{ZEPHYROS}
"What brings you here, Lord Valtheris?" I asked. "Surely you have somewhere else to be than to bore me with your presence."
He stifled a laugh.
"I was merely passing through in search of a book."
"A likely story."
His crimson eyes gleamed.
"Then I noticed a certain she-wolf entering your domain."
I immediately disliked where this conversation was heading.
"A very peculiar girl, isn't she?" he continued. "No scent. No arcane. At least, that is what I heard."
My expression remained unchanged.
"Yet somehow she has captured Vladimir's attention. Along with that human companion of hers."
There it was.
I knew this wasn't about books.
It never was.
"Vampires enjoy collecting humans and wolves as toys," I replied. "What else is new?"
"True."
Valtheris tilted his head thoughtfully.
"But not Vladimir."
The amusement in his voice deepened.
"And certainly not you."
I narrowed my eyes.
