Chapter Six
Theodora and Solomon were seated at Lyzander’s desk across from each other. Lyzander stood behind her, to her right, with his hand resting on the back of the chair. They looked like a royal portrait come to life.
“Congratulations,” Solomon said, breaking the ice. Bowing his head first at Lyzander and then Theodora. He looked at her with a mixture of longing, sadness and awe. “It has been a long time since the last awakening.”
“Too long,” Lyzander solemnly replied.
“It is my honor to meet you.” He bowed his head deeply to Theodora.
It was said with such reverence she wasn’t sure what she was supposed to say in return.
“Uh, you're welcome?” It was less of an affirmation and more a question.
When he raised his head, he had an easy smile for her and she sensed his approval.
“Why are you here?” Lyzander was tired of the pleasantries.
“I’ve heard rumors that someone has been trying to recruit vampires who are known outsiders, those who normally keep to themselves, those with certain qualities.”
“Like Noah?”
“Exactly. I’d decided to go to ground a few days ago, but within hours of being at rest, Noah came to me.” Solomon gestured to his head, meaning they spoke mind to mind. “He told me he had been approached by a group who wanted him to join in the fight against the current régime. Wage a war to wipe out the council and the old weak ways, to take back power and rule over the humans, and treat them as the cattle they are. These were their words, not his. He warned me not to trust anyone as someone high up must be involved, going by the information they already had. They told him to pick a side.”
“And did he?”
“He told them he’d picked his side a long time ago when he chose to be turned by me. They didn’t like that and warned him he was on dangerous ground. That he had two choices and there was no room for indecision. He was either with them or against them. He explained that my side is where he was born into this life, and it’s where he would die when the time came. They tried to force the issue and he had to kill most of them in return. Fools. Anyway, he said to me if there is going to be a war, he wants to fight with me. I arose shortly after planning to go to him. Only, I awoke to the news that the Council had been attacked.”
“So it’s common knowledge now?”
“Not yet. I only know because I have my fingers in many pies.”
“And lots of spies everywhere.”
“You don’t get to live as long as I have without information.”
“Yes, and there are only a handful of you left from my father's generation.”
“My god, that makes me sound old.”
“You are old and powerful too. I suspect you may even have power to rival my own. With everything you’ve just said, it’s interesting that you arrived with such dubious company. So I’ll ask you again, Soloman, why are you here?”
“Cleo and Chester arrived at my home just before I set out. They wanted to talk to me, to persuade me that I should be on the right side of the fight to come. I’m not sure who’s running things, but Cleo and Chester are definitely with them. I told them I’d already heard about the council attack and that I was coming to retrieve my progeny. I didn’t mention I was on my way to see you. They couldn’t sense any lies from me because what I gave them was the truth. But I could sense all the lies coming from them when they told me they were coming here to talk to you.”
“I could have easily ripped their hearts out, and watched them disintegrate in front of me before either of them knew what was happening. But even with all my informants, I still don’t know who is watching and waiting to make their next move. So until he is with me again, I won't risk Noah’s safety that way. The reason I came here...” Solomon stood up, pushing his chair back in the same movement. “Is to pledge my allegiance to you.” He threw his right arm across his chest, his fist closed, resting above his heart. “My king.”
Solomon looked over at Theodora. “My queen. I am yours, from this moment to my last, when to the dust I shall then return.”
He dropped to one knee and bowed. “Meus rex. Regina meis.”
A surge of power flowed through them.
Theodora managed to stay silent as she tried to take everything in.
Lyzander was stunned.
Although he was rightfully king by birth, he had never claimed the title. He’d always governed with his brothers who made up the council, and vampires had always followed their laws. But he’d never before asked anyone to take the kings oath. Roman had taken it the day he was turned but they were more like brothers.
The oath wasn’t a small matter. The only way for one to be released from it was death. For one as old as Soloman, to offer it was astounding. It worked in a similar way to the wolves and their alpha. Lyzander would have control over Solomon as his leader and in doing so, some of his power was transferred to them.
“Rise, Solomon.”
The men stared at each other for long moments.
“You did not have to do that.” Lyzander finally broke the silence.
“I wanted to. It felt like the right thing to do.”
“I never would have asked you to do that.”
“And that is why I did it.”
“Thank you.”
“You are most welcome, my king. If you don’t mind, I do have a small request. I’m here to stand and fight for you but–”
“Noah,” Lyzander interrupted, already sensing Solomon’s emotions and his urgent need to find his progeny.
“Yes.”
“Go, get him. I’ll arrange a place for you to rest when you get back.”
“Thank you. I should only be gone an hour or two.”
“If you need anything, just let Roman know and he’ll arrange it for you. We’ll talk again tomorrow.”
Solomon smiled at them before turning to leave the office.
Lyzander pulled a chair over from the monitors and set it beside Theodora, turning her so they were facing each other.
“Did you feel that?”
“Yes. When Solomon pledged the oath, he submitted to me. To us. And by doing so, he shared some of his power and strength with us.”
“Right.” She dragged the word out. “And Regina? I’ve been called that name by almost everyone I’ve met. I’ve put together a few things from what Solomon said, but I need to hear it from you. What does it mean?”
Lyzander met her gaze. “It means queen. You are their Queen.”
