“Ambassador, I would first like to grab a quick bite before we leave, since all this time here is when I should have been having my dinner. I would like to leave on a full stomach.” George didn’t want to be at his worst when he got there and right now, he was starving. For a vampire, that was an awful state to get into. Instincts would heighten and they would make mistakes. Actions best avoided could happen, and judgement could become impaired. “As time is ticking, Edger made that observation to me. I took it under advisement and brought something you could take with you. I wouldn’t advise to take a mage portal on an overly full stomach. It could lead to a rather embarrassing event on the other side. There are overnight bags waiting for you. They were packed while you were at dinner, because it would ease everything because unpacking will take some time that I’m not sure you’ll have once you get there.” Maximus seemed to have an answer for everything, but he hear

George finally left to get things done and Ana could relax for a moment or two. What was she going to do here with everything as it was? There were still a few days before the North American Ruling Council would sit for the first time. George said she was the face people would think of before the emperors from now on. Did he know that when he gave her this position? Of course, the emperor knew, or George wouldn’t have a position here. If he wanted her dead, then he would have placed an incompetent fool in George’s place. So, what did the emperor expect her to do? Succeed? Fail? Accept defeat? Ana didn’t have a clue. All she knew was it was difficult having George so close. He embodied temptation and, for a vampire, temptation ran a close second to life’s blood. Irresistible, to say the least. Somehow, the word distraction wasn’t strong enough to describe what she felt. The emperor couldn’t have known there’d be an attractio

George got things settled for tomorrow. He was about to take several things to Adriana when he received a message that she was retiring for the day, and he should as well. They’d pick up tomorrow with the wolf shifter ambassador. That was fine. He wasn’t looking forward to trying to make small talk with Ana. She liked to be called Ana. It was a perfect name for her. It didn’t matter if she tried to put on a tough persona. She was still female, and Ana suited her. George found himself shaking his head as he pulled himself out of his woolgathering about his charge. She was his charge. Ana was part of the elite class, and he wasn’t. He’d never be a member of the elite class. Fawning after her was a one-way trip to the dungeon and torture chamber. A pine box would be what he’d leave there in. There was no way he was prepared for that, and he couldn’t see Ana ever being prepared to accept that fate. But she was a fine woman. Far better than her shallow sis

Edith watched the new ambassador for the vampiric faction get hauled off by her head of security with a sigh. “How much did you egg him on, darling?” “I didn’t need to do anything. By the time I entered the elevator, that boy was in a right temper. I just sympathized with him. They’ll make a fine pair once they get to know one another.” “Hm… Don’t encourage it. As it stands if I’ve read their laws correctly. They are in a right pickle.” “What do you know I don’t know, my dear?” “It doomed their relationship before it even starts. Sadly, they both know it. Well, it’s good that they know it, because they’ll survive a little longer.” “I’m not following.” “Their laws won’t allow their mating.” “That sucks. You’re only telling me this now? I was all set to tell him to stake his claim like the man he is, or vampire.” Edith sighed again. “We can’t let them get too close. I like her,

George finally seemed to tear himself from their argument and leave her in her apartment. He left threatening, if she disappeared again, he’d lock her in her apartment until she was needed. George didn’t look like he was jesting about any of it, and that was disturbing to Ana, unlike anything else he could say. Her nanny and tutors always threatened to go to her mother or the emperor when they had an issue with her behaviour. Not George though, he expected to deal with her and fix her behaviour himself. Now Ana didn’t know what she would do about this. She still wasn’t sure she even needed him to guard her. After all, she was nothing like her sisters. She could handle herself and knew more than enough to protect herself. There was a lot more than just knowing that you used the pointy end of a sword on your opponent. She’d spent years now studying everything she could about defending herself and others. She did this because she n