Chapter 10
Kara
Lucien Marlowe is the new ruler of the vampires. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. This is the worst news ever. Things were bad before, but this…
This is a fucking disaster.
As if reading my thoughts – because of course he is – Marcus looks down at me and nods.
“Things are about to get ugly,” he says.
“You mean more than they were?” I grimace.
The others are looking at us curiously. As if, perhaps, they’re suddenly noticing our ruffled hair and rumpled clothing. Mia hits me with a pointed look, glancing down meaningfully. I look down, too, and notice that my jeans are still unbuttoned.
Shit.
My cheeks flush red.
A wave of amusement washes over me, and I know it’s not my own emotion. Marcus is silently laughing at me, the asshole. Now. At a time like this.
“Don’t be a jerk!” I think, knowing he’ll read me loud and clear. There’s a snort from beside me, but I ignore it as I fix my clothes and walk into the small gathering with as much confidence as I can muster.
“What are we going to do about this?” I say, looking around at the group.
“We need to gather the others.” Dad’s tone is somber. He already has his phone in his hand, fingers moving.
The next half hour is a blur of activity as calls are made, and we reach out to as many of our people as we can. Many have already heard the news. Others respond with shock as we update them.
I stalk across our living room, trying to focus on the crisis at hand rather than the lingering heat where Marcus’s hands touched me.
People start arriving – witches, vampires, even a few humans who’ve thrown their lot in with our side.
The room buzzes with urgent conversations and clashing energies.
“We need to coordinate our response,” Mom says, her voice cutting through the jangle of voices. She’s right, but I can barely concentrate with Marcus’s presence burning in my mind.
“Focus,” his thoughts brush against mine. Easy for him to say. He’s not the one who just had his world turned upside down twice in one night.
Zephyra sweeps in, buzzing with agitated energy. “Whispering Winds will back you completely; tell me how we can help,” she announces, then falters as she notices the vampire contingent. Her eyes narrow at Marcus.
I step forward. “They’re allies.” The words feel strange in my mouth, but I know they’re true. Whatever this thing is between Marcus and me, I trust his commitment to stopping Lucien.
Zephyra gives a curt nod, although I can still see the suspicion in her bearing. It’s going to be a while before she gets over the loss of her sisters.
Marina arrives next, bringing news from the Crystal Waters coven. More pledges of support, more suspicious glances at the vampires. The tension in the room thickens until it’s hard to breathe.
“You’re doing fine,” Marcus’s thoughts drift to me again. I want to snap at him to stay out of my head, but part of me – a part I’m not ready to examine – finds his presence comforting.
“Kara?” Mom’s voice pulls me back. “Are you alright? You seem distracted.”
“I’m fine.” The lie tastes bitter. Nothing is fine. Lucien controls the Blood Assembly, Gran is still missing, and I can’t stop thinking about kissing a vampire.
More than kissing.
What a mess.
“He’s going to run rampant,” Zephyra says sharply. “It’s going to be a bloodbath.”
“May the goddess protect us,” Marina breathes, a hand to her throat.
“We have to think clearly, be strategic,” I say, raising my voice enough to be heard over the commotion. “With Lucien in control of the Blood Assembly…” I can’t even finish the thought.
Dad rubs his eyes. “He’s going to come for our covens.”
“It’s not just the witches. He’ll come for anyone who doesn’t support him,” Marcus adds, his voice tight with anger. “Starting with any Council members who’ve ever opposed him.”
“He won’t stop there.” Darick’s words cut through the room like ice. “Lucien’s been waiting for this. He’ll use his position to legitimize everything he’s been doing in secret.”
The magnitude of it hits me. Lucien now has the authority to order witch hunts, to demand blood tributes, to punish any vampire who stands against him. And it will all be perfectly legal under vampire law.
“What about Arabella?” Marina asks. “Surely some of the old guard—?”
“Are either dead or in hiding,” Soren interrupts. He glances at the phone in his hand. “I just got another update from my clan sister Emma. Arabella’s court is in disarray. He’s taken her prisoner. But not before he wiped out most of her elders.”
“Fuck.” Darick scrubs a hand over his face. “Why wouldn’t she listen? She should have seen this coming.”
“Lucien’s been planning this for centuries. He wouldn’t have moved unless he was certain of success.” Soren rolls his shoulders.
I feel sick. All those vampires who opposed him, who might have helped us – where are they now? The Blood Assembly has enforcers, deadly efficient ones. How many bodies will we find when the sun rises?
