Blood Double (God Wars #1)(71)

"I thought only the Wise Ones could do that," I traced a finger on Nefrigar's lower lip. He really has a nice mouth.

"Either Restorer can do alone what it takes the five Wise Ones to do together. They are quite powerful."

"Really?"

"Yes. Lara'Kayan, does this mean what I think it means?" He kissed my fingers as I brushed them over his mouth.

"Yes. For somebody who knows so much, it took you long enough." Nefrigar laughed, and laughter from a Larentii is certainly something to hear.

*

Breanne's Journal

"Look, I know where I stand with you. Go home." Trajan appeared in Lissa's study after he'd gone looking for me in the Queen's suite and the arboretum. I was still struggling to get through a pile of comesuli requests and the extra batch that Heathe dumped on me didn't help. I also wanted to mist through Casino City on the off-chance I'd find Erithia Cordan standing on a street corner somewhere.

Trajan's dark eyes studied me. His hair, too, seemed disheveled, as if he'd worried about approaching me. Since I couldn't read him, I really couldn't say that for certain. "Breanne," he ventured, "How can you know where you stand with me? We've only met once, and I want a chance with you." His mouth tightened at the corner, as if he actually worried what I might think.

"Your boss doesn't want you to have a chance with me." I wanted to add that his boss didn't want a chance with me, either, and it made me want to weep. I forced back threatening tears. Crying would be disastrous.

"Bree, he was having a bad day. He admits it. I can take you anywhere else you'd like to go, if you'll just tell me when and where."

"How's Bill?" I asked, avoiding Trajan's offer.

"Bill is fine, and he'll be tickled pink that you asked about him."

"Bill's a nice guy."

"I'm not?" He sounded hurt.

"I didn't say that."

"Then what would you say?"

"That you're too involved with your boss and your work to have time for me. Besides, I have enough work and troubles of my own. That doesn't include the fiancé that Gavin the Terrible apparently found for me, and whom I've never met." Yes, I'd learned that from reading Rigo, who'd popped in less than an hour earlier, just to check on me.

Rigo was a good guy and in my opinion, he ought to be running palace security instead of my erstwhile sire. After all, Rigo ran a complicated and vast spy network for the Queen. There wasn't any reason he couldn't handle palace security—it would be an afterthought for him and still he'd handle it better than Gavin.

"He's arranged a marriage for you, and you don't even know who it is?" Trajan looked surprised.

"It's somebody named Casimir," I sighed, lowering my eyes.

"I know Casimir," Trajan stood abruptly. "He lived at SouthStar for a while, until he asked to be brought to Le-Ath Veronis. He was allowed to leave. Maybe this is why," Trajan added cryptically.

"Is he okay? As a person?" I was worried that one day, I'd be forced to marry him, after all.

"Casimir is an honorable vampire. Gentle with women, too. He wouldn't hurt you, I know that much. Look, I think I'll go track him down."

"Well, good luck with that," I said and went back to my work. When I looked up again, Trajan was gone.

*

"Cass, I don't know what the hell is going on. None of it makes any sense to me," Trajan walked along a street near Casimir's spacious home, talking with the old vampire.

"I doubt any of it is good, where Gavin and that poor girl are concerned." Casimir shook his head, confused by the whole affair.

"I feel the same way, but I can't risk getting Ashe involved; he's having daily meltdowns as it is over Kay."

"So he has found his love."

"Seems so. He's a bear over it, too."

"May come as a surprise to the actual bear, then. How is Alvin Wright?"

"Bear's good. Saw him yesterday. He handles everything in the southeast quadrant. Aedan handles the southwest quadrant, Nathan handles the northeast quadrant and Amos Thompson has the northwest.

"You and Trace still supervise all of them?"

"Yeah. Except Trace spends most of his time at NorthStar."

"Understood. He is fortunate to have mates who care so much for him."

"Who knew he'd get lucky first?" Trajan grumbled.

"I take it you're interested in my fiancé?" Casimir chuckled.

"Before she was your fiancé," Trajan pointed out with a growl.

"Never fear, I believe the Queen will sort this out when she returns."

"So they had to tell you that, then?"

"They were forced. I may not discuss it with anyone except you and Ashe, as compulsion holds no sway over either of you."

"Yeah. Ashe did that for Trace and me. Works like a charm, too." Trajan grinned.

"Would that he'd passed the same to me, then," Casimir sighed.

*

"Bill, Breanne likes you. She asked about you, after giving me the cold shoulder," Trajan slumped onto a barstool at the kitchen island. "How's Kay?"