“Why Baltimore?”

Marcus shrugged. “He’d mentioned earlier that he wanted to attend some concert on Wednesday night and was pissed that you wouldn’t let him have the night off. So I figured he’d be willing to switch. I’m sorry.”

Surprised that he’d been such a strict ruler, not granting his guards a night off when it didn’t seem to make a difference which guard was on duty, Cain leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. “Tell me something else, Marcus.”

The vampire lifted his head.

“In your opinion, did I treat all of you, the guards, fair and just?” With bated breath he waited for Marcus’s reply. Had he maybe been a bad ruler, and one of his guards had taken it upon himself to remove him? Who else could have had unfettered access to him and known where he was at all times?

“I never had any complaints.”

“And the others?”

“Not to my knowledge.”

“What’s your opinion of John?”

“John?”

“Yes, the leader of the king’s guard. What’s your feeling about him?” Cain pressed.

“I would never say a bad word about him,” Marcus replied quickly. “Nobody would.”

“Why is that?”

Marcus shot up from his chair. “There’s no need trying to trick me. No matter my feelings about John, you know as well as everybody else at court that insulting John would be insulting you personally. Even before you became king, offending one of you meant offending both of you.”

Cain pondered Marcus’s passionate statement. “Even before I was king, you say?”

Marcus cast him a guarded look, but answered nevertheless. “When you were leader of the king’s guard, John was always there to back you up. That’s why you made him leader of the king’s guard when you became king a couple of years ago.”

He’d been leader of the king’s guards once? Cain had always assumed that he’d been king for a long time, but according to Marcus he’d only been on the throne for a short time before the assassination attempt.

“Thank you, Marcus. I appreciate your candor. On your way out, Wes will take down the names of the new guards.”

Cain turned away and walked to the window, staring out into the darkness. How had he risen from leader of the king’s personal guard to king? He’d assumed that he was from a royal line and had ascended to the throne because he was a member of the aristocracy. However, it appeared that he was a warrior like the guards around him. No wonder he’d felt at home with Scanguards. Protecting others ran in his blood. How long had he been a guard? And under what circumstances had he become king?

He turned away from the window and saw Marcus walk to the door. “One more thing, Marcus.”

The man looked over his shoulder. “Yes?”

“Make a list for me of all the guards who were in my service while I was leader of the king’s guards and are still in the court’s service today.”

“It will be on your desk shortly.” Marcus opened the door and stepped outside.

Before the door could close fully behind him, another person entered: Abel.

“Hope I’m not disturbing, Cain, but I just wanted a quick word. May I?”

Cain waived his hand to invite him into the room. The door closed behind Abel who gave a friendly nod in Thomas’s direction, then greeted Wesley. “I hope Robert’s order of human food was appropriate.”

“It was great, thanks,” Wes answered.

“Excellent,” Abel said and finally turned to Cain. “I know you’re busy, so I won’t take much of your time.”

“What can I do for you?” Cain walked back to his desk and motioned his brother to sit down.

Abel declined the invitation with a movement of his hand. “I only want to share an idea with you. As you know, in a week, my coronation would have taken place, which of course under the circumstances is cancelled.”

Cain felt his heartbeat kick up a notch, curious as to why his brother had to remind him that the rightful king’s reappearance had upset Abel’s plans of taking the throne. “Yes?”

“Well, a lot of the arrangements have been made, and we’ve already incurred considerable expenses for this large gathering. Many vampires have been invited and have made travel arrangements, and I was wondering—”

“You were wondering what?” Cain ground out impatiently.

“Why don’t we repurpose the event and turn it into a welcome home celebration for you instead?”