15 THE COUNCIL

It was easier back in Elouve. He would wait for dawn to arrive before silently stealing out of Giselle’s bed, then take a hansom back to his residence. Few nobles were up at that hour, and there was no one else to see his ride of shame back to Kinaiya Lodge, hating himself all the while and knowing he would repeat it again.

But few at the Allpriory slept. And since most were vampires with the ability to hear through stone walls, everyone’s eyes were on him when he’d slunk forth from his bedchamber and down to the great hall to break his fast.

Xiaodan and Malekh were gone by the time he’d woken, and there was only Thaïs knocking politely outside his door, telling him that his meal was ready downstairs. It was somehow worse than when she’d been trying to flirt with him, because this time she sounded both awed and gleeful because she knew.

He didn’t know why he was so embarrassed by his conduct, because the corridors were writhing with bodies. Privacy was apparently not a trait among all the courts, and Malekh and Xiaodan’s clans seemed to be the exception rather than the rule. There were couples in stages of undress against walls and on any conceivable surface that could hold their weight. A room they passed contained sprawled shapes, participants therein in various compromising positions, but Remy kept his gaze straight ahead despite the red standing out from his cheeks and soldiered on.

“Most are from the Eighth Court,” Thaïs said amiably, thoroughly unbothered. “I am told that they are notorious for such things.”

“Apparently,” Remy muttered, unsurprised. And then, “This isn’t the way to the dining hall.”

“I was asked to bring you to the Eighth Court leader. Please don’t be alarmed,” the woman said hurriedly when Remy reached behind him for Breaker almost on instinct. “He would never do anything to incite Lord Malekh’s anger. He will not attempt any harm to you, that much I can promise.”

Remy wasn’t quite as sure, but it didn’t feel like he had much choice. They followed the orgies down a hallway he’d never been to and into a room that was larger than the one he shared with Xiaodan and Malekh. Hylasenth himself was reclining on an overly large bed that could easily fit half a dozen, with vampires and familiars in various stages of undress lounging on either side of him. The lord himself was proudly nude, and Remy hastily fixed his gaze at a spot on the wall right above the Eighth Court leader’s head.

“I had quite the interesting night,” Hylasenth said, by way of greeting. “I thought at first that Lord Malekh was being deliberately deceptive. That your relationship with him and Xiaodan was a ruse, to have us think that he could be quite the deviant. How glad am I to be wrong. The sounds I have heard through these walls are downright delicious.”

“If you say so,” Remy mumbled, still staring straight ahead and trying desperately not to bolt. Breaker’s familiar weight on his back was his sole comfort.

Hylasenth languidly rose from the bed to circle him like a lion sizing up its prey, and Remy shifted his gaze to stare determinedly at the ground. “While I am pleased to learn that some depravity does lie beneath that stern exterior, you remain quite the enigma. I find it suspicious that of all the familiars to take to their bed, it would be the Reaper son of the Alurian Butcher he would favor.”

The Eighth Court leader reached up and tapped a finger against Breaker’s handle, lightly enough not to be misconstrued as an attempt to grab it, but Remy tensed all the same. “I can think of two possibilities. Either he is in league with the Alurian queen and seeks to betray our courts, with you as his surety. Or he is a fool, and you are taking advantage of his affections to help your father take us down.” Hylasenth’s voice was light and pleasant, but Remy heard the threat for what it was.

“Or maybe he’s just good in bed,” Remy said, forcing himself to sound neutral. “If you had the chance at him, I reckon you’d do the same, and without a second thought.”

“Perhaps.” There was a hand on his back this time, fingers trailing down suggestively. “And perhaps I’d take you too, if you were so inclined. Surely Lord Malekh and Lady Xiaodan aren’t too possessive of where you take your pleasure?”

“They don’t decide what I choose to do on my own time,” Remy said. “And neither do you. All I want at the moment is breakfast, so if you’re done with the questioning.”

A long silence from the vampire, and Remy was beginning to think he’d miscalculated when the court leader let out a long, throaty chuckle. “I can see why you have their attention. I’m almost envious.” The hand withdrew. “You are Thaïs, correct? Kindly escort our famished guest to the dining hall.”

