"Well, we need to tell you about that some other time." Franklin was putting me off, I could tell.

"They haven't turned my palace into a casino, have they?" I was just about to come off the bed anyway.

"Lissa, I think Kifirin would murder everybody if that happened," Franklin replied, fluffing my pillow. "Now, will you sit still while I round up something for you to eat, or do I have to wake someone to watch you while I go to the kitchen?"

"I'll sit still." I wasn't happy, but I didn't want everybody in the house forced out of bed because I wanted a sandwich and a glass of juice.

Frank even had something to eat with me, then threatened to put me in a healing sleep afterward when I told him I wanted to brush my teeth. "Do it with power," he grumped, his arms crossed over his chest. I cleaned my teeth with a bit of power, and he made sure I hadn't dislodged any of my tubes. Yeah, I hate those things in my hand and arm. Franklin stubbornly sat on his chair, although I tried to get him to go to bed. I even offered to scoot over so he could have the side of my bed. He refused and out-stubborned me to sleep.

* * *

"Liiisssa."

"Huh?" My eyes were refusing to open, like always. My mouth always works first. I'm sure most people I know would prefer things to be just the opposite.

"Thank goodness. We were worried Frank had imagined this." Drake held me against his chest, and Drew was impatiently waiting for his brother to scoot out of the way when my eyes cooperated eventually.

"Hi, honey," I lifted a hand and stroked Drake's cheek.

"Karzac's on his way," Drew hissed, so Drake handed me over. The stupid tubes were still attached, and I sure hoped Karzac would take the damn things out. Drew leaned down and kissed me while I got babied in his arms. Yeah, I like my Falchani. They put me back in bed just before Karzac walked into the room.

"Lissa is awake and do you send mindspeech?" Karzac could find something to grumble about in any situation, I think.

"Honey, I think I'll buy you a planet," I said.

"Lissa, do we need a psychiatric evaluation?" Karzac had an eyebrow lifted as he came to stand at my bedside.

"Now see, you just proved to me that you can find the flaw in any situation," I pointed a finger at him. Drake and Drew were doing their best not to snicker. "And it's nice to see you, too," I added. "Can I get in the hot tub now?"

"Lissa, please do not force me to slap my forehead. I have watched over your unconscious body for weeks now, and the first things out of your mouth are buying a planet and soaking in a hot tub?" Karzac was shaking his head in disbelief.

"I feel cold," I grumped.

"Then say that, instead of asking to get in the hot tub."

"Damn, no hot tub," I muttered. "Can I get a kiss, at least?" That I got, several times over, with a little mindspeech, too, telling me not to worry him like that again. I also got a big, thick quilt over my bed and the tubes pulled out.

"You may get up with assistance for dinner, if you feel well enough. Lunch will be brought in—I'm sure your other mates will come calling." Karzac was sending the IV stand somewhere and getting rid of the used blood bag with a thought. I never asked him what he did with that stuff.

"You could get in bed with me," I mumbled softly.

"Do not tempt me, Lissa," Karzac was very close to shaking a finger, I think. Instead, he sat on the edge of my bed, took my face in his hands and bumped his forehead against mine. "Promise you will not leave me," he whispered. "Promise me."

"If I go, I'll take you with me," I whispered back.

"As long as we talk it over, first," he replied and kissed me again before walking out of the room.

Of course, that left both sides of my bed open, so I was warmed nicely by two well-muscled Falchani. I slept like a lazy lizard in the sun between them.

* * *

"Dad, I don't like this, and I have no idea what it will do to Lissa." Shadow raked a hand through dark hair as he stared angrily at his father, Raffian Grey, and his grandfather, Glendes, Eldest of Grey House.

"There is nothing to prevent you from having another mate, and Melida of Belancour will give you children," Glendes pointed out. "I have already had a rather lengthy discussion with my daughters—Kyler and Cleo worry about Lissa, too, but she's a vampire, Shadow. She can't help you pass on your talent to future generations of Greys. That's why this is so important."

"Grampa, I don't want any part of this," Shadow huffed.

"This is a viable offer, Shadow, and one I don't want lose," Glendes snapped. "Marid says that other clans are interested, if we don't move in the next few days. Melida's spouse was killed in a raid on Cloudsong—he'd been hired by the King to act as bodyguard and was caught in the ambush that killed the crown prince. Melida lost their child over the stress of that, and now her father is looking to place her with a family who might care for her."

"You act as if I ought to just jump right in bed with her," Shadow cursed expertly after his statement. "Just dump Lissa for somebody who can get pregnant."

