A/N: Oh, readers, my dear readers, how I love you. 26 chapters and over 100,000 words into this story, and you're still with me. Natalie's gone from ordinary ghoul, barely separated from kine by the blood of her master, to a fledgling Ventrue, her heart growing colder and more calculating by the night, the coldness only being staved off slightly by her love for her sire. Without you guys reading and supporting me with reviews and chats, she never would have made it THIS far; and she's still got quite a distance to go before those looming words of "THE END" pop up at the bottom of this page. I LOVE you all! Thanks for reading and for the reviews! :D

Once I got myself into the right attitude about my work, I completed my scholastic training easily. I think I surprised even LaCroix, albeit pleasantly. Not quite another week had passed before I found myself standing in front of LaCroix's full length mirror in the bedroom, admiring how the black dress he'd bought for me to wear to my presentation gala seemed to cling in all the right places. Tiny silver threads were woven into the material, making the dress shimmer whenever I moved. I'd protested against his buying me another expensive dress, reminding him that I still had the one I'd worn to Samantha's birthday party. He'd seemed rather annoyed at the fact that I didn't realize it was gauche to wear the same dress to two separate Ventrue events, especially when the latter was in my own honor.

LaCroix himself had taken his leave, letting me know that he'd be getting ready in his office if I needed him. That was hours earlier, leaving me ample time to finally take the long, luxurious bath I'd been wanting. It struck me as I'd sunk into the warm water just how human the whole ritual was. After all, vampires don't exactly sweat unless under extreme duress; and even then, one would sweat blood, I'd learned. Nevertheless, the bath was comforting, perhaps because it allowed me to appreciate what humanity I had left. I was fast beginning to understand what LaCroix meant when he'd said that a certain amount of one's humanity was always to be kept.

I was in the middle of applying a touch of silver eyeshadow when there was a knock at the bedroom door. "Come in," I answered.

LaCroix entered the room wearing a black tuxedo, jacket open to reveal a dark silver vest and tie over a white shirt. I smiled at him, fully aware that we were slightly matching. Whether or not he'd planned such a thing, I had no way of knowing. He glanced at the makeup palette in my hand and frowned a little. "You've no need for that."

I smiled at the veiled compliment. "Oh, leave me be," I prodded gently. "It's habit. Makes me feel a little less naked."

I heard LaCroix give a slight huff of disapproval, but he didn't say anything more. Instead, he passed me and sat on the bed, watching me. It made me feel a little self-conscious, but I tried to keep him from knowing that. Finally, though, I couldn't bear it any longer. I was about to put a little gloss on my lips when I laughed and turned to him. "You can't possibly find this entertaining," I said.

He shook his head, giving me a tight smile. "No, nor do I find it necessary." He stood and walked over to me, taking the gloss from my hand and setting it on the nightstand with the rest of my makeup. "I don't want to be tasting that all night," he said quietly.

I grinned up at him, taking note of the fact that he'd not let go of the hand from which he'd taken the lip gloss. "Oh? You're planning a display of affection?" I purred.

"Not planning," he corrected. "Merely...making certain there won't be any disagreeable factors in play should such a display be appropriate. For whatever reason." I nodded, trying to keep a straight face at what I viewed as a flimsy excuse. Of course, in front of the whole Ventrue population of Los Angeles, we'd be once again playing our parts of lovers. I, for one, was looking forward to it. It would be a nice contrast compared to the previous week and a half. Of course, I couldn't tell how LaCroix thought of it; but judging by his current behavior, he wasn't seeming to mind much.

"As you wish, then, my Prince," I said, smiling at him.

"Ah. Yes, that reminds me," he said suddenly, letting go of my hand and walking into the bathroom. I didn't follow, choosing to sit on the bed instead. From the other room, he said, "Considering the situation, I trust you'll know how to address me should you need to?"

I hesitated. It had taken only one threat of punishment to get me in the habit of calling him by his title. Under this guise, though... "One would not call her lover by his title, I suppose," I said cautiously.

LaCroix came back out, straightening his coat. I could tell his hair was freshly recombed; and I could smell his cologne, stronger than usual since he'd apparently just applied it. "Good." He stopped in front of me, offering his hand to help me up, which I took. "Formal attire suits you," he noted softly.

