Gray was a handsome man, built on big lines. “I lost them, too, Your Highness. I lost a lot. I cannot change what I see. But this, this, was one of the good things.”
We had two different versions of good, Gray and I. “Excuse me? He just got murdered by Jack the Ripper and now we’re stuck here and he’s going to lose his shit at some point because all newbies do.”
“Kings don’t,” Gray said.
“And this was my favorite shirt.” Lee had some complaints of his own. “If I’d known…” Lee stopped. “Don’t believe the myth that there can be only one.”
Gray’s lips curved up slightly. “There is strength in numbers. So much strength in the blood. Don’t let them forget. History plays itself out again and again, mothers and fathers giving more than mere advice to their children.”
“They give blood so the story continues,” Lee finished. “That prophecy was about me. Dad’s blood. Dad’s DNA. I’m a king.” He said the words solemnly. “I’m the first vampire in a long time who was raised by a companion, aren’t I? It’s why the light feels so familiar.”
“Even as a child you would have felt her light,” Gray said with a sigh. “It would soothe you. You were raised with your father’s strength and your mother’s light. You are truly a king for a new generation of vampires. Though don’t count your father out. The plane still needs him. All of the planes do. And you weren’t the only one who received his father’s…gifts.”
Something had changed in my son. He stood taller, his shoulders broad and straight, and there was not an ounce of self-doubt in him. “Dean. He’s Myrddin’s son but he was raised by a companion, too. We are darkness loved by the light.”
“And that, we all pray, will make the difference. You are a king, Lee Donovan-Quinn, and if you were anyone but your father’s son you would immediately challenge him for the crown.” Gray’s brow rose and his eyes shifted back to their violet color, and his body seemed to relax as though he’d gotten the hard part over. “You could win, you know. Even now, you might be able to take him down.”
“He’s not fighting Daniel.” I couldn’t even stand to hear that.
“Uh, what Mom said. Why would I fight my dad? Also, I don’t really want a crown. I’m good with the whole all-the-superpowers, none-of-the-responsibility thing.” His lips quirked up. “Can I fly?”
“You won’t know until you try,” Gray replied.
I got a hand on his jacket because he was not going to throw himself off the balcony. “Stop it. He needs to find some dinner and then we need to get out of here. He can try out all of his superpowers when we’re safe at home.”
We might get out of this. We might survive.
Lee’s hand found mine. “Okay, Mom. You’ve had a day. Let’s get the bag and get out of here.”
“Myrddin has the book.” I was going to have to own up to how much I’d fucked up this mission. “I have the sword, but Myrddin sent a version of himself to get his grimoire back. I would bet it’s in the penthouse. I could…”
“Goddess, no. We are not going to Myrddin’s. I might not murder my own mother in a blood lust rage, but I’m also not fully in control,” Lee announced. “We already lost Grandma Chris. We’re done, Mom. Are those witches I sense outside the door?”
“Four of them now.” I’d thought they were going to be something we had to survive, but now I saw the upside. They were expecting a regular newbie, not a king. “You can try out some of those superpowers on them and get that first blood in.”
Lee’s eyes changed, going from brown to a golden amber that covered the whites. “Yeah, that hunger is kicking in now.”
I probably should have been worried about sending my newly risen baby boy out with a bunch of trained witches, but I was going with my gut. He could handle it. “Have fun, baby.”
He was gone before I could take another breath, and all I heard was the door slamming.
Then the screaming started, but honestly I’d heard worse. I looked up at our guest. “There’s a rumor going around that you’re visiting Hell and have not paid attention to your son.”
The only dark prophet in existence blushed nicely. “I didn’t mean to ignore Fenrir. I descended to protect him. You know I didn’t come here for a lecture, Your Highness.”
“The lecture is free.” There was a gurgling sound, and Lee and I were going to have to have a talk about table manners. I leaned over and picked up the Sword of Light. “Have you talked to your wife? And what about Trent? Don’t look at me like that. You know I’m nosy.”