He was accustomed to vampire indifference to humans. As a result, he would have anticipated having his throat slit right off the plane, his body disposed of in a Dumpster, before he expected his fate to be debated in front of the Council. Of course, as a human servant, he apparently had greater importance. More pomp and circumstance were required before they drove a metal pike through his heart.

Nevertheless, he"d expected something like this. He told himself that, made himself stay loose, calm. Neither he nor Anwyn nor Daegan had assumed he could just learn a few rules and “blend into the background” without remark or incident. It was why Anwyn had feared this. While Daegan had made the risks clear, Gideon had known this was the best choice. Of course, for the first time, he wondered if he"d been wrong. He"d been so concerned with protecting Anwyn, and so damn sure he understood the vampire mind, enough that even Daegan had agreed with taking the chance. But what if they did threaten to take his life, or worse, took his life? Could Anwyn hold on to her control? Why had Daegan allowed it, knowing it could come to this?

Jesus, had he really just wished Daegan had played the all-powerful vampire Master with him? Stop thinking about this shit. She can hear your thoughts. He could see the slight twitch of her shoulders, and felt that anxious buzz in his mind. Anwyn, honey, stop listening. Close off my thoughts. It will be fine. You know it will be. I’m just running through strategies and variables.

I won’t let them harm you.

They’re not going to. They’re looking for leverage. Don’t let them see you break. Hold it together, baby.

Her lashes flickered at the unexpectedly intimate endearment, and he wondered if he"d pay for that one later. He hoped so.

“Before the Council makes a decision about this, we intend to observe the fledgling"s control over her unusual new servant. Tonight, you will join the Council for dinner, and we will see how things go. You should be aware the Council may decide that Gideon Green should be executed for the lives he has taken.”

Gideon nearly bit through his tongue to hold back his obvious retort, but irritation was quickly replaced by alarm as Anwyn stepped forward. Daegan clamped down on her forearm.

It was a brief clash of wills, but a very obvious one, her eyes flashing, mouth tightening against the strength of that grip. Daegan gave her a warning look that brooked no disobedience and turned his attention to the Council, watching them closely. “Gideon was brought here as her attendant. I didn"t bring him here to be put on trial.”

“We would feel far more certain of his being „neutralized" if he was the servant of a much more powerful vampire. One such as yourself, who we assumed could be objective about the decision to execute a mere human.”

Like Laura, or the countless others he"d been too late to save. Suddenly, Gideon felt stifled in the dim chamber, repulsed by this gathering of pretentious monsters. Everything he hated so much about vampires was displayed baldly before him. We live or die at their behest. We’re nothing to them. That is, until I stake one of them. Then the last thing he sees is that a fucking inferior human took him out.

Gideon, hold fast.

A shudder ran through Anwyn, snapping Gideon back from the red haze of unexpected fury.

Oh, Jesus. He hoped her reaction was because Daegan had used her mind with brutal quickness to channel the sharp admonition, not because she"d personally felt attacked by his feelings, the rising tide of old wounds.

“I have full confidence in Anwyn"s abilities,” Daegan said mildly, as if there wasn"t an escalating sense of combustion sparking off their threesome. “After all, as a practicing Mistress, she"s probably more adept at bringing a difficult male to his knees than anyone in this room.”

He flashed his teeth, a humorless smile, but the comment won an easing among the older Council males and amused Carola. “Plus, as you know, two vampires don"t usually mark the same servant.”

“Circumstances might suggest this is one of those unusual times. Are you refusing, Lord Daegan? It seems you have a particular soft spot for this hunter. As well as this fledgling.” Belizar"s silver gaze was piercing and sharp.

“I have respect for his value. Which, no offense intended, the Council might be missing.

This is a human who has had more success than any other in taking out vampires. He has willingly allowed himself to become Anwyn"s servant. I can"t imagine a better servant to help her adapt to and understand our world. If she rises in our ranks, as I think you can see is inevitable, her choice of servant will only add to that stature.” It must be nice, having a silver tongue and a deadly way with a blade, Gideon thought darkly. It was beyond Twilight Zone, to be standing in a room where his fate was being discussed as if he weren"t there. Or rather, because he had no right to speak, his opinion irrelevant. Shades of Charlton Heston and Planet of the Apes. But he"d gotten a grip on himself. Daegan was right. There was so much going on beneath the surface here, his best use was standing strong behind Anwyn, trusting Daegan to handle the situation. It was an unusual role for him, and Gideon wasn"t sure how he felt about it. But then Anwyn gave him a minor heart attack.

