“He’d just lie anyway.”

“Not if my mom was there.”

We both thought about that for a moment then shivered. “I should warn you,” I added. “The papers are still printing stories about the murders and disappearances. There were two more tonight.”

“You know I had nothing to do with those, right?” I could tell she was pacing at vampire speed from the soft whooshing sound in the background. “Damn it, everyone’s going to think it was me. I have to find out who’s doing this.”

“We will,” I assured her. “Somehow.”

“Do you think . . .” She trailed off uncertainly.

“What?” I pressed.

“Never mind.”

“Like that’s going to happen.” Especially since I had a feeling I knew what this was about. “Spit it out, Sol.”

“Well,” she continued reluctantly. “Do you think Kieran thinks I did it?”

“No, of course not. But speaking of which, has he called you yet?” I demanded.

“No.”

“Have you called him?”

“No.”

“Are you both doing this on purpose to make me nuts?”

“Oh right, like that’s our fault,” she scoffed. “You were born that way. Too much tofu.”

I smiled. “I missed you, fangface.”

“Me too.”

“Enough to call Kieran?”

“You’re obsessed.”

“I also happen to be right,” I pointed out. “You can’t just leave it like this.”

“Let me just get through tomorrow night.” She paused. “Lucy, I’m going to try to formally abdicate.”

“Can you do that?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I don’t think anyone ever has. But I’m going to change a few things first.”

“Like what?” I asked. “And, cool.”

“I want to set up some sort of council so there’s no need for kings or queens.”

“Dismantling the monarchy.” I grinned. “You little rebel. It’s always the quiet ones.”

“I just don’t think one person should represent all these different tribes, especially not with new ones like the Na-Foir coming out of hiding. And I definitely don’t think that someone should be me.” She sounded disgusted. “I mean, I’m sixteen. Why does no one seem to notice that? Especially since they’re all like three hundred or whatever. This whole system is stupid.”

“You really mean it,” I realized. I hadn’t heard her sound so animated since she’d gotten a new kiln.

“I’ve had a lot of time to think,” she said drily. Her voice changed. “And London died because everyone’s first reaction is to get all stabby.”

“Preaching to the converted,” I agreed. “I mean, that sedative that your uncle used to knock you out? Why the hell aren’t we using that? Maybe not on Hel-Blar,” I amended. “But at least when we don’t know anything about the person we’re fighting.”

“Exactly!” she nearly shouted. “God, I wish you could come with me to this council.”

“You’ll be great,” I said firmly. “You’ll kick vampire ass, I’ll kick Helios-Ra ass and then we’ll celebrate with hot fudge sundaes.”

“Deal.”

Chapter 28

Solange

Friday night

Kala’s ritual testing wasn’t as awful as I’d thought it would be.

All I had to do was stand in the center of nearly a hundred vampires while Kala circled around me with her dog-tooth rattle and her clinking amulets. Isabeau followed behind her, carrying an abalone shell and a hawk feather, wafting sage smoke over us. Four other Hounds stood in each direction, each with a dog at their feet, and each playing a drum.

The other vampires shifted restlessly. They were fascinated by the reclusive Hounds but they didn’t trust them enough to truly enjoy the spectacle of a rare magical ritual. Mom and Dad, my uncle, my aunt, and all of my brothers stood together in a half-moon shape. Lucy’s cousin Christabel stood uncertainly with Saga and Aidan, who had Hel-Blar on leashes, their mushroom stench adding to the miasma of anger and fright. Connor stood with our family, but his eyes never left Christabel. I’d even invited Madame Veronique and her handmaidens so she could stop trying to kill me, assuming I was Viola. I knew Viola had crossed into cruelty and evil, had trapped me and used me, but part of me couldn’t help feel a little sorry for her. How different would her life had been if she’d known who she was? If she’d had my family instead of Madame Veronique?

The representatives of the Raktapa Council sat at a long table. The other vampires who still supported Viola, without even knowing it was her they supported, had taken to leading their humans on leashes like pets after I had the post demolished. Constantine’s men stayed close to them, eyeing me hatefully. Chandramaa stood inside the circle and were stationed on the path. In the center, to my left was a small table holding the royal crown.

There was a nefarious kind of tension clinging to everyone and everything. It hadn’t been here at the start of the Blood Moon but now fear hung in the air, sour and fetid. Too many had lost loved ones to hunters, and too many eyes were searching for blood-drinking murderers. The secure haven of the encampment didn’t feel particularly secure anymore.