08 Blood War-Blood Destiny by Suttle Connie

Author:Suttle, Connie [Suttle, Connie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Vampiros
Publisher: Connie Suttle
Published: 2012-04-29T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

"Grant, why don't you take a break?" Thurlow Burghin, the Alliance Rep stood in my doorway, so I was giving Grant the opportunity to get away from this meeting if he wanted to. I would, too, if I could.

"Okay," Grant smiled and headed toward the kitchen to pick up a bottle of blood substitute.

"Mr. Burghin, come in and have a seat," I offered. So far, he'd been discreet and polite enough. I couldn't fault him on his manners. He wasn't bad looking and I couldn't help but think he'd probably like to be anywhere but here.

"Please, call me Thurlow," he smiled and sat in the offered chair.

"Would you like something to eat or drink?" I asked.

"Lady, no. If you and your staff feed me any better, I'll be too heavy to board ship again," he chuckled. He didn't look as if he had an ounce anywhere that wasn't hard muscle, but I didn't say that. It made me wonder what he'd done for the Alliance before coming on this little assignment.

"So, what can I do for you, Mr. Burghin—Thurlow?"

"What would you be doing now, if you weren't taking time to talk to me?" he asked. That made me sigh. Honestly, I wanted to crawl out of my skin and into a hole somewhere, until the pain that followed me everywhere I went had gone away. But that wasn't something I'd tell anyone. Except for Gavin—or Kifirin, perhaps. I was feeling Gavin's absence the past few days, much more than I normally would.

"Please," Thurlow said when I didn't answer, allowing too many things to rush through my mind instead.

"Sitting on the roof," I said. He'd asked, I answered.

"On the roof? Why, lady?"

"Mr. Burghin, I'm not sure I can do this interview right now. My apologies." I stood up behind my desk.

"I've upset you."

"It wasn't you, or anything to do with you, I assure you," I muttered.

"Is it the price on your head?" He stood because I was standing.

"No, I'm sorry to say. I wish it were something as simple as that." I looked down at the immaculate surface of my desk—Grant, Heathe and Davan kept it that way for me.

"A price on your head is a simple matter?" His voice was almost gentle.

I wanted to tell him that if I desired, I could hunt the ones down who'd placed that price on my head. Moreover, I could make them very dead—all by myself. What I couldn't do was make a child mine again, when someone had stolen him away, body and mind.

"Walk with me," Thurlow said. I looked up at him. I truly wasn't in the mood to do anything except find a place to cry. Again. I don't know how we ended up walking out of my office together, or down the long hallway toward the front steps of my palace. Long ago, I used to tuck my hand in the crook of Don's elbow and we'd walk that way. I felt the urge to lean on someone, but Thurlow Burghin was a stranger and he'd been sent by the Alliance, on top of that.

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