“You allow Rogues to make vampires.”

“They do not command media attention.”

That was a new one. “I do not command it. It is given to me, unwillingly. Regardless, I told no one about Carlie, nor is the media aware she was changed. But, now that you’ve mentioned it, if you persist in selectively enforcing the rules against me—if you persist in punishing me for saving a human against a monster—I’d be happy to involve the press. I believe they’d find I have a very interesting story to tell.”

“Threats are beneath you.”

“Threats are what I have. As you’ve pointed out, my name is my burden and my leverage. You try to use it to make an example of me. I will use it to defend myself.”

She watched me for a moment, those dark eyes cool and measuring. She still hadn’t moved from her position a few feet away, hadn’t so much as shifted her clasped hands. It took power, concentration, to exercise that kind of control.

So, naturally, I wanted to see if I could upset it. “You’ve wanted to have me tested for a very long time.”

The satisfaction of seeing that mere flinch, the dilation of pupils, was a warm and comforting glow.

“There remain questions regarding the manner of your making.”

The similarity of what she said and what I’d heard so many years ago sent a chill down my spine. No matter the outcome of this meeting, she was not my ally.

“No,” I said. “There don’t. No one has inquired about the manner of my making since the AAM’s failed efforts to test me as a child. Efforts that were rejected.”

“Ms. Sullivan, I am responsible for the safety of thousands of vampires. For helping them achieve a safe and productive immortality. You are an unknown. That makes you a threat.”

“To you.”

This time, her jaw worked, another chip in the glorious façade.

I held up a hand. “I’ll save you the trouble of responding to that, and I’ll tell you the same thing I told Clive. I have no interest in vampiric policies. I’m not even a member of my father’s own House; if I had been, I’m fairly certain you wouldn’t even have attempted this particular mission. I do not plan to build a vampire army, or to make any additional vampires. I do not want to be a Master. I worked for the Ombuds’ office until one of your vampires accused me of a murder I did not commit. I enjoyed that work, and wish I was still doing it.” The truth of that struck me in the gut.

“In short, Ms. Heart, I am not my father. I am not my mother. I am not a superhero or a secret weapon or an atrocity, or whatever other threats you and your vampires might have imagined. I’m just a vampire trying to do the right thing.”

“A very pretty speech that solves nothing.”

“I am not a problem to solve.” I nearly threw up my hands, had to work to maintain my control. “If you were me, what would you have done?”

“I would have obeyed the law.”

I looked at her for a long time. “Then I pity you for that.”

My screen buzzed, and I pulled it out, found a message from Theo. levi spotted on foot two blocks north.

He was early, so it was negotiation time.

I put the screen back in my pocket. “I’ve made the AAM an offer. Leave Chicago with assurances you won’t pursue this further, and I won’t explain to the media why you’re attempting to punish me.”

“Rejected.”

My smile was thin. “In that case, I’ll also be explaining to the media that you’ve employed a dangerous vampire and his brother, who I’m fairly certain had full knowledge of his condition, for years. That you sent Levi to Chicago, where he attacked me, violated a human, and committed murder, and yet you have no idea where he is. I’ll also be forced to ask why you’re so focused on punishing me for breaking rules, but allowing them to break rules with impunity.” I cocked my head at her, a move I’d seen my father make a thousand times before. “Is it animosity against Chicago, by chance?”

She was quiet for a very long time. And when her hands clenched tighter, knuckles whitening with it, I knew I had her.

“As long as you remember that you have no interest in my position, or in Masterdom, the AAM will agree to conclude this matter. Should those circumstances change . . . we will reevaluate.”

It was my turn to watch her, to read the emotion in her eyes.

“Agreed,” I said, “as I’ve no interest in either. And I will even make a show of good faith.”

I walked to the office door, opened it, and found my father waiting.

We exchanged a nod. As I strode to the front door, I heard my father speaking with Nicole.

“Come with me,” he said. “I believe you’ll want to see this.”

* * *

* * *

The air was chilly and dry, rustling the trees and flickering the torchlights. I tucked into my ear the tiny communication bud Lindsey offered on my way out the door, met Connor on the sidewalk.

He glanced back at the House.

