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“Would you allow that to happen? You have Daemon’s ear. And you hate Caemorn,” Moira pointed out. “You could strangle the possibility of that in its cradle.”

He wondered if he actually could. Would Daemon abandon Caemorn for him? There was a kind of thrill in the very idea. It made him feel special and--if he were honest--a little like a beloved fledgling himself.

I really do have Master issues! This is ridiculous!

“You had Caemorn kill Julian’s parents. Why don’t you think that disqualifies Caemorn from Daemon’s favor?” Balthazar asked.

“Because he hasn’t destroyed Caemorn,” Moira answered dryly. “Well, not yet. Not until Caemorn attempts to build new bodies to put the Harrows in. Which is impossible, by the way.”

“Caemorn wouldn’t say he could do a thing like that unless he could,” Balthazar said with a frown. “And I can confirm that he believes he can do that. Though you, truly, believe that he can’t.”

“If I cannot do this, how could a mere Vampire do it?” Artemis argued, and this was logical.

“Caemorn is a prodigy,” Balthazar suggested.

“He is an arrogant creature. His grasp exceeds his reach.” Moira tossed her head.

“This isn’t false confidence,” Balthazar countered. “He truly believes it and Caemorn… you just don’t see him clearly. He doesn’t brag. He does what he says he will do.”

“You’re a fool to trust Caemorn! You know how he got ahead? By backstabbing others,” Moira stated almost sweetly.

“Because that was the only way he could survive,” Balthazar found himself stating flatly. “I do know you. You are my Master after all. I know how you twist things and people. I know what it’s like to be Caemorn. He was just better at working things than me. I had to kill you. I saw no other way.”

And I don’t see any way to turn them this time either. But maybe… maybe...

He found himself reaching out to Caemorn’s mind without thought. When he touched it, he felt Caemorn jerk. The Kaly Vampire had been deep in meditation, tracing out Kaly’s bodies throughout Earth and the Ever Dark. But he recognized Balthazar.

There was this moment when they both stared at one another like two junkyard dogs with an old bone between them. The bone was old and dry and not worth having, but they were still considering fighting over it.

But they could stop. Right now.

Balthazar nosed that bone towards Caemorn. Figuratively, of course. Caemorn stared at him out of shadowed eyes. He then nosed the bone towards Balthazar. Figuratively, of course.

Neither of us want Kaly,Balthazar said.

No, we both want Daemon, Caemorn agreed with that additional twist.

He’s my best friend! He might be a Master-ish figure but…

Just as he is to me. Only Julian is his true fledgling, but…

Does it matter? Caemorn asked.

No,Balthazar stated. Because we both love him anyway.

Not like Kaly.

Not like Kaly.

There was a moment’s hesitation and then Caemorn asked, almost diffidently, Do you need assistance?

Balthazar’s initial thought was to scoff and say, No. What can you do here that I can’t? I’m Eyros! But instead he swallowed that urge, that self-defensive stab, and attempted something with Caemorn that he hoped he wouldn’t regret, he was honest. I do not know. I am not sure how to turn their minds. I know what they want, which is impossible for them to have.

Which is?Caemorn asked.

There was that usual archness in his tone, which had Balthazar bristling, thinking it an insult. But it wasn’t, he realized. It was just Caemorn being Caemorn. Not personal.

To turn back time and have Daemon choose them and that life instead of giving it all up, instead of going to sleep and waiting for Julian to wake him like Sleeping Beauty,Balthazar said.