“Xavier.” Justine gave him a narrow, cold smile. “Ever the loyal dog, aren’t you? I always did prefer cats. You interrupted us. Melly and I were just having a private word.”
“You know how these things go.” Xavier returned her smile with one just as cold. “There’s never anything private that happens while the council is in session.”
A buzzing sound came from the direction of Melisande’s jacket pocket. Slipping one hand into her pocket, the Light Fae woman frowned. “Forgive me, I need to take this call.”
“Certainly,” Xavier said. “I would be happy to keep Justine company.” As Melisande walked away, he turned to the other Vampyre. “And how are you doing this evening? Sowing seeds of dissent, as usual?”
Justine was far older than he and came from the violent, shadowy beginnings of Britannia. Eyes glittering, she said, “Why, Xavier, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Xavier angled his head and took a step closer as he said softly, “Oh, I think you do. I’d heard that Tatiana was thinking of sending Melisande to handle the annual trade negotiations. I wonder where she got that idea. Then Melisande and Julian fight in front of the council. So typical of them, don’t you think? And you step in to offer comfort. What does come next, Justine? Perhaps you save the trade agreements, while Julian becomes even more alienated from the council and you become more indispensable.”
“I was wrong,” Justine said. When she smiled again her fangs had descended. “You’re not a dog, you’re a spider. Always spinning your little webs, sending out your little spies and gathering up your little snippets of information. Too bad it’s all in a lost cause. Julian never did have total control over the council, and now after his split from Carling, his days as Nightkind King are numbered.”
Xavier stepped closer to her, until the tips of their shoes touched, and smiled into her reddened gaze.
“I don’t believe any cause is lost,” he said. He took her hand, raised it to his lips and her angry smile slipped. “Everyone has a chance at redemption, even you. All you have to do is make different choices.”
Snatching back her hand, she hissed at him. “Don’t prattle your failed priestly sentiments at me, fool.”
He murmured, “I was not talking about religion, but redemption of another sort entirely. Of course, making different choices is all but impossible for some, but I’m warning you, Justine. If you keep going down this path, it can only end badly for you.”
“You’re going to regret interfering with me,” she said, just as softly.
The quick, light tap of approaching footsteps broke them apart. Xavier turned, along with Justine, to face Melisande as she came up to them.
Melisande said without preamble, “I’m going to take my sister Bailey’s advice and head back to the city.”
“Oh darling, I don’t blame you,” Justine said. The red had faded from her gaze, which began to gleam with triumph. “This has been completely unacceptable.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not giving up yet,” Melisande said briskly. “It’s just for one night so that I can clear my head. No offense, but I can’t think straight when I’m in the middle of this great, hulking pile of rocks. It brings back too many memories.”
Before Justine could say anything else to do more damage, Xavier smiled at Melisande and said, “I have a great idea. Come home with me and we’ll spend the rest of the night talking about old times—but we’ll focus only on good stuff, I promise.”
The Light Fae woman’s expression softened and she returned his smile. “What a perfect solution. You’re close by, and your home is beautiful. I’d love to stay overnight. Will I get the chance to say hi to Raoul?”
“Of course,” Xavier told her. “He’ll be delighted to see you.”
“How wonderful all the way around,” Justine said, giving him a venomous look. She linked her arm through one of Melisande’s. “I’ll come too, shall I?”
Frustration made him grit his teeth. He didn’t want Justine anywhere near his property. Not only had he just taken on an unschooled attendant, but he also had five trainees whose names and faces were virtually unknown, and he meant to keep their identities hidden. Also, for every good word he might try to put in with Melisande about dealing with Julian, Justine would be whispering poison in her other ear.
“I don’t recommend that,” he said to Justine. “A visit to my home might not be good for your health.”
“But why ever not?” Justine opened her eyes wide, while Melisande tilted her head, her expression sharpening.
While Melisande wasn’t stupid, she also didn’t understand the full scope of the tensions within the Nightkind demesne at the moment, and now wasn’t the time to enlighten her. Staring at Justine, he waited the merest heartbeat to let his threat sink in.
Then he smiled and said, “I don’t have a total house shutdown at sunrise, and I know many Vampyres have a problem with that.”
A look of revulsion flickered over Justine’s perfect features. “Don’t tell me you have one of those revolving systems.”