Page 108 of Bitten Vampire

I leave with Harrison, and we reach the drop-off point without incident, parking a little way down the road to stay out of sight. Tall, narrow buildings loom on either side, and the street is wide and unnervingly quiet. The perfect place for a handover.

We wait. The silence stretches, and I doubt Harrison quite believes me until the car finally pulls up.

“Please stay here.”

I step onto the pavement just as Valdarr climbs from the other vehicle and tears off his hood.

The moment he sees me, he smiles.

I walk straight to him, and he gathers me into his arms.

“Did you catch all that?” he whispers against my ear.

“Yes,” I murmur.

He cups my face, tilting my head until our eyes meet. “How do you feel? Any after-effects?”

“Just tired.”

“How many visions did you risk?”

“Only one. I still can’t believe you let them hood you.” I playfully slap his arm. “You practically smiled at them. You should have seen the horror on their faces.”

A wry smile touches his lips. “I wasn’t happy, just confident I could handle them; they didn’t even bindmy hands. Besides, I felt you, you touched my hand.” He glances at his fingers with an odd look.

“I’ve no idea how I did that. Must be a mate thing. I feel ridiculous checking on you like that. You had the meeting with your father under control; you didn’t need me to rescue you.”

What I don’t add is how afraid I am that I may have wasted our only chance to foresee what will happen with the Vampirical Council.

“I had that meeting under control because I knew you were watching, and I didn’t want to let you down. When he spoke about you, your friends, and Simone, I wanted to launch myself across the table and rip his head off—but I didn’t, because of you.

“I didn’t want to disappoint you. You make me want to be a better man. When I’m with you, I feel human. I don’t need to be unnecessarily violent. And now, after more than a thousand years, I finally have someone to live for.”

I swallow a huge lump in my throat. “How do you always say the right thing?”

Valdarr grins.

Harrison has climbed out of the car. He doesn’t look pleased that we are standing in the street talking.

“Come on. We don’t have long before the guards raise the alarm.” I tug him back towards the car. “Why would he give you the title of Grand Master?”

Valdarr shakes his head. “He’s lying; he will never relinquish power. He thinks everyone wants to rule, so he can’t understand the appeal of an easy life. He’d hand me the title so I would clean up his mess, then snatch it back or use it to discredit and kill me.

“He’s always seen me as competition, while pushing me towards politics, wanting me by his side. I never wanted that. It’s probably why I’m still alive. I have never openly opposed him. For now, until we know what he’s planning, we shall play by his rules—if you agree?”

I nod.

If possible, he grows more serious. “We need to talk about what happened to your friends.”

I stare at my feet. “There’s nothing to say,” I whisper. “I wanted answers and got them. I asked questions, played detective, and got myself killed.” What a fool I am.

“He will pay for his crimes, Fred.”

“No. Not if it puts you or your clan at risk. We both know life is not fair. Sometimes the monsters win.” I close my eyes so they won’t fill with tears. I have done enough crying for a lifetime. “First, we have to deal with the Vampirical Council and my illegal turning.”

“We have faced them before—and won.”

“About that…” I swallow, nerves fluttering. “I’m not sure whether I’m tapped out after the first council session vision marathon or whether my power works only once every twenty-four hours. I might not be able to see what happens tomorrow.”