“My lord.” She spoke up unexpectedly, putting her hand over Daegan"s on her arm. When she sent a shy, uncertain smile toward the Council members, the torchlight glittered off her blue-green eyes. As she shifted, the fit of her dress made it clear there was nothing under it, but in a classy, subtle way guaranteed to torture the male imagination. “Lord Daegan is being very protective of me at his own expense. At the risk of incurring his displeasure and yours, I wish to explain. The vampires who turned me . . .” Her gaze shifted to the left of Belizar"s head.

“They took turns on me. All of them, during it.”

At the ripple of response, she pressed her lips together. Gideon could sense a curious stillness in her brain, as if she"d shut off her true feelings to get through this moment. She hadn"t spoken directly of her rape, even to the two of them. Only in the madness of her seizures. “Gideon and Lord Daegan came to my rescue. He could of course override me at any time and decide to mark my servant, merely share him with me. But I think he wants me to feel I have some choices, to give me time to adjust to my new circumstances. I would beg you . . .” She paused, letting the words linger on her parted lips. “Please don"t judge Lord Daegan harshly for such kindness. I certainly do not wish the Council to be concerned about my choice of servant.”

Belizar studied her, a brow lifted. “Prettily spoken, fledgling. I can understand Lord Daegan"s regard for you, though I"m sure he also explained you shouldn"t be speaking in this chamber unless directly asked to do so.”

Anwyn bowed her head. “My apologies, my lord.”

Belizar made another of his vague Russian noises, but Gideon wasn"t sure if it was disapproval, or like a lecherous grandfather putting on a stern ruse. “We will have dinner tonight, as we discussed, and we"ll see what we will see.”

He turned his attention to Daegan. “At the very least, you should be prepared for this Council to require your full marking upon him before you leave. Now that we understand her circumstances—something you should have told us—I believe a majority of us will agree it is reasonable for you to be in charge of her transition and mentoring. We are not unaware of the fragile state of a fledgling"s mind, particularly one who was turned in such a heinous manner.

But that simply underscores the fact that Gideon Green cannot be reined in by a mere infant to our ways. He has far too much of a history to give us that confidence.” Daegan"s expression took on a hint of steel. “So the choice is I mark him or you kill him?”

“Unless the Council decides to execute him, regardless.” Belizar"s flintlike gaze matched Daegan"s. “I expect a lot will depend on tonight, yes? We will dine at ten o"clock. Council adjourned.”

Their quarters had all the trappings necessary to reassure the ego of a visiting born vampire. It was of little consequence to the three of them, though. An awkward silence descended as soon as the door closed after Vincent.

Gideon decided he might as well break it. “So . . . I"ve never been to Berlin. Want to go catch some tourist attractions before they decide to spear me with a butter knife at dinner?” Daegan gave him a dark look, but Anwyn dissipated the weak attempt at humor. Moving a step forward, she stumbled, nearly twisting her ankle in her elegant heels.

As one, they were with her, guiding her to the nearest chair. Gideon went to his knees to chafe her cold fingers between his, while Daegan slid a hip onto the chair arm, stroking her hair. “I was right,” she said, staring into Gideon"s face. “I should have called your brother. He would have come and done whatever was necessary to keep you from following us.”

“It does not matter,” Daegan said brusquely. “They"re not going to carry out their sentence.”

“You think it"s a power play, to negotiate some kind of leverage,” Gideon guessed. “Or they"re just enjoying the chance to play with me, like I expected.”

“I don"t know,” the vampire responded. “But it doesn"t matter. They can make all the demands they wish, but they have no true power over me.”

“Yeah. If they and all their minions attack, you can fight them off. I get that. But what about with Anwyn in the middle? It only takes a second to stake a vampire.”

“Aren"t you worried about yourself, Gideon?” Anwyn freed her hands, rubbed them in frustration over her own face. “What if—”

“It wouldn"t matter, Anwyn; you know that. Something kills you, we both die. That"s part of the link.”

“That"s supposed to reassure me? I don"t like this place, or them.” Standing up, she moved away from them both, but turned to look at Daegan. “And I understand about the tithe, but it"s so . . .”

“Feudal?” Gideon supplied helpfully. “If you"re looking for that group to go all free-market capitalist, don"t hold your breath. That"s a pure oligarchy in there.”