Adrian woke to voices arguing in another room.
He sat up, momentarily confused by his nakedness, then remembered everything. His face heated as he pulled on clothes (real clothes this time, since Kieran had destroyed his shirt).
Following the voices, he found Kieran in the main hall facing a woman who looked like she'd stepped out of a historical drama. She wore traditional robes that seemed to shift colors as she moved, and her eyes were the same starlight-silver as in Kieran's memory.
The witch.
"You can't just show up unannounced," Kieran was saying, his voice tight with tension.
"I can do whatever I want. I created you, after all." The witch's eyes landed on Adrian. "Ah. The reincarnation. Come here, boy. Let me see you."
Adrian glanced at Kieran, who nodded reluctantly. He stepped forward.
The witch circled him like a predator, examining him from every angle. "Hmm. You've lived well in this life. Happy childhood, good education, strong spirit. Much better than some of the others."
"You've been watching me?" Adrian asked.
"Watching all your lives. Making sure your soul healed properly." She stopped in front of him. "Do you remember dying yet?"
"Some of it."
"Good. You'll remember more soon. The memories come faster once the soul recognizes its mate." She turned to Kieran. "Has he started dreaming of the other lives?"
"Not yet."
"He will. Nine lifetimes of memory—it's a lot for a human mind to process." The witch waved her hand, and tea appeared on the table. "Sit. Both of you. We need to talk."
They sat, though Kieran looked like he'd rather fight.
"Why are you here?" he asked bluntly.
"Because Viktor Volkov's death has created a power vacuum, and the old vampires are stirring. They want to use your boy's blood to resurrect the ancient lords—the ones who ruled before the Accord was established." The witch sipped her tea calmly. "This is a problem."
"Tell me something I don't know," Kieran said.
"The ritual Viktor was planning? It would have worked. Adrian's blood carries the echo of death and resurrection. It's powerful enough to bring back vampires who've been dead for millennia." She set down her cup. "Which is why you need to turn him."
Silence.
"Excuse me?" Adrian managed.
"Turn him into a vampire. Once he's undead, his blood loses its resurrection properties. Problem solved."
"Absolutely not," Kieran said immediately. "I'm not turning him against his will, and certainly not just to solve a political problem."
"I'm not suggesting against his will. I'm suggesting you give him the choice before someone makes it for him." The witch looked at Adrian. "You have maybe three months before the old vampire factions organize enough to come after you. They'll take you, drain you for the ritual, and you'll die permanently this time. No more reincarnations. Your soul will be used up, consumed in the resurrection process."
Adrian felt cold. "Permanently?"
"Yes. This is your last life, remember? Nine cycles complete. If you die now, especially in a ritual, there's no coming back."
Kieran had gone absolutely still, his face pale. "You never told me that. You never said this was his last life."
"You never asked." The witch shrugged. "The curse was simple: you live until his soul returns. It returned. Curse broken. What happens next is up to you two."
"So my choices are become a vampire or die permanently?" Adrian's voice rose. "That's it? That's the happy ending we waited a thousand years for?"
"Life isn't fair, boy. Death even less so." The witch stood. "I'm giving you three months. After that, I can't protect you anymore. The magic that's been shielding your soul from detection will fade, and every vampire in the world will know where to find you."
"Why three months?" Kieran demanded. "Why not longer?"
"Because that's how long it takes for the resurrection spell to be prepared. They need the winter solstice—the longest night of the year. If they perform the ritual then, with Adrian's blood, the old lords will rise." She moved toward the door. "Turn him, or lose him. Your choice. But choose quickly."
She vanished in a swirl of silver light.
Kieran and Adrian sat in stunned silence.