“You’re right, you’re right.” Lilith dragged her hands through her hair. “He actually gave me a headache. Imagine.”

“He’s just, how do they say it? Acting out. He’s so proud of himself for that kill in the field.”

“I can’t let him go out.”

“No, no.” Lora waved a hand. “You did absolutely right. We’ve lost a hunting party and a raiding party, and it’s no place for Davey out there. I still say you should’ve given him a good slap for talking back to you.”

“He may get one yet. Have someone clean that up.” She gestured vaguely toward the body of the servant. “Then make sure the hunting party gets on its way. Maybe they’ll be luckier tonight and track down the odd human. The troops are tired of sheep’s blood.

“Oh, one more thing,” she said as Lora started out. “I want a little something to eat—to calm myself down. Do we have any children left?”

“I’ll check.”

“Something small in any case. I don’t have much of an appetite tonight. Have it sent up to my room. I need some quiet.”

Alone, she paced the room as if it were a cage. Her nerves were stretched, she could admit that. So much on her mind, so many details, so many responsibilities with it all coming to the end of the circle at last.

The loss of troops was infuriating and worrisome. Deserters had been a problem, but she sent out scavengers nightly to hunt them down and destroy them. It simply wasn’t possible two full squads had deserted.

More human traps? she wondered. They were costing her dearly—and would cost the humans a great deal more when she was done.

No one understood the pressure she was under, the weight of her responsibility. She had worlds to decimate. Her destiny was pressing down on her and she was surrounded by fools and incompetents.

Now her own sweet Davey, her own darling boy, was behaving like a snarling, spitting brat. He’d actually sassed her, something she took from no one. She wasn’t certain if she should be proud or furious.

Still, she thought, he’d looked so cute and fierce waving that miniature sword. And hadn’t he nearly cut that stupid servant in two, then stomped right out, almost swaggered, without a backward glance?

It was annoying, of course, but how could she not be a little proud?

She walked to the door, stepped out so she could feel the night slide over her, into her. He felt trapped in this house, poor Davey. So did she. But soon...

Of course, of course, what a terrible mother she was! She’d arrange a hunt right here, on the shielded grounds. Just the two of them. It would perk up her appetite, her spirits. And Davey would be thrilled.

Pleased with the idea, she went back in, and stepping over the bleeding body, went upstairs.

“Davey. Where’s my bad little boy? I have a surprise for you.”

She opened the door of his room. The smell came first. There was a considerable amount of blood, on the floor, on the walls, on the bed covers she’d had made for him of royal blue silk.

Pieces of the cat were strewn everywhere. It had been, she recalled, a very large cat.

She sighed, then felt a laugh bubbling up. What a temper her little darling had.

“Davey, you naughty boy. Come out from wherever you’re hiding, or I might change my mind about the surprise.” She rolled her eyes. Being a mother was such work. “I’m not angry, my sweetheart. I’ve just had so much on my mind, and I forgot you and I need to have some fun.”

She searched the room as she spoke, then frowned when she didn’t find him. There were little pricks of concern as she stepped again. Lora dragged a woman behind her by a neck shackle.

“We’re out of children, but this one’s small.”

“No, no, not now. I can’t find Davey.”

“Not in his room.” Lora peeked in. “Ah, creative. He’s hiding somewhere because you’re angry with him.”

“I have something... ” Lilith pressed a hand to her belly. “Something tight inside me. I want him found. Quickly.”

They called out a search, scoured the manor house, the outbuilding, the fields within the protected area. The tightness in Lilith’s belly became strangling knots when they discovered his pony missing.

“He’s run away. He’s run off. Oh, why didn’t I make certain he was in his room? I have to find him.”

“Wait. Wait,” Lora insisted and grabbed Lilith hard. “You can’t risk going outside the safety area.”

“He’s mine. I have to find him.”

“We will. We will. We’ll send our best trackers. We’ll use Midir. I’ll go myself.”

“No.” Struggling for calm, Lilith closed her eyes. “I can’t risk you. Lucius. Find Lucius, and have him come to me in Midir’s lair. Hurry.”

She cooled her blood and her mind. To rule took heat, she knew, but it also took ice. It was ice she needed to hold strong until the prince was safe again.

“I depend on you, Lucius.”

“My lady, I’ll find him. I give you my word, and my word that I would give my life to see him safely home.”

“I know it.” She laid her hand on his shoulder. “There’s no one I trust more. Bring him back to me, and anything you ask of me is yours.”

She whirled on Midir. “Find him! Find the prince in the glass.”

“I am searching.”

On the wall was a large oval of glass. It reflected the wizard in his dark robes, the room where he worked his dark magicks, and none of the three vampires who watched him.

Smoke slithered over the glass, swirled, and clawed its way to the edges. Through the haze of it, night began to bloom. And in the night came the shadow of a boy on a pony.

“Oh there, there he is.” Crying out, Lilith gripped Lora’s hand. “Look how well he rides, how straight in the saddle. Where is he? Where in this cursed land is the prince?”

“He’s behind the hunting party,” Lucian told her as he studied the vision in the glass. “And moving toward the battleground. I know that land, my lady.”

“Hurry then, hurry. Willful brat,” she muttered. “I’ll take your advice this time, Lora. When he’s back he’ll have a good hiding. Keep him in that glass, Midir. Can you send me to him, the illusion of me?”

“You ask for many magicks at once, Majesty.” Robes swirling, he moved to his cauldron and, letting his hands flow through the air over it, brought up a pale green smoke.