Demon Moon

can spare.”
    Triumph flared in Lilith’s eyes. Good God, little wonder it had annoyed Savi so badly when he’d shown his. “They’ll continue their training, I hope.”
    “Yes.” Colin glanced between them. “But I—and they—won’t answer to you.”
    Castleford shrugged and began walking again. “Then don’t do anything for which you’ll be made answerable.”
    Colin waited until his irritation faded before heading out into the rain after them. Christ. He wasn’t above irritating them in turn. “You do realize, my dear agents, that I’m the least suitable vampire for the role? Indeed, the only reason you’ve coerced me into this is because I’m much like Dalkiel: I have physical power, and don’t follow tradition overmuch.”
    “Like him, yes, but with better ends.” Castleford glanced over his shoulder. “Also because you don’t like to serve, and you understand that’s what leadership of this type would be. When they are ready, and you have a suitable replacement, you can leave them. The demon would never voluntarily relinquish his power. I think you’ll suit.”
    “Most vampire communities require partnerships and bloodsharing for its members, including the head,” Colin pointed out. “San Francisco is no exception.”
    Lilith rolled her eyes. “You’re a freak. Just do your great and terrible beauty thing and convince them to love you.”
    Castleford raised a brow. “What thing?”
    “I don’t know. Except for Belial, I’ve never seen anything like it. Have you?”
    Belial—the rebel demon who’d refused to give up his angelic form. Colin grinned, pleased by the comparison. Lilith had once told him Belial’s beauty hurt to look upon, so brightly did it shine.
    “No,” Castleford said slowly. “Can you do it now?”
    Shaking his head, Colin admitted, “I know it happens—rarely—but I don’t control it. And I confess I’m glad of its infrequence; I’d rather admiration when women look at me than terror.”
    “It was psychic in nature. My shields were already in place, but I had to reinforce them and actively hold the blocks to stop its effect.” Lilith considered him for a moment. “And the other?”
    Chaos . Colin quickly signed the word with his hand. The emotional experience of it .
    She drew in a sharp breath. “You punished them with it?”
    Colin’s mouth pulled into a thin line. “You pity them for something they’ll hardly remember, yet you would have allowed Sir Pup to kill them and not given a second thought. And you send me into the fucking Room, knowing I’ll experience the same thing.”
    “It’s not pity, it’s surprise,” Castleford said. “Have you done it before?”
    He could choose not to answer, but that would be as damning as a lie. “This was the second time,” he admitted, and watched as comprehension frosted the other man’s gaze.
    Lilith frowned. “When was the first?” Could it have been the cause of the tear between the realms last month? she finished by signing.
    “No,” Castleford said flatly. “It was Savi. When they were in Caelum.”
    Her eyes flickered with unease before she grinned. “Is a testosterone-laden fight to the death about to ensue?”
    Colin smoothed his hand over his chest and soft woven silk. “I don’t want to ruin this.” Bad enough the rain had dampened it.
    But better than her tears of grief, had Auntie’s injury been worse.
    “And as Savi told me she plans to spend the next month with you, I imagine your punishment has not yet concluded.” Castleford turned away. “I’m satisfied.”
    Lilith sighed. “Then can you two kiss? Please?”
    “Do you truly want me to? Think about the consequences, Lilith. Your two thousand years can’t compare to what I have to give him,” Colin said.
    She sighed again as Castleford’s deep laughter rumbled through the moist night air. “But you’re both so pretty.”
    “Perhaps he is marginally attractive, but I’ve someone more suitable in mind to kiss.”
    “Your ‘consort’? You may as well have declared her your wife.” Lilith arched her brows. “Does Auntie know?”
    He grinned unrepentantly. He’d only used the term to frighten the boy, to intimate a closer relationship between Savi and himself, but he found himself growing attached to the idea.
    And if he openly acknowledged Savi as his consort, it would offer its own protection. Vampires who followed Dalkiel out of a desire for leadership and adherence to tradition might balk at