Thank you. And if there's anything you need to help understand the workings of the castle staff, please don't hesitate to ask.”

It was the first time Jacob realized he was considered head honcho on the servant food chain now. A scary thought. When he returned to Lyssa, he stayed at a respectful distance, though he could hear the conversation.

“You likely should have finished it, you know,” Belizar observed gruffly. “Show no mercy to an enemy.”

“I think I made my point. And Barbra is far less useful to us than you.” Lyssa laid a hand on his thigh, a possessive, relaxed movement. “You're stubborn, bigoted, inflexible. You'l be an aggravation to me, sure enough. But a great many of our born vampires are exactly like you. I have enough of those qualities myself to recognize I need that voice represented on the Council as well. During changing times, you don't do so well in charge. But you'l be of great value as a Council member. Don't worry. I'l make sure you don't become a detriment again.”

He gave a half chuckle at that, though his eyes were studied, measuring. It was enough to have Jacob stay on the alert, but he sensed the same level of watchfulness in his lady. She knew the animal she was dealing with.

“I would sit up,” he said. “It feels . . . inappropriate for you to have to lean down, my lady.” She helped him, adjusting the pil ows behind his head in a way that had her leaning forward, her breasts close to his face, body in intimate proximity to him. It was a vulnerable pose, but Jacob expected it was deliberate. She'd defeated him soundly. Now she was proving she would trust him, if he proved himself worthy of trust.

Belizar's gaze flickered upward as she sat back.

“You remember that night Rex, you and I were holed up in that sewer in Italy? We were taking back the Florence territory from Pietro and his fanged thugs.”

“We weren't taking it back that night,” she said dryly. “You were nearly decapitated, and Rex lost so much blood I was afraid the trail he left would betray us.”

“Yet you wouldn't abandon either of us. It was then I realized you were different from other vampires.

You seduced a young woman, brought her to Rex and me to feed upon. When she lost consciousness, I remember you lifting her in your arms, tender as your own child, and carrying her up top to a safe place, back to her family home. When you came back, you knelt by Rex, stroked his brow, then came to me. I was wearing that fake beard to look like my countrymen. You tugged on it to tease me, even as I could see the strain in your eyes, the determination.” Belizar coughed, shifted. “The set of your delicate chin told me that before daylight, you would take Pietro down. And you did. Tore him to pieces, scared his thugs into a running retreat with your ferocity. And yet . . . you stroked my beard. You have always been a puzzle to me, Lady Lyssa. Perhaps that is why I often forget why you are a queen.”

“I trust it will be a while before you forget again,” she said lightly.

“That is so.” He turned his head, closed his eyes.

“Make your sire's mark. I am yours, to do with as you will .”

Leaning forward now, she laid one hand on his abdomen, the other on his throat, fingers slim and petite compared to the massive bul neck. When she placed her mouth on his carotid, she tilted his head up. The way she did it to Jacob, increasing the sense of vulnerability and jolt of sexual awareness at once.

This was his least favorite side of her, this ability to draw men into the sexual miasma that swirled around her like a djinn's magic. It always made him want to pin her up against a wal and fuck her brains out to remind her of his presence.

I am always aware of you, Sir Vagabond. And how you react to this, the fierceness of your want in my mind, makes me wet.

Yeah, it might be his least favorite, but it was nowhere near her least irresistible side. She sank her fangs into Belizar's throat as his fingers curled against the bed covers. His involuntary response was obvious beneath the bedcovers, because he was a well -endowed male. When her fingers stroked his abdomen, he gave a slight jerk, registering the burn of the mark that would make his mind open to her whenever she wished it to be.

Tension was in his face, in every line of his body, for vampires did not open their minds to other vampires will ingly, particularly one Belizar's age.

There might not be another vampire alive who had the access to his mind she'd just taken.

She gave him a thought to test that link, sharing it with Jacob. I will tell Brian to look into ways to give male vampires facial hair again. I'd like to see you with a beard, old warhorse.

As she drew back, Belizar turned his head to look at her, his eyes faintly crimson, revealing the effort it had taken him to submit for her marking. Her hand closed on his forearm. “If you will learn to trust me again, Belizar, as you trusted me that day in the sewer, one day this moment will not be such a painful memory.”

Glancing down then, a smile playing on her lips, she stroked high on his thigh, perilously close to the engorged appendage. “It looks like you might have need of Vincent. But give him blood first. He looks a little unsteady. He did his best to protect you, my lord. Though he lacks Malachi's battle skil s, he is a good servant.”

