Arthur laughed warmly. “All that will change now.”

“Unless I decide to run away.”

He clicked his tongue, going quiet for a second. “Pain can make us look past what’s important; I know this better than most. But I know you will do the right thing; I feel a strong woman rising beneath this frightened little girl before me.”

“I’m not so sure there’s anything strong about me.”

“That’s because, right now, your grief is consuming, and I—” he closed his lips first before speaking again, “—I imagine you must be plagued with confusion, for grieving Jason, also.”

I drew a quick intake of breath.

“Your spirit bind was not physical, I assume—since it was a dream?”

I shook my head.

“But still just as strong,” he said, nodding. “Your love for David must have been something very special—to have survived a spirit bind. I’ve not heard of it before.”

I smiled up at Arthur. “I never thought of it that way.”

“Perhaps—” his gaze narrowed, “—with your strength gaining every day, now, being that Lilithians and vampires are not bound by these ties, it will fade, in time.”

“I hope so. My mind believes it loves Mike, too—since Jason pretended to be him.”

“How fascinating.” He touched his chin.

“No, it’s devastating. Mike deserves to be happy, but he’ll never move on while I tie him to me with my heart.”

“You are a good person, my young princess. You have much empathy and compassion,” Arthur said, “your spirit does not want, and your heart does not suffer greed. You will be a great queen.”

“I wish everyone would stop saying that. I’m not ready to lead people.”

“No, of course not. My lady, these things take time. For now, though, we need to keep you safe, develop your powers.”

“What powers will I have?”

“Everyone is different.” His eyes radiated kindness, as if he were talking to a small child. “I have the power of physical manipulation, David and Jason had the mind—”

“Why did you tell me about him,” I cut in. “About Jason and the blood oath? Do you expect me to forgive him?”

“Not forgive him, my dear, but when you lay awake at night, crying for what he did to you—” he touched my face; I forced myself not to turn away, “—I want you to know that he was always in more pain, that he never intended to live with what he did to you. He knew death was his only option when all was said and done.”

“I’m glad he’s dead.” I folded my arms.

Arthur looked down at the ground between his feet. “Despite your hatred for him, I loved him. He was my son. David was my son. And now, I have lost them both.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault, Amara. It’s this blood feud.” He slammed a fist into his open palm. “This started before my boys’ time, and yet it tore them apart, forced me to break a promise to my dying bother that I would not turn his descendants unless it was to save their lives. He would look down on me in scorn for knowing it was that decision that took it from them.”

“It’s not your fault, either, Arthur. If you hadn’t turned them, they’d have been dead in the war.”

“This is true.” He looked, thoughtful, to the day above. “It is immensely unjust that all of you have fallen victim to this war, and I want it to stop. I want peace,” he said. “You can bring that. You can bring order to our society. Think how many lives you will save, Amara, by ridding the world of Drake.”

“It’s a big responsibility, Arthur,” I said in a low voice.

“One you do not have to bear alone.”

“But, who do I trust? I mean, I always make mistakes, trust people I shouldn’t.”

Arthur leaned over and lifted my face again, seeking the eye contact he so constantly desired. “The child you were to have with my son would have had the power to free the Immortal Damned—to free me. I want this nightmare to end.” He nodded to the lake where children ran by with buckets and spades. “I wanted that life. So many of us do. And I know you do not trust me, but why would I sabotage the one chance I had at escaping from this, just to see the girl my dead son loved be hurt? I’m a prisoner, Amara. I am bound to the Council for all eternity.”

“David left the Council? Why can’t you?”

“David was sentenced to a life of torture for leaving,” he said sternly. “I don’t want to be hunted. I want a family, a life, and one day, to die. The peace of an eternity in Heaven is a dream I had long forgot. I want that.” He held out his arms, showing the clear veins. “Not this.”

“Oh.”

Arthur looked at the sky again then. “I can help you, my dear. This nightmare must end—only you can free us.”

I scoffed, grinning. “That’s a little far-fetched, don’t you think?”

He let out a breath through a smile and looked back at me. “No more than having a conversation with a vampire.”

I laughed softly when he flashed his bright white fangs. He seemed so young, with a special kind of energy around him, which made me want to tell him all my problems and spend the day laughing about how silly it all seemed. “Thanks, Arthur.”

“For what, my dear?”

“For making me smile. It’s not so easy lately.”

He bowed his head. “It is an honour.”

We sat in silence for a few minutes then, watching spring burst to life in the gardens and trees around the lake.

“Amara?”

“Yes, Arthur?”

“Will you accept me as your friend and counsel?”

I nodded. “I will, but…suspiciously.”

“Guilty until proven innocent, huh?” He smiled.

“Something like that.”

“Well, I can live with that, for now.” We stood up, and he took both my hands, kissing one, then the other. ‘‘I must bid you adieu.”

I nodded.

“David was a lucky man, to have held you for even a breath. I know your beautiful face brought him a kind of joy he had never imagined before.”

I lowered my chin; Arthur smiled lovingly.

“Thank you, Arthur. That means a lot to me.”