Ariel studied the two White Swords in question.

Mamba looked entirely unlike most of the other dragons Ariel had seen before in this place. His skin was literally covered in green scales, giving him the look of a human lizard. He had short hair and a trimmed beard. He was dressed in a gi, something Ariel was well familiar with from her martial arts training: a two-piece white garment closed with a cloth belt. Practitioners wore it on the mat because of the ease with which the wearers could move in it.

Titan, meanwhile, looked typical of the dragons she had seen in this place before. Model type, arrogant features; remote, fiery eyes; exotic, tanned skin. His hair was completely shaven, including the eyebrows, and he wore only a harness on his upper body, like Flame, so that his chiseled chest was visible for all the world to see. He had to be the biggest man Ariel had ever seen, in terms of musculature, bigger even than Jett, though her dragon held a slight height advantage.

Both men carried pistols at hips and swords crisscrossed on their backs, just like the other White Swords. And they all wore the now familiar headsets.

Neither of them made a move as Jett and the others approached. Both merely stood there calmly, waiting patiently.

Jett stepped forward and both men bowed.

“It’s nice to see you again, Sire,” Titan said.

“And you as well,” Jett said. “Have you notified Cronus and Poison?”

“They know you’re here,” Titan told him.

“Good,” Jett said. “Effective immediately, Flame is in command of the White Swords. Viper, join Mamba at the front door. Titan, you’re with us.”

“What do you want me to tell the Swords?” Flame asked.

“Maintain standing orders,” Jett said. “Guard the perimeter from all approaches. Deny entry to any who want to visit Gwendoline.”

“Understood,” Flame said. He spoke quietly into his own headset.

Jett led the way inside and Ariel followed with the others. She noticed Mamba gazed at Mathis with disgust as he passed, and when Ariel went by, the reptilian man stared at her with open hostility.

Her skin crawled and she stumbled on the small step-up between the porch and foyer.

“Watch your step,” Jett told her.

She nodded, hurrying inside.

Behind her, Viper assumed a position beside Mamba to watch the front door.

She found herself in a foyer lit by hanging light fixtures shaped as translucent dragons, curled up in sleeping positions. Cherrywood panels lined the walls. There was a single tapestry on the left side, picturing a white dragon with her wings unfurled and breathing a beam of white light against a horde of vampires, disintegrating several of them.

“Beautiful,” Mathis said, going to the tapestry. He placed a tender hand on the dragon’s ferocious head. “It’s you, Gwen, isn’t it?”

Before she could answer Jett spoke quietly to Gwendoline. “Lead us to somewhere we can talk without waking your servants.”

“This way,” Gwendoline said just as softly. She led them into a hall carpeted in luxurious white fur, passed a room that obviously served as a small library, and into a glass-doored conference room. When everyone was inside, she shut the doors behind her. She placed her hand on a biometric pad next to the door and the glass panels immediately frosted over. Ariel heard a faint whirring then, and felt a slight breeze: air was being pumped into the room.

“This room is completely sound proof,” Gwendoline said. “Dan has no eyes or ears here, either.”

“Good. Sit down everyone.” Jett took a place at the wide conference table, and waited for everyone else to follow suit. Then he turned toward Titan. “Update me on the situation. I want to know everything that has happened since I abdicated.”

Titan glanced suspiciously at the rest of the group; the big man was obviously reluctant to speak in front of everyone.

“All present are in my confidence,” Jett said. “Other than the White Swords, these are the most loyal people you’ll find in all of Midnight at the moment.”

Titan glanced doubtfully at Ariel and Mathis one last time, then returned his attention to Jett. Titan told his story, and confirmed everything Ephephany had told them about Gabriel.

“Your brother the king has been acting increasingly more irrational,” Titan said. “Just this evening he announced a blood drive for tomorrow morning. All residents will be required to donate blood to help save dragon lives. Nurses will be going door to door.”

“A blood drive?” Gwendoline said. “To help save dragon lives? Has there been some sort of attack or natural disaster at one of the satellite dens?”

“Not exactly,” Titan said. “The king calls it a preventive measure.”

“For what?”

“He seems convinced we’re about to going to war with the Orions,” Titan said. “Or at least, that’s the latest news on the Midnight Intranet. I can show you.”

He pointed at the laptop sitting on the conference table. Gwendoline slid it toward her and opened it.

The wall on the far side of the conference room was apparently a big flat screen monitor, because it immediately updated to show what was on Gwendoline’s laptop, allowing everyone to see.

Gwendoline launched the browser, whose home page defaulted to the Intranet.

Titan pointed out the relevant article, which was the first item on the top of the page. The headline read: “Preparing For The Coming War.”

“I must see Gabriel immediately,” Gwendoline said. “It’s obvious something isn’t right here.” She clenched her fists until the whites of her knuckles showed. “A blood drive.”

“If you were a vampire witch secretly running a dragon den,” Mathis said. “A blood drive would be the perfect excuse for you to gather and store dragon blood before you made everyone undead. You could bag it up, refrigerate it, and keep enough to power your rule for months, maybe years. We all know how much of a boost dragon blood gives to vampires, especially their witches, after all...”

“Instead of storing the blood for weeks, the vampire could be planning something big,” Flame said. “Something that would need her to keep her Strength levels enhanced, requiring her to constantly replenish her power, especially considering the repressive effect Midnight has on magic.”

“Maybe she plans to accelerate her conquest of Midnight?” Gwendoline said. “Emerging from the shadows to declare herself queen of Midnight, and ordering the remaining dragons to surrender?”

“They’d never surrender,” Jett said. “To a vampire? Wouldn’t happen. Not when they know what that vampire would do to them.”

Mathis nodded. “Suck them dry.”

