Vampire Legacy (Book 4 of the Dragon Heat series) (6 page)

Her grey eyes widened in surprise. “Would you do that?”

He nodded.

“Thank you,” she replied, “thank you so much. She released a long breath of relief, as a few tears rolled down her rosy cheeks.

“But in order to do that,” Petran remarked. “I need to find out who would profit from his death.”

She nodded and her gaze went cold. “I believe we both know who that is.”

He shook his head. “Kalaur already has your hand in marriage, he doesn’t need your father’s death.”

“He owes my father a small fortune in unpaid maritime fees,” she added.

Oh, that little piece of news changed everything.

“Kalaur has been having trouble paying his bills for the past year.”

Petran nodded, taking in the news. “And if there is something your father never forgets it is an unpaid bill.” He stared at her grey eyes, and saw a depth of confidence he wasn’t expecting. “I understand the gravity of this situation, milady, but we need to have irrefutable evidence before accusing a Draconian Lord of plotting the murder of a fellow senator.”

As if on cue, Somenski stirred on the bed. He was definitely in pain.

Petran stood up. “I’ll leave you now to veil over your father.”

She nodded in acknowledgment. No further words needed saying.

He stood up and walked out of the room to find Arthur waiting in the hallway. Once he was certain they were away from any prying ears, he whispered to his man, “I need your eyes and ears on full alert.”

“Yes, your majesty,” his chamberlain replied without hesitation.

“We must find out if there’s something else taking place in this castle, and we have very little time to do so. If Lady Natalia is right, and this is no disease brought down by the gods, then who is to say our kind is not next?”

Arthur nodded slowly. “I will query a few servants.”

“Do that,” Petran added, “but be careful. We don’t want to raise any suspicions and spook the perpetrator.”

“Yes, your majesty,” Arthur replied then turned to deploy his orders.

But before his chamberlain left, Petran called him back. “Arthur.”

He turned back around in an instant. “Yes, your majesty?”

“You did well back there,” Petran stated. “Holding your end of the chain at all costs and quickly taking action, like a true warrior on a battlefield. Good job.”

Arthur’s eyes swelled with appreciation, but he just nodded once in acknowledgment. “I was just doing my duty, your majesty.”

With that, he turned on his heels again and left. A small smile lifted Petran’s features. Maybe his deft attendant wasn’t as slow in learning as he thought after all.

Chapter Seven

“You look much better, my friend,” Petran said when he saw Somenski walk into the great hall. He was being assisted by Olek but nonetheless, the color of his skin looked much brighter, and there were no signs of scales sprouting out.

“I had a restful day,” the dragon lord replied with a tired smile. “I hope you don’t mind me asking for you to stay one more evening, Petran. I feel your presence somehow comforts my Talia.”

Comforts her, huh?
“Don’t mention it, Somenski. That’s what neighbors are for.” Petran motioned to his friend’s seneschal to step aside, then took over the task of aiding the dragon. Together, they slowly crossed the vast room.

In keeping with the rest of the castle’s medieval motif, the great hall had impossibly tall ceiling and stone walls which seemed to sparkle with the light provided by the many crystal chandeliers looming over the long table like low-hanging moons. Large tapestries embellished the entire room, depicting grandiose scenes of dragons from eons past. Petran recognized a few of them—Lindworm, the Scandinavian Dragon Lord who won the war against the Mongolian Dragons, and Long-Chi, the Chinese Dragon Lord and Leader of the Order of the Dragon. He had been the first one to try to bring peace between supernatural races by accepting Petran’s great-great-grandfather as a member. Everything was going quite well until Petran’s blood-thirsty great grandfather, Vlad Tepes, decided to impale everyone, friend or foe, and start the ridiculous myth about vampires. What a great legacy his family had left him.

“I know you vampires don’t take food as nourishment,” Somenski said as they walked toward the long table. “But I thought it would be good to share an enjoyable evening away from that bloody sleeping chamber of mine.”

Two uniformed servants walked through the main doors balancing several trays of dishes. Meat stew, roast lamb, steamed vegetables, fresh baked bread and more. By Apa Dobrý, how many people where dining with them tonight? The powerful smell overwhelmed Petran’s sensitive nose but he decided not to share his views on carnivorous gastronomy with his host.

“I don’t mind at all,” Petran said instead. “I find the array of smells fascinating.”

“Ha! You are a terrible liar, Petran,” Somenski replied with a chesty laugh. “But my Talia takes much pride in her house staff, especially her cook. She trained him herself, you see.”

Yes, he saw it.

