"Tell that to the people of this world, Jason! The ones who stare at me when I go out with my mother or with bodyguards surrounding me and they whisper to each other about…about…"

He took a step closer to her. "You don't really know what they're whispering, do you?"

"Jason," Kira said, "you really don't want to go there."

He hesitated, then pressed on despite her warning. "You said the Imperials want you to marry into their family. Why would they do that if they thought you were…different?"

"You don't think they consider me different?" Kira asked. "Sure, the emperor and the royal family would love the political gain from having the daughter's girl in their hip pocket, but even they would have people watching me all the time. Do you know who Mara is? The Dark One?"

"That's the vampire legend on this world, right?" Jason asked, puzzled by the question.

"Mara was the consort of the first emperor, Maran, and he supposedly fell under her spell so much that he made a deal with the Mages to keep her young and beautiful forever. But in order for her to stay young-looking and beautiful, Mara has to drink the blood of young men she seduces."

"Yeah," Jason said. "A vampire."

"It is a common belief among the citizens of the Empire that my mother is actually Mara."

He looked at her, obviously unable to think of what to say.

"So when a lot of Imperials see me without my mother they assume I am my mother, staying young thanks to the young men I'm hauling into bed and sucking the blood out of!"

"Kira, they can't really believe—"

"A couple of years ago I was at Altis at the same time as a delegation of Imperial scholars, and the librarians held a party for them one night and invited me, too, and I have to attend formal functions sometimes but I never get to go to just plain old parties because it's too dangerous and I don't get to spend very much time with other boys and girls my age so I really was thrilled at going to this one and you know what, Jason? All the Imperial women showed up, and all of the older Imperial men showed up, but every one of the young men and even middle-aged men just couldn't make it that night and I stood around wondering why no one would talk to me!" She felt tears starting as the old wound flared to life. "I just want to be like everyone else, Jason. But I can't. And I can't be like my mother, either. So what am I?"

"The most amazing girl I ever met," Jason said.

She stared at him. "What makes you think anyone else would agree with that?"

"The captain does. So does the first mate."

"Maybe…maybe he's starting to guess who I am."