Maybe I should have gone the diplomatic route and appeared out of the veil on the mountain side of the gates to the Empress's palace. Perhaps it would have been prudent to knock, to ask for an invite inside, or, at the very least, to make my presence known in some way before barging in on the most powerful vampire on our plane.

But that just wouldn't have been me, now would it?

And, in all honesty, part of me worried if I did try ...