Chapter Leseldh
Leseldh
Leseldh’s calm demeanour was stripped away the moment Ivy’s bedroom door closed. Finare and Voresta also made to leave, but Leseldh wasn’t finished with them yet.
“Downstairs, now.”
Leseldh led them to the library. He strode into the room, stopping at the large table in the centre, and he turned to watch his Broodlings approach.
Voresta’s footfalls were heavy, as though weighed down by his failure, but Leseldh didn’t have an ounce of pity to spare for his First Creation in that moment.
Voresta eased into a seat, crossed his arms and rested them on the table.
Finare closed the library door behind him before joining them at the table.
He kept his eyes averted as he ran his fingers through his blonde hair.
“What do you know about his sister, Voresta?” Leseldh crossed his arms and glared at Voresta.
“Nothing. I wasn’t aware he had one.”
“Do you think she meant a mortal sister, or a Vampire one?” Finare looked between them.
“Given his age, I’d imagine any mortal sister would be long dead.” Leseldh flashed Finare a look of exasperation.
Finare shrugged. “Maybe that’s significant.”
“I refuse to believe the fearsome Hunter is so sentimental.” Leseldh’s words were filled with contempt.
“So, it’s a Broodmate?”
“Or it’s bullshit,” Voresta cut in.
“To my knowledge, Drachen had three Creations—Maelani, Killian, and Eryn. Maelani met her Ending, and Eryn hasn’t been seen for over a century. It is believed she was also Ended.” Leseldh lifted a hand to rub his chin, as his mind drifted off in thought.
Leseldh couldn’t help but let a smile tickle the corner of his lips as he cast his mind back.
The Maurell Mandate hampered Drachen in many ways—not only was he a pariah by nature of his bloodline, but the restriction on Creations meant that every Maurell had to make their Vampires count.
To have lost two Creations would have been devastating for any Vampire, but to be limited to only one more would have been an insult.
It couldn’t have happened to a more deserving Vampire.
His mind returned to the present, and the smile was torn from his lips as he acknowledged that Drachen’s remaining Creation had outmanoeuvred them tonight. Although they’d somehow evaded calamity, the failure was still unacceptable.
“Voresta, your lapse in judgement tonight could have had devastating consequences. You should consider yourself lucky that Killian had a change of heart.” Leseldh’s words made Voresta flinch.
“Ivy is not to leave Veldmoor until her Ascension. If either of you endanger her again, it will be the last thing that you do. Is that understood?” Leseldh fixed both of his Broodlings with his ire-filled stare until a soft ‘yes’ was uttered by each of them.
They both had the wisdom to shrivel beneath his glare.
Leseldh turned on his heel and stormed out of the library, leaving his two Broodlings behind.