Nine Shillings

A Place To Anchor a Frigate

London - 1842

The couches at the Coven Master's house were too low for the fellas. Tomas, the coven master, was sitting with his legs so far apart he could've engulfed a frigate, and Bran's legs were folded at an uncomfortable angle. The tension in the air wasn't solely been the seating arrangements; we all knew Tomas' witnesses to Jacob and Cerberus' deaths didn't exist.

The maid set a silver tray on an end table and poured the tea. She handed a cup to Tomas, bobbed politely, then passed another to Bran and bobbed. She stared at me, she might never have met a female vampire before. I hadn't.

I winked at her. She blushed and hurried out the room.

Tomas watched; one eyebrow arched with a sardonic elegance Josef would've been proud of. 'Have you any intentions of becoming a Coven Master?'

I stirred my tea with a spoon that looked tiny in my small hands, Bran's looked like a toothpick. 'I have a house full of children, that's enough childishness to be putting up with, thank you.'

Tomas sat back with his teacup resting on his knee and his hands loose in his lap. He was big as Bran and broad as Josef, his vampire magic had no effect on me but his presence had a palpable weight to it, and yet his smile gave him a soft edge. He wasn't what I'd expected from a Coven Master.

Silent assessment complete, Tomas sighed. 'I suppose I should thank you for the number of problems you've removed for me. You have to wonder about someone who goes around removing problems.'

I sipped my tea.

He chuckled. 'Josef turns vampires so rarely I would expect one of his to be nothing less than exceptional.' He tilted his head as if he was trying to find my exceptional quality. 'You seem a woman who would prefer directness.'

I held his gaze. 'Sending your note to my husband was very indirect.'

His lips twitched. 'Legally you are your husband's property.'

Bran's teacup rattled, he bent down to pick up his spoon and smiled apologetically.

I touched Bran's knee without taking my eyes off Tomas. 'I'm my own.'

'As am I,' he replied.

I nodded.

Bran was staring at the cup clasped in his lap, his head bowed, trying to hide behind his escaped hair. I reached across the back of the couch and caressed the nape of his neck. 'You want to be direct, be direct.'

Tomas set his cup on the couch beside him and rested his elbows on his knees. 'A smart man removes a threat, a wise one befriends it.'

I smiled. 'I never met a wise man.'

Tomas glanced at Bran. I rested my hand, claws extended, on the arm of the couch. Tomas inclined his head. I flexed my fingers and my claws retracted. Bran watched us from the corner of his eye.

I tapped my fingers on the rim of my cup. 'I don't think you're worried about two of Richard's vampires or whether I could overthrow you.'

His power throbbed inside him brighter than Bran's, it stung my eyes when I tried to look. Perhaps I could have knocked him down with surprise and sheer gall on my side, but from the way Tomas watched me surprise wouldn't be on my side.

'I was born a slave,' he said. 'I have no intention of making slaves of others.' His gaze fixed on my scarred hands. 'I suspect you feel the same.'

I turned one hand over giving him an unobstructed view of my scars. ‘Governments should help people up. Not stamp on them when they’re down.’

'Then I think our interests are aligned, Mrs O'Connor.' He leaned forward. 'The world needs to change and people like us are the ones to do it.'

'People like us?' I asked.

'Those The Empire likes to keep under the boot.'

I sipped my tea thoughtfully.

'If you are interested in joining The Coven a Master always needs an Enforcer of a similar mind,' he said.

I shrugged. 'Bowing to authority isn't my strong suit.'

Tomas smiled. 'I'm much the same myself. I would expect you to work with me, not for me. I'm not one of the old masters.' He glanced at Bran. 'My vampires are not my playthings.'

'Not interested.' I drained my tea.

For all his words I wasn't convinced Tomas was interested in an alliance with a baby vampire. Now, Josef was a vampire anyone would want an alliance with. There I was, whether his fledgling or his lover, a potential route into his good graces.

Tomas sighed when it became clear there wasn't a 'but' coming. 'Perhaps you'll change your mind as we get to know each other.'

'Perhaps.' I traced my fingertip around the lip of my cup. 'People don't tend to work with me, they decide it's better not to get in my way.'

Tomas laughed, it came from deep within his barrel chest. 'With that ferocious look in your eyes, I'm not surprised.'

I made a show of sucking my teeth. 'I'm really not convinced you're interested in an alliance with a baby vampire.'

'A great leader sees potential and encourages it.'

'Sounds a little too similar to indoctrination.'

Bran rubbed the bridge of his nose.

'That sounds a little paranoid.' Tomas' lips twitched and I wondered if he was laughing at me on the inside. I didn't care, but it would be useful to know.

'It's not as if you've done anything to make me trust you. Whether or not you're a good man I've met plenty of vampires in your city who aren't.'

'I have many powers, changing who men are isn't one, and I'm sure you've discovered vampire law doesn't protect the weak. I want to change it but I can't change it by myself.'

I didn't disbelieve the sentiment, I disbelieved it was my help he wanted, and I didn't fancy playing the pawn.

'I'm not biting.' I got to my feet and offered Bran my hand. 'We'll be late for storytime, Bran.'

'I see...' Tomas said. 'You're exceptionally... wary.'

'Never trust a man whose furniture is too small for him.'

'My predecessor chose the furniture.'

The space was immense, with ornate plasterwork and expensive powder blue furnishings.

I paused at the door. ‘Maybe consider changing the decor before you change the world.’

'Are you giving me advice?'

'Passing some along.'

'Josef's.'

I shook my head and looked at Bran. 'Bran's.'

Bran blushed.

Tomas spread his arms across the back of the couch and raised his eyebrows. 'Interesting...'