“To keep an innocent from harm,” Tarian snapped.
“Even if that innocent has fangs? I very much doubt it.”
“Just because you are blinded by your own prejudice doesn’t mean I am.”
Lucian snarled. “You will show me some respect, boy.”
“Only when you earn it, leech,” Tarian said with a derisive laugh.
Before Melissa could diffuse the situation, her father launched himself at Tarian. With a cry she rushed forward only to pause when her lover threw out a hand.
Lucian stopped in midstep, his clawed hands raised, fangs glistening.
Tarian’s eyes were cold as he stepped toward the immobile man. “You might do well to remember you’re not the top of the evolutionary chain, vampire,” he hissed. “I am.”
“Tarian, let my father go,” Melissa ordered.
His gaze flicked her way before returning to Lucian. “You, I promised immunity,” he said to her. “No one else.”
“You can’t kept that up forever. Please.”
The entire room waited in silence to see how he would respond to her entreaty. Finally he flicked his fingers. Lucian stumbled forward a step as control returned to his body.
The vampire bared his fangs, which had Tarian raising his hand in warning.
A soft chuckle broke the tension.
“They always say girls date their fathers,” Abbey laughed. “My god, Melissa. You didn’t branch out much.”
Three sets of incredulous eyes swung to her.
“Abbey,” Lucian reproved.
Ignoring him, Abbey focused on Melissa and ticked off her points on her fingers. “Old as the hills. Powerful. Has a temper. Ruthless in defense of those he loves. Hot, and, forgive me, but I’m assuming one hell of a lover, if you brought him here.”
“Aw…ick,” Melissa said, pressing her hands over her ears. “Abbey, really.”
The human shrugged. “Am I wrong?”
Tarian and Lucian eyed each other.
“I do not see your basis for comparison,” Lucian said.
“Ah, honey. I know you don’t.” Abbey grinned up at him.
In typical Lucian fashion, her father chose to focus on the one fact in Abbey’s speech she’d rather he not.
“Are you lovers?” he demanded.
Tarian drew up in affront even as Melissa sprang to the rescue. “That is not your business.”
“Given his bloodline, it most certainly is.” He caught her arm and pulled her to the side. “Our kind are vulnerable to his. How do you know he did not take advantage of the situation?”
“That’s it,” Tarian said, shaking out his hands. “I haven’t killed a vampire in decades, but this seems as good a time as any to dust off old skills.”
“Stop,” she growled at him in exasperation. “Lucian, I spent four nights with this man and he did nothing but keep me safe. Doesn’t that tell you something?”
“He knew the exact best way to get into your pants?” her friend piped up.
Melissa shot a death glare at Abbey. “Not helpful.”
The other woman shrugged. “Honestly, I’m not sure what side I should be on.”
“Not all necromancers are evil,” she said, facing Lucian. “This one group that kidnapped me, sure. But Tarian risked a lot to come to my rescue. Are you going to vilify him for that?”
“He could have had you call me the second you were safe,” Lucian replied. “Drake knew what he was about when he kept you by his side for these past nights.”
“It would have put her in danger,” Tarian said. “My grandfather’s reach is wide. He would have stopped her from boarding a plane.”
“I have resources your grandfather doesn’t,” Lucian snapped. “Melissa would have been perfectly safe.”
“Are you willing to bet her life on it? Because I wasn’t.”
Lucian leveled an icy glare at him. “I would have kept her from harm.”
“I did,” he argued.
“And what do you want for it, hmm? What’s your price for returning Melissa unharmed?”
“It’s not like that,” she tried, even as Tarian spoke.
“Clemency for the necromancer community,” he said. “We are not all in support of violence to settle our score. I propose we meet with the council and review the terms of the necromancer ban. My people are suffering, and yours are the cause.”
Melissa flinched. This had always been the plan, but even so, it hurt to hear him claim that protecting her was just to achieve his goals, not because he cared.
“There we are,” Lucian said, tension leaving his shoulders. “The heart of the matter.” He glanced at Abbey before shaking his head. “Because my daughter obviously cares for you—just as I’m sure you guaranteed would be the case—I will make you a deal.” When he turned back to Tarian, Melissa flinched at his intractable expression. “I will vow no vengeance for Melissa’s abduction against any part of the necromancer community, provided you return to your shadows. There is no room for you here in New York.”