of being mastered and the control it offered, if necessary. She would also be guaranteed a prestigious position as Erus Veneficus of the Excelsior. Having the fated Lustrata under his power and protection would benefit them both, not to mention the boost she would give the Excelsior’s status.
Mero accelerated.
• • •
When Mero had left the room, Talto faced Ailo. “He said the child was here. Why would they bring a child into the haven?”
Ailo was staring at the doorway, mind racing over the same question. “I do not know but I intend to find out.” She sat forward and started to rise. Talto’s hand on her arm stopped her.
“Our sister told us to tear them apart,” Talto whispered. “We can use this information to supplement what plan we devise, right?”
“Yes.” Ailo smiled at her sister. “And I have come up with a plan. We must make Menessos believe we are loyal to him.”
Talto rolled her eyes. “He will not ever trust us.”
“That is why we must decide which of us will act to show loyalty and cozy up to him, and which will be true to herself.”
Crossing her arms, Talto declared, “I will not be the one cozying up to him.”
“If that is your choice, Talto, I will agree to it. But think, sweet baby sister. If we succeed, and one of us gains his favor, she may have sway over his actions someday. She may even be able to have the other imprisoned —doing so may be the only way to secure his belief in the ruse. It may even come to a discussion of the unfavored being slain—”
Talto gasped.
“I would never allow it, but the discussion may have to be had, do you understand?”
Wide-eyed, Talto’s mouth opened and shut, opened again. “We have always stood side by side, Sister. No matter what we faced.”
“I know. But Liyliy is not here. We must accomplish this on our own.” Ailo knew her sibling was struggling. “I am willing to listen if you have a better idea.”
For a long moment, Talto blinked and thought hard. Ailo waited. Finally, Talto shook her head. “No. I have nothing better to suggest.”
Ailo had known Talto would not. She was hateful, vindictive, and vicious, but she lacked the patience to craft a cunning plan. “Then we will stick with my plan, to convince him that we are not unified. One of us will gain his confidence, and one will strike against him. The one who remains true to her nature will have to implicitly trust the one who gets close to him.”
Motionless, Talto didn’t even breathe.
“Do you trust me this much?” Ailo asked.
There was hesitation, but Talto answered, “You have given me no reason to distrust you, Sister, but as I said, I do not believe he will ever trust us.”
“We must give him proof.”
Talto’s eyes narrowed. “How?”
“If you are to be true to your nature, then you must do something bad. I will reveal this to him so you can be punished. It will gain me a measure of his faith.”
“It sounds as if the one who remains true is getting all the ills of this scheme.”
“Indeed. But for a good cause. And, assuming that will be you, know that I would beg him to be merciful.”
Ailo savored the unease her sister was having over this idea. Talto had always been the weakest of them. “You have been the most vocal about your displeasure with our new predicament, baby sister. You will be most believable in the role of yourself, whereas I have presented myself with more thoughtful silence. It is that obvious ability to discern when I am beaten that will benefit me most as I try to convince Menessos of my loyalty.”
With her arms still crossed, Talto stood and paced away. She shook her head. “No matter how ruthless a game we play with him, no matter how much torture I would bear for this cause, I cannot fathom that he would believe either of us is willing to serve
“We do not need him to believe I am willing to serve him, we only need him to doubt my loyalty to you.”
After a space of nearly a full minute, Talto nodded. “Let me call Liyliy.”
“Wait. Let me see what more I can learn. While I am gone, you study the stock exchange information at the bottom of the screen, then convince one of those morons behind us to show you where the computers are kept.” She touched Talto’s hand and mentally conveyed the idea. “You know what to do?”
Talto nodded.
Ailo rose from the couch and strode to the door. Mero had had plenty of time to reach the ground floor and be out of sight. She strolled into the hall and made her way to the grand stairwell. She was headed down to the court level; a female Offerling was coming up the stairs. The woman was black and wore a sleeveless blouse made of thin, emerald-green material with feminine frills around the collar.
Plan forming, Ailo shifted her apparel slightly to allow the heels of her shoes to rise. “Excuse me,” she called in a friendly tone.
The woman looked up with a smile, but it faded when she saw Ailo’s iron collar. She stopped. “Yes?”
Everyone in the haven knew who and what she and Talto were. By the change in expression, Ailo knew this woman had a low, suspicious opinion of her. It was not unexpected. She had doubted the woman would be easily lured into giving up information anyway. So, when she was about two steps away, as she said, “I just wanted to say I love your blouse,” Ailo stumbled purposely, falling into the Offerling and rolling gracelessly down the steps with one hand wrapped around the woman’s bare arm.
Feigning shock, Ailo apologized profusely and indicated her shoes. “We didn’t have high heels in the era I am from. They are gorgeous, and I am trying to adapt, but they are still awkward. Even with vampire reflexes, stilettos require some getting used to.”
The woman scowled at her, noted a rip in her own blouse, and stalked up the steps muttering that she would have to change.
Ailo smiled down at her palm.
The Offerling she had chosen was more perfect than she could have hoped for. Her name was Silhouette. She was currently Goliath’s lover and had wanted to spend some time with him . . . but he’d told her that he had to prepare. He and Menessos were going to be busy for a while this evening.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
What in Hell are you doing interrupting my meditation?”
I hadn’t moved and Creepy kept his body pressed tight against my backside. With the floor fracturing around me, I was afraid to step away. The way he was breathing in my ear, I figured facing him would create a new set of worries.
“Questions, questions,” he whispered. “With you it is always questions.” He spoke without rushing, each syllable a loitering sound, emerging from his lips flavored with both virtue and venom. His hands rested on my shoulders, light but warm. “Always so curious.” His hands slid downward with agonizing slowness. “And so beautiful.”
I repeated, “Why are you in my meditation?”
“Am I? Or has my dream come true and you’re in mine?”
“What?” I asked sharply over my shoulder.
