Hallow said in a measured voice, “Are you sure you want him here in London?”
“He's the eldest son. Tradition demands he open the coven, and it becomes sticky for me to be crowned king without him here to agree.” The prince extended his claws and admired them. “What are you saying, Lady Hallow? What would you have me do with Prince Gareth?”
“Kill him, my lord. Now.”
Cesare laughed at her sudden ruthlessness. “Why should I? I'm not afraid of him. Are you?”
“Yes, I am. Kill him.”
“I'm alarmed by you, Hallow. You and Gareth were quite a pair once. Everyone expected you two to be the future king and queen.”
“That was long ago.”
Cesare nodded sarcastically. “Yes, apparently you're quite over him now.”
“I am your servant, Prince Cesare. And as your servant, I beg you to kill Gareth.”
The prince strolled to Hallow and took one of her slender alabaster hands. “You seem so frightened of him. He would never harm you. Not you, of all people.”
“I'm not afraid for myself.”
Cesare rubbed her hand slowly. “I'm touched by your concern. Or is it merely distress for your own future, since you're attached to me now?” Hallow began to protest, but he continued, “I must admit, I'm a bit annoyed. Do you think me so weak that my brother could take me whenever he chooses? He is isolated and despised; I will finish Gareth when it suits me. I want him to see me crowned king. He must witness it.” He began to crush her fingers in his grip. “And once he has seen me take my place as leader of the clan, only then will I kill him, with my own hands. Just as he deserves.”
Hallow said, “As you please, my lord. But I felt compelled to give you my honest opinion. Gareth is dangerous.”
“He may have been dangerous once, but no more. I have become the greatest leader since the Great Killing, and I'm not even king yet. All the clan lords, and several foreign kings, owe allegiance to me. Gareth lives alone in a castle surrounded by cats and humans. I almost feel badly for him.” Cesare kissed her abused hand and released it. “No. He's no threat to me.”
Hallow nodded acceptance. “Very well, my lord. Condolences on the passing of His Majesty, King Dmitri. He was a great king.”
“Yes, yes,” Cesare muttered.
“Will you require a funeral for His Majesty?” she asked.
“A funeral?” Cesare frowned in annoyance, but then he smiled. “I suppose so. Yes. We should make note of the passing of such a mighty sovereign, and the ascension of his successor. Even so, I want a swift interregnum. I must deliver new packs to Flay as soon as possible.”
“Do you truly believe she can push the humans back?” Hallow asked.
“If Flay says she can, then she can.”
The ambassador pursed her lips. “I have found her to be resistant, even insubordinate.”
Cesare turned away, uninterested in Hallow's complaints.
“I need your support, my lord,” she said more forcefully. “I am your liaison to the allies. She is merely war chief. Her years here with you in the palace seem to have convinced her she is your chosen. Is she?”
The prince turned back. “You are my right hand, Lady Hallow. You have helped forge the Grand Coalition. Flay is useful for now. She is an inveterate warrior, and we are at war. But I will make it clear to her that you are the master of the alliance. She is to bow to you in all things.”
“I am grateful.” Hallow nodded, satisfied. “If it's possible to make anything clear to Flay.”
Cesare shook his head with dismay. He didn't want to see strife between his chief lieutenants, political and military. He needed both of them. He required Flay more at the moment because there was no finer war chief, but he would need Hallow in the long term because she would make an extraordinary queen. Not only was she beautiful and brilliant…She had once been Gareth's.
“One final thing I want you aware of,” Cesare said to change subjects, “is the disposition of the Undead.”
Hallow regarded Cesare with disapproving eyes. Clearly she disdained his human troops. Just as clearly, to him, she didn't have the vision to grasp their revolutionary importance.
Only Cesare had the genius to play on the old mythology that vampires were undead humans risen from the grave. He had convinced huge numbers of humans in the north that if they died in service to their vampire masters, they would rise to join the ruling class. Over the last few years, preparing for a war with the free humans that he feared would come, he had forged legions of so-called “Undead.” He had sent them on a suicide mission to destroy half the Equatorian fleet at Gibraltar. He had sent them in massed attacks to damage the precious port facilities in Marseilles and other cities that the Equatorians needed to invade Europe. Those Undead assaults had contributed to the desperate situation that the Equatorian forces now found themselves in with fewer troops and less materiel and little air support. Now Cesare had new uses for his human legions.