Crouching Vampire Hidden Fang - By Katie MacAlister Page 0,14

any form of amusement on his face now, however. He simply looked at me as if I were a bug before answering, "He is here."

I sat back, my heart beating wildly all of a sudden. Kristoff was here, in Vienna. I was going to see him.

Magda touched my hand and mouthed, I told you so.

I shook my head at that-if Kristoff had suddenly been possessed by a change of heart regarding me, he would have told me, not had the council summon me with grim faces and a pronounced air of suffering. Still, he was in Vienna. That meant something. Didn't it?

To my surprise, we weren't taken to a hotel. Instead, we stopped at a large pale pink stone house that sat at the end of a row of connected tall, narrow cream-and-yellow houses in the fringes of Josefstadt, a section of downtown Vienna.

"This house belongs to the Moravian Council," Julian said, showing us into a room on the top floor. "The administrative offices are below us. The top three floors are set aside for residents and guests."

"Nice," I panted as I dropped my bag and tried very hard not to collapse on the floor. "Sixth... floor... Nice... view."

"Sweet Mother Mary." Magda gasped as she, too, staggered into the room. Ray propped her up on one side, his own breathing a bit frantic as he leaned against the wall. "Couldn't you people put in an elevator? Or at least install a bench halfway up?"

"Your room is across the hall," Julian said, a somewhat martyred look on his face as he opened the door in question.

Magda shot him a narrow-eyed look, but followed him out to the other room. I looked around while I caught my breath, admiring the clean blue-and-white decor of the room. It was rather sparsely furnished, but the bed, bureau, and small writing desk and chair were all antiques.

"Do you wish to change your clothes?" Julian asked as he returned to my room, eyeing me in a manner that had me tugging self-consciously at the collar of my blouse.

"That would be nice." It hadn't occurred to me that I would want to change as soon as I got here, but seeing the coolly elegant vampires made me feel sticky, sweaty, and decidedly unattractive. I might not be able to do much about the last item on that list, but at least I could greet the council looking a little less unkempt.

Julian gave a short nod. "I will tell the council you will be ready to meet with them in a quarter of an hour."

"Can you make it half an hour?" Magda called from the room given over to her and Ray. "I'd really like to take a quick shower. I had no idea Vienna got this hot in the summer."

Julian paused on his way downstairs, frowning slightly. "Your presence will not be required."

"Now, wait a minute," Magda said. I stopped digging through my suitcase for something that wouldn't leave me looking like a rumpled tourist, and went to my own door. "You guys agreed that we could come with Pia. I was there when she talked to you, remember? You said that it would be fine if we accompanied her."

"To Vienna," Julian said, glancing over at me. "The council agreed to the Zorya's terms because they had no other option, but only she will be permitted in their presence."

Magda looked at me. "What do you think? We can leave if you're not comfortable with the idea of bearding the lions by yourself."

"The Zorya already agreed-" Julian started to protest.

I raised a hand to stop him. "I'll be OK by myself."

"You sure you don't want someone with you when you tell them you want... you know." She cast a glance toward Julian.

He raised his eyebrows at her.

"I don't think you can help me there, but thank you," I answered.

"All right, but I'm willing to make a fuss if you need me." Magda's face, normally filled with sunny good humor, was clouded with worry.

I gave her a little smile. "I'm still technically a Zorya. I think Christian knows the sort of power I can wield if anyone gets out of line."

Julian took an involuntary step backward.

"You have a point," Magda agreed, watching him. "All right, but if you need us, just yell."

It didn't take me long to get cleaned up and presentable. I spent a few minutes shaking out my clothes, trying to decide between a pair of linen harem pants that were flattering to my figure, or a