“We’ll stop him,” Marcus’s thoughts brush against mine, fierce with determination.
But I’m not so sure. Lucien has what he’s always wanted – absolute control over vampire society. And he’s made it clear what he thinks of witches. We’re nothing but food to him, resources to be used and discarded.
“He’ll come for us all eventually,” Zephyra says, echoing my thoughts. “Every coven, every vampire who’s ever defied him.” Her wild hair sparks as she moves, as if her agitation is streaming from her in glittering light. “Even the humans who’ve allied with us won’t be safe.”
The room falls silent as her words sink in. We’re no longer just fighting to save Gran. We’re fighting for survival.
“This is going to need some careful planning.” Dad rubs his jawline. He’s leaning back against the mantel, but there’s nothing relaxed about his bearing.
“We need to strike now,” Zephyra insists, her voice sharp with urgency. “Before he consolidates his power.”
“And do what exactly?” Thaddeus Runeweaver’s tone drips with sarcasm. “Storm the halls of his estate?”
“Not an option,” says Soren. “He’s already moved his base of operations.”
I watch the arguments fly back and forth, feeling Marcus’s growing tension beside me. A flash of his thoughts hits me – concern about getting me somewhere safe. I bristle at that. I’m not some damsel who needs protecting.
“Back off. I can take care of myself.”
“Wait.” Darick holds up his hand, his expression grim. “As much as Arabella may have been in denial about what Lucien’s been doing, her facility is heavily guarded. How could they have breached the defenses?”
“He had help.” Marcus’s voice is cold. I realize that he’s been on the phone while I’ve been watching the others. “Valerian de Lioncourt. He’s been working with Lucien all along.”
“Fuck! I knew it!” Darick bursts out. He’s on his feet, bristling. Rowan puts her hand on his arm. “Fucking de Lioncourt was Arabella’s most trusted advisor.”
“More than that, Darick.” It’s Selene now. “He was her lover. The betrayal runs deeper than any of us imagined.”
“How many others?” Marina asks softly. “How many council members are under his control?”
“At least half the Blood Assembly is compromised,” Soren says. “Either through blackmail or willing cooperation. Lucien’s been placing his pieces for centuries.”
Dad sinks into a chair, looking older than I’ve ever seen him. “This isn’t just about power anymore. He’ll use his position to legitimize witch hunting,” he echoes my fears.
“He’s already issuing new edicts,” Darick adds grimly. “Any vampire who refuses to participate in witch blood collection will be branded a traitor.”
The room erupts at this news. There’s so much noise that it’s difficult to make out what’s being said.
Through it all, I catch fragments of Marcus’s strategic planning mixing with his protective instincts.
It’s getting harder to separate his thoughts from mine.
But what I do get is that he thinks I can’t take care of myself.
I glare at him, then turn to the others.
Mia is standing, and I half-expect her to settle the commotion.
She’s always been the voice of reason, a younger version of Gran in such things.
But right now, I can see her hesitate. Soren has an arm around her shoulders, and from the flickering shadows around her, I realize that she’s fighting to suppress her magic.
The dark forces are still alive in her. It’s going to be a while before she rids herself of their influence.
Think, Kara. What would Gran do?
“We need to stay calm.” My voice is clear as a bell, and I almost surprise myself when I hear it.
Everyone turns to face me, and for a moment, I’m at a loss because I hadn’t thought this far ahead.
Suddenly, the words come to me. “For years, we’ve fought off these attacks.
We’ve always known that the danger was out there.
Now, it has a name. And a face.” I look around at everyone. “Now we know who the enemy is.”
“Do we, though?” The voice is deep, authoritative. And it’s coming from a figure looming in the doorway.
Morgan Shadowmaster.
“What does he want? Come to gloat?”
I glance at Marcus as his words filter into my head. Something flickers in his jaw.
I watch as Morgan steps into the room, his dark coat swirling around him. Despite the clear animosity in the room, he seems perfectly at ease.
“What the hell do you want here, Shadowmaster?” Soren finally breaks the silence. He, of all people, has reason to mistrust the man.
“I’ve come here to help,” the tall mage responds smoothly.
“Help?” Mia scoffs. “Help yourself, you mean.” Her body is rigid with tension. Soren tightens his grip on her shoulders. She dislikes Morgan as much as he does.
“To help with information. I’ve been gathering intelligence for months now,” he says, his deep voice filling the room. “On Seraphina’s orders.”
“What?” I can’t hide my surprise. Beside me, I feel Marcus stiffen.