Kiss of the Dragon (30 page)

"Lucinda!" Amisi chided. "Sophie's not used to your Kiwi sense of humour yet. Give the girl a break."

I smiled cheekily at my best friend, but quickly returned my attention to Sophie. "Come on, Frenchie. Spill the beans."

She smiled, despite the blush. "He's beautiful," she said on the dreamiest of sighs. Marcus coughed out a laugh, earning a stack of cards thrown at his head from Amisi and a blast of Light from me. We ignored his groans as he lay on the floor for several seconds, covered in an assortment of colourful playing cards.

"You were saying, Frenchie?" I said, glaring at the rest of the vampires and daring them to make a sound.

Sophie released her re-trapped lip again and forced herself to speak. "He told us all about Viktor Davydov. Much of the information he provided helped the Champion secure the final support needed on the Council to hold the requisite tally for your vote." I hadn't known that. Clearly Michel acted as soon as the scales tipped in his favour. And it was all thanks to the intel Nero had provided. "He was even able to tell us of Viktor's known properties in St Petersburg. That's what the Creator has been doing, flushing out those of Davydov's vampires left behind in the Russian city. St Petersburg is now Davydov free." That was pretty impressive. Nero had indeed been an asset already and we hadn't even had our first battle yet. I was sure he'd be brilliant in a fight.

"That's all great, Sophie. But what about you and him? That's what I'm
really
interested in," I admitted, shrugging my shoulders when Sergei shook his head in mock disgust. "Hey, I've got to work my way into being a Councillor. Any stuffy and serious disposition won't happen overnight."

"Thank God," Marcus muttered from the floor.

"Quiet, you! You're in no position to be smart." I sent another blast of Light his way, but it was just a playful swat, nothing too harsh. Marcus just chuckled at me from down on the floor, but the chuckle was quickly cut off by a grunt, as Natalyia's boot met his ribs. "Thank you, Natalyia. Now, Sophie. You were saying?"

Her eyes were darting back and forth between me and each of the vampires I was teasing. Finally she said, "You have a very open relationship with your line and those of the Champion's."

"It's a Kiwi thing," I answered. "Now, you and Nero?" Move it along, sweetie. I want to hear the goss.

Sophie bit the corner of her lip again and Amisi sighed.

"Word of advice, Sophie," Amisi said. "Just give it up. The Prophesied can be damned persistent when she wants something. It's easier to just give her what she wants."

I smiled sweetly at Amisi. "Can you tell Michel that?"

"Why of course," she answered just as sweetly. "Right after Sophie 'fesses up." There's my partner in crime. We beamed at each other.

"OK," Sophie said uncertainly. "But you have to promise to not tell Yves just yet."

We all nodded eagerly. Even the vampires.

Sophie took a deep breath in and then said softly, "I joined with him last night."

"Holy jumping the gun, Nosferatin," I muttered into the ensuing silence. "Ever tried getting to know a guy before you bed him?"

Sophie blushed brilliant red. Oh, jeez. She'd done that too. What the hell was Yves gonna do to me? I'd worried when Nero placed Amisi in my care and she seemed interested in Gregor. I'd had sleepless nights concerned I'd send the Egyptians a corrupted Amisi back to them. Hell, she never even swore before she met me. I was not a good influence, so I watched her like a hawk. But I had lowered my guard with Sophie. Even going so far as providing the perfect opportunity for her to rebel.

Yves was going to kill me. If he didn't just simply refuse to allow the Parisian Nosferatins to participate in the impending
Iunctio
battle. I don't know what was worse. Being killed by the Nosferatin leader in Paris, or failing in my first duty as a Councillor to seal their support when we were at war. Jeez, pressure much?

"Oh, Sophie. You have put me in a very tenuous position," I said quietly, all joking Nosferatin gone. Councillor Prophesied had finally made it to the room. The vampires knew, they were all standing at attention, spaced evenly about the room. Amisi had picked up on the change as well, her face serious and breathing shallow.

I stood up from the table and started pacing. I needed to think this through. It's not like I hadn't seen this as an eventuality. But I had thought it would at least be formalised once Yves had been informed. I wanted Sophie and Nero to investigate this compatibility and obvious attraction, but I had not expected them to go ahead and join, without announcing a thing to those who should have been told. Joining ceremonies are sacred, they require an announcement on the
Iunctio
network and those who mean something to the kindreds to attend. Sophie and Nero had done neither of those.

I tried to look on the plus side. Surely Yves wouldn't be that surprised? Wouldn't hold it against me? But then, Sophie herself had told me Yves did not know how doomed her previously arranged joining was likely to be. No one knew of the way her betrothed kindred treated and manipulated her. This was going to come as a shock. And the fact that I
did
know there was a serious problem with Sophie's planned joining, meant I
should
have informed Yves, before something precisely like this happened.

