Drake may have been a warlord who conquered nations in his fledgling days up to the day he retired to his tomb, but he took to current technology more quickly than anyone expected him to. He smelled the nose irritating perfume she spritzed onto her chest and back, heard the click of high heels on wood floors before seeing her exit the bedroom dressed down in jeans and a red blouse. Her chest appropriately covered, he turned his attention back to the email chain between the Carolos faction leaders and himself.

" Emery, this is your staff," He handed her a glass of champagne. The maid from earlier along with another young woman and a bearded man assembled before them. " Mira, Louis, and Emma,"

She waved hesitantly.

" Now that introductions are made, we need to discuss tonight," He waved off the staff. Emma stayed while Mira and Louis left the luxury apartment. They'd soon take the jet to London to meet with the faction this evening. Paris offered many luxuries except the home of the Vampire Nation, which Drake needed to assume control over. Luckily for him, the private plane ride was only forty-five minutes and once they landed in London, an escort would be waiting for them. " We are entering the Vampire Nation, and you are my jewel to display,"

They retreated to the bedroom where Drake directed her to a calf-length skirt and the ruby collection. The next half hour, Emma detailed to Emery the political turmoil that held the Vampire Nation captive. " For centuries, Eli Damaskinos has ruled the Vampire Nation. When his own son killed him, leadership passed onto the leaders of the Shadow cabinet in Prague. In-fighting allowed the Talos house to temporarily wrestle control. The Talos house is no longer an acknowledged house due to the daystar virus that massacred the vampires of the house. His Lordship has assumed what is left of the Talos house and its assets. When Danica Talos tracked down His Lordship in Iraq, she granted him the authority he needed to impress upon the Vampire Nation his authority. As of now, the Vampire Nation is still in chaos and awaiting a new leader,"

Emery yawned. If Emma insisted on summarizing the entire history, Emery might insist on her having a drink as well. " And why must I be presented now? Why not until I am fully vampire?" She allowed him to compare the various pieces against her skin tone. His hand lingered on her throat, as if he wished to sink his fangs into it again. Emma looked away and down. " Drake?"

He listened to the slowing heartbeat with pleasure.

" You submit to me, not only once but twice. You did not run when I left, and you now choose to let me make you into a queen," Her brow rose in contest. Emma feigned ignorance. " The Vampire Nation will see your servility. They will understand that resistance is futile,"

She started to see how he lured the other women into his arms – with the reassurance of a caretaker countered by the control of a ruthless warlord. His complete trust that she'd follow him wherever he went would be his undoing – if she ever grew the courage to rebel.

" Tell me I am wrong and I will release you," She blinked back at him realizing that she zoned out for the short moment he decided on the silver medallion and the rubies droplet earrings.

Fuck. Why did she need to even care about how he attracted people? " You are not wrong,"

Emma cleared her throat. " The meeting tonight is with the factions that have torn the nation apart. Drake will be taking control of the one faction," She noted the stiff resistance from Emery as Drake proceeded to unbutton one blouse button to reveal more cleavage. " You'll be expected to agree and to look the part dictated," She pitied the woman, already knowing Drake's plan to use the woman to discover who he could and could not trust.

The second half of the lesson proved to Emma she wanted nothing to do with being an immortal, much less Drake's queen. Never was Emery to assume any authority unless Drake assigned it to her. When permission did not exist, she was to best represent Drake. The situation would never be predictable enough to actually have a precedent to follow. Whatever Drake wanted, Drake would be granted. Tonight it was a cleavage bearing not-yet turned queen on his arm.

What frightened Emery most was the lone fact that if Drake ordered her to take his place as an authority, she would have no choice but to comply.

" Are you ready to represent?" Drake asked her as they opened a bottle of chilled clone blood. She crossed her ankles.

Looking down at her blouse, she sighed. " Does it matter?" She accepted the stemmed glass. " I am dressed as you want me to be, showing far more cleavage than I like. The Vampire Nation will always resist a turnblood as your queen. So fuck them all. It's not like they have to bed me anyway,"

Drake laughed. Women back then were not nearly as brazen as the women today. He actually liked it more than he ever thought he would. " Any man who touches you will die,"

Her brow lifted again. " Drake, what gives you the impression I would be able to sneak an affair?" Shaking her head at the impossible thought, she then raised the glass. " To tonight,"

" To tonight," He seconded, catching Emma sighing wistfully. " Emma, arrange for the plane. Emery, pack an overnight bag," More than happy to oblige, Emery changed into the skirt and then started packing a skirt, blouse, jeans, and a sweater into a Lipault suitcase with some hope that this night would leave her alive, whole, and mentally undamaged.