Even though he was still going ahead with his plan—which would by default crush his neighbor’s reputation—he was truly glad with Somenski’s recovery and was praying for the Soartas to have mercy on the old sod. After the commotion from the previous evening, he had sent Arthur back to his castle in Wallachia to start researching poisons. Petran was hopeful he’d soon have some clues.

A servant placed a goblet of fresh blood in front of Petran, while the seneschal opened a bottle of red wine and poured a sample into his lord’s glass.

“Hmm, this is a ten year-old Italian Brunello,” Somenski stated proudly. After swirling the contents for a moment, he lifted the glass close to his nose and drew in a deep breath.

Even though Petran was a few feet away, he could smell the pleasant aroma of black cherry and plum with a hint of licorice.

“Divine,” his neighbor drawled after taking his first sip. He nodded to his seneschal, who then finished filling his glass and half of Petran’s. Vampires couldn’t indulge in carnal delights like food or other liquids except when mixed in fresh blood, but Petran enjoyed a good vintage of wine, and Somenski knew it.

More servants came in carrying large trays of food. The long table was full of them. A hint of uncertainty prickled Petran’s mind. “Is Lord Kalaur joining us for supper?”

“No,” Somenski replied a bit too fast. “It will be just you, me, and Talia. Speaking of whom—” He looked around as if searching for her. “Where is she?”

“I haven’t seen her in a while, my lord,” Olek replied dutifully.

“I’m right here, father,” Natalia declared coming into the great hall from the side doors leading to the gardens. Her face was fluttered, her cheeks pink from enervation as if she had rushed to arrive there. Just like in the previous evening, she was wearing a simple but very complementary gown. However, the hem on her dress carried a slight tinge of mire, which didn’t escape Petran’s sharp eyes.

“There she is,” Somenski bellowed fondly. “Come, daughter, join me in this feast your favorite cook prepared for us.”

Natalia obliged and instead of going straight to her chair, she went past it and kissed her father on the forehead. “I’m so glad you are feeling well disposed tonight, father,” she murmured in the old sod’s ear.

Her smile was genuine and brought some warmth to Petran’s cold heart. It was clear she truly cared for her father—an affection Petran knew never to expect from his own son, Tardieh.

But as she waltzed back to her chair, a distinct smell of grass and mud whooshed past with her. Vampires didn’t have noses as sensitive as werewolves or other shifters but Petran’s was sharp enough to recognize where sweet Lady Natalia had been. She’d been deep into the gardens. Doing what, and with whom, was an interesting question.

“I’ve heard you had a restful day, King Petran,” she said not meeting his eyes.

“Indeed, milady,” Petran replied standing up, and waited for her to take her seat. “I must thank you for your kindness.”

She glanced at him with confused eyes then sat down, and so did he.

“A long journey can take its toll on a vampire like me, and your servant was extremely…generous.”

Her cheeks blushed with more color as understanding struck her. “I am very pleased to hear it.”

“What servant? What happened?” Somenski asked but his attention was on the food being served on his plate.

“Your daughter went out of her way to choose a good servant who could provide me nourishment,” Petran answered, not wavering his eyes from Natalia’s.

“Oh, that’s good, then,” Somenski replied, wolfing down a large piece of lamb.

“And his majesty was very kind to respect our house rules,” Natalia said. “My servant confided in me that she’d be more than honored to—” She cleared her throat. “Service his majesty again, if it pleases him.”

So the lovely servant made good on her word.
Petran let the corner of his mouth lift into a small smile. “Once again, you astound me with your kindness, Lady Natalia. I shall consider the offer.”

“Unless,” Natalia added a bit too briskly. “His majesty wishes another as I have other servants who have expressed their desire to assist you. I mean, it seems that your majesty made quite an impression on my household.”

“I’m pleased to hear it,” Petran replied with a slight nod. “But I doubt they are eager to serve me. I believe it is you whom they wish to impress, Lady Natalia, for tales of your unrivaled beauty and benevolence go far afield.”

It was an utter lie, of course, but Petran had the feeling Natalia valued a praise as much as anyone else. Since Somenski was busy devouring the entire table, he let his gaze linger on hers a tad longer. Natalia’s lips parted slightly, as if not knowing how to address his comment. She had surely liked it, but it was clear she wasn’t used to receiving compliments.
Such an easy prey
. After a few heartbeats, she finally averted her gaze, looking somewhat disconcerted, and focused on the cooked food on her plate. Petran curbed a wicked smile from lifting his cheeks.

“I missed meat,” Somenski declared with a mouth full of food. “But these roasted potatoes are divine.” He waved to the servant to bring him some more.

His friend’s remark gave Petran the opportunity he was looking for. He had to find out where exactly Lady Natalia had been. “Indeed, these dishes smell fantastically. Lady Natalia, I couldn’t help but notice the array of fresh vegetables you have. Is that the reason why you spend so much time in the gardens?”

