Well ... who wouldn't? The woman next to him regarded us with copper-colored eyes surrounded by long, dark braids. I did a double-take. No, not woman. She couldn't have been more than twelve or thirteen. What was such a young girl doing at the council's table?

I glanced back to the vampires at the wall. Maybe I had been mistaken? But no, the people at the table had an air of authority and the people on the wall a hint of fear. I returned my attention to the table and studied the final council member. He sat at the head of the table, his chair tilted back, his booted feet propped on the table's polished wood. He looked like he belonged there even less than the girl. I wasn't certain if he was mocking the older council members or not. His hair was dyed bright green and styled into a dozen small spikes around his head. Several shiny piercings decorated his face, and, I realized, his nipples as well, which were visible under his mesh shirt.

I stopped, and Nathanial turned toward me. His expression held a worried warning.

I ignored it. “This is the council?"

"Yes.” Nathanial grabbed my hand and pulled me forward. “Show some respect."

"But ... one of them is a kid and the other...” I didn't even have words to describe the green haired vampire.

Someone along the wall made a shocked sound. Okay, so the green-haired guy looked a couple years older than me, but I'd been expecting elders. Mama Neda and the man in tweed were one thing, but a pre-teen and a goth-punker were so not what I'd been anticipating.

Nathanial's grip on my hand turned painful. “Tatius is an ancient. Now be quiet and come on.” He gave me another tug.

I fell in step behind him, wondering how long it took Tatius to do his hair every night. He hadn't been turned with that hair, and from what Mama Neda said, we were stuck in the form we owned when we died.

The vampires to my left murmured among themselves. My hearing must have been suffering from the fact I hadn't fed because the vampires’ voices were too quiet for me to pick out any comments in particular, but the general feeling that washed over me was shocked dismay. As we approached, the ancient punk with green hair wore an amused expression. He'd heard everything I'd said. He lifted his feet from the table and stood. The shiny plastic of his pants made strange squeaking noises as he cruised toward us. I was proud I didn't roll my eyes.

"So, the Hermit decided to come out and play with the rest of us vampires,” he said, coming to a halt directly in front of Nathanial. Tatius was taller and bulkier, his build more like Bobby's. He looked Nathanial over, head to toe, and somehow managed to loom over us all, despite his relaxed posture. “Not that you play well with others. You're here less than an hour and already causing trouble. Alistair has petitioned the council for charges against you. Said you made that mess of his arm."

"He threatened what is mine,” Nathanial said. His voice was calm, but his hand tightened over mine.

"Yes, well, technically not. You didn't have permission to make a vampire."

"It was an emergency. She would have died had I not changed her."

The teen girl lifted her chin. “You should have come straight here after you changed her, and presented her to us,” she said from her spot at the table.

"I have just now gotten the chance."

The vampire in the tweed suit leaned forward, his elbows propped on the table. “How long has it been?"

Nathanial hesitated.

"This little chicky was just turned,” Mama Neda said brightly. “Mama Neda tended her and left her and the Hermit to adjust not long ago. Surprised she is out and about already. Was afraid she wasn't going to make it, last I saw her."

"And how long ago was that?” Tatius asked, annoyance in his voice. “Tonight, yesterday, last week, last year?"

"Can't say. Time means nothing to Mama Neda. But look at the little chicky, she's so pale; she probably hasn't even fed yet. Mama Neda gave her some cat's blood, but she wouldn't drink much of it. Can't have been long ago.” Mama Neda smiled, her dark eyes gleaming.

Tatius frowned. Then his attention landed like a physical weight on me. His eyes were brilliant green and far too old for his face. I looked away. Nathanial drew me behind him as Tatius stepped closer, but after a look from the bigger man, Nathanial dropped my hand. He moved aside.

My gut twisted. He's backing off? Just from a look? This would not end well. I glanced back the way we'd come. Vampires stood between me and the door.

Crap.

I stared at the floor.

Tatius's hand closed under my chin and tipped my head back so I was forced to meet those intense green eyes. “So you are what all the fuss is about tonight. What's your name?"

"Kita."

"Kita.” He repeated my name as if testing it on his tongue, then he let go of my chin and circled me. “Not as pretty as most of us require, though I'd be disappointed if the Hermit chose as the rest of us would. He'd pick a girl on personality. No, wait, brains. Even worse.” My cheeks burned, and he laughed. “See, this would have gone much better if he had asked first, or brought you here, but you both had to be dragged in front of the council."

