Even so, it gave you a feeling of the vastness of the world beyond, and the humble understanding that your place in the universe was minuscule compared to all that was out there. At least, that was how their queen described it. She said the view kept her humble. Remembering that always made him smile.

“So tell me,” Simone said as she moved to one of the modern white couches and perched on the arm of it. “What have you been up to besides hunting? I have not seen you today but for a few moments. Has anything interesting happened?”

Immediately he thought of Renee. He thought of how much energy she had packed into her. He thought of how easy their conversation had been, even though he’d had to tell only half-truths about himself. Actually, he hadn’t exactly lied; he’d just omitted details. For instance, he was an attaché for his government—just not for the Portuguese government. He had let her draw her own conclusion and had not corrected her.

Usually it was easy to lie and omit. He had been doing so for decades. It was second nature at this point and necessary if he was going to move through a human world. But for some reason he had felt regret about having to mislead Renee.

It was ridiculous, he scolded himself. She was just a woman. A human woman. A source of food and information. He shouldn’t attach anything more to her than that.

“I met with Racine and Farrel today,” he said, deciding at the last minute to keep his dinner with Renee all to himself. Other e-vamps wouldn’t understand his fascination with a human woman. Hell, he didn’t understand it himself. And there was no need to report anything about it since he had no new information to impart.

“And what did they have to say?”

“Well, Racine mentioned that the London vampires are very much on board with the new treaty, and Farrel assured me the same was true of the Berlin vampires.”

“But you don’t trust them?” she asked, sensing his hesitation.

“I trust that they are out for their own interests. This treaty has to benefit them or they will have no interest in it.”

“I think it does benefit them. If we banded together, organized ourselves better, and trusted one another more we could eradicate the threat of the sycophants once and for all.” She frowned with frustration. “I mean, don’t they understand what’s at stake here? Don’t they all? We are in danger of being outnumbered by the sycophants. The sycophants trafficking in drugs and humans must stop. It affects humans as well as us. And we need to protect humans. Clean resources are few and far between as it is.”

“You’re preaching to the choir. I have my regulars that I know I can get clean energy from, but I’m constantly searching for more clean sources and they aren’t very easy to find—even in a metropolitan area like this. At least, there are areas of the city where healthy living is a way of life, but still…And that is to say nothing of when we travel—when we go to places where the population is slimmer and the choices are few. Sycophants compete for these clean sources as well, even though they also indiscriminately take from unclean sources and don’t care if they kill in the process of taking.”

“It is a delicate balancing act to take only so much and leave our resources to recover well,” Simone said. “An act sycophants do not care about. They just rove about in packs, descending on innocents and passing them between one another until the innocent is drained dry and left to die. It’s unconscionable. It makes me sick just to think of it.”

“I know. I know this is a sensitive topic for you,” Rafe said soothingly, reaching out to cover her hand with his, giving it a warm squeeze.

“It should be a sensitive topic for us all. The time for turning a blind eye is over.”

“And it will be. Have faith, Simone. This treaty is the beginning of a new age of peace and understanding between the cities of e-vamps both here and abroad. Each of the princes of those cities must answer to you, my beautiful queen. They will come to the table or they will pay the consequences.”

“Then it will be vampire against vampire and I do not want that.”

“You must hold firm, Simone. You can’t let the princes walk all over you.”

“I know that,” she said, sighing wearily. “I only wish it didn’t have to be such a contest of wills all of the time.”

“As do I. But one day there will be unification. One day all of the princes will fall in line and we will all stop fighting amongst ourselves and focus on the true enemy. That is what this treaty does. And for every signature we gain, we move one step closer to taking out the sycophants entirely.”

“Let’s talk of other things,” Simone said with sudden brightness, her smile strained as she tried to force them onto lighter topics. Her worry over her people was vast and constant, but she functioned well in spite of it. “Tell me, how is your love life?”

He laughed. “Nonexistent,” he said. Again, he did not mention his intriguing dinner. There could never be anything between an e-vamp and a human. It would be like dating your food.

Wouldn’t it?

“Why is that? Why cannot you or I or the dozen or so men and women I am surrounded by daily find love? Are we so cold?”

“Not cold. Jaded perhaps. But what are you talking about? Ramon and Elena have been together for a decade at least.”

“True. But I don’t count them because they bicker so constantly. I think they have fallen out of love with each other and only stay together because they are afraid to be alone. I don’t blame them. It is quite lonely this way.”

“Nonsense. You and I are surrounded by people constantly. Especially you.”

“You can be lonely in a crowded room,” she said wistfully.

“I suppose that’s true. Then why don’t you find someone? Surely there is someone who strikes your fancy?”

“Mmm, maybe as a lover. I have those I exercise my passions with quite regularly.” She gave him a broad wink. “But no one special. Maybe I’m meant to be alone. It is the weight a political crown must carry.”

“Nonsense. Being alone is a choice. You just can’t find someone you trust your heart to. I don’t judge you. I am the same way. But it is worse for you because you have so much more to lose if things don’t work out well.”

“It’s true. I must learn to trust more. As should you.”