Chapter 18: Morning Round

Lucas pulled on trousers and a shirt that was not his.

He went down the stairs with three vampires behind him.

Valentine stood on the stoop in a velvet jacket and a scarf, with the street lamp behind him.

He did not step toward the door.

"May I come in, Lucas?" he said.

It was the third time he had asked.

Lucas looked at the rings on his hands and the mild, tired face under the black waves of hair.

"You told me the truth in the Gilt Room when you didn't have to," he said.

"I did."

"Come in."

Valentine stepped over the sill.

He stopped just inside and laid two fingers on the doorframe, for a moment, and did not say anything.

Then he took off his scarf.

In the kitchen Thomas put the kettle on, because it was something to do with his hands.

Luke stood with his back against the counter where he had been spanked, arms folded, carefully not looking at it.

Valentine sat at the table.

"You have a night," he said. "Then a day, then midnight."

He folded his hands.

"Abysis has sent riders to all seven houses of the court. Every lord will be in the opera house on Saturday."

"To watch him punish me," Lucas said.

"To watch him take your three back." Valentine turned a ring. "He can't command them. He knows it now."

"So?"

"A lord whose word is broken in front of his court must break it back. He will try to make them disobey you in front of everyone."

"How?"

"The cup." Valentine looked at Luke. "He'll put one in front of each of them and order them to drink. He'll give the order himself."

Luke's arms tightened.

"And that's good," Valentine said.

Noah stared at him.

"It's the best news we have. Under the Keeping, no lord may command a kept vampire. That's the oldest law the court has."

He leaned back.

"If he gives that order in front of seven houses, he has broken it with his own mouth."

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