“Resolved,” I said quietly and tucked my arm into his. “Let’s pretend to be lovey-dovey and take a walk.” I led him to the path that ran along the edge of the property, not far from the wall Levi would have to scale to get through.

“Do recall your parents can hear you,” came my mother’s voice through the bud.

“Times when telepathy would be handy,” I murmured, and leaned into Connor, two lovers taking a stroll through a garden on a beautiful late summer night.

“Location?” he whispered, pressing a kiss to my hair to cover the question.

“We’re heat-tracking,” Lindsey said. “We’ve got him outside the eastern wall, about twenty yards to your left. We can’t get too close; we don’t want to spook him.”

Connor neatly switched positions to put him closer to the wall. I growled, but he put an arm over my shoulders. “I won’t apologize for that.”

“Your funeral,” I murmured. “I don’t need a shield.”

“Mmm-hmm,” Connor intoned. “It’s a gorgeous night.” He raised his voice so Levi could hear. “I’m glad I have you all to myself. Your parents’ House really is impressive.”

“Moving toward you,” Lindsey said. “He’s on the wall.”

“The stars are beautiful tonight,” I said, lifting my eyes to the top of the wall. I couldn’t see anything. But now that I’d experienced it, I could feel the soft vibration of Levi’s glamour.

Connor’s lips were at my ear. “Can you see him?”

I shook my head, just as the warning echoed through.

“He’s on the ground!” came Lindsey’s shout. “Moving toward you.”

She finished the sentence just as a scream split the air. I thought, at first, it was a wounded animal. But floodlights poured visibility across the Cadogan grounds, putting trees and shrubs and benches in sharp relief.

And the vampire who ran toward us, handgun lifted. Levi looked worse in the harsh lights, as if he hadn’t slept in days.

Connor and I split apart, both of us drawing weapons.

“Levi,” I said, as he blinked in shock and surprise. “It’s done. Put down the gun.” Positions echoed through the earbud as guards and officers moved in, moved around and behind him.

“It’s not done,” he said, hand shaking. “And I’ve got silver fucking bullets now.”

I was in front of Connor before he could object, shoving him backward as guards moved closer, but not close enough.

“Your fight is with me,” I said. “Not Connor. Drop the gun.”

“You protect him!” Levi cried out, his anguish obvious. “Even now. A fucking wolf.”

“My fucking wolf,” I said, putting a hand on my chest, a week’s worth of fear and fury building, exploding. “You don’t even know me. None of you know me—not a single member of the AAM has any idea who I am.”

He lunged toward me, gun lifted. My roundhouse kick had the gun flying, and Gwen jogged forward, badge raised and glowing in the moonlight like Excalibur.

“Chicago Police Department,” she called out, as officers put him on his belly on the grass. “Levi, you are under arrest for the murder of the vampire known as Blake,” Gwen said. “I understand your Master would like to have a word with you before you’re put on a plane for extradition to Atlanta. And now, a word from our sponsors.”

I grinned as a deputy stepped forward with zip ties. “You have the right to remain silent,” he called out, and announced the rest of Levi’s rights and responsibilities as the other CPD officers moved in, tightening their circle.

“That was almost disappointingly easy,” I heard Petra murmur.

Famous last words.

* * *

* * *

There was chaos in my ear as people began to scream, to issue warnings. And then I watched Clive come running toward us.

“Nicole let him in,” someone said. I think Theo.

“Get the hell away from him!” Clive pushed through the vampires to his brother, still on the ground and now sobbing into the grass.

“You hurt him,” Clive said. He went to his knees as Nicole walked toward us beneath the floodlights, two more vampires behind her. Had she wanted Clive to see this? To witness it?

Vampires, I thought ruefully.

“He’s not hurt,” I said. “Just disappointed he couldn’t shoot Connor with a silver fucking bullet.” I was still pissed, apparently.

I walked toward them, leaned down toward Clive. “You knew,” I said and was certain I was correct. “You knew he was broken and dangerous, and you let him keep his freedom. You broke the rules.”

Rage all but boiled in his eyes now, spat from his lips. “You don’t know anything. Everything was handed to you.”

“No,” I said. “It was not.” If only he knew how hard my parents had worked to ensure I took nothing of my privilege for granted.