I smiled. "As it does you." He returned the smile a bit more genuinely than I was used to seeing, tucking my hand into the crook of his arm as he led me out of the bedroom. I smiled, deciding to bring voice to my thoughts. "So, I get to call you Sebastian tonight?"

He gave me a strange look. "If you must."

I chuckled. "Well, I certainly can't be calling you 'Mr. LaCroix' or the like, now can I?"

"Of course not. Why do you ask if we've already established that you've permission?"

I grinned and shrugged, letting him open the door to the suite for me. Before leaving the room, I turned to him in the doorway. "I like calling you Sebastian. It just...fits." As I turned to walk to the elevator, I noted his look of confusion.

Sure enough, he said, "I'm not sure I understand your meaning."

As we waited for the elevator, I laughed. "It's the way you carry yourself, I guess. Even if you weren't a Prince, you've got a regality that's undeniable to anyone who's seen you, let alone talked to you. I'm willing to bet that you were born into money, if not nobility. The name Sebastian suits someone like you."

LaCroix stared at me incredulously for a moment until the gentle chime of the elevator's announcing its arrival and the whooshing of the doors opening snapped him out of it. "Er...yes, you're right," he said as we entered the elevator. "My mortal family was one of the wealthiest in the area at the time."

I grinned at him. "It shows. In all these years, you've never lost that air. Of course, I suppose you'd have no reason to lose it, as you certainly have gained power on top of what your family name already had."

He looked at me for a couple more moments before shaking his head with a chuckle. "I've created a monster," he said lightly.

"I beg your pardon?" I asked. His laugh had caught me off guard, his words even more so.

"Two weeks ago, when under no risk of being overheard by anyone, you'd have never spoken with such refinement or insight. Now listen to you. While you're still touching on subjects more personal than etiquette would normally allow, your way of speech would lead one to believe that you'd counted multitudes of high-ranking Ventrue as your mentors already."

I smiled, reaching up to touch his face gently. "How fortunate for me that my first mentor is the best I could ever hope to have," I said, fully aware that I was laying on the praise rather thickly. I didn't care. He'd dropped the persona of master and become my proud sire, and I loved him for it. I wanted him to know that I wouldn't let him down, that I wanted him to be proud to have me by his side, ruling the city together, being-

Wait...ruling the city together? I thought suddenly. When have I ever wanted that? This is his city. To claim it as ours without his stating his intent to share it makes it sound as if I wish to take his power for my own.

"Are you all right?" LaCroix's voice jerked me from my thoughts, and I blinked up at him. My hand was still against his cheek, but I hadn't noticed that his expression had changed from a smile to a frown until then

"Yes, I'm fine," I said, turning to the door as it opened in front of us. I knew LaCroix didn't believe me, but he didn't say anything as he led me outside and into the waiting limousine.

My own thoughts had disturbed me. I knew it was in part due to my being Ventrue now, but I didn't like the fact that I'd apparently been subconsciously expecting to share Los Angeles with LaCroix. He would never share his city, no matter what. I knew that. After thinking about it for a few more moments, I rationalized that my desire to be with him was in strong conflict with my Ventrue blood, trying to dream up ways for us to remain together and give me the leadership and power my clan had been granted from inception. If I were to claim another city as my own, I couldn't be with LaCroix; this vexed the part of me bound to him through blood. If I stayed by his side, I'd never be anything more than his trophy, never have anything to call my own, never have the opportunity to build my dignitas beyond that which automatically came from being the Prince's lover; this vexed the blue blood lying cold in my veins. And worse, I came to realize that, because I was LaCroix's childe, I wouldn't be satisfied by gaining small business holdings in his city. No, being the childe of Sebastian LaCroix, Camarilla Prince of Los Angeles, I felt the need to build my own empire, whether business or Camarilla based, possibly both as he'd done. His ambitious nature had become my own or perhaps brought out in me that which I'd never known to be deep under my surface. Either way, these ambitions posed a problem to the part of me that was now reaching for his hand and glowing warmly as he let me take it, his own hand pulling mine onto his leg in a gesture that seemed almost possessive.

We were driven to an exclusive country club in Beverly Hills. LaCroix had rented it for the presentation, turning down numerous security organizations who'd been informed that the CEO of the LaCroix Foundation was having a party of some sort and were trying to offer their services to the cause. Of course, the Prince had his own security in place this night, made up of Kindred stationed outside the doors of the club. Even these security personnel were not allowed into the party. Any Ventrue who may have wanted to cause trouble would be swiftly dealt with by his own clanmates. Not that any true Ventrue would cause such a brutish ruckus.