“You did well,” Thaïs murmured, the instant the door to Hylasenth’s room closed behind them and Remy sagged in relief. “While the Seventh likes to stomp around and intimidate, the Eighth takes a far subtler approach. Lord Malekh has always been something of a mystery to the rest of us, and I suppose this is Lord Hylasenth’s method of reconnaissance.”

“He thought I was one of Malekh’s lackeys, brought here to pretend to be his and Xiaodan’s consort, didn’t he?” Remy muttered. “Do you all think that?”

Thaïs winked. “Not after last night.”

Thankfully, the dining hall was ruled exempt from all the debaucheries, but even here everyone knew, because the only meals set out were for human consumption. Kindred loitered there anyway, grinning at him like they’d been friendly from the start. A few even raised their tankards at him. Remy was ready to turn around and leave, but a small hand grasped at his arm before he could flee from their attentions.

It was the young human familiar from the Seventh Court, Trin. “I have already eaten,” she whispered, “but I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind my company while you do?”

“I’m not very hungry.” The growl emanating from within his stomach contradicted him, and Remy flushed again.

“Don’t worry. We’re protected here.” Trin pointed to Gibrid, Altace, and another Antecedent named Elspeth who had surreptitiously planted themselves around the dining hall. Catching his eye, Altace smiled at him and shook his head a little, as if telling him not to worry.

Trin led Remy to one of the tables by the corner, where a plate filled with sausage links, warm bread, and poached eggs awaited him. “You know there’s nothing to be ashamed of,” she asked softly, seating herself across from him.

“I’m not ashamed,” Remy mumbled, nearly inhaling the bread in his haste to find something to occupy himself.

“I can tell that you’re still very new at this. But this is more about Lord Malekh than anything else.” Trin looked down at the table. “They’re not mocking you, if that is your worry. Lord Malekh has held himself distant from council affairs for so long that he normally treats having a familiar as something beneath him. They’re all very pleased to see that they were wrong. And…” It was Trin’s turn to flush. “Begging no offense, but they don’t believe that any Pendergast would ever go so far as to become a familiar and all that entails, just to disrupt our council. Certainly not to two kindred, much less to Lord Malekh.”

Remy looked around as he ate. Much of the tension from yesterday’s session was gone. The atmosphere was almost relaxed, even if there were still far more vampires in one space than he was comfortable with. “Were we that loud?” he burst out.

Trin actually giggled. “I heard little, to be honest. But Raghnall sulked all night, said he couldn’t rest because of all the commotion.”

“Fuck,” Remy muttered, and shoved more cheese into his mouth.

“You’ll get better at it,” Trin told him sympathetically. “It’s easier once you understand kindred customs better. Why, they used to have full-blown orgies at the Allpriory in the days of the First Court. Many of the kindred here have themselves been thralls to the Night King. Isn’t it fascinating?”

“Not really.” Remy didn’t particularly want to think about orgies. “How did you become a familiar? If you would like to tell me,” he added hastily.

“My parents wanted to marry me off to a man I didn’t love. He was a boor and had mistreated his previous wife, and I didn’t want to share the same fate she suffered, so I ran away. Stumbled into a vampire’s nest a few days later. They would have killed me, had not Raghnall intervened,” Trin said, a little starry-eyed. How she could react that way to such an overgrown piece of armor was a mystery to Remy. “I’ve been with him ever since.”

“So his attempts to kill me were because he didn’t like me personally, and not because I was human?”

“I believe he and some of your ancestors have had bad blood. A great-great-grandfather of yours killed several kindred he’d sired, and he himself has been scarred by that weapon of yours. He was in quite a state when he returned to our room after Lord Hylasenth and Lady Song managed to talk him out of doing damage to you and the temple. Kept me awake all night.”

Remy choked at that.

Trin laughed again and patted him on the back of his hand. “Do you know why familiars are so important to kindred courts? Kindred protect their familiars. In exchange, we spot and head off tension between the clans, even among their kinsmen. You did a wonderful job of that yesterday at the council. It isn’t something to be embarrassed over.” Trin’s eyes sparkled. “We’re supposed to keep our masters and mistresses happy.”

“Oh, Light,” Remy groaned.

“Remy!” Elke burst into the room in a whirlwind of anxiety. For once, she didn’t look as neat and put together as she usually did. Her hair was sticking up in all directions, and her face held more pallor to it than usual.

