“It’s a bit localized I think, Ambassador for Shifters might be more appropriate,” Devon says. “Although having said that, it may be a bit too generalized,” he adds with a frown. “Maybe you should think of also adding a few delegates from the different species of Shifters? Your kind is weird.” He smiles to show he means no harm.
Lincoln smiles back. “You really want me to be part of your new regime?” he asks then, seriously.
“Yes, I do. My mother said that they would come to me. And here you are. In the middle of a Transylvanian forest, that I just happened to Astral into to kill its owner.”
He looks pleased. “I have a working knowledge of what you are about, but you will have to take some time to fill in the blanks.”
“I will. In the meantime, we need to talk about something. Privately,” I say pointedly, referring to his ‘working knowledge.’
“Sure,” he says easily, and I stand.
“Give me a few minutes, and then meet me back in our room, okay?” I whisper to Cole, who doesn’t look overly pleased that I am going off with this stranger.
He nods, though and I turn to Devon. “Will you go and check on CK, please? The tower room is…”
“I’ll find it,” Devon says as he stands.
“Thank you. Lincoln, follow me. We’ll go and find you a room to stay in while we talk.” He stands and follows me out of the sitting room. I stay silent as we head up the stairs to the first floor. I turn to the right as Devon turns to the left to go in search of CK.
“Stay out of my head,” I say to Lincoln as I push open a door and peer inside.
“Sorry,” he says, not sounding sorry in the slightest. “It isn’t something I can control very easily. You are the first.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, closing the door again as that was not a bedroom and move to the next door.
“If I were to hazard a guess, I would say that when you broke the curse and I changed back to my human form, you were still touching me. I think some of your energy got into me.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “That’s some guess.”
He shrugs. “It may be more than I guess.”
“How much do you know already?” I ask warily, pushing open the next door. I step into a nice bedroom and hold the door open for him to join me. I close the door and sit on the bed. He follows me.
“It has come to me in small bits so far. I have been trying not to pry. I have the whole Queen thing, which is quite impressive by the way,” he says and smiles at me. “I knew that Cole was your husband. You’d already told me about Devon. I figured that Constantine was your sire by what happened next, and when I took your hand, my fingers brushed over your very beautiful ring and I know who gave it to you and why,” he says cautiously. “I also know that it is a secret and I won’t tell. It’s none of my business,” he adds.
“No, it isn’t. But thank you. I imagine I will have to go some way to blocking your visions.”
“We can work on it together. I don’t really want to be in your head. You have some wild thoughts. They move at super speed, it’s exhausting. I think that is why I have only picked on a few things so far.” He smirks at me.
“Tell me about it. However, if you think mine go quickly, try keeping up with my sire. That is a full-time job.”
He chuckles and takes my hand. “You are quite the complicated woman, Queen Liv. But I’m glad that you came to this place. Your relationships are very complex. I never understood the way of the Vampire. We Wolves tend to mate for life,” he says.
“Have you met many Vampires?” I ask.
“A few. Before Lance, of course. Do you know many Shifters?”
“I have come across some different ones over the years, but never actually knew them, if you know what I mean. I think we Vampires are a cliquey lot,” I say in amusement.
“Well, we Shifters are not generally fans of your kind either,” he says wryly. “However, you saved me. I am your biggest fan,” he says with a shy grin.
“That’s sweet. Can I ask you how old you are? It sounds rude but it will help you find your place with…” I wave my hand about, “my lot.”
He chuckles. “I’m three hundred and thirteen years old. Still fairly young for my kind. We are not immortal as you are, but we do live long lives. How old are you?” he asks then with a sly smile.
“Can’t you just get it out of my head?” I quip, but I have already tried to throw some blocks up, not that I really know how.
He shakes his head. “You seem to have gotten the hang of that quite quickly.”