The limo dropped us off at the front door, and LaCroix led me inside. Of course, when news began to spread that we'd arrived, we quickly gained the attention of every Ventrue in the room, even without either of us using our Presence to influence it. I swallowed back the feelings of being overwhelmed as I noted how many Ventrue were attending the event. I had to impress all of them. Plastering a small smile on my face, I reminded myself that I had everything needed to get through this. I am Ventrue. One of them. LaCroix's blood is in my veins. Everything will be fine.

I looked up at LaCroix as he stopped to check his pocket watch. "We've got another twenty minutes until midnight," he murmured.

"What happens at midnight?" I asked.

He gave me a small smile. "Your formal presentation," he told me. "Everyone will gather, and I will present you as my childe officially from the stage." He gestured across the room, and I noticed a small stage where a string quartet was playing softly.

"I...won't be expected to say anything, will I?" I asked in a small voice. My Ventrue resolve was fading fast, and I was feeling more like plain old Natalie Lucas than I had in the whole past week.

LaCroix chuckled, patting my hand on his arm. "No. You'll step to the forefront of the stage beside me when I announce you, but there's no need for you to address the clan unless you wish to do so."

I shook my head, curls bouncing around my face as I did. "Definitely not," I said.

My emphatic reaction seemed to amuse LaCroix. "Come now, don't tell me public speaking frightens you?"

I pouted a little, looking up at him. "I know I'll probably need to get used to it eventually, but not while in the middle of my Agoge..."

He chuckled again. "Fair enough. Come. We must make the rounds and ensure everyone is here." I nodded and let him lead me around the floor, smiling and greeting those with whom LaCroix stopped to talk, allowing the men to kiss my hand and kissing the cheek of the women, just as I'd been taught. I said not a word besides a murmur of thanks or greeting when I was spoken to directly. Every time we departed from a group of guests, I heard them begin to talk quietly amongst themselves, presumably about me. All of my resolve was concentrated in keeping my smile in place and not fidgeting with my jewelry or dress as I felt their eyes on me. I couldn't appear self-conscious; it would be viewed as vanity and weakness by the clan. I'd planned earlier in the evening to try to come off as confident and calm but enthusiastic about being presented to the clan. Not too enthusiastic. Perhaps that was one of the hardest parts of becoming Ventrue: restraining emotion, especially happy ones. I'd been taught that even the purest happiness could be used against a person and was to be restrained into a mere outwards appearance of being content.

Once we had made our "rounds," LaCroix checked his watch again and wordlessly led me to the stage. We took the steps slowly as I had to ensure I wouldn't trip on my dress. LaCroix stopped and let go of my hand towards the back of the stage, and I could hear the crowd's murmurs beginning to quiet. They'd noticed that we'd taken the stage. LaCroix smiled at me and gently brushed a hand across my cheek. I returned the smile, clasping my hands in front of me as I was beginning to feel the onset of jitters from being in front of the entire clan. Turning away from me, LaCroix gave a nod to the string quartet, silencing them as he walked to the front of the stage. "Fellow members of Clan Ventrue," he addressed the crowd in a strong voice. Suddenly, I was even more glad that I wasn't expected to address them myself; there was no microphone to be seen. It was LaCroix's mere presence and voice that quieted the Kindred in the room; and in line with the laws of decorum, he wasn't using any disciplines or Ventrue "charms" to grab their attention. "My clanmates. It pleases me to see so many of you present here tonight as this evening marks a very special occasion. None of us would claim it to be easy to find a mortal who is suited to be Embraced by one of our clan. In this day and age, the number of Ventrue being Embraced is falling as the human race succumbs to more crass ways of life. Therefore, occasions such as this night are always a pleasant surprise...even if tonight's event was not much of a surprise to any of you." A wave of chuckles went over the crowd. I knew what LaCroix meant as well. Our relationship, being no secret amongst Kindred after Samantha's birthday party, had undoubtedly led many Ventrue to wonder when I'd be Embraced.