She froze, her fork pausing in midair. “Excuse me, your majesty, but I do not understand.”

Yes, she understood very well. The flush, which washed over her cheeks, told him so.

“The gardens, I saw you walking toward them earlier in the evening,” he lied.

“Oh, yes, I did meet my cook at the bay of our gardens to instruct him about what herbs to add in father’s casserole.”

“Well done,” Somenski interjected. “It is very tasty, my daughter.”

“Truly, the aroma of fresh herbs is very pleasing,” Petran agreed. “So much so, that I could swear the entire gardens followed you here.”

“I appreciate the compliment, your majesty,” she replied softly. “I shall pass it on to my cooks.”

Petran was not going to give up so easily. She’d been in the gardens doing what, only the Soartas knew. And he was going to find out sooner, or later. “It must be quite hard work to do gardening in this cold weather,” he said, trying to approach his investigation from a new angle.

“I beg to differ, your majesty,” she replied in a controlled tone. His persistence had clearly bothered her. “Some varieties strive in harsh soil. The more challenged they are, the more they strive. Very much like oppressed creatures, like female dragons for instance, the more we’re tyrannized, the more we fight to be our own masters.”

Ouch, where had that come from?
Something told him there was more to sweet Lady Natalia than any eyes could see.

“Nonsense,” Somenski bellowed out his favorite word. “Women need protection, they are fragile and absentminded. They need a man to guide them.”

Petran watched Natalia. Her eyes focused on her plate like the good daughter she was but her jaw was tight, her lips pursed into a thin line.

“I can take care of myself, Father,” she murmured. “I don’t need the protection of a marriage.”

“I shall be the judge of that, my daughter, not you,” her father grunted. “I know you are not scattered brain like the other female dracos around here, but that doesn’t mean you can brave this world unprotected. Every woman needs marriage not only for protection, but for the continuation of the family’s legacy.” Somenski turned to Petran, obviously thinking he had a like-minded fellow in him. “Don’t you agree, Petran? Women without male guidance are bound to become wandering wantons or bitter spinsters.”

Petran couldn’t agree less with his neighbor. Even though he’d been born in the Dark Ages in one of the most remote countries in the world, female vampires were the true leaders of their society. Males ruled, but females were the boss. He was the king, but he knew that if his wife Hillia decided to lead a mutiny against him, she’d succeed without a second thought. She was ruthless that way. Even though these were the facts of modern life which some old farts like Somenski had difficulty in keeping up with, it wasn’t in Petran’s plan to contradict the house lord, making an enemy out of him.

“It seems to be the order of Apa Dobrý for women to be the weaker link and yet they are the ones who have the power to carry on the family’s essence,” Petran commented, nonchalant.

But Somenski was far from finished with his prattling. “It is true, however, their brains turn sour and their wombs shrivel if women don’t procreate.”

“Father!” Natalia wailed.

Petran opened his mouth to try to end the dangerous path the conversation had taken, but Natalia beat him to it.

“Father, you cannot believe this to be true,” she bellowed in a very unladylike manner. “Coverture has been abolished for more than half a century now—an unmarried woman has the right to own property and make contracts in her own name nowadays. There are a number of females working for the best universities in Europe, leading the way in mathematics, new science, and even physics. There’s even a human woman from Germany called Marie Currie who it is said has discovered a new element. A new
chemical element
, Father, no
man
has found before! How can you say that our only reason for existence is to—”

The door creaked open and a servant rushed in cutting off Natalia’s rant. At the sight of her blushed face, the girl halted on her tracks and proceeded forward with more caution. Even though she was trying hard to keep her eyes focused on the floor, Petran noticed how the girl’s gaze searched Natalia’s. Natalia also seemed to have become very aware of the simple servant, who crossed the great hall then exited through the garden doors, as if she had nothing else to do in life.

Petran narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

Lady Natalia wiped the corner of her mouth with her napkin then exhaled a sigh. “Apologies, father, I feel suddenly indisposed. I am confident King Petran will be a much better company for you this evening than I will.” Without another word, or before waiting for her father’s approval, she stood up and bowed curtly. “Please excuse me.”

Petran pushed off his chair to see her out but before he had even straightened his spine, she was already out the door leaving him and her father flabbergasted. He sat back down still puzzled as to what had just happened. Lady Natalia had just ripped off her robe of prim-and-proper devoted daughter, and not only regaled it on the floor but also stomped and burned it.

This had definitely been a trip of revelations.

And what did that servant girl want?

Petran was certain Natalia’s sudden indisposition had everything to do with that encounter and nothing to do with her father’s backward ways.