finish. We should let people come visit if they want to, because the bulk of the vampire community isn’t our enemy until we make them that way. I’m an easy villain to paint, and Aveka’s offering a seductive vision. But that’s not all.” She leaned forward. “I want to hunt her down. On her turf. I want to find a way onto her island and destroy it.”
He eyes were sky blue, bright with bloodlust.
“She killed me once last night. I would have died a second time if it wasn’t for Diana and Belial. I’m done. She wants a fight, let’s fight.”
“What does Eirikr think about it?” Cat asked.
The ancient was back on Cosnoc, in his cave, now Greer had come to.
“I haven’t said anything yet, but let’s face it, he’s going to cheer.” Chloe knew her ancestor more than anyone here, but after last night, Mikar was fairly certain she was right. The man was all for attacking first, mercilessly.
Levi closed his eyes. “I’m not saying we shouldn’t move to the offensive. But we’re talking about hunting down a powerful ancient immortal witch with a huge following.” He paused. “We’ll have to take precautions, and plan accordingly.”
That didn’t sound like a refusal at all. Mikar shrugged. “Hell, yeah. Let’s burn her place next time.”
Diana nodded. “I’m in.”
They were all in.
“While I’m at it, there’s something else I should tell all of you. We’re all in this together. We’re family.” Chloe’s eyes caught Diana’s. Mikar had no clue what she was about to say, but it was clear Diana did. “I’m pregnant.”
Oh.
Well, fuck.
Levi was still shouting at Chloe for daring to fight "in her condition"—his words—and Chloe, shouting right back about being pregnant, not paralyzed, when Diana wisely decided to make herself scarce, before anyone brought up that she'd been the first to know. "Shall we head home?"
Home was a wood and red stone lodge on the wilder flank of the hill, overlooking the lake, from now on. Mikar nipped her earlobe in response, getting to his feet.
"Hey." They'd almost reached the door when Alexius caught up with her. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
She smiled at her brother. "Sure. Walk with us?"
They walked out of Skyhall in a silence that wasn't entirely uncomfortable. To squash whatever bit of awkwardness was left between them, Diana asked, "So, how would you feel if your little sister hung around for a while?"
Mikar growled. "A lot longer than that."
Alexius sighed dramatically. "I suppose I'd have to get used to seeing your snotty mug around the place again."
She stuck her tongue out, unabashedly childish.
"I wanted to ask about the songs. I never knew you had that power. I thought it died with Father Dearest."
Oh. She should have seen that question coming, but in the light of everything that had occurred over the last day, Death's summons seemed like a thousand years ago.
"Yeah, it didn't. Father made me sing myself to sleep each night—to cultivate my voice, he said. To ensure my ability grew with my transition. And he had me memorize the spells." She bit her lip. "I was dying at the end. You didn't know—that's when you were..." She didn't want to say going crazy, so she focused on the important bit. "I’d caught malaria, and there was no hope for me. So he said he'd perform the ritual, and Mother volunteered to take my place."
Alexius looked shocked; no one must have explained it to him. "How did you think she'd died?"
He shook his head. "Father said I drove her to suicide. He said my losing it was too much for her to bear, that I'd damned her soul."
What an utter dick. "Well, you didn't. She sacrificed herself. I begged her not to, when I could speak, but she did it anyway. And I had to live with the guilt. I promised myself I'd never submit anyone else to bearing the weight of someone else's sacrifice. But Chloe..." She bit her lip. "There's something about that woman. And I knew she was pregnant, too. So I did what I could. We had a very lucky break, having a born vampire who wasn't yet turned here. It won't happen again for some time."
They'd reached the house. Alexius whistled. "How did I never see this place?"
Mikar shrugged. "You didn't exactly use to socialize with the rest of us."
"What can I say? You don't have tits." Alexius shrugged. "It looks pretty good. Maybe we'll build the new house in the woods, too."
"No way. This is