"Lord Kazimir, what a splendid surprise."

Warm beige skin, that never tans to its full potential, is the first thing I see as Rajesh glides into the throne room. Cat-like, reddish-brown eyes are trained on me, watching, observing, like stalking prey. I ignore his taunt, both spoken and postured.

"Lord Rajesh." My tone dry as desert sand. He doesn't deserve more. "It's the other way around. It's much more surprising to see you here."

The bastard sent his regards and congratulations to my ascension to the Lordship when we issued the invitations to the Introduction Ball. I've known he's up to something, but it's never crossed my mind he would come.

"Not any less than hearing you killed your Sire," Rajesh replies smoothly, with a certain twinkle in his eye and that foreboding smirk on his face. Ever the charmer, this blasted, manipulating asshole. Even his tone is calming.

I wave toward the pike where conservation magic preserves the head. "He's better off being a decoration, don't you think?"

Rajesh eyes the only part of Lucien that is left, quite grotesque in its sight. Though, one could argue that having a body part of a person stuck to the wall is always a grotesque sight. Narrowed eyes crinkle under his thick, dark eyebrows, and he gives a curt laugh. "He looks much better with short hair."

Oh, yes, the dreaded hair is rather short now that I've severed his neck. The long, white tresses are gone, and what's left is a ridiculous bob, half splattered with russet blood.

"I must agree with that observation," I admit lightly, but then my tone changes, along with my whole attitude. "Why are you here?" A direct question that should beg a direct answer. Let's see what his response will be.

But Rajesh doesn't answer instantly. First, he takes a few steps, shortening the distance between us. A bold move. Vampire Lords don't prance around other Lords' territories so easily, yet Rajesh just did.

He soaks up the simple decorations gracing the usually bare room. His sharp, glowing eyes sometimes turn even brighter as candlelight laps at his face from various directions when he looks up and down the walls, stopping right at the obsidian throne.

"I'm not here to fight," he says finally.

"I'm not certain I believe you."

His eyes land on mine and we have the usual staredown. Honestly, it makes my blood boil with anticipation. That's most likely the reason I always indulged in these games in the past. Although looking back, I realize I'd acted like a brat when he would visit Lucien to talk Lordship business. My rank was low which means he could've exercised the right to punish me. He'd never had.

"The Lords should always be civil," he recites the Council rule like I don't know it.

The Council passed a directive several decades ago, mostly because the vampire Lords are usually strong bastards, and when they fight, it ends up with one too many razed buildings. The loss of life is another reason. You slay my people; I take revenge killing yours and so on. The circle of revenge never stops.

I narrow my eyes, digging for an answer. "You didn't come here a day early just to be civil or whatever. You want something, and I want to know what that is."

The smile aimed at me sends prickles across my skin. It's positively wicked. I'm afraid I will be pulled into his shenanigans.

"The decennial meeting is coming," Rajesh starts in a singsong voice.

"Nope with a goddamned exclamation mark at the end," I cut in with the driest deadpan tone I can muster.

"But you didn't hear what I wanted to propose." He pouts at me.

I just blink. More than two hundred years old vampire is standing in front of me and pouting. Pouting. Why doesn't this surprise me at all? Oh, yeah. Now I remember. He's fucking crazy, that's why. Rajesh has always been known as a progressive leader, prone to anger but that anger diffuses rather fast and just makes him harder to read.

"So, no..." he trails off.

I'm almost relieved to affirm it. "Indeed—"

His eyes snap to mine, a crazed sheen present somewhere deep into them. "Then I have another proposition!"

What now? Don't tell me...

"It will be such a surprise for everyone at the Decennium," he continues. "When we declare a pact between our forces."

I knew it! I played right into his hand. "I never agreed to anything."

That annoying smirk is back, spelling out the trouble I'm in right now. He's persistent when he gets his mind onto something.

"Oh, but you've already declined my first proposal," he informs me in a greedy tone. "I'm sure you won't be so rude to turn me down again."

I open my mouth to speak but stop when I feel a pinch at the corner of my consciousness. Expanding my senses to prod around, I jolt as sensations wash over me.

I feel it now. The agitation in the air. Spreading like a patter of rain, originating from my men. They've been radiating off an unmistakable whiff of unease throughout the last hour or so. But now, it turns darker and panicky, their incessant alarm.

I frown. Something's happening and I have no idea what.

Ah, it seems I won't be waiting for long to find out. Skip is rushing to my side. I can feel him a few hallways away. His strong, unwavering presence. Just like always.

It's bemusing how I can feel almost all of my people. Strange, but I'm getting used to it. Until my ascent to Lordship, I could feel my companions, now known as lieutenants. But then I took Lucien's life and with it came his intended position – Lord of Astoria. At present, I feel everyone, all the vampires under my rule. I feel their fiercest emotions. Sometimes. Not always. And I feel it faintly, almost as if I'm listening in through a sturdy door.

"My Lord, we have a problem!"

That's new. Skip just does not yell at the top of his lungs. Never. He also never sounds so tense. Just what the hell is going on? A problem, obviously.

Rajesh turns to stare at me as we hear Skip's nervous words. I can't interpret his expression; it's blank. Is he...?

"Lord Kazimir!" Skip's words are still muffled by the walls, though sounding nearer than before. Then he crashes through the massive door, fast breaths, blue eyes wide, mouth opened to speak again. "We lost Lord Rajesh somewhere in the compound..."

He trails off as he notices the vampire in question. He splutters a bit. Next, his face changes expressions so fast before he settles to an angry one with his brow narrowed and nostrils expanding to breathe in.

"Lord Rajesh," Skip grits out. "I believe I told you I would give you the tour after you've settled."

Excitement dances in Rajesh's eyes as he's being addressed. "Ah, you'll have to forgive my impatience. I couldn't wait to meet Lord Kazimir."

He's eying Skip's fair visage as if he's ogling served blood, from pale hair to strong, springy legs. I don't appreciate my lieutenants being drooled over.

"Rajesh," I say in warning, dropping the title to show just how serious I am.

"Kaz," Rajesh shots back after a second. I don't know if he's mocking me.

His eyes are back on mine, losing the predator quality they had just a moment before. The grin is back on his face.

"I hope we have a deal," Rajesh says.

I stifle the urge to glance at Skip because it's a threat I'm not willing to ignore. As a Lord, I'm quite fucked. I guess that pact will come to life.