Vampire Legacy (Book 4 of the Dragon Heat series) by Ella J. Phoenix Page A

ball. He could not have cared less.
    “Leave,” he ordered, already standing up.
    The girl climbed out of the pool and dashed away. Her saggy breasts and arse flip-flopped as she moved. Apart from the long red locks, she had nothing in common with his soon-to-be bride. He was sure Natalia would be firm and soft in all the right places.
    With a tired sigh, he decided to face the inevitable useless report of the day, and turned to his brother. “What did my neighbor do now? Is he dead yet?”
    “No, my lord,” Balaur replied weakly.
    “What? Speak up, you goose!”
    “I said, no, my lord,” his brother repeated a bit louder. “He’s actually recovering.”
    Kalaur paused. “What do you mean he’s recovering? He’s not supposed to recover, he’s supposed to die.”
    “I—I know, brother, it’s just that, our contact was late with the delivery of the new batch.”
    That was simply marvelous. His entire plan was about to go belly up because his useless brother could not even manage an even more useless supplier. “I don’t care what your, or his, excuse may be, Balaur, you’d better fix this before I truly lose my patience. And believe me, brother, no amount of family blood will save your head from my guillotine if this plan fails.”
    “Yes, yes, my lord, I understand. I have received the new batch already. I’ve got it with me.”
    “So what in Hiad are you waiting for, you moron?” Kalaur snarled. He could not believe the level of stupidity of his own sibling. How could his mother be so incompetent as to deliver such a dimwitted son?
    “But how, my lord?”
    “I don’t bloody care,” Kalaur bellowed, completely losing his patience. He breathed a gush of fire, letting his rage go free.
    Balaur ducked for cover, barely in time to save the new Parisian outfit he loved showing off so much, the one paid with Kalaur’s fortune. Dimwit.
    “Find a solution in that thick head of yours, and find it fast. Somenski should have been dead by now.”
    “Yes, yes, my lord.” Balaur bowed low for the tenth time, then turned on his pitiful heels and left the bathing room.
    “Oh, and Balaur...”
    “Yes, my lord?”
    “Do not dare shift into dragon.”
    His brother froze in place, eyes wide in surprise. “But how will I—?”
    “The privilege of honoring the Order of the Dragons is reserved for those who have proven to be worthy of such title.”
    Balaur’s double chin trembled then he blinked a few times before answering like a good vassal should. “Yes, yes my lord.”

Chapter Twelve
     
    “The passage from our lands to Croatia must be secured. The rebels against Kalaur are spreading like weeds, your majesty,” one of the councilors said.
    “My lands have been raided thrice already,” another one added heatedly. “I am unsure how much longer I can withstand these thieves.”
    “So far no evidence given proved it was the rebels,” Petran retorted. He had to contain his councilors. Otherwise, this meeting would go from a boring monthly update to a revolution in the making. “I will support you as much as I can. I will send my personal troops to guard the route to the coast.”
    “Your majesty is very generous,” Yerik replied with a generous bow. “These rebels have been attacking every village and every crop they come across. They need a strong reprimanding hand like yours. Unfortunately, I do not see Kalaur extending any support in his council.”
    “Here, here,” the group cheered in support.
    That was not true, and Petran knew it firsthand from the night he’d ambushed Natalia in the brothel but unfortunately, he could not disclose why or how he had come about such information.
    “My fellow land owners,” he spoke up raising his hand for them to be quiet. The room fell silent at once. “I will personally go to the draconians and ask for a report regarding how they are planning on extinguishing the rebel forces. And be certain your voice will be well represented in mine. In the