Stark heard a few of the Council members draw in breath at Aphrodite’s brash words and registered the smug, “I told you they were out of control” look Neferet shared with several of the vamps, but Thanatos responded smoothly. “What Aether is saying is that the layers of spirit that make Zoey who she is today—her past lives, her past experiences, her personality—have been stripped from her, and without those layers intact, it is impossible for her to rest in the Otherworld, or for her spirit to return to her body here in this world. Think of it as if you had been in a terrible accident and the layers of skin and muscle and bone that protect your heart have been peeled away from your body, leaving that vital organ bare and defenseless. What would happen to you then?”
Aphrodite paused, and Stark thought she hesitated because she didn’t want to say the obvious answer, but she glanced at him, and when their eyes met, he was surprised to see triumph and excitement in hers. “If my heart didn’t have any protection, it wouldn’t keep beating. So why not get Zoey some protection?”
Protection! I’m Zoey’s protection! A small quiver of hope moved through his body. “I’m her protection!” he said quickly. “I don’t care if it’s in this world or the next. Just show me how to get to where she is, and I’ll be there for her.”
“That does, indeed, sound logical, Stark,” Thanatos said. “But your gifts are that of a Warrior, which means your skills are corporeal and not of the spirit realm.”
“Protection is protection,” Stark insisted. “Just show me how to get where she is, and I’ll figure the rest of it out.”
“Zoey must make her spirit whole again, and that is a battle you cannot fight for her,” Aether said.
“But I can be there for her while she gets herself together. I can protect her,” Stark insisted.
“A living Warrior cannot enter the Otherworld. Not even to follow his High Priestess,” Aether said.
“Should you attempt it, you would be lost, too,” Duantia said.
“You don’t know that for sure,” Stark said.
“In our recorded history, there is no Warrior who has recovered from attempting to follow his Priestess’s shattered spirit into the Other-world. All of them perished—every Warrior and every High Priestess,” Thanatos said.
Stark felt a jolt of surprise. He hadn’t even thought of that—that he’d die, too. With a detached sense of curiosity, he realized he didn’t really mind the idea of dying, not if he could fulfill his Oath to Zoey; but before he could respond, Neferet’s cold voice intruded again. “And all of those Warriors and High Priestesses were older and more experienced than you.”
“Maybe that was their problem.” Aphrodite pitched her voice low enough that only Stark heard her murmur. “They were too old and had too much experience.”
Hope shivered through Stark again. He turned to Duantia. “I was wrong before. Neferet should be able to take Kalona to wherever she wants to take him, but I want the same right to take Zoey with me.” He paused and made a gesture that included Aphrodite, Darius, and the other kids who were huddled together not far from them. “We want to take Zoey with us.”
“Stark, I cannot agree to what would amount to a death sentence for you, too.” Duantia’s voice was compassionate but firm. “Within this next week, Zoey is going to die. The best place for her is here, in our infirmary, being kept comfortable during the time she has left. The best thing for you to do would be to prepare yourself for that outcome and not sacrifice yourself in a futile attempt to save her.”
“You are very young,” Thanatos said. “You have a long and productive life before you. Don’t cut Fate’s thread for you.”
“Zoey will remain here until the end.” Duantia nodded in agreement. “You may, of course, stay by her side.”
“Um, excuse me. I don’t mean to be disrespectful or anything.” Everyone’s attention turned to Zoey’s group of friends, who had, until then, been mostly silent with grief and shock. Damien’s hand was raised like he was in a classroom waiting for the teacher to call on him.
“Who are you, fledgling?” asked Duantia.
“My name is Damien, and I’m one of Zoey’s friends.”
“He also has an affinity for air,” Jack added, wiping a hand across his tear-streaked face.
“Ah, I have been told of you,” Duantia said. “Do you wish to address the Council?”
“He is a fledgling. He should be seen and not heard in Council meetings,” Neferet snapped.
“I didn’t know you spoke for the Vampyre High Council, Neferet,” Aphrodite said.
“She does not,” said Thanatos, giving Neferet a hard look before turning to Damien. “Fledgling, do you wish to address the Council?”
Damien sat up straighter, swallowed hard, and said, “Affirmative.”
Thanatos’s lips twitched with the beginnings of a smile. “Then you may speak. You may also put down your hand, Damien.”
“Oh, thank you.” Damien’s hand hastily retreated. “Well, all I wanted to say, very respectfully, is vampyre law states that, as Zoey’s Oath Bound Warrior, it is Stark’s right to decide where and how she should be protected. At least that’s what I remember from my notes last semester in Vampyre Sociology Class.”
“Zoey is dying.” Duantia’s words were harsh, but her tone was gentle. “You must understand that her Warrior will soon be released from his Oath.”
“I do understand. But she’s not dead yet, and all I’m saying is that her Warrior has the right to be her protector, in anyway he believes is best for her, as long as she is alive.”
“I have to agree with the fledgling,” Thanatos said, nodding respectfully to Damien. “He is absolutely correct in principle. It is law, as well as a Warrior’s Oath Bound responsibility, to decide what is best for his High Priestess’s safety. Zoey Redbird is living; therefore, she is still under her Warrior’s protection.”
“And the rest of my Council? Do you agree with Thanatos?” Duantia asked.
Stark held his breath while the other five High Priestesses either spoke solemn yeses or gave small nods.
“Well done, fledgling Damien,” Thanatos said.
Damien’s cheeks turned pink. “Thank you, Priestess.”
Duantia shook her head. “For my part, I am not as pleased as Thanatos at the prospect of the death of a promising young Warrior.” Then the vampyre shrugged with acquiescence. “But the Council is in agreement. Though it saddens me, I bow to the will of my Council and to our laws. Stark, where is it you would like to take your High Priestess for her last days?”
Before he could respond, Neferet’s cold voice cut in. “Am I to assume this little quorum of agreement means I am also free to leave and to take my consort with me?”
“We already decided upon that, Neferet.” Thanatos’s tone matched her chill for chill. “Under the conditions set, you may return to Capri with your consort’s body.”
“Thank you,” Neferet said shortly. She made a brusque gesture at the Sons of Erebus who had carried Kalona into the Council Chamber on the litter. “Bring Erebus. We are leaving this place.” With the barest of bows to the Council, Neferet strode imperiously from the room.
Everyone was watching her exit when Aphrodite grabbed Stark’s arm, and said urgently, “Stall. Don’t give them an answer about where you want to take Zoey.”
“Now that that interruption is gone, you are free to tell the Council where it is you’d like to take your High Priestess, Stark,” Thanatos said.
“Right now I want to take her to our room in the palace. That is, if you say it’s okay. I really need some time to think about what’s best for Zoey, and I haven’t had a chance to do that.”
“Young but wise.” Thanatos smiled in approval.
“I am pleased it seems you’ve been able to rein in your anger, Warrior,” Duantia said. “May you continue to think clearly and wisely.”
Stark clenched his teeth together and bowed his head respectfully, careful not to meet any of the Council members’ gazes, afraid that they would see the reality of his un-reined anger.