The Prince waited until the clanmates present fell quiet before speaking again. "Admittedly, I met the Kindred I present to you tonight quite by accident; and it was more a matter of nepotism that brought her into my service than anything else. Her grandfather convinced me she'd be a great asset to my organization; and as he has been one of my most trustworthy ghouls for nearly thirty years, I took his word for it and hired her, bringing her on as a ghoul as well." LaCroix shook his head and chuckled softly. "The rumors most of you undoubtedly heard shortly thereafter were true for the most part. It didn't take long for me to fall for the grace and charm she exhibited even as kine. The decision to Embrace her, however, was not an easy one." He paused. Dramatic effect, I decided. "Part of her charm was how alive she was, and I didn't know how I could ever find it in myself to take that from her. Many hours were spent talking, weighing the consequences of an Embrace over leaving her as mortal. When it came to bare facts, not Embracing her meant the dissolution of...of...well, of us, frankly." I smiled thinly and wondered how long he'd thought over how the story of our "romance" should go. Looking over the crowd, I noticed a few Ventrue whispering to each other. "Yes, I'm aware," LaCroix said, raising his voice slightly to interrupt those who'd started talking, "that this means she was Embraced in part due to the feelings and emotions held between us, something that I know is looked down upon in our clan. Rightfully so. However, had such a connection never come into play, I fully believe that I still would have chosen her to be my childe due to the intelligence and potential evident in her. She began her Agoge not quite a full fortnight ago and has come leaps and bounds into her own as a member of our clan already. As many of you will find in upcoming weeks as you may take a turn in mentoring her, she will carry her weight and be—I believe-one of the greatest members of the clan to date." I swallowed hard upon hearing those words. High expectations, especially for a Prince to be showing so publicly. For him to be announcing it in this setting, I had little doubt it was true. The weight of his words fell on my shoulders, and I struggled to keep my smile on my face. He finally turned to look over his shoulder at me, giving me a smile before turning back to the crowd. "If I may, fellow clanmates of Clan Ventrue, allow me to present to you my childe, Miss Natalie Lucas."

I stepped forward with my head held high as the crowd applauded. It was soft, polite applause. If it weren't for tradition, I doubted they would have clapped at all. I approached the front of the stage and curtsied deeply and formally, bowing my head low. Stepping back a couple paces, I looked at LaCroix standing beside me. He was beaming at me. This moment seemed to be a big deal to him. Or was it just a face he was putting on for the crowd? As usual, I couldn't tell. I stopped trying to figure it out when a voice in the crowd rose above the clapping. "Speech!" Wide-eyed, I looked to see who yelled it out; but I could find no one. To my horror, another voice echoed the request. "Speech!" Then a few more. Soon, the applause had picked up in volume, shouts for me to give a speech going through the crowd like ocean waves. I glanced at LaCroix, panicked. This wasn't supposed to happen! Ventrue were supposed to be relatively quiet and demure, right? Not crying out for a speech from a fledgling! When my eyes met LaCroix's, I could tell he was intrigued. His eyes were slightly narrowed, just barely. He was watching me, waiting, seeing how I'd respond to this turn of events when he knew I didn't want to have to speak. When I looked back to the crowd, I found several of them wearing the same expression. It became clear that I was being tested, put under a spotlight to see how easily I'd break under pressure in this early stage of my Agoge. It wasn't a request for a speech; it was a challenge.

All right, then, I thought, raising my chin a little higher. This made it easier. If I was being challenged, my stubborn nature would help me through a task. I glanced back at LaCroix and gave him a small smile and nod. His own smile widened ever so slightly. Challenge accepted. I stepped back to the front of the stage, smiling at the crowd. Like when I'd been summoned by the elders of the clan, I was glad my heart no longer could beat. Its thumping in my chest would have only reminded me of how nervous and scared I was to have all those eyes on me, so many Kindred weighing my every word and judging me by them. "Clan Ventrue," I started, trying to project my voice like LaCroix. I didn't feel as if my words were as clear and strong as his, but the Kindred gathered began to quiet anyway. I waited until I could be heard more easily, then tried to give as comfortable a smile as I could manage. "Thank you, all of you. I'll admit that I'm rather surprised that you wish to listen to the words of such a young one as myself, but I am overwhelmingly humbled by it as well. I have very little to say, I'm afraid; so I'll be brief." I paused, my smile becoming more genuine. This wasn't so bad, the more I thought about it. My clanmates weren't exactly going to interrupt me or heckle me. Too rude. Not Ventrue style at all. I silently thanked whatever fates at brought me to this point that I hadn't been Embraced into Clan Brujah or one of the other less etiquette-minded clans. "I was fortunate enough to learn a little about this clan before my Embrace thanks to being directly employed by Prince LaCroix, so the honor of being brought into Clan Ventrue was not lost on me. And as if that honor wasn't enough, my Embrace was granted to me by a Kindred that I had looked up to since I first began to work for the LaCroix Foundation. I was afraid that I was not fit to be counted among those who share the blood of Ventrue, but Prince LaCroix showed unshakable faith in me. Now that I am part of the clan, it is my goal to show all of you exactly why he has that sort of faith in my abilities. I want nothing more than to contribute to the honor and dignitas of Clan Ventrue as a whole. I thank you all for the warm reception this night, and I am looking forward to getting to know all of you individually as I continue my Agoge. I know there is much that I will learn from my prospective mentors, and I welcome such opportunities." Giving the crowd a bright smile, I bowed low again. "Once more, thank you all, and good evening."

