before. Now obey me, bear. Oh, all right you can lean against me, but wait until we’re seated.”

There were smirks all around as keen Vampire ears caught Caemorn’s reproach.