I stood there with Sass in my arms, debating. "Does she, now?"

The silver Persian grunted. "Most disagreeable messenger she sent, too," he said. "Shocking red hair, green eyes, tall? Sarameia something-or-other."

I knew her, didn't I? Ah, yes. The vampire queen who'd been the Empress's lackey the first time we'd met. "Sarameia," I said with mock arrogance. "Queen of the Goreck Blood Clan, First Lesser Monarch to the Empress of all ...