The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires

assumed that he must be privy to the situation regarding Hope.

'Can you help us?' I asked, trying my damnedest to look earnest and trustworthy.

'Not in any official way, no. But I can give you the information you seek.' He leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs and steepling his fingers. 'You are aware that the virtue named Hope has been missing and is presumed dead, given the note she left behind.'

Theo inclined his head.

'Suicide?' I asked.

'No. Her note claimed she was the victim of a plan whereby her Gift would be stripped and given to a mortal—to you, Portia Harding.'

Why does everyone but you address me by my full name? I asked Theo, momentarily sidetracked by something that had bothered me.

Names have power.

'One note is hardly evidence—' I started to say.

Terrin lifted his hand. 'The note continues with a somewhat impassioned claim that several murder attempts have been made against her already, and that she feels the two acts are related.'

'That's absolutely groundless!' I said, outraged. 'I did not murder her. I have never plotted to take her power from her. I didn't even know who or what she was when I inadvertently summoned her!'

'So you have said.' Terrin looked grim.

My heart sank at the circumstantial evidence that was being used to manufacture apparent guilt on my part. It was transparent and ridiculous, but I could see how people who didn't know me might imagine it could be true.

'It is only because no evidence of Hope's body has been discovered that you have been allowed to continue as you are, under supervision only rather than incarceration.'

I've been supervised? By who?

I have no idea, but it wouldn't surprise me.

'This is absolutely asinine. It doesn't make any sense! Why would I want to kill a woman I'd never met?'

Terrin's gaze dropped. 'The speculation is that, at some point, Hope returned to reclaim her Gift from you, and you killed her after a heated exchange.' He raised his hands to forestall the objection that was on the tip of my tongue. 'I am not the one you need to convince of your innocence, Portia Harding. I am simply telling you what is being said around the Court.'

A dim rumbling sound warned of things to come.

Portia, control your Gift.

It wasn't easy, but I bit back several hasty and borderline rude comments about the mental makeup of the Court, making a concentrated effort to dissipate the anger which had been transformed into thunder. 'Does any of that speculation run to why I would do something so heinous?'

Terrin's gaze dropped to his fingers. 'I have heard that you are bonded by blood to Theo North. It is not difficult to imagine that someone with such a tie would intend to grant him a pardon as soon as membership to the Court was approved.'

I shot a quick look to Theo. He sat impassive, looking mildly bored, as if nothing the seneschal said had anything to do with us. 'Everyone thinks this? Everyone thinks that I tricked Hope into giving me her powers, then I murdered her, and all to get Theo his pardon?'

'Rather starkly put, but yes, that is the explanation being given for your actions.'

'I see.' My knuckles were still white with strain. I made another conscious effort to relax my hands as I stood up, my head held high. 'Thank you for your time and cooperation, Terrin. I hope that associating with me in this manner will not cause any problems for you.'

He stood slowly, a smile warming his eyes. 'I do not fear repercussion, if that is what you are concerned about.'

'Good. Thank you again.'

'It has been my pleasure,' he said, bowing over my hand. 'I have no doubt that we will meet again… hopefully, under less exacting circumstances.'

'Why didn't Terrin worry about meeting with us?' I asked Theo a minute later, when we had emerged from the dark warren of offices that were housed in the grand apartments. The sun was hidden behind several dark- looking clouds. I shivered, but the cold seemed to come from within rather than from the dark skies.

'I'm not sure,' he answered, looking thoughtful as he adjusted his hat, pulling up the collar to his coat to shield the flesh on his neck. 'I suspect there is more to him than appears on the surface.'

'You can say that about everyone here,' I pointed out, leaning into him when his arm slid around my waist. 'What now?'

Theo sneaked a quick glance at the sky. 'It's almost Nones. Now we gird our loins.'

I didn't like the concern I felt in him, deep and dark and destructive. 'I'm an old loin girder from way back,' I lied, giving him a bright smile that I hoped hid the truth that I was worried to death about the hearing.

You needn't be worried, Portia. I told you that I would not allow anything to harm you. I have a few tricks up my sleeves yet.

What sort of tricks? I asked as we headed to the area containing the Petitioner's Park.

You'll find out in due time.

The sight of seemingly everyone in the city streaming into the narrow alley that led into the park was enough to choke any further questioning I intended to pursue.

Courage, sweetling. I am here with you.

For which I'm grateful to the depths of my being, I told him as we elbowed our way through the throng to the center of the park, where a ring of druidic stones had been arranged in a style reminiscent of Stonehenge. Stone benches dotted the inner perimeter of the ring. Four of the benches were filled with various people. The fifth was empty. In front of it stood an officious-looking man, who frowned when he spotted us.

'Portia Harding, stand forward,' the man said.

I stepped clear of the crowd, into the circle of stones, Theo next to me in the shadow cast by one of the tall stones. I wanted badly to take his hand, but wasn't comfortable with such a show of affection in front of so many hostile strangers.

'Know ye all that this hearing commences in the sovereign year one thousand fifteen in the eightieth age.'

Ten-fifteen? You're older than that!

The Court calendar differs from the mortal one. It is divided into ages, each of which contains roughly fifty-six thousand millennia.

I did a swift mental calculation, pleased that the years worked out to be the approximate age of the Earth.

'Behold ye now, her most gracious of majesties, the mare Suria.'

A smiling, petite blonde in a gauzy green and gold sundress emerged from the crowd, laughing at a quip someone called out. She bestowed her smile on Theo and me, taking a seat on the empty bench.

'Behold ye now, her most gracious of majesties, the mare Disin.'

The mare we'd met with earlier marched out, her expression grim. She didn't look at me, simply strode over and took her seat next to the first mare.

'Behold ye now, her most gracious of majesties, the mare Irina.'

The last mare took me by surprise. I was expecting another woman of younger years, but the bent-over, frail woman who hobbled from the masses was clearly in the latter years of her life…if that was possible with an immortal. She, too, settled on the bench, her milky blue eyes searching me curiously.

'This hearing does not concern your champion,' Disin said, frowning at Theo.

'With respect, your grace, Portia is my Beloved.' Theo stepped forward slightly, careful not to go beyond the edges of the shadow. 'I cannot allow her to stand trial alone.'

Around us, the crowd gasped, little whispers hissing in the air as people digested the information that Theo and I were bound by blood.