A split second of silence made me panic that I'd done or said something wrong, but the crowd slowly began to applaud. I turned and walked back to where LaCroix was standing at the back of the stage with his hands clasped behind his back. He smiled at me and gently cradled my cheek in his hand for a moment before slipping an arm around my waist and guiding me off the stage. I felt shaky. Either I'd confirmed that vampires retained the ability to produce adrenaline or at least something like it, or power of suggestion was bringing back an old human reaction of trembling. "Was that okay?" I asked LaCroix softly.

"I don't know why you were so afraid of speaking," he said with a chuckle. "You rose to the challenge put in front of you with more ease than any of them could have expected."

"'Any of them'?" I repeated, glancing up at him. "What about you?"

He laughed lightly again. "There was no doubt in my mind you'd do well when the call went up."

His words made me want to giggle and hug him. Such open praise from him gave me an amazing feeling. Instead, however, remembering where we were, I merely put my arm around his waist and hugged him close to my side with a grin on my face. "It did seem odd that someone would shout out for a speech," I noted.

"Indeed. But not completely surprising. There are several who want to prove that I've made a bad choice in Embracing you."

"Especially after you admitted it was fueled by emotion?" I asked carefully.

"Yes." He left his answer at that one word.

For the next several hours, we chatted with our clanmates, extricating ourselves from one conversation just to fall into another. Our most amusing encounter, however, was from a Ventrue who'd traveled quite a distance to attend, as he was an old business acquaintance of LaCroix's. He asked me if I had any siblings who would be just as suited for the clan as I was, hardly even veiling his jealousy that I was someone else's childe. In response, I smiled graciously and apologized that I did not. Like hell I'd tell him about Scottie, my brother back in New York. The Ventrue seemed disappointed and walked away with an air that told me I was no longer of any use to him.

"It's good to see you haven't let sentiment cloud your judgment completely, Prince LaCroix," a male voice said from behind us. I recognized the voice but couldn't place name to it until we turned to see Ingram and Layla. It was a struggle to keep a smile on my face instead of a look of shock. I'd had no idea they were still in the Los Angeles area after LaCroix's threats towards them.

LaCroix smiled slightly, but his tone of voice had a bit of iciness in it. "Of course not," he responded. "Then again, visiting with the clan elders will always clear one's head as well."

The corners of Ingram's mouth twitched as he held back a smile. My smile nearly faltered as a flash of anger went through me, visions of clawing the lips that dared to even attempt to smile smugly right off his face going through my mind's eye. "Yes, this is very true," Ingram said to LaCroix before looking at me. I allowed him to take my hand to kiss the back of it, as much as it pained me to permit such a thing. "Miss Lucas, a pleasure to see you again, especially under such circumstances."

I nodded politely. "Likewise, Mr. Ingram. I'm pleased that you and Miss Neubauer were able to attend tonight." I glanced at Layla, but she and LaCroix seemed to be locked in a stare down. It made me uneasy. As if she felt my eyes on her, Layla looked at me; and I smiled a bit. She leaned towards me mechanically, allowing us to trade the traditional Ventrue female greeting of a kiss on each other's right cheek. As our greeting was exchanged, I looked at LaCroix. His expression was foreign, but as unreadable as ever. Taking LaCroix's hand, I drew close to him. "Sebastian, would you mind terribly if we went over to the bar?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light. "I'm a bit thirsty."

