Free Lillian Holmes and the Leaping Man by Ciar Cullen Page A

to kill us . And you’ve been there enough to know how indiscreet the House can be—Jean’s high opinion of his talents leaves him vulnerable, in my opinion. He should be more circumspect.”
    “I’m sure he has the power to take down any opposition—why should he care?”
    “Your isolation has made you a bit naïve. If a handful of women have the knowledge to kill us, do you not think that knowledge will eventually spread? Our numbers are so great…how long before the legends of our kind are no longer legends to them, and the mortal masses declare war on our kind?”
    “While I do love my fortune and my peace, I truly do not give a damn what happens to our kind. Let them destroy us all. It will not be for a while. Are you actually worried about this, Anna? Don’t you sometimes wish for the end? Of course you do, why do I ask? You’re nearly as old as I am. The thought of a few Caribbean ladies with wooden stakes hardly sends terror through my veins.”
    “No? Not even when they speak of a monster they call Madam Lucifer? It cannot be a coincidence.”
    George schooled his features so that no emotion would show, but her unexpected mention of Marie set his nerves sizzling. Could Annaluisa be trusted? She was a vampire, true, and an old friend, but Marie de Bourbon had tainted even his own mother. And Annaluisa had a decided appetite for intrigue and politics, making a habit of visiting as many houses as she could to maintain cordial relations. “Unlikely a coincidence, but the woman is in Europe. This tale of her in New Orleans smacks of folklore, fairytales to scare children.”
    “There is more. The rumor is that there is a price on your head, Georgy. A high one.”
    “What price? Who circulates this rumor? Who of any House lacks for riches? That is not motivation. Ridiculous.” He forced himself to lower his tense shoulders. This was worse than he’d imagined.
    “Not riches. Power. She’s offered great power—her own blood, built of thousands of victims, including many, many vampires. No one is stronger.”
    “She is revolting, her practices anathema. But as vile as she is, even she wouldn’t relinquish that power simply to see me suffer. I don’t believe it. Although I sometimes wish I’d eaten more of my own kind to acquire that kind of force.”
    Annaluisa arched a brow to call him a liar. “Not even you have the stomach for that.” George sighed in agreement.
    “What is the saying about a woman scorned? You were lovers, were you not?”
    “She was Phillip’s wife. You have the wrong brother.”
    Annaluisa arched a heavily etched brow and fussed with her gold bangles. “Hardly. As I recall, you once left my bed to rush into hers. Did it never occur to you that she might love you? Something to do with that handsome face, perhaps?”
    George rubbed his chin, weighing what she said, wondering if he could accept this accomplished trickster’s words at face value. “I doubt it. I believe it is much simpler. She wouldn’t be the first to come to loathe their maker—and her husband’s maker.” But he wondered. Had she loved him?
    “Whatever the truth, she unquestionably wants your undoing.”
    “Where is she now?”
    “Rumors have her in New Orleans, but I saw no evidence of it. You claim she is in Europe. Is it not like the woman to be talked about on more than one continent?” Annaluisa sighed. “There are too many of us, Georgy, don’t you think? How many have you made? How many have they made? It’s causing a political stir, alliances, betrayals. We have grown faster than the great new cities of this continent can absorb us. Soon there will be nowhere for you to cower in the shadows.”
    “It’s terrible in Europe. I just came from London, and in the decade I’ve been away things have gotten very dicey.”
    “So you fled back to your brother’s arms, as you’ve always been a lone wolf with no alliances.”
    “Yes, my fluffy white tail was singed by one of Madam Lucifer’s