“Very well. You have your chance. I would make it count if I were you.”
Zenas released Lawrence and stepped back, giving him space to move. Lawrence took advantage of it and walked around the room, the natural salesman coming to the forefront as he told his story to the whole assemblage. “She was almost lost to us, Sire. A mortal had proposed marriage to her and was preparing to take her from me. I had to act. The subject must be willing, and at the time, I was the only one who would be able to convince her. She fancied herself in love with this man. If I let her go with him, she would have been lost to me—to you—forever. I told her what a fool she was being and then revealed the truth of my existence. She’s always been very intelligent, Sire. Isn’t that why you were interested in her in the first place?”
Lawrence waited for Zenas’s nod. It was a simple sales trick he had taught her when she was still a child. Get the buyer agreeing with you early. “When I showed her what we could offer, that she would no longer have the cares of a mortal existence, she was eager to be transformed. If I hadn’t turned her then, she would have gone off to her lover, and who knows how he would have poisoned her mind against us. I couldn’t very well break one of the cardinal rules and let her leave with knowledge of what I was without turning her.”
“Hmm.” Zenas walked back to his seat next to Sabine, as if thinking this over. Lawrence seemed to take it as a cue. He approached and knelt, kissing Zenas’s hand in the process.
“Please, Sire, if I have offended you, burn me now, and do what you will with the girl. I only did it for you, as a present. I knew you wanted her, and I wouldn’t tolerate her getting away.” Lawrence stayed bowed over Zenas’s hand, waiting for judgment.
Amaia watched, forgetting to breathe. The dynamics were interesting. A softness entered Zenas’s eyes, and he turned his hand, cupping Lawrence’s cheek in his palm. “I forgive you. It’s clear that, though you were in error, you were trying to please me.”
“Thank you, Sire. Your mercy is more than I deserve.” Lawrence kissed his palm and then rose.
“Now, let us take a look at the girl who has caused so much trouble. Rise, Amaia. Let me see you.” Zenas’s voice was smoky and compelling, reminiscent of burning incense. She envisioned him as a mortal walking amongst desert tents in the East. She wondered if he’d so easily commanded people then.
Amaia ascended to her feet as gracefully as she could, all the time picturing herself moving through water. A grin graced Zenas’s lips.
“She has learned quickly, Sire.” Lawrence beamed.
“So I see. Come here, child.”
Amaia approached, maintaining eye contact the entire way. “Watch yourself,” Lawrence’s voice warned.
“She is bold, this one. Perhaps she would be better off burned.”
“Forgive me, Sire, if I err. My vision is new to me. I don’t know how I can be expected to turn away from such magnificence. You and your mate make a most handsome pair.”
“I told you not to play him. It won’t work.”
“Like your little performance didn’t work?”
Zenas chuckled, and the rest of the room followed. “You are a good girl. You take after your maker.” Amaia caught a quick look between Zenas and Lawrence. There was fondness there. “I’ve seen prettier.”
“It wasn’t merely her looks you were after, Sire.”
“No, it wasn’t. She has done well, for being less than a day old. She could pass as a human without much scrutiny.” Zenas sneered the word “human” as if it left a bitter taste in his mouth. “But how do I know she will be loyal to me?”
“Sire, how could you think I would tolerate anything less? If she is loyal to me, as all vampires are to their makers, then how could you question her loyalty? To be loyal to me is to be loyal to you.”
There was silence as Zenas considered Lawrence’s words. “Very well. Train her. If she is to be allowed to live, she must be an asset to this clan, otherwise I will destroy her. She shall continue in her old profession. When she is ready, I will have an assignment for you.”
“Of course, Sire.”
Zenas and Sabine rose as one. “Since that’s clear, I’ll be leaving. This country is too fucking dreary. Everyone, back to your territories. I want Lawrence and Amaia left alone.”
Everyone in the hall bowed as Zenas and Sabine left. As soon as they were at the door, Lawrence moved to follow, and Amaia did the same. Outside, Zenas clapped Lawrence on the shoulder. “It was good to see you, Son. You do me proud.”
“Thank you, Father.”