"Of course, darling," he said smoothly. "Mr. Ingram, Miss Neubauer, please excuse us." Ingram nodded with a small smile; Layla was as cold and unresponsive as usual.

I led LaCroix away from them but kept our pace relatively slow as we walked towards the blood bar that had been set up for the evening. "I had a feeling you two would have been at each other's throats if I didn't-"

"Please don't use that term in regards to her," LaCroix said suddenly, sounding weary. I looked at him, surprised. He glanced back at me, then shook his head. "Excuse me. I shouldn't have interrupted you."

"No, it's okay," I said softly, wondering what was bothering him specifically. Layla was really a sore spot for him for some reason. I wondered if she'd hurt him more than he cared to admit. If that was true... Another flash of rage hit me, and I looked over my shoulder into the crowd to see if I could spot her. I couldn't; she and her sire had melted back into the sea of Kindred. The thought of her hurting LaCroix enough to effect him sixty years later, however, made me clench my teeth together. I picked up the glass of blood that had been set on the bar before me by the Ventrue watching over the different vintages. "Are you all right, though?" I asked LaCroix before taking a drink.

He looked at me, seeming startled as if he'd already forgotten I was right next to him. "Of course," he answered.

"You don't seem it. She bothers you."

A muscle jumped in LaCroix's jaw, telling me I was right. "Not to be discussed here, Natalie," he said quietly, gulping down his own glass of blood. The action reminded me of an upset man throwing back a shot of hard liquor.

"Understood." As I finished my drink, I watched him stare at the bar, eyes narrowed in thought. Setting my empty glass on the bar, I took LaCroix's hand in mine, making him look at me. Without a word, I pulled him to a corner of the room to sit on an old-styled couch with me. "You're supposed to be happy tonight," I reminded him, reaching up to stroke his cheek. "I like it better when you're happy."

A corner of his mouth twitched upward slightly. "And I suppose you're going to try to make me happy?" he asked.

I shrugged. "I know better than to think that kissing you or something like that will make whatever she just did to you go away."

LaCroix shook his head. "Not much could make her effect just 'go away,'" he admitted. "But I have an obligation to you to at least appear unshaken tonight." He smiled and leaned over, giving me a light kiss on the lips.

"Maybe after this, you'll tell me what's wrong? What really happened between you two?" I asked, keeping hold of his hand so he couldn't leave.

"It's not your concern," he said, a touch of coldness touching his voice again.

"But I am concerned."

He sighed, looking at me with an annoyed expression. "You've no reason to be."

I scooted closer to him and lowered my voice to a whisper. "That's B.S., LaCroix, and you know it," I argued. "She's got some kind of deep hold on you that shakes you every time you see her; and if you think I can't see that, you severely underestimate me." He opened his mouth to say something, but I put up a finger to let him know I wasn't finished. "And every time I see you uncharacteristically shaken to your very core like that, I want to rip her face off and feed it to her for making you feel that way. I can't help that I want to protect you. It's in my blood, remember?"

LaCroix sighed again, eyebrows knitting together a little as he studied me. Finally, he shook his head again. "Your...caring is noted," he said quietly. "And I appreciate your separating us from that encounter. But right now, with your Agoge ongoing..." He cradled my face in his hand gently before kissing me softly, his lips lingering on mine a little before he spoke again. "We have more important things to concentrate on than troubles from my past."

I nodded, knowing I wasn't going to get any more out of him than that. As if thanking me for letting it go, he kissed me again, a little longer and more deeply this time. When he pulled away, I looked into his eyes; and words began to pour from my lips unbidden. "You know I love you, right?" I asked, wishing I could take them back as soon as I'd said them.

His smile was back, small yet smug. "I know."

The response was encouraging, and I risked saying a little more. "And you know I'd do anything for you."

The smile grew slightly. "I'd hoped."

"Even if you asked me to...do something...about..." I twitched my head in the direction of the crowd, shifting my eyes as well.

LaCroix's smile turned into the look of intrigue I'd seen while we were on the stage. "Well..." he breathed, "...that is an...interesting offer."

"I mean it," I insisted. I could feel a wild excitement rising in me at LaCroix's reaction to what I'd said. Layla Neubauer had never given me a good feeling; and my instinct told me that getting her out of LaCroix's life for good was necessary. I just didn't know how. Other than the obvious, that is. If he asked me to kill her, would I? Even that? I wondered as my eyes stayed locked on LaCroix's. Of course. Anything for him.

