Free Blood Legacy: The House of Alexander by Kerri Hawkins Page B

flow of emotions, now there was nothing.
    “He sends his regards,” Ryan said evenly.
    Aeron smiled his shark’s smile. “I’m surprised he let you come here alone.”
    The insult was apparent, although whether it struck its intended mark was less so. Ryan’s demeanor was tightly controlled.
    “It is only due to his insistence that I came at all,” she replied.
    The implication was obvious; she was not here at the behest of the Council. Lest there be any doubt as to her meaning, she continued. “I am here because my father wishes it.”
    Aeron gazed at her thoughtfully. There was something there, something he could not quite get a hold of. He turned to Abigail, who had leaned forward slightly. She, too, had felt something. Not so much a glimpse of something hidden, but a glimpse of the act of hiding. He turned back to the girl, intrigued.
    “And did your father tell you why you were called before the Council?”
    Ryan did not reply, although her jaw clenched.
    “Of course not,” Aeron said smoothly.
    He surprised Ryan by standing, and it was all she could do to keep from standing as well. She felt at a disadvantage in her seated position.
    Abigail drew the girl’s attention. “Do you remember many years ago when you were a child, you asked me why there were not more of our Kind?”
    Ryan nodded. “I remember the conversation.”
    “And what did I tell you?”
    Ryan thought back to the exchange that had occurred centuries before. “You told me that few survived the Change, because it was a difficult and painful transformation.”
    Abigail nodded, and Ryan continued.
    “You told me that our Kind are predators, and that we like to kill our Young, so that few survive.”
    Abigail again nodded.
    “And you said that only those occupying the middle ground were able to reproduce. That Young Ones were not powerful enough to initiate Change and Old Ones were too powerful, their blood was toxic.”
    Abigail was thoughtful. “Yes, that is correct.”
    Aeron materialized behind Ryan. “In theory,” he amended. “With one quite fascinating exception.”
    Ryan’s hand sought the sword that wasn’t at her side. Aeron caught the reflex gesture and smiled.
    “That didn’t help you before,” he whispered in her ear.
    Ryan stared solidly forward. Her eyes caught those of Kusunoki. Out of everyone in the room, perhaps only he understood the depths of her current struggle, the itch in her palm to be holding a weapon. He held her gaze and it calmed her.
    Abigail watched Ryan, knowing her temper and knowing that Aeron was deliberately provoking her. It was as entertaining as it was dangerous.
    “There is one more reason why there are so few of us,” Ala proffered, as if to expedite the proceedings. She, too, was entertained, but she looked with some disapproval at Aeron. She turned her attention back to Ryan. “Are you familiar with the Cleansing?”
    Edward glanced over sharply. This could not possibly be what this was about.
    Ryan frowned. “No, I am not familiar with that.”
    Abigail was incredulous. She had expected some degree of ignorance since the full extent of the Cleansing was known only to a few. But once again the whelp knew nothing of their Kind.
    Marilyn was amused. “It is truly amazing the things your father keeps from you.”
    Ryan’s anger was obvious. “And others, as well. It is not as if you have taken the opportunity to educate me.”
    Marilyn let her eyes linger on the girl. “You have a standing invitation for instruction, my dear. You have availed yourself of it only once.”
    This piqued Aeron’s interest. Without removing his gaze from Ryan, he addressed Marilyn. “Really,” he said in his clipped, aristocratic accent, “We shall have to compare notes sometime.”
    Marilyn raised an eyebrow, “Indeed.”
    Ryan raised her eyes to the ceiling in exasperation.
    Abigail brought the discussion back to the matter at hand. “In order to keep the strength and purity of our Kind, we conduct