“Then she would have to be confident enough that she could destroy any who opposed her,” Gwendoline said. “Perhaps she has already raised an undead army of some considerable size.”

“An army of dragons?” Jett said.

Ariel thought he shuddered slightly as he spoke. Ariel didn’t blame him. She couldn’t suppress a shiver herself.

“This is all mere speculation,” Ephephany said. “We don’t know for certain yet that such a vampire witch is pulling Gabriel’s strings.”

“And we don’t know for certain that such a witch is not,” Gwendoline said. “Damn it, Ephephany. Can’t you see what’s going on here?”

“If it’s true, then this is all the more reason why you can’t visit Gabriel alone,” Mathis told Gwendoline. “I’m going with you.”

“No,” Gwendoline said. “Not this time. Gabriel will never allow a human witch into his presence. He hates humans and other shifters. He’s one of the biggest advocates of the First Rule. In fact, if you come, he’ll probably punish me for allowing you into the city without notifying him or security.”

“But—” Mathis began.

“No buts,” Gwendoline said. “You can’t come. I’m sorry.”

“I, on the other hand, can join you without issue,” Ephephany said.

“I’d prefer to meet my brother alone,” Gwendoline told the witch.

“Of course you would.” Ephephany calmly smoothed her skirt. “But if it’s a trap you’ll need me. As adviser to Midnight, I highly recommend you take me with you.”

Unless you’re undead and under the control of a vampire, Ariel thought.

“As I told you before, he refuses to grant even me an audience,” Ephephany continued. “Forcing me to meet with his advisers instead. I need you to meet with him in person. If you let me come, perhaps we can find out what is going on. If we can confirm that he’s under the influence of some non-dragon party, I’ll be able to help you retake the city.”

Gwendoline studied the witch uncertainly, as if like Ariel she, too, was having similar doubts about the dragon woman. Finally Gwendoline said: “All right, come then.”

“If it is a trap, will you be able to fend off capture?” Mathis asked Ephephany. “Are you strong enough to face a vampire witch, given the suppression?”

“It depends on whether the vampire witch is acting alone,” Ephephany said.

“I won’t allow you to go without some of my White Swords,” Jett told Gwendoline. “You’ll take Titan and Cronus. Since you officially own the White Swords now, you won’t need to give Gabriel any excuses as to why you have them with you.”

“Except that I’ve never taken any guards with me to visit him before,” Gwendoline said.

“First time for everything,” Jett said. “If he asks, you’ll think of something to allay his fears, I’m sure.”

“I hope so,” Gwendoline said.

“What if he decides to give you over to the witches after all?” Ariel said. “And we lose you?”

Gwendoline looked toward Ephephany, as if hoping to hear that the witch would protect her.

But instead Ephephany said: “If that is what the king chooses, I can’t intervene if we have no proof he’s under control of a vampire… my role is to advise, remember.”

Gwendoline slumped slightly.

Mathis wrapped his hand around Gwendoline’s palm. “Are you sure about this, my love?”

Gwendoline nodded. “I am. I have to look him in the eyes. See for myself if he’s insane, or undead.”

Jett stepped forward and gave her a hug. “Good luck, little sister.”

“Thanks, big brother.” Pulling away, she added: “Now if you don’t mind, there’s someone else I’d like to say goodbye to.”

Gwendoline and Mathis moved to a corner of the room, and then hugged and whispered into each other’s ears. When Mathis seemed on the verge of tears, Ariel couldn’t watch anymore, so she looked away.

“What about you?” Ephephany asked Jett.

“We’ll wait here in my sister’s estate until we hear from one of you.” Jett lifted his sat-phone. “You both have my number.”

Flame came forward. He glanced at Ephephany and bowed to her respectfully, then to Jett. “Sire, if I may...”

“Speak freely, Flame,” Jett told him.

Ariel wondered why Flame was being so formal. Jett never required his White Swords to bow.

Flame glanced at Ephephany nervously, then turned his back on her so that she wasn’t in his line of sight. Doing that seemed to calm him somewhat.

“I want to go in the place of Titan or Cronus,” Flame said.

“Can’t let you,” Jett said. “If Gabriel recognizes you, it’s all over. He knows you’re one of the dragons who attacked the witch tower. He won’t let you leave his presence.”

“I won’t be recognized,” Flame said. “I’ll bring my hood, and cover my face in black face paint. I’ll stay in the shadows during any audience. With Dan offline, the computer system won’t identify me to him.”

Jett shifted uneasily. Ariel understood that it was unlike Flame to put him on the spot like this, and to question his orders. She’d never seen the White Sword do anything like this before.

But when Flame glanced at Ephephany, and looked back at Jett once more, Ariel suddenly understood. The concern in those eyes, the torment...

Flame was in love with Ephephany.

Of course. She wondered if Ephephany knew. She certainly seemed oblivious. Or acted like she was.

Flame lowered his voice and almost whispered in Jett’s ear. Ariel barely heard his words.

“Do you really trust the White Swords we left behind?” Flame said. “How can we be sure Titan or Cronus haven’t been tainted by whatever malevolent force has taken hold in the city? Let me go to keep tabs on them, if anything else.”

“You’ll wear your hood and black face paint?” Jett asked.

“I will,” Flame promised.

“Then you’ll replace Titan,” Jett said. “You and Cronus will escort escort Gwendoline and Ephephany.”

“Thank you, Sire,” Flame said, bowing.

“And Flame?”

“Yes, Sire?” Flame asked.

“You better not make me regret this,” Jett said.

“You won’t, my king,” Flame said.

“And for the last time, I’m not your king,” Jett said.

“Yes, Sire,” Flame told him.

Jett sighed.