“I can’t take this.” She stood up abruptly and paced the room. “It’s too much. One minute I’m having a fun weekend away with my husband and the next, I’m the queen of real life vampires! I think I’m losing my mind. Maybe I’ve already lost it. That's it, I’ve gone bat shit crazy and I’m locked up in a padded cell somewhere. All of this is just in my head.” She babbled.
“It’s not in your head. This is real Theodora and you know it. You feel it. I know it’s a lot to take in, I get that, but I need you to stay with me.”
“How can you get it?” Her voice grew louder as she spoke. “There's no way you get this. You’re a vampire, you’re part of my problem. You’re not meant to be real, you’re a freaking supernatural being.”
“I hate to break it to you, love, but so are you. Keepers are supernatural too. Regular humans generally don’t look after the souls of vampires or hear the thoughts of others.”
“Regular humans? Oh god, I’m not even human anymore, am I? I’m a damn keeper. I’m a freak. I’m a–”
“Queen.”
She didn’t even see him get up from the chair. The feel of his skin against hers was calming as he held her close, touching her hand. It was soothing yet frustrating for them both.
“You are our queen, and you can handle this because you are strong. You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t strong enough. You were destined not just to be a keeper, but my keeper. My queen. You know I’m speaking the truth because you can feel it.”
He took a step back, releasing a sigh and her at the same time.
“And I do get it, Theodora. Yesterday I was part of a government, which I ran alongside my brothers. We looked after my world and made good and fair decisions together. Today, I am a king, who has a queen, who has a consort. I’m in half a bond which I cannot complete, a bond which puts us all in danger. And now, I have to make major decisions without my brothers’ council for the first time in hundreds of years. And if that wasn’t bad enough, we seem to be going to war too. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, Theodora, I get it.”
He looked down at her, and the tiny gap between them felt like a canyon. Reaching over, he took a handful of her hair and idly played with it.
“Well, damn. I didn’t think you’d get so worked up about it.”
“I don’t get worked up.”
Lyzander hadn’t raised his voice. He seemed calm on the outside, but with their new connection, she could tell he was freaked out and his rising panic seem to be calming her own.
“You just got all ranty.”
“No, I did not.”
“You did. I know a rant when I hear one. I’m the queen of emotional rants.”
“You are the queen of vampires. Yes, it’s a lot to take in, but only for your mind. We are only just getting into this but it feels right.”
He dropped her hair to rest his hand over her heart.
“It feels right here, doesn't it?”
“Yes,” she grudgingly whispered.
“Then you have to hold it together. Your mind will catch up to what your heart already knows. We’re virtual strangers, but you know me in here. You know who you really are and recognize what you’re meant to do.” He tapped two fingers above her heart. “But not here. Not yet.” He tapped her temple before resuming playing with her hair again. “Trust your instinct. It will keep us alive.”
Lyzander pulled her close.
She didn’t recoil, but instead sank into the temporary comfort he was offering.
Sensing her confusion, he reached along their bond. She longed for his touch, yet loathed it at the same time. This was something he understood well.
Lyzander buried his nose in her hair, inhaling deeply. The sense of relief it brought him was disturbing. They had only known each other for less than forty eight hours, and already, the connection between them was strong. He had to remind himself that theirs was a bond that could never be completed.
Releasing her, he went over to the bar and poured two fingers of whiskey.
“Speaking of instincts, what was that with Cleo?”
Taking the tumbler, she knocked it back and handed him the glass. She worried her lip, struggling with the need to be close to him. Deciding she needed space, she leaned against the door, facing him.
“I could hear her, but not the way I hear you and Roman. I heard her thoughts. She was desperate to touch you, and no, not in a sexual way. It was more like she wanted to do it before she was caught. I don’t know what her plan was but I think she was trying to poison you.”
Lyzander seemed surprise as he knocked back his own drink.
“You heard this?”
“I heard her thinking “one touch would be enough”, but it wasn’t just what I heard. It was what I felt. I got a bad vibe from her.” She shrugged. “Maybe it was my instinct kicking in.”
“Maybe. When you told her to stop, she did.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry about that. I don’t know what came over me, but I knew I could make her stop. I wasn’t afraid. I had to make her listen.”
“You did. As vampires, we are able to control humans with a little mind manipulation. What we don’t have, is the ability to control those of our own race. You are neither vampire nor human. You made her stop but you shouldn’t have been able to do that. We’ve only had one feeding. How can you be so strong already? But I think I could feel your power even before that.”
He said the last part more to himself and Theodora could sense his worry.
“What does that mean?”
“Honestly, I’ve no idea.”
She had more questions but he raised a hand to stop her.
“Roman is here. He’ll take you to Samuel. You need your husband right now, and frankly, I need some space too. This closeness, it’s too much. Go talk to Sam and clear your head. I’ll find you soon.”
Theodora straightened up off the door just as Roman opened it.
“Thank you.”
She took one last look at Lyzander before following Roman out into the hallway.
Lyzander let out a sigh as soon as the door clicked shut.
He thought things were bad before, but finding out Theodora might be able to control vampires was a disaster. Their bond was incomplete and had to remain so, which left them both vulnerable. If vampires, especially the ones waging the war found out she had the ability to manipulate them the way they did humans, she’d become a walking target. No vampire would be happy with that.
He was already feeling anxious and she’d only just left the room.
He hated this damn bond with a passion.