Belizar grunted at that, though the shadow that passed through his eyes said he stil missed the servant who'd been kil ed at the Council Gathering not too long ago.

Rising, Lyssa moved to Jacob. She placed her hand on his arm, giving him her mesmerizing expression long enough to stroke his nerves before she slipped out, expecting him to fol ow. He did, conscious of Belizar's eyes fol owing them both.

So here they were at dinner, with Belizar answering her toast and the other dinner guests fol owing suit.

As the first course was served, Jacob monitored the movement of staff in and out of the room, ensuring everyone was doing their job and the vampires'

needs were being met. He caught Gideon making faces at him a couple of times, his brother mocking him acting the proper majordomo. Jacob resisted the urge to send a rude gesture his way. He'd pound him in a sparring match later.

The Council servants were doing what servants did, measuring one another, knowing they might be on far closer terms later in the evening. Gideon, Jessica and he received the most attention, since they were the newest variables. Though Jacob knew some of them in passing, there was one very welcome and familiar face: Debra, Lord Brian's servant. He'd sent her a warm nod when she took her place behind Brian's chair. As usual, she looked too serious and thin, but she'd worn a blue evening gown tonight that accentuated her breasts and line of hip, her hair loose on her bare shoulders. An easier look to her eyes suggested her Master was taking the time to appreciate something other than her lab skills these days. If not, he was a fucking wanker.

He was sure the Aussie derogative had been influenced by his earlier cal to Dev. Dev's response to the news of Lady Daniela's promotion had been typical y laconic.

“That's going to send her into a blue, for sure. It's near sheep shearing time.”

Comparing the formality of this evening to Danny and Dev doing sheep shearing, imagining them sitting out on the station porch afterward to watch the starlight and share a cuppa, was the difference between the sun and moon. Lyssa had chosen well.

Daniela's no-nonsense and straightforward personality would be a good element for the Council.

Jacob shifted his gaze to his lady. She was alert and engaged with everyone at the table, missing nothing, not the slightest nuance in conversation or facial expression. In some ways, it was a new side of her for him as well. When he'd met her, she'd been exhausted by everything about the vampire world.

Even after the Delilah virus incident, she'd had bouts with that lack of interest and weariness. However, since her vampire powers had been restored, he'd felt that renewed resolve within her. If the turning had somehow contributed to this revitalized queen, he'd never regret the loss of his vampire strengths again.

Kane hit his legs like a little cannonbal . Helga had been bouncing him on her lap, making comical voices and faces for him. While Kane had been vastly entertained by the unexpected side to the austere woman, once she put him down, he'd made a beeline for his father. Now the toddler clung to his slacks, swaying on his stil unsteady legs, and beamed up at him. “Da . . .”

Jacob picked him up, settled him on his hip, and gave him a warm smile. “What're you doing, troublemaker?”

“Da-da-da-da . . .” He fingered the lapel of Jacob's jacket, his feet kicking his waist. There was a suspicious stain at his mouth, chocolate that Helga had snuck him. He gave Lyssa a glance, and she rol ed her eyes indulgently. She'd pushed her chair back to see them, so he lowered their son into her lap. Kane kept hold of them both, rocking on Lyssa's thighs, obviously delighted to have both of their undivided attention.

It felt good to Jacob as well. Then the toddler spotted the chocolate truffle at the edge of Lyssa's plate and went for it like a striking snake. Jacob, anticipating the move, caught his wrist, gave it a little shake, drawing those green eyes up to his face. “No, sir. That's your mother's. And it's bad for you.” Kane's lips settled into a pout. Jacob knew the wheels turning in that smal mind, enough that he had to work not to let a grin escape past his stern expression. “Don't think I won't smack your ass here in front of all of them. Behave.”

Since Jacob had been vampire ever since Kane's birth, dealing with him as a human servant hadn't been an issue. But it didn't change anything. Even when Kane could outrun him and toss him like a footbal , or rip his throat out, he wasn't going to be less of a parent. And it was a father's job to teach his son respect.

Kane subsided, recognizing he'd lost. Proving it, he instantly returned to smiling and chuckling at his mother. Straightening, Jacob stepped back to his place at the wal . He discovered a momentary silence had settled over the table, Council vampires and servants alike now staring at them in visible shock. And a lot of that attention appeared to be upon him.

He hadn't real y talked about it with his lady, thinking he knew her mind on it, but now he was forcibly reminded that most servants didn't take on an active parent role. Particularly not in front of a vampire gathering like this.