Chapter 21
The compound no longer felt safe, now that it had been compromised. The usual sounds of training and daily life were gone. The blood contamination had hit hard. A hidden attack that had weakened almost a third of Sophia’s forces.
The infected lay defeated, their bodies trembling, their skin pale and cold. There had been near misses, instances when Sophia’s healers feared they would lose one of their own.
But they pressed on, battling with a grim determination that was both inspiring and unsettling to see.
Throughout it all, Kate had been a dervish of quiet, efficient energy.
She showed her worth as a caregiver. She moved between beds, offering encouragement and wiping fevered brows.
She provided crucial support and remained a steady presence in the chaos.
Everyone in that compound, from the lowest guard to Sophia herself, noticed it.
On the fourth night, the last of the fevers receded, the convulsions ceased, and the slow, arduous process of recovery began. A collective sigh of relief seemed to pass through the compound. They had survived. But they were wounded, weakened, and more vulnerable than they had been in centuries.
It was into this fragile peace that Viktor arrived.
He came unannounced, his sleek, black car gliding through the compound gates like a shark through water.
He was flanked by two of his personal guards, solemn figures dressed entirely in black.
Viktor’s tailored suit was spotless, and his silver hair neatly arranged.
However, his presence felt distant, like a sign of an approaching storm.
He met with Devon and Sophia in Sophia’s private study. Kate was not invited, but she stood just outside the heavy oak doors. The thick wood might as well have been paper.
She caught every word.
“The Council is concerned,” Viktor began, his voice smooth like polished marble. “An attack like this on a secure compound, using a biological agent, is unprecedented. It directly challenges the Council’s authority.”
“It was a direct challenge to us,” Sophia replied, her voice tight with barely contained anger. “Aleksander attacked my people in my home.”
“And he will face justice,” Viktor said, trying to calm her down. “The Council has already started the formal process of convening a tribunal. We are gathering evidence and will call witnesses.”
“And in the meantime?” Devon’s voice was a low, dangerous growl. “How many more will he attempt to kill while the Council deliberates? How many more of our people have to face attack before you act?”
“We understand how much this matters to you, Devon,” Viktor said.
“But we cannot let personal grudges come before our justice system. Aleksander Voss, despite all his crimes, has rights under Council law. He will go through a tribunal. If anyone tries to skip that process, there will be serious consequences. Do I make myself clear?”
There was a long, tense silence. Kate held her breath, her heart hammering against her ribs.
“Perfectly clear, Viktor,” Devon said finally, his voice dangerously soft. “Though I wonder how many more attacks the Council will tolerate before ‘due process’ becomes an excuse for inaction.”
“The Council will not be rushed,” Viktor said, his voice turning colder. “And you would do well to remember your place, Devon. You have built an impressive legacy over four centuries. It would be a shame to see it destroyed over a single human. Even one as… unique… as Miss Morgan.”
Kate flinched as if he had struck her. The threat was unmistakable. She was the weakness, the liability, the reason Devon was risking everything.
When the doors finally opened, and Viktor swept out, he paused for a fraction of a second, his cold, intelligent eyes meeting Kate’s. He gave a slight nod, a silent acknowledgment that he knew she had been listening. Then he was gone, leaving a chill in his wake.
Devon and Sophia stood in the doorway, their faces grim. Sophia met Kate’s eyes and gave a slight shake of her head, a silent promise to talk later. Then she left, leaving Kate and Devon alone in the hallway.
“He was warning you,” Kate said, her voice barely a whisper. “He knows you’re planning to go after Aleksander yourself.”
“I know,” Devon said, his eyes finding hers. The anger was gone, replaced by a quiet, unshakable resolve.
“What will they do to you?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly. “If you kill him without their permission?”
He stepped closer, his hands coming up to frame her face. “It doesn’t matter,” he said, his voice soft but firm. “You matter. Your safety, your freedom… that is all that matters.”
“But your legacy, your standing with the Council…”
“Is meaningless if I can’t protect the one person I love,” he said, his thumbs stroking her cheeks.
“The Council moves at a glacial pace, Kate. Aleksander could cause much more damage while they pull together a tribunal. By the time they do, you could be dead. Or worse. I won’t let that happen, even if it costs me everything I’ve built. ”
She looked into his eyes, into the depths of his ancient, beautiful soul, and saw the truth behind his words. He would give up everything for her. His power, his position, his very existence.
They would face this together and handle the consequences, whatever they might be, as one.
“Together,” she whispered, her hand coming up to cover his.
“Together,” he confirmed, his voice a solemn vow.