When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason

man’s eyes shone with the understanding of all of them, the pinpoint of candlelight reflecting in his black orbs. “Briyani made his own choices, Max, just as you do. He fully understood the risk of staying with you. I’m glad he did. You should not be alone.”
    Max’s lips pulled in a humorless smile. “Nor should you.”
    â€œYou took a great chance in coming here tonight. I told you it wasn’t necessary.”
    â€œI wanted to see him. To say good-bye.” As he hadn’t been able to do with Eustacia. Or Father. Or his sister Giulia. “I know how to move about unseen.”
    â€œBut Victoria?”
    â€œIs apparently otherwise occupied.”
    Kritanu looked at him, something suspiciously like pity in his handsome face. “And you shan’t tell her you’re here?”
    â€œI have no desire to be ordered about, as she would be wont to do. To be at her beck and call. I’m no longer a Venator, and can be of little use to her or to any of you.”
    â€œThen why come to London? The world is vast, and there are many places to hide from Lilith that she would never suspect.”
    No one was more acutely aware of that fact than Max himself. But he’d been compelled to come to London, foolish as it had been.
    He bloody well could have gone on, knowing that it would be safer for everyone if he went to Spain or Denmark or America, or even the wilds of Africa. Lilith would never find him there. But Vioget had raised the concern about Victoria, leaving Max with little choice but to assure himself all was well.
    And, apparently, Vioget was still taking his job as protector quite seriously.
    At least Max could give him credit for that.
    He realized Kritanu was still watching him and selected a slightly easier topic. “Briyani and I were in Vauxhall, looking for vampires, when we got separated. I found some undead, but he never returned to our rooms. I returned to Vauxhall hours later and found no trace of him.”
    â€œBriyani wanted to be a Venator,” Kritanu said. “He was a better Comitator than he would have been as a Venator, but he was preparing to attempt the trial for the vis bulla. I suspect he would not have succeeded, for although he was very brave, and a skillful combatant, he lacked many necessary attributes, including a cool head under pressure.”
    Max looked at the swaddled corpse. Grief stirred again, more deeply. “I didn’t know of his intentions.” The flash of a memory of his own trial, where he knew the choice was either success or death, assaulted him. He’d been more prepared for death than for success, for only five men over the centuries had ever achieved the vis bulla without the blood of the Gardellas in their veins.
    Kritanu turned from his nephew and looked up at Max. “How does your training go?”
    â€œI’ve neglected it as of late.” Yet, his body desired it—the quick, measured swipes with the kadhara knife, the kicks and leaps and thrusts of hand-to-hand kalaripayattu …and especially, the easy gliding of qinggong, where his body actually left the ground in long, sweeping arcs.
    â€œWhy should you do so? A lack of vis bulla does not eliminate what you have learned these years, Max.”
    A soft scuff drew their attention to the entrance to the chapel, and Max immediately began to slip into the shadowy alcove next to the altar. It was better for Victoria not to know he was here.
    But it wasn’t Victoria who moved toward them.
    â€œPesaro. Such an unexpected pleasure,” Sebastian said as he drew near.
    Max sensed an air of frustration about Vioget and saw no reason to let it pass. “It’s rather early to be ending the evening, isn’t it? I thought you’d be engaged much longer.” He scanned the other man’s well-tailored coat and the white shirt that, though still tied at the throat, was missing a neck cloth.
    Vioget’s eyes narrowed,