David’s face split into that cheeky grin. “No, my love. It was only ever the law which determined them to be dangerous, and cast them as repulsive.”

“Why?”

“Fear, I suspect.”

“Fear? Of the pure bloods, or the created Lilithians?”

“Both. Even century old vampires are susceptible to venom, and until now, no one had discovered immunity.”

“Why not?”

He laughed. “No one took the risk of sharing blood with a Lilithian, then biting or being bitten to find out.”

“So we’re the only two fools that did?”

“Yes. How fortunate for us that immunity is possible.”

“Guess that makes us pioneers.”

“Something like that.”

“And you don’t mind that I’m a pure blood, you know—a murderer?”

“Ara, I love you. You’re still the same beautiful girl you always were—except now I don’t have to be afraid I might hurt you.”

“I’m stronger now.” I showed him my wrist. “I get bitten by Emily all the time—to build up my venom immunity; it doesn’t even burn anymore—just like when you used to bite me.”

“So you’re immune to all venom—not just of the one whose blood you drink?” His eyes narrowed.

“Mm-hm.” I nodded. “As far as I know. And Mike was telling me that there used to be these servants called Sacrificials, back in the days of Lilith…”

“Yes.” David rubbed his chin. “They would give themselves, offering their lives to feed the queen.”

“Yeah. Well, he’s enlisting more of them…to feed the Lilithian Council and any royal parliament members. Except, they don’t have to die. He says it’ll be a position of nobility, something the Lilithians will pay a great price for.”

“Mobile blood. You call—we deliver.”

I laughed. “Yeah. I don’t like the idea, but it’s better than murder.”

“And what about vampires? Will you get your way and outlaw killing of humans?”

I smiled. “What do you think?”

“You will have a hard time passing that law through the people. Lilithians, maybe, but…”

“Well, too bad. I’m in control now, and your king tortured and starved my people while he ruled. We don’t care what you vampires think. I’m forcing the law that vampires cannot kill, and that’s all there is to it.”

“Good luck. It will start a war. We need to feed on human blood, Ara. Lilithian blood won’t be enough.”

“Well, I’m not passing the law today. I don’t have the power yet. But one day I will.”

“And you expect me to side with you?”

“I can’t believe you’re starting an argument with me when you’ve been out of bed for two minutes.”

“I’m sorry.” David smiled, then looked around, frowning. “Wasn’t Petey here a second ago?”

I looked behind me. “Yeah—he comes and goes. Magic dog.”

David smiled but rolled forward, ever so slightly.

“Do you need to sit?” I offered the rock.

“I’m fine.” He reached across slowly and, with two fingers, gently parted the buttons on my shirt, revealing the jagged scar at the centre of my chest. I cupped my hand over his, closing my eyes. “It hurts me to no longer feel surprised at the wretched acts my brother was capable of.”

“He had no choice, David. You’d have done the same.”

He knew as well as I did that he couldn’t deny it. I understood so much deeper then why he was the one to torture Pepper.

“Tell me what you’re thinking.” He said firmly, his commanding gaze catching me off guard.

“Nothing.”

“Do not lie to me, Ara-Rose. It’s incredibly frustrating to be forced into conventional methods of deduction; don’t make this harder by denying your thoughts.” The circles he drew over my chest with his thumb became firmer.

Swallowing hard, my eyes opened more as the gleaming sun dropped behind the cloud again and the tight sensation across my brow, from the almost burning heat, softened. “Did they tell you about this—about how I got this scar?”

“I’ve been reading Emily’s mind, which is precisely why she avoids any thoughts about it. But I know Eric suffocated you. I know what happened after. And I know how you got that scar on your spine.”

I cringed. I found that scar a few days after I was home, safe. Eric went pale when I asked him how I got it. I didn’t ask again. “Is that all you’ve heard?”

His round eyes held obvious pain. “Yes. And I need you tell me what else happened.”

“David, you shouldn’t be thinking of—”

“Ara, please.” He took my hand and squeezed it. “I am not an invalid, anymore. I’m a grown man, and I have a right to know what tragedies my beautiful girl suffered while I wasn’t there to protect her.”

I shut my eyes. “Please don’t make tell you, David.”

“But you must. I need to know.”

“Why?”

He sighed and stood taller, taking a step toward the water’s edge. “You cannot fathom the helplessness, the feeling of no ground beneath my feet, locked up, so far away from you, knowing you were in the hands of the very people whose torture of pure bloods is legendary. The stories so detestable, they haunt vampires even as vile as myself.” He reached across and flicked my chin up gently. “Ara, all I had were these stories, and no resolution.” He looked down, his eyes closing tightly. “It has been as if I’m asleep; in a nightmare I cannot wake from. I need to know what my brother did to you. I need to know what you suffered, so my heart may smile upon his death, and I may know best how to comfort you.”

“David,” I said with a sigh.

“Ara, when Jason brought you to me, to kill me, my heart faltered. I fell apart, and all the things I knew you were trying to tell me in that moment—” his shoulders lifted, tight, “—all the things he did to you, I couldn’t hear them.”

“That’s because I never showed you anything.”

“Why? Why wouldn’t you let me see? Is it not worse that I had to be in agony over what they proposed to do, or worse, knowing what they did to the last queen.”