"Perhaps..." He spoke slowly, his expression contemplative. "Perhaps we'll speak of this later." I nodded, and he smiled as he stood and helped me up from the couch. He led me back into the crowd, and we spent the rest of the evening making sure that I made all the contacts that LaCroix wanted me to make, prospective clanmates to learn from further into my Agoge. Occasionally, though, I caught LaCroix giving me an odd look. Usually smiling, but his eyes told me that he was working on a plan. That much, at least, was obvious.

When we finally returned to Venture Tower, sunrise was roughly an hour away. In the elevator, LaCroix pressed the button for the 56th floor as usual, then turned to me and said, "I expect you'll want to sleep in your own suite for a change tonight."

"I wasn't aware that was an option," I responded.

He smirked. "You've completed the first part of your Agoge. You may spend your days in your own suite if you wish."

I laughed. "It would be nice to sleep in a bed again rather than on a couch," I remarked. Tilting my head to the side, I grinned at him. "Though I like your bed more."

"Oh?" He pressed the button for the 55th floor; we were only at the 17th. "Why is that? They're identical."

I couldn't help but chuckle at the way he sidestepped my innuendo. "Yours smells like you. And usually has you in it during the day, as I understand." LaCroix cleared his throat. There was the uncomfortable stance, arms crossed in front of him, weight on his left foot rather than standing straight, chin high and obviously determined to stare only straight ahead. I sighed dramatically and walked over to lay my head on his shoulder. "But I suppose, as I've not passed my final test, your bed isn't an option you're willing to offer. This is correct, yes?"

He didn't answer, instead slipping an arm around my waist and leading me out of the elevator as we reached my floor. I took my key card out of my purse and slid it through the electronic lock, hearing the click that told me my suite was now unlocked. As I turned to face LaCroix, he asked, "Do you need me to bring down your belongings?"

I shrugged and shook my head. "I'll get them after sunset." I reached behind me and opened the door. "Want to come in for a few moments? We can talk about the...offer I presented earlier?"

LaCroix smiled slowly. "Tempting...but now is not the time to talk about it."

I frowned. "Why not?"

"There is more that needs to be done before such things are considered." He narrowed his eyes slightly, his smile once more hiding a secret he wasn't ready to reveal. "Trust me, I will not forget your offer. I have other plans for you first, though..." I closed my eyes as he touched my cheek gently, my tongue darting out to wet my lips as his fingers trailed down to my neck. I reached out for him, putting my arms around his neck and pulling him into a kiss. He hesitated at first, then pulled me closer, his arms around my waist. When the kiss was broken, he whispered, "You're being rather bold tonight."

"I don't hear you complaining," I said with a chuckle.

I tried to pull him back into another kiss, but he instead let me go and stepped back out of my grasp. "Sunrise comes soon," he said, slowly backing towards the elevator but still with a smirk on his face. "Sleep well, Miss Lucas. Come up to the office when you awake." I nodded as he entered the elevator, the doors closing between us.

Left alone, I entered my suite and closed the door behind me. My mind was full of unanswered questions, but sleep was beginning to cloud those thoughts. Still, though, I wondered what the real story about Layla was. Also, what were these "other plans" that LaCroix seemed to have in mind? And would he really take me up on my offer to...deal with Layla? As I went into the bedroom and began to undress for bed, I pressed my lips together tightly. "Deal with" her... I thought. Fuck that. No matter how pretty or Ventrue-like the phrasing, it comes down to one thing. I want to kill the bitch. She's hurt Sebastian somehow, and her mere presence rips open that wound like a knife. The only way to stop that is to do away with her.

I turned out the light and slipped into bed, disturbed by my own thoughts. I wondered if it was the Beast that LaCroix warned me about. Ventrue didn't plan how to kill members of their own clan, did they? This was one instance that I couldn't know from my training or logical deduction how to react. I didn't feel comfortable with asking LaCroix about it as he'd already steered me away from the subject twice in one night. This was something I'd have to live with until he brought it up, whenever that would be. I settled against my pillow with a sigh. The only thing I could do at this point was view it as a test of my self-control. I'd allow myself to think about it, maybe even to plan it, but not to act on it unless LaCroix told me to. I still couldn't help but worry a bit about the raw violence in my thoughts regarding Layla, but worrying wouldn't do me any good. I forced myself to push it aside and let sleep take me.