Blood Double (God Wars #1)(10)

"I'll do what I can." Kooper didn't want Trevor to see how worried he was about that information.

"I don't get up to the palace much, but I might go sometime soon."

"Then go when there isn't a Council meeting," Kooper stood and stretched.

"Yeah. Heard about that, too. Don't know what the hell they think they're doing."

"I get the idea they're not doing it the right way. At least for the girl."

"How old is she?"

"In her late fifties."

"Practically a baby."

"Yeah. I'm three times her age," Kooper dumped his cold coffee in Trevor's waste recycler.

"You don't want to know how much older I am," Trevor muttered.

"You look so young," Kooper grinned.

"I feel it, brother," Trevor sighed.

*

Breanne's Journal

The Queen has a balcony. I sat on a chaise on that balcony, looking over the city of Lissia and drinking a bottle of blood substitute the kitchen staff had begrudgingly handed to me. Yes, the city is named after the Queen. I'm sorry to say I was becoming resentful of her and I hadn't even met her, yet.

Lights twinkled everywhere below, and I knew vampires lived in all those houses lit up in the city. That's how I got my first glimpse of Roff—the Queen's Winged Vampire mate. He flew right past the balcony, so close I might have reached out to touch him. He spared no glance for me and moved past too swiftly to get a reading from him. Had I ever thought a Winged Vampire might be beautiful? He was. I knew why the Queen loved him as he banked in flight and landed on the courtyard below.

"He's the only Winged Vampire on Le-Ath Veronis." I should have heard his approach, I just hadn't. I'd been too busy watching Roff's landing. I didn't know the vampire who stood beside me—hadn't met him before. I knew he was vampire by the scent.

"Trevor, Sheriff of Casino City," he held out his hand. I took it.

"Thank you," I said, feeling flustered. I was losing my ability, it seemed. This was the second one who'd approached me that I couldn't read. I stared at his face in surprise as a result.

"What are you thanking me for?"

"I heard, through comesuli gossip, that you're the one who sorted out my innocence." He sat on a chair next to mine as I turned my head away.

"That fool Hawer should have done it already," Sheriff Trevor observed dryly.

"He's a violent fool," I agreed, still not meeting his gaze. "And he'll be violent again. I hear he still has a job, too."

"I fail to understand the mind of Norian Keef at times."

"I've never met him. Norian Keef, that is. He's the Director of the ASD, isn't he?"

"Yes. I wonder about that, too. Lissa probably keeps him in that position, as he's one of her mates."

"She holds that much power?" For just a moment, I'd forgotten I was wearing her face. I jerked my head toward him, too, and stared in surprise.

"She does wield some power, yes," Trevor agreed. "I hear they've got you standing in for her."

"Not that the face isn't a giveaway or anything," I nodded. "I'd prefer to have my own, actually."

"How do you like being vampire?"

"I don't."

"You can't let your present circumstances upset you." I stared into dark eyes as he spoke; the light from the Queen's bedroom glittered in their depths. Sheriff Trevor was a handsome man—there was no doubt.

"What should I do about my present circumstances, then?" I turned my head away once more. His eyes were begging for something from me, and I couldn't tell what that something was. Normally, I would have known right away—my curse would make sure of it. Since I couldn't read him, I had no idea what he wanted.

"Just go the distance. It can't last forever, can it? Lissa will come back and you'll be free."

"Not for another five years," I pointed out. Gavin had me under his thumb for that length of time, and who knew what he'd demand of me, once the Queen returned. I'd probably be stuffed inside my windowless office, dealing with comesuli difficulties until the end of time.

"How is your sire treating you?"

"He's absent, most of the time. Shows up when he wants something. That's how he is. He wants to be my sire as little as I want to be vampire."

"I'm asking you now to contact me if things become unbearable." Trevor handed a small card to me. Hardly anyone used any kind of paper on Le-Ath Veronis. It was unusual that he had a card. It bore his name, title and a comp-vid code.

"I'll keep this," I nodded to him. "Thank you."

"If you didn't look as you do, I'd take you to Casino City and show you around."

"That would be nice—if I didn't look this way," I said. "I haven't been outside the palace since I arrived."

"That in itself is criminal," Trevor said. "And Skel Hawer deserves to be eaten by lions."

"Yeah," I shrugged. Trevor rose from his seat.

"I have to get back to work. Call if you need anything." He walked through the open French doors leading into the Queen's suite and disappeared. I watched until I couldn't see him anymore.