I hadn't thought there was much dragging involved in getting us here, but I kept my mouth shut.

His eyes slid over me again. Then he chuckled and reached out. “Not much of a chest on you, is there.” His hand groped my right breast.

Without thinking, I kneed him in the groin as hard as I could. In hind sight, it probably wasn't the smartest action I could have made, but it felt damn good to see him double over. Unfortunately, instead of moans of pain, laughter escape him. He straightened, those intense eyes locking on me.

Crap. Never invite an alpha to notice you. I knew better.

I had only a second of panic before his hand closed on my throat. The room rushed past me. The draped fabric did little to cushion my head as it slammed painfully into the stone wall. White lights sparkled through my vision.

His grip shifted, his thumb digging under my collarbone as he dragged me up the wall with one hand. Pain throbbed through my shoulder, down my torso. He held me suspended high enough that he could look me eye to eye. Then he leaned in, pressing our bodies together.

"I do like you, lots of spirit. Unfortunately, I can't allow the lack of respect your master showed by turning you.” In a quick movement his fangs tore into my throat.

He was being intentionally vicious, and it hurt, but then my body betrayed me, and the pain became pleasure. His lips were like a miniature fire on my throat, warmth pulsing from his touch, filling my body. I trembled as he swallowed, the heat flooding the base of my stomach, traveling lower. Places deep inside me tightened. I really didn't want to respond, but I didn't have much say in my treacherous body's reaction. I quivered, gasping. The fear didn't dissipate, though. Despite the waves of sensation, I was terrified.

His jaw convulsed, and he drew back, releasing me. I slid down the wall to crumple on the floor. I tried to get my feet under me, but the world wasn't quite real enough. Or my bones had liquefied. Blood slipped from the wound in my neck, trickling down into my ruined sweater collar.

Tatius looked over his shoulder. “Everyone out but council members. You stay too, Nathanial."

The council members stood, and the tension reached new heights. None moved closer.

After the room cleared, Tatius said, “She is either completely delusional ... or she was never human to begin with."

He helped me up. I couldn't have stood if I wanted to, so he had to be satisfied with forcing me to my knees and holding me there. “What are you?"

"Really, really pissed off."

"She was a shapeshifter,” Nathanial said.

Tatius lifted me a little higher. “I do like your spirit,” he said, then leaned into my neck again.

I waited for his teeth sink in, but instead felt something warm and wet digging into the wound. The last vestige of pain vanished. He pulled back. Thank the moon.

The thought was premature. He hauled me up to meet his mouth. I stiffened in shock as he forced his tongue between my lips, bringing with it the taste of my own blood. My fangs extended as my hunger demanded I find blood, take blood, but the rest of me fought against the kiss. He let me go before I was forced to find out which half of me would win. Lifting his own wrist to his mouth, he bit down. He coaxed a languid drop of blood from the wound.

"Drink and seal the wound,” he commanded, pressing his wrist to my mouth.

He didn't have to tell me twice, though part of me screamed in revulsion as my lips closed over the small holes. I drew hard.

No more than a drop or two made its way from his vein.

"Bite me and I will kill you,” he whispered.

I pulled back.

He held his wrist in front of me again. “Seal it."

I did. That small sip of blood made me feel stronger despite all I had lost. My hunger faded to a small discomfort. If Tatius had let go of me, I probably could have stood on my own. I glanced at Nathanial.

He stared at Tatius, his face pale, tight. His fangs were out, and he looked dangerous, crazy. He'd been angry earlier, when Alistair attacked me, but that didn't come close to the amount of naked rage his face betrayed now. Tatius followed my gaze and laughed.

"You have quickened our Hermit,” he said, scooping me into his arms. He carried me across the distance between him and Nathanial. “How does it feel, Hermit, to rage, to hate, to be jealous, and to have desire? Are you savoring these emotions? Are they stronger than you remember, or are your memories of emotions just dim shadows?"

Nathanial didn't answer. He continued to glare.

"Your proof, Hermit, for all you have believed,” Tatius said in a more serious tone and dropped me unceremoniously into Nathanial's arms.

Nathanial lowered me to my feet, never taking his eyes off Tatius. He clutched me tightly, pressing my face to his chest like he was afraid I would be snatched back away from him, or maybe, that I would leave willingly. If I'd been human, he would have smothered me without realizing it. He trembled, his whole body responding to his fury, but as he held me, the tremors ceased until he stood stock still.