So, you’re going to permit me back in Savannah, but not Sofia? Danaus whispered in my mind, making me wish I could throw something at his head. Yet in all honesty, I wasn’t sure which of us was acting more childish at the moment. I had a sick feeling that it was me. Sofia wanted her freedom, and Danaus was determined to give it to her. As his friend and companion, I should be willing to support him despite the fact that it went against my ways as a nightwalker.

It wasn’t that I was unwilling to take on the protection of yet another creature, because I felt confident that Veyron would not travel to my domain of Savannah for her. It was more the concern that I would be protecting a creature that seemed destined to become Danaus’s lover one day. I didn’t think I had it in me to be that strong and not allow jealousy to crush Sofia.

“What about Ferko and Odelia? What about my Michelle?” Stefan demanded, taking a couple of steps toward me.

I smiled broadly at him, placing both of my hands on his stiff shoulders. “As keeper of Budapest, you have my permission to track them both down and eliminate them in any manner that you see fit so long as it doesn’t endanger our secret.”

“You’re too kind,” he replied, pulling out of my touch.

“I can well understand your eagerness to return to the coven and home again, but you can’t leave this domain in the chaotic order that it is now,” Macaire interjected quickly before I could turn my back on the both of them. “You need to establish your position of power within the city.”

“I have. There was the language lesson at the Széchenyi Baths,” I said, but Stefan was quick to speak up.

“That was in the name of the coven and establishing yourself as an Elder to be respected.”

I forced a broad smile at Stefan as I clenched my teeth together. I didn’t need his help. “There was also the slaughter at Bahnhof just the other night. I do believe that was in the name of establishing my position as keeper, if I’m not mistaken.”

“Yes, I heard about Bahnhof and that was a very nice start,” Macaire conceded.

“Cleared the place out,” Stefan said proudly, referring to the nightwalkers that quickly vacated the nightclub rather than stay in our presence any longer than absolutely necessary.

Macaire heaved a heavy sigh and placed his hands into the pockets of his large overcoat. “Unfortunately, I get the feeling that the whispers of that event are still making the rounds among our kind here in this large city before you can comfortably vacate it, even for a short period of time. You need to make a larger display of your power, Mira. Take the advice of one who has been around quite a bit longer than you. When you took over Savannah, there were few nightwalkers present. Budapest is considerably larger and older. You will need a grander display to have an impact on your people here.”

“Do you have something specific in mind?” I asked, knowing that he did.

“The Solstice Ball,” Sofia said in breathless tones. I turned to look up at her, but she had turned her wide eyes on the other Elder. “Tonight is Odelia’s Solstice Ball. Everyone will be there.”

“Exactly,” Macaire said with a smile, then turned his attention to me. “Collecting another one? She doesn’t seem to be quite your type.”

“Yes, well, I’m open to new experiences,” I said with an ugly smile before turning my attention to Sofia. “What can you tell me about Odelia’s party tonight? Have you ever been?”

“I’ve been a few times. As far as I know, every nightwalker in the city makes an appearance at this ball with his or her pets. It’s a very formal affair with elegant ball gowns and beautiful suits. Veyron always called it the only civilized affair of the year because there was no fighting and no werewolves present.”

“What about warlocks or witches?” Danaus inquired, before I could.

“Not as far as I know. Just vampires and their pets, which are always humans,” she said with a pretty smile for him.

“Then I guess we’re going to a ball tonight, gentlemen. It’s a shame that Valerio can’t make it, because this is exactly the kind of thing that would have raised his spirits. Where is it held?”

“I’m not exactly sure,” Sofia said, “but it’s always been in a private castle in the Castle District.”

“I’m sure we can find it with little problem,” Stefan interrupted, arching one eyebrow at me. “We can just focus on the heavy concentration of nightwalkers in the middle of the city.”

“Then we should get going,” I said. “The sooner this mess is taken care of, the sooner we can get back to Venice. Danaus, stay behind and protect Sofia while I am out tonight. Macaire, Stefan, and I apparently have a formal ball to attend.”

“Is that what you’re wearing?” Stefan demanded, looking me up and down. I was back in my leather pants and leather halter top with its varied selection of knives spread across my body.

My smile widened for him, allowing my fangs to peek out. I wrapped one arm around his shoulders, forcing him to place an arm around my back so his hand rested on my hip. “My ball gown is at the cleaners. I’m sure they will understand. Besides, this makes the impression that I want to leave behind.”

A reluctant smile tweaked one corner of his mouth. “Blood, fear, and ruthless violence,” Stefan said.

“Like Macaire said, it’s all about leaving the right impression, and I have no doubt this is the one I want to leave behind in Budapest if I am to be both her keeper and a coven Elder. Let’s dance,” I said, grinning at my companion in violence. Despite the fact that he still wanted me dead, Stefan and I were starting to get along very well. But then he always loved a bloodbath and terror in his victims. Something I was starting to be good at once again.

No matter. It was time to crash Odelia’s party, and for once, I couldn’t wait, even if I did have Macaire tagging along.

O delia’s Solstice Ball was an extravagant affair. But considering what little I did now of her, I had expected nothing less. She was a relatively young nightwalker who liked to pretend to be much older than she was, reveling in the so-called “good old days,” when she never really lived through them in the first place. This Solstice Ball was just another excuse for her to preside over the younger nightwalkers and strut about as if she were something truly awesome to behold.

The only problem was, the three nightwalkers walking into her party were truly awesome to behold, and we didn’t like to share the limelight.

Unfortunately, Sofia either lied about the guest list or Odelia made some last minute modifications due to my recent behavior in Budapest. I had expected a lavish party of roughly one hundred people—half nightwalkers and the other half their human pets. When we arrived at the gathering, we discovered that the body count was well over two hundred, and nightwalkers accounted for less than quarter of those people. To prevent any kind of scene, particularly a violent bloody scene, Odelia had surrounded herself with humans. We could wipe only so many memories and control only so many minds at one time. This crowd was too big, and Odelia knew she was safe as long as she remained within it. It was a disappointing development, but I was not going to let it spoil my evening.

Macaire and I strolled into a grand ballroom laced in silver and gold decorations. A giant Christmas tree rose up in the far corner, glowing with twinkling white lights that reflected off red globe ornaments. Along either wall, enormous tables had been set up and were laden with gourmet dishes and artfully crafted ice sculptures. On the balcony overlooking the second floor, a string ensemble was playing music for the dancers in the middle of the ballroom.

Standing in that ballroom, I watched the swish and flow of the elegant ball gowns as the women were twirled around the floor. There was laughter and soft conversation in the air. I longed to have Valerio at my side. The scene played before me was like a crisp memory of a time not so long ago. Centuries ago, he and I had attended balls similar to this one, where we waltzed and laughed before luring our prey off to a secluded dark corner to feed. It had been such a seemingly innocent and light time in my life, which was now so far from my reach.