The Vampire Gift 2: Kingdom of(72)

“You were smart to get Riyu to cloak the vampires’ abilities,” I say. “Otherwise our scouts would have sensed you. The Queen might have slackened in her vigilance, but it doesn’t mean she’s blind. Wards around The Haven keep humans from finding it. There are also wild, savage beasts drawn to our borders.” I smile, remembering the way I killed that wolf. “They shouldn’t be a problem for any of you, however.”

Father has called upon Dagan and a number of other vampires to hear me speak. From what I gather, these are all of Father’s most senior military commanders.

The Ancient is present, too, listening from a far corner of the room.

“The wards work differently on vampires,” I explain. “You know this. Dagan’s party was close. Vampires can feel there is something beyond the barriers. But unless we know the exact way in, it’s shielded to us.”

“You know these ways?” Dagan asks, sharing a look with my Father.

“Of course.”

The King nods. Dagan throws a large map on the table. “You recognize this?” he asks me.

My eyebrows go up. It’s a perfect depiction of The Haven—from the inside and from the outside. The human village, the vampire treetop homes, the castle, the fields—all of it is there, just as I remember it.

Father sees my surprise and chuckles. “We know more than you think, son.”

Something grates at me that I just wasted so much time talking about things they already know.

Dagan stabs a finger at the map. “These entrances. They are here, here, and here. Yes?”

“… Yes,” I grudgingly answer.

Dagan peels the top layer off the map and reveals an intricate blueprint of the underground caverns. I marvel at the detail. There are passages showing that I didn’t even know exist!

“If you have all this,” I say, sensing a looming trap. “What need have you of me?”

“Patience, son.” Father grips my shoulder in a vice-like grip. “That will be revealed in time.”

Dagan traces a finger in a swooning line. “This is the outline of the river that brought you to us,” he says. “It was so deep beneath the earth that the wards did not extend that far. But we cannot return that way. That entrance has been compromised because of our rescue of you.”

“Yes, yes, that all makes sense,” I say, growing impatient. “What of it?”

“It’s not structural knowledge we seek,” Logan says. “But knowledge of your Mother. Riyu—” he gestures toward the vampire, lost somewhere in the line of others, “—just got back from a solo expedition to The Haven. He says the wards have been fortified. He says that it is now impossible for anyone to penetrate them. The entrances are sealed.”

“Sealed how?” I ask.

“Sealed as to be impregnable. But while the Queen is strong, she does not have the power to maintain the reinforced wards by herself. Someone is aiding her.”

“You think it’s Eleira?” I ask.

“No.” Father walks across the table and pours himself a goblet of blood. My mouth salivates. I’ve been promised more, but haven’t been given any since my initial feeding. “The girl is strong, but she does not have control of her powers. She would not be able to assist in this.”

“Then what?” I ask.

“We believe,” a melodic female says, “that Morgan is drawing upon an external fount of strength.”

I spin around. Beatrice has just entered the room.

She continues.

“A torrial of some sort, I suspect. It gives her the ability to do what would otherwise require an entire coterie of witches.”

“A coterie?” I ask, not following along.

“A group of seven, linked together in a circle to join their powers. Witches are selfish creatures, you see. It is not often that a coterie is formed. Only in times of great need…”

She trails off as she reaches the table. She runs a hand over my Father’s arm.

He pulls her in for a deep and hungry kiss.

Who is this woman? I wonder. And how does she know so much of witches?

She looks at me after Logan lets her go. “Your Mother does not have six other witches in The Haven, does she?”

I snort. “Of course not.”

Beatrice shrugs. “Then it’s a torrial.”

The King turns to me. “This is what we need you for. You’ve been there. You’ve served there. You must know the object that gives her such strength!”

I balk. “I’m no sorcerer,” I fire back. “How on earth would I know?”

The Ancient moves from the wall. He crosses the space so fast it’s like he didn’t even bother with the distance in between.