I was so screwed.

I sat down again at the table, utterly shocked at this turn of events.

"This is bad, isn't it?" Sophie asked in a small voice.

"You think?" I said with a snort, then ran my hand over my face.

This was it. My first political minefield. I had to step up to the plate.

"Damn it, Sophie. You're almost twenty-five. You are not a child. And Nero!" I said, throwing my hands up in the air. "He might have just returned to this life, but he is a centuries old Nosferatin, he should have known better."

"Can you truly use that argument?" Amisi asked from my side. I turned to her, eyebrows raised. "He may have his Nosferatin memories, but he will act purely as a Nosferatu will now. Would a Nosferatu have allowed her to return to Paris, knowing what awaited her? Knowing he could lose his kindred? Once a kindred is found, it is almost impossible for the Nosferatu to walk away."

I stared at Amisi, thankful all over again to have her here at my side. I was picking that any issues revolving around Nosferatins from now on, would be thrown my way. As the Prophesied, a Nosferatin on the
Iunctio
Council, this would be my domain. I needed to have advisers around me, to help me navigate this quagmire, or at the very least, to use as sounding boards. Amisi might be based in Wellington, but she'd be using
Skype
a damn sight more often from now on.

"Congratulations," I announced, patting her on the shoulder. "You've just been appointed my Chief Advisor. Welcome to the team."

A small smile twitched at the edges of her lips. "Do I get paid?"

"I'll send you baking utensils and touristy tea-towels." Amisi loved to bake and always had a
tea-towel thrown over her shoulder when in the kitchen.

I sighed and returned my attention to Sophie. This was going to be hard. I didn't want to play the disciplinarian, it just wasn't my style. But more was weighing on this than my burgeoning friendship with Sophie and any nostalgia I shared with Nero.

"Sophie," I began. "You understand what's at stake?"

She nodded, lip firmly between her teeth, but head held high. Sophie was a well trained hunter. Powerful in her own right. She was courageous and intelligent. She would not shy from her responsibilities. She would face them head on, shoulders back, looking them dead in the eye. She was everything I respected about Nosferatins.

"I have to ask you to do this," I said, holding her gaze. "I cannot have Yves back out due to a perceived slight on my part. The
Iunctio
needs your Parisian Nosferatins. And the Nosferatins, worldwide, need the
Iunctio
. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

She nodded. I wasn't sure she really did understand though. I'd have to spell it out. And really, if I was asking her to do this, then the least I could do was say aloud what I expected her to do. But saying it aloud, stepped over that line. And made me someone I thought I would never be. I had always despised politics. Smoke and mirrors, Michel had once said. You say what needs to be said in order to gain your political position, even if it went against everything you believed.

Vampires are so very good at it. Getting what they want by acting a certain way, even if deep down inside, they know it is not who they should be. My heart wanted me to protect Sophie; a Nosferatin. My head told me to do that, would be to lose Nosferatin support in Paris at a time where the
Iunctio
could be destroyed without their support.

Could I simply approach Yves and talk it out? Let him know what's happened, tell him I'm sorry, but right now we need to unify against a bigger threat. Yves was experienced, surely he'd do what's right. Could I risk it though?

Damn it! I was so conflicted over this.

"I'll phone Yves," Sophie said, interrupting my tortured thoughts.

"I appreciate the gesture, Sophie," I said quietly. "But it may take more than that."

"He'll be angry, but he'll understand."

"He'll be angry at me," I pointed out.

"But I did this, not you," she argued.

"Whilst you were in my care." I shook my head. "That doesn't even matter, really. His anger would subside eventually, I suppose. But
you
are their promised Nosferatin. The one immature Nosferatin who they knew would be more powerful than the rest. Yves told me himself, that they had big plans for you. They have waited for you to mature and join for twenty-five years. And now they have lost you. To London. France and England have never been BFFs."

She stared at the table for a long moment, then finally asked, "What do you need me to do?"

I drummed my fingers on the wooden table top while I thought. I knew I had to protect the
Iunctio
right now. Aside from being sworn to do so, I felt
compelled
to do so. Damned blood on parchment freaky mojo. But I was
all
Light. I couldn't sacrifice Sophie to save a political alliance with the Parisian Nosferatins. I just couldn't. If the
Iunctio
was going to survive this time in its history, it had to, it
must
, survive it with Light... and not Dark deeds. I wanted a Lighter
Iunctio
, I had to lead the way.