BREAK BREAK BREAK

The Vampire Nation, divided into the factions Carolos and Jairus, no longer overwhelmed the growing factions that joined no house. Rogue groups determined to topple the established houses waited to see the outcome of Drake's bid for power. Emery only wanted the entire evening to pass uneventfully. The party congregated in London at the Barnsbury facility, a private building that was once the home of the Berners Family. Vampires gained ownership when they killed Berners last descendant and purchased the extensive property. Within the building, the pounding of club music throbbed from the closed off dance club. Above them in the residential quarters, the lieutenants of the Carolos faction gathered to swear an oath to Drake.

Darren O'Sullivan, an Irish engineer, turned in 1987 and rose in the ranks of the Vampire Nation, and up until Eli Damaskinos's death, served the Damaskinos faithfully. O'Sullivan and his comrades rebelled against Danica Talos, thus creating Carolos. With the race's progenitor demanding the throne, he gladly offered over full allegiance once more. The moment his gaze shifted from the declaration of allegiance, he found himself instantly worried.

Two of his strongest lackeys and least trusted conversed in rapid whisper. Word already circulated that Drake took a queen – an American who up until recently traveled Europe and would never return to the United States. Her brother worked as a laborer in France and was engaged to the daughter of a French millionaire. Emery Nowakowski, as confirmed by his mole among Drake's familiars, would change within the 72 hours. Royan and Sasha loathed the rising of turnbloods if it wasn't them, and Darren feared they might make a move against her.

" Sir, they arrived at the gate," A messenger reported calmly from the opened door. " The progenitor and his queen,"

He couldn't complain about a turnblood named queen. Danica Talos, by comparison, made most female turnbloods demure. This queen would take her lead from Drake. Once more the Vampire Nation could assume control. If Drake didn't outright kill them in a cleansing, Darren intended to rise higher than the purebloods permitted him.

A hush fell over the fifteen top ranking members speaking on behalf of their lower ranking members. Purebloods served no purpose here and held no significant rank – especially since almost all of the Damaskinos children perished in their father's quest for becoming a daywalker. No pureblood associated themselves with the Talos house on principle that turnbloods served purebloods. All fifteen turnbloods counted the passing minutes for the inevitable oath and embracing of a new blooded vampire. 5…10…15…

"…like a tomb," A female voice, light and pleasing, remarked with subdued curiosity.

Deep laughter echoed in the corridor. " So is the life of a vampire. It was much harder in the medieval ages,"

" Because the hunting was locale specific? London must've been an easy hunting ground back in the day. Bursting with people. I wonder how many fell to the vampires before hunters assembled," The steady clicking of heels distracted the men from their own worries. Listening to the human speak so frankly of their lifestyle rubbed Darren the wrong way.

Drake's deep voice and equally frank answer further confused the Irishman. " All cities were hunting grounds, which is why your initiation will begin in the confines of your new home,"

" I can't hunt in the tower-"

" There is a familiar that will be turned. You will turn him," The voices stopped and in stepped an American no older than 25 wearing business casual accented with ruby earrings and a large medallion necklace in the shape of a tree enclosed in a circle. Tantalizing cleavage teased the less disciplined, revealing to Drake who exactly not to promote. Standing next to Drake, she was a provocatively dressed stick more than half the men in the room wanted to bleed dry. To her credit, she looked each of them in the eye and waited for Drake to offer guidance.

Pulling a seat out for his queen, Drake then seated himself next to her. Facing the fifteen men, he measured each one individually. Their chosen leader, Darren O'Sullivan, held his composure best – blank expression deserving of someone accustomed to serving. " Where are the faction leaders for Jairus?"

" They have chosen to not be present," Darren answered. " Everyone present speaks for those loyal to the Carolos faction,"

Drake nodded to Emery. " Your queen will be the point of contact. Emery, if O'Sullivan has any needs or concerns, it will be addressed immediately. O'Sullivan , you are the lead contact for the Carolos. Am I understood?"

All fifteen men moved to stand. Emery slowly followed, Drake taking her hand in his. His brown eyes relayed to her all she needed to know. " What is your wish then?" She asked, unable to find a suitable title appropriate for the situation.

Lordship? Warlord? King? Your Majesty? Your Grace? Sir? How does one address an immortal like Drake to show respect in front of other vampires?

" Gather the information, I must speak with the remaining Damaskinos loyalists," He vacated the room before she could ask where to find him. Facing the vampires before her, she took a seat again.

A pen and pad of legal paper placed before her. She thanked the serving vampire and dated the top of the page. " Let's get to the point and past the introductions. We will make them as we go along. Mr. O'Sullivan, once I am told of the resources available to me, I will attempt to provide. First things first, who's the biggest threat?"

" Biggest threats to the faction would be-"

" No. Not the prospective hazy threats but the known threats," She snapped. " Hazy threats are immaterial to the short term,"

" The Jairus faction," Darren answered her without hesitation, noting the manner of directness and no double meaning with great relief. The British always irritated him like that. Bless the Americans for being straightforward.