"How did he find out?" Caitlin sat across from him in the long car, wrapping her arms around her knees. It was a position that was becoming more difficult by the day as her belly swelled.
Kalen had rolled down the window, letting a breeze into the passenger's compartment. He leaned on the edge of the window on his elbow, keeping his eyes on the darkness outside. "I don't know." He looked stern, and she supposed it was due to the last few evenings, turbulent as they were.
Part of her wanted to curl up into his side at the thought of seeing Eamon again. Kalen was by far the better choice of the two, but she was still bothered by her own conflicted feelings. Maybe she
was
a contradictory creature, like he'd said. But now, with the King's decision looming over them, she couldn't help but feel they were running out of time.
The King couldn't touch her, Kalen had said as much. But if Eamon was going mad, then what was to stop him from making a rash decision?
Nothing
, she realized, trembling at the thought. She would accept Kalen's darker side a thousand times over before submitting to the King. "What do we do?" she asked, her voice small in the quiet space.
Kalen's eyes flickered to her, then away again. "We must see what he says, first."
"That's it?" Caitlin's nerves were making her hands quiver. She cupped them together in an attempt to still them. "We can't fight this?"
"I do not hold my father's leash. You know that."
"Yes, but-"
"Caitlin. Please. Be quiet." His words were harsher than she expected, but he gentled his tone. "I'm doing my best to figure this out. There's nothing we can do until we arrive at the capitol."
She pursed her lips together and lay her head in her folded arms, the tears refusing to come. All this over a drop of immortal blood? Eamon was using it as an excuse, she was certain. She only vaguely noticed Kalen pulled out a cell phone and punched in a number, speaking so fast and so low, she could hardly hear him. Before she knew it, he'd hung up.
His quick words still kept her silent as her face burned with irritation. It was
her
fate she was worried about. Hers, and the child's. Despite what he'd said, she couldn't believe their son was already a monster. She wouldn't.
But what sort of punishment would a King of vampires inflict on a pregnant human? She could only guess. During their only meeting, Kalen had implied Eamon had his 'women', and she chewed on that thought for a while, refusing to look at Kalen. At least he sat in the compartment with her, and not with the driver. It told her he likely wasn't as furious with her as he seemed, though, by the scowl on his face, she couldn't be sure.
That was when she gave up trying to figure him out. Her nerves, having gotten the better of her, made her fidget and readjust on the leather seat. The noise she made doing it compelled Kalen to look at her again. His gaze lingered on her for a moment before he spoke. "When we arrive at the capitol, I have an ally ready to receive us. He is my father's man, but he's loyal to me. My father should not be so rash as to make a move against a consort, no matter his decision. Don't let your fear overcome you, Caitlin. You'll be in a room full of my kind, and not all of them have such a strong will as I."
She met his eye, then glanced away. "Fine."
He didn't press the point. "King Eamon is growing impatient to secure his reign, but he will not threaten you in front of the council representatives. This is all just for show."
Caitlin didn't answer him, and he seemed to accept her silence. The ride went on and on, and she was getting drowsy as the predawn light lit the sky pink outside. Kalen rolled up the tinted window, to avoid the oncoming rays.
After nearly an hour of tepid silence, he spoke up. "He'll have us stay for the day, I'm certain of it. And then tonight we'll convene. Representatives for the other Kings will also be in attendance, there are six in all, including my father." He seemed to see that she was not going to answer, and glanced out at the peeking sunrise, his marred cheek facing her.
They'd both been irreparably changed by the other, he, the permanent scarring of his countenance, and she- well, she might be one of them, in the end. If King Eamon didn't interfere.
Caitlin sighed and leaned against the inner side of the car, closing her eyes. "How much longer will we be driving?"
"Another hour or so," came his response, then silence.
She nodded, shouldering into the plush seat and letting herself drift into sleep.
*
Caitlin's eyes flared open as the long car halted.
She didn't recognize the terrain outside the window, but she saw Kalen, tensed at the door. He was gazing out across a wide veranda that sheltered the car from the early morning rays. Palm trees and bright foliage overcame the sprawling estate. It was nothing like Kalen's mansion, which was compact compared to this wide display of power. Every accent was a slate black or polished silver; there seemed to be no room for color.
She followed his gaze and saw a massive figure in the grand entrance, looking out at them with a pointed expression.
Eamon
. Her skin crawled as she recognized the figure, even as sleep still weighed on her conscious mind. She would never be at ease here, under the King's roof.
Kalen's gaze didn't leave his father as he opened the door. "Stay here, Caitlin. I must have a word with him, first." He shut the door behind himself, and she watched out the sidecar window. Kalen stood between the car and his father, but the man's massive body was in no way concealed by Kalen's narrow form. Eamon stroked his heavy red beard, and his gaze flickered up to her.
He smiled, and she could swear he knew she was watching, despite the one-way windows. Kalen turned briefly, then stole his father's attention again, speaking low. Kalen was tense, while Eamon looked relaxed. In another life, he might have been an endearing, boisterous grandfather, the way his eyes twinkled.