"OK," I said, sitting up straighter in my chair. "Phone Nero and get him here ASAP. We're going to conference call the Parisians and make them see the Light."

Goddess help me, I hoped I could pull this off.

Nero arrived within twenty minutes, long enough for refreshments and toilet breaks and a check on Michel through my mind. He knew exactly what I was up to. I wasn't surprised, he needed me near enough to smell and scent, so it wasn't a huge stretch to think he'd be in my head as well.

I have complete faith in you, ma douce
, he reassured me, giving me the sort of confidence boost I desperately needed right then.

God, I hope I don't fuck this up, Michel
, I admitted and heard him laugh.

You won't, besides this is a joyful time. Nero is joined and in love. I couldn't be happier with the outcome, myself.
Of course. This played directly into his hands.

Which made me think of something.
You would have felt the joining. Nero was already a level one Master, and when he joined with Sophie he would have doubled his power. I cannot believe you were not aware of the event, being in the same city and the Champion to boot.

There was a slight pause before Michel answered.
I did feel the transfer, yes,
he admitted slowly.

So, why didn't you tell me?
I asked just as slowly, but with a decided edge to my mental voice.

I didn't want to worry you when you awoke.

Is that all, Michel?

I felt him sigh through the Bond and then he said,
At the time it seemed like a good idea. We had more pressing matters to contend with. You were unwell and I admit, I was protective. Had I told you what I suspected, you would have insisted on dealing with it straight away.

But this could affect our position in the war,
I pointed out, thinking it strange that he'd not address a potential problem as soon as it arose.

The worst case scenario,
he said sounding very much the politician that he is,
is the Parisians will simply not aid us in the coming battle. They will
not
join forces with the opposition. Yves would not condone that, no matter how offended he may be. Besides, you are his Prophesied, Lucinda. The house he lives in recognised you. He was awaiting your arrival when you appeared on his doorstep. You are everything he believes in. You are the one with power in this relationship, not him. Can you not see this?

I thought about what he was saying for several seconds, as the others all walked back in the kitchen, Nero in tow. The hungry look he cast Sophie's way as soon as he spotted her, reminded me of how Michel had behaved in the past. Hell, if I'm honest, it's how he behaves to this day. Nero and Sophie had a good joining, a solid basis for their future and the future of the City in his care. Together they could do very great things for the supernaturals in their area. There was nothing but goodness to come from a joining as beautiful as theirs.

I don't know about having the power, Michel. But I do have something.

There was a pause on his end, then curiosity got the better of him, clearly my thoughts being too shielded right now for him to read.

And what is that, ma belle?

I have the knowledge of how great a kindred joining can be. Of how many people can be positively affected when a joining is perfect in every way.
I felt his smile through the Bond. His love simply cradled me as though his arms were tenderly wrapped around my body.
Sophie and Nero have a joining like that,
I said.
There's no way Yves will deny that this is right.

How can he?
Michel whispered.
When he hears you speak from the heart. Je t'aime, ma douce.

Je t'aime
, I replied and then he was gone. Whether just hiding, or actually giving me some space to do my job, I didn't know. But I was thankful. He trusted me to get this done, and for the first time since Sophie had dropped this bombshell, I thought I might just have a chance to diffuse it before it went off.

I turned to look at Nero and Sophie. The love that shone in their eyes, when they looked at each other, was hard to miss. I hoped Yves would see it through the camera. I was relying on technology to relay something so very special and rare. Not everyone would have this kind of joining. Did Yves? Would he recognise it when he saw it, like I did?

Time to find out, but first things first.

"Master of the City, congratulations on your joining." Nero turned towards me, his arm still protectively and lovingly around Sophie's tiny shoulders. His smile said it all. He was ecstatic.

"I have been truly blessed," he said softly. I wondered if he'd still think that when Yves hit the roof in Paris. "And I believe congratulations are in order for you, Prophesied." He fisted his free hand over his chest and bowed low. His other arm remained around Sophie while he executed the move. Clearly unwilling to let her go even to show me respect. It made me smile, and made me want to do everything in my power to smooth the way for them both.

"Thank you," I said, my response letting him know he could rise from the bow. Nero had always been very formal. Now as a vampire, he was even more so. "Sophie, if you could dial Yves, please. Let's get this show on the road."

Sophie smiled reassuringly up at Nero and stepped out from the protective cocoon of his arms to dial Yves' number on the laptop before us. Sergei had brought in a flat screen TV and connected it to the computer, so we would have a blown up version of the pissed off Nosferatin to look at. I wasn't sure if I was happy about that development or not, but all of us crowding around the laptop, would have looked a little silly.