keep me around longer? Some foul potion where I have to endure ye another decade or two?”
“Worse. I requested the right to turn you, Niall. And Council agreed.”
24
WHEN Niall and Alanna departed, Lady Lyssa had turned her infamous ball-shrinking gaze upon him. “Now, to the other matter. Evan has submitted a request. He wishes to turn Niall, his servant.”
A ripple of response passed through the assembled Council members, none immediately positive. Lady Carola shook her head outright. “We have very firm rules about turning servants . . .”
As the Councilwoman glanced toward Lyssa, Jacob standing behind her, her voice drifted off. “Except under extraordinary circumstances . . . ”
Everyone knew that Lyssa had turned Jacob to save his life, against Council decree, a situation that had made her a fugitive for a short time. That process had been miraculously reversed when she visited the Fae world, but having a Council head who’d defied the most important tenets about vampires and servants made such absolutes problematic. It was something Evan was counting upon.
“Yes, that’s true,” Lady Lyssa said serenely. “Given that Lord Uthe is Evan’s sire, he has unique insight into this matter and would like to discuss extenuating circumstances.”
That was unexpected, though definitely not unwelcome. The enigmatic born vampire who’d been a Templar Knight had always dealt fairly with Evan. He met Evan’s gaze now, making Evan recall their meeting all those years ago. The vampire sitting by his deathbed in the middle of the night, the preternatural gaze studying him, the stillness of the powerful body. Evan had been so far gone then, all he’d wondered about the stranger was whether he could talk him into drawing one of his very sharp daggers and ending the agonizing pain of his existence. But he’d so fiercely wanted another option, imagining all the things he’d never get to paint.
Uthe had provided that other option. He’d told Evan what he had to offer, but he’d had very specific conditions. You cannot accept due to fear of death. Turning a human to a vampire requires far better reasons than that. For many of us, there is a calling that supersedes everything else material about ourselves. Gaze into your soul, boy, and tell me if you have it.
Evan gave his sire a bow. “I hold your counsel far above my own, my lord.”
The eyes of the Fae Lord standing behind Uthe flickered, making Evan think he’d said something of interest to Keldwyn. Like Alanna, he’d noted the connection between him and Uthe. Later, he might take advantage of his connection with his sire to find out more. See if he couldn’t presume on their relationship to get the unlikely chance to visit the Fae world, a place with limitless wonders to put on canvas.
Bloody eejit. Of all the things ye should be focusing on right now . . . Though Niall wasn’t speaking in his head, Evan could well imagine the Scot sternly doing so now. But the random thought actually helped him channel the tension away from his body, keep his expression calm, intent. Ironically it also kept him more focused on the one vital priority he had at this moment.
Lord Uthe inclined his head. “As you know, the tithe we take from the proceeds of Evan’s artwork has accumulated into a not-insignificant-sum over the years. Beyond that, his successes have prompted us to encourage an artistic culture among our ranks, expanding our focus beyond survival and politics.”
Lord Keldwyn had moved, though Evan hadn’t seen it. Remarkable, given that he’d been in Evan’s direct line of sight. The Fae was now in the back corner of the room, sitting on the ledge of a fountain. The fountain was graced by a sculpture of a kelpie, the seaweed-covered horse rearing, water pouring from his nostrils to the pool below.
“Many humans have his pieces in their homes. Thanks to Lord Keldwyn’s interest, recently they’ve even caught the interest of the Fae world. Evan’s contributions have created an unexpected bond and value between three worlds.”
So maybe a trip to the Fae world wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. Evan shoved the thought away, imagining Niall giving him one of his patented severe looks. Yes, his art was a driving force in his life. But there was something far more important. Two somethings, in fact.
“Evan’s value is noted,” Lord Stewart said. “But does it bear weight on whether his servant would be an appropriate addition to our made vampires? As Stephen proved, quite tragically, we must
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