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Chris had started to get the hang of flying, it was a bit like floating but with the use of muscles. He didn’t have much else to do and he was a bit bored. The guards weren’t very talkative when he tried to engage them after they’d brought him some dinner, and he wasn’t bored enough to read the dull books they’d provided.

The door to his room opened. “You have a visitor,” one of the guards said.

He hoped it was Jack, but while the man who entered had black hair—he wasn’t Jack. Chris would never have expected this individual to bother to come and see him.

“Sebastian!” he cried and flew over. He liked Sebastian, they’d had some great chats over the years.

“Chris, how’s my favourite creature who no longer lives in a jar?”

The guard looked nervous, and Sebastian shooed him away, shutting the door in his face. Sebastian Hewel might come across as a goth kid in his twenties but as Head of the House of Hewel, he was one of the oldest vampires on Earth.

“I wasn’t expecting you,” Chris said.

Sebastian squeezed his shoulder. “Nice set of wings you have there. I’d have never pegged you as an elf. Especially not the sort who make me look like an amateur when it comes to bloodletting.”

“It’s all been a bit of a blur,” Chris admitted. “And I’m not like that anymore. I’m a light elf now.”

“Yeah, I heard. I was particularly keen to ensure our pointy-eared friends were treating you well, and insisted I got to check for myself.”

“They didn’t mind?”

Sebastian smiled. “Most people don’t say no to me. Or at least not twice.”

Sebastian walked past him and took the seat by the desk. Chris remembered the first time he’d met Sebastian, he’d been in a cupboard of a castle, forgotten and unwanted. But it meant he’d never gone hungry as there were a lot of people and most of them seemed to want to have sex. He supposed there wasn’t much else to do at the time.

Sebastian had been staying in his room and had spent an energetic afternoon with Anthony. There’d been something special about him and his partner and he’d been keen for another snack. The next time Anthony had visited he’d overindulged and Chris had been dozy and full and hadn’t been on his guard when he’d tried to sneak back to his jar after Anthony had been called away, and had been spotted. Sebastian had been intrigued. Chris had sensed Sebastian was not human, but he hadn’t realised he was a vampire until Chris came across Sebastian feeding on a servant.

“I’m glad you came. I haven’t seen you in ages,” Chris said. “Is Anthony doing well?”

“He’s good, we’ve recently had something of a second honeymoon, having spent some time apart—it’s been most invigorating. But back to you, you’ve been asleep for half a century, and then you wake up… and look at you now. Ben let me know what was going on. As you know, I do like to keep abreast of things.”

“I haven’t been awake long,” he said, getting the feeling Sebastian wasn’t happy at finding out second hand. “If you’d been at the hall, I’d have come to see you.”

“I do not doubt it. Ben mentioned you were getting a bit less see-through, but I didn’t give it much thought until a load of fae tried to shake Crofton Hall to bits.”

“I didn’t ask for that to happen.”

“I know you didn’t. I informed the fae representative that I was not pleased with their tactics. Are you unhurt?”

Chris was surprised by Sebastian’s concern. “Yes, apart from wanting to go home.”

“Now, that raises another question. As you obviously can no longer fit in your jar, where is home?”

He didn’t know how Sebastian wanted him to answer. “I love Crofton Hall, have thought of her as home for a long time, but now I hope it will be wherever Jack is.”

Sebastian smiled. “Ah, you’re sweet on our siren friend. I think it’s lovely, you’re suited to each other. I approve.”

“Erm…”

“You have been nothing but a wonderful guest at Crofton Hall, and Jack Webb has done a great service for the House of Hewel. I think yours will be a great union.”

“Thank you. Your friendship has meant a lot to me, I wouldn’t want you to think me ungrateful if I left Crofton Hall.”

“You will always be welcome to visit. Don’t worry, Chris, I’m here to put the wind up the sparkly bastards and let them know you have a powerful friend. I won’t be impressed if they shove you back in your jar.” He grinned. “I also reminded them that the King of the Calanti tribe is both pointy-eared and pointy-toothed.”

Sebastian didn’t seem to be here for any other reason than he liked Chris and wanted to stir up shit. Chris supposed that at an advanced age, with a large amount of wealth and political clout, Sebastian could do what the fuck he liked—so to get a real thrill, he needed to rile up or terrify an entire people.

“I hope that will work in my favour.”

“Believe me, Chris, there’s nothing like a bit of friendly outside persuasion to help a load of biased fuckwits see sense.” He stood. “I expect you to come and see me, with your young Jack as soon as you’re able.”

Calling Jack young was a bit of a stretch, but given Sebastian’s age, most people were young to him. “Will do.”

“Excellent, always good to have a decent lawyer in the family.”

Sebastian headed for the door. “One word of advice, Chris. It is possible to be too nice. Don’t be afraid to channel a bit of your old self if you need it.”

Sebastian left and Chris wasn’t sure what to make of it all. He glanced back to his desk and saw the lid of his jar. That was not there earlier. He picked it up and had the feeling his captors wouldn’t be too pleased to know he had it and quickly hid it under his pillow.