"We're not telling you to dump Lissa," Raffian swore briefly to illustrate his point. "Son, you and I both know that Lissa almost left you behind. That she almost left all her mates behind. You can't say she won't do the same thing in the future, either. You need another wife—one who can have children. You have a strong gift and it should be passed to another generation."

"Well, Dad, nobody is guaranteed a continued existence. Besides, what would you do if Mom couldn't have babies? Kick her out of bed in favor of somebody who could?" Shadow didn't want anyone to interfere in his relationships, and it was troubling enough that Lissa had nearly walked away from him and the others.

"Son, that's not what I'm suggesting," Raffian sighed. "We both signed the contract with Grey House to provide heirs. If Shannon couldn't conceive, well," Raffian didn't finish.

Shadow growled in frustration. He'd signed the contract, just as his father pointed out. He was regretting it, now. "What will Melida expect?" he snapped. "I don't love her. I haven't even met her, for the sky's sake. Will she think she's just a brood mare? That's what it sounds like to me."

"Son, marriages are arranged between wizard clans all the time, and those usually have no love involved. It's to maintain or strengthen the wizard's gifts. Melida's first marriage was a love match—her father allowed it, although Findal wasn't as wealthy or as talented as others Melida might have married. Marid's stipulation was that Findal join the Belancours instead of staying with his family and bringing Melida to them. I think Melida knows how things stand, now—she's a widow; she has no place with Findal's family and she wants children, though her father says she has no desire to replace Findal in her heart."

"Fine, Dad, why don't you take her, then, and pass on more of those genes you're so proud of?" Shadow snapped. "Because when or if Melida gets pregnant, it will upset Lissa. It's not her fault she can't have children. I've talked with Drake and Drew. I know what her reaction was when she learned Grace was pregnant with Kevis. She demanded that Karzac stay with Grace and raise the baby. She doesn't expect him to visit and she never asks for any of his time. This will drive a wedge between Lissa and me. Why can't either of you see that?"

"You will stop this now," Glendes thundered. The Eldest of Grey House was finally weighing in. "You need to father children, Shadow. It's in the contract you signed with me and with Grey House. Melida is the best offer we've had—she already knows you have one mate and doesn't seem to mind. Anyone else would demand to be your only spouse, and if she didn't, she certainly wouldn't consent to be eclipsed by a Vampire Queen. I suggest you accept this offer within the next three days." Glendes flipped his black robes and folded out of Shadow's workshop.

"Dad, right now I think I hate you and Grampa both," Shadow growled at Raffian before folding away.

* * *

Radomir handled the meeting, because Gavin wanted to kill Norian Keef. Norian sat inside Gavin's office at the palace, nervously tapping a foot. That in itself irritated Gavin to the point of red-eyed, lengthy-fanged murder. Radomir worked to calm Norian while Gavin looked on, mentally considering the many, painful ways Norian might meet his end.

This meeting was only taking place because every ruling member of an Alliance world was given an assignment at the end of each Conclave. Ildevar Wyyld, Founder of the Alliance, along with the twenty members of the Grand Alliance Council handed out these assignments. Normally, it was committee assignments. Lissa had been handed the position of Liaison for the Alliance Security Detail—the equivalent of the FBI, CIA and NSA combined on Earth. All Alliance spies and special tactics operatives worked for the ASD and they had been moved, lock, stock and overstuffed barrel, straight to Le-Ath Veronis once the assignment was announced.

The ASD's Director, Norian Keef, thought Lissa was recuperating from wounds received from a battle with several Ra'Ak, after Alliance regulars had failed to take the giant serpents down at the Five Year Conclave. As he was forced to consult with her before engaging in sensitive missions, Norian expected daily reports on Lissa's status. He was also demanding a meeting with her as early as possible.

Lissa had been taken initially to Le-Ath Veronis, but upon the arrival of Norian Keef and the ASD, she'd been secretly moved to Gryphon Hall. Gavin had only received word that Lissa had wakened—he and Lissa's other mates were more than worried that she might not return to her body. Kifirin indicated at the beginning that the final choice was hers.

"While I realize the Alliance voted to allow each member planet to approve their own religions, it is in our best interests to investigate the new ones anyway. We do not need Solar Red or any number of other unhealthy factions to gain a legitimate toehold on any world. Surely you understand this," Norian Keef fumed as he paced in front of Radomir. "I cannot proceed with this covert operation until I have Queen Lissa's permission."