She nodded briefly at Trin, then slid into a seat beside Remy. “Didn’t your fight with the Seventh teach you anything?” she hissed. “You’re not to wander about the corridors without one of us at your side!”

“I don’t need looking after, Elke. Besides, no one told me.”

“I was supposed to tell you,” Elke admitted, slumping down against her chair. “I told Lady Song I would be at your chambers before you’d woken, but I’ve had much to deal with this morning.”

A hush fell over the place, and Remy looked up from his plate. The kindred had fallen silent as well, turning to see Raghnall framed against the doorway. His gaze flitted toward Trin and he frowned slightly, but made no move against Remy this time. He merely tilted his head at her, then turned to leave the same way he entered.

“I must be going, then,” Trin said cheerfully, rising gracefully to her feet.

“Will you be in trouble for talking to me?” Remy asked worriedly.

“Of course not. I’ve already lectured him about the importance of keeping ties to the Third and Fourth Court. He won’t attack you again.” Trin bowed low to him, then to Elke, before following her master. Some of the kindred stepped aside to let her pass with a respectful incline of their heads.

“Sounds like she has him well under her thumb despite all appearances,” Elke said, and then sighed deeply, leaning forward to rest her head against the wooden table with a faint clunk.

“Are you all right? You don’t look like you’ve had much sleep.”

“I’m kindred, Remy. I don’t need sleep. This place is a little overwhelming, that’s all. And I wasn’t expecting you to be up so early after last night.”

Remy resisted the urge to pound the table in frustration. “Did everyone fucking hear us?”

“What were you expecting, given kindred and their senses?” Elke lifted her head. “Lady Song intends to formally ask the council today to acknowledge her as the official leader of the Fourth Court instead of Song Yingyue.”

Remy gaped at her. “Does her mother know?”

“You’ve seen Yingyue. I don’t think she even knows where she is. They may not have as many clansmen as in the past, but the Fourth Court still holds just as much sway. Lady Song is worried that the other leaders might view Yingyue as a weakness, and she wants to make sure that her court’s interests are well defended.”

“Won’t she officially join the Third Court once she becomes Malekh’s wife?”

“Yes, and that’s where the potential conflict of interest comes in. They may not allow her to remain acting leader of the Fourth for long, once she shares leadership of the Third Court with Malekh. But she’s determined to hold the position until they find another way. It’s why they’ve been putting off their marriage.” Elke crooked an eyebrow up. “Although I imagine that they need to discuss you as well before taking that step.”

“That was part of what we were discussing last night,” Remy muttered.

“I should remind you that what you have is a natural thing between three loving, consensual adults, and that it isn’t wrong for you to pursue that.”

“Elke.”

“Seems like something’s still on your mind. You do know that you can talk about it with me if you feel like you can’t talk about it with Lord Malekh or Lady Song, though I don’t see what could possibly—”

“Have you ever shafted someone?”

“I’m not sure what that’s supposed to mean.”

Remy prayed desperately to the Light that his voice was low enough for no one else to hear. It helped that most of the kindred had left the hall. “Xiaodan has a… shaft. Of an artificial variety. And she uses it on Malekh to… and I was wondering if you, uh, had done that with any of your—”

“Of course,” Elke said immediately. “Countless times before. Not all men want to, of course, but there are some interesting ideas to use it for when you’ve also got a female partner.” She broke off, staring at his face. “Remy,” she said, grinning. “You are such an innocent, it’s adorable.”

A shout rose up from somewhere in the other room. Elke and Remy traded glances at each other, then were both off in an instant.

A crowd had gathered before one of the rooms. Thaïs was standing there in wet clothes, red-faced with a sponge in one hand and an empty bucket in the other. Even more scarlet was the Lady Rotteburg, her eyes bulging out of her head and a brush raised as if to chuck it at the girl. A bar of soap on the floor beside the Antecedent was proof that this was not her first attempt.

“Stay away from my son, do you hear me?” Lady Rotteburg roared.

“I only offered to scrub his back, milady,” Thaïs squeaked.

“Mother!” Lord Lorian came bursting through the door, all the more comical because he was soaking wet and clad only in his braies. The crimson had spread from his face and down his chest and shoulders. “You are misreading the situation!”

“You are not to go near him!” Lady Rotteburg thundered. She cast a furious glance at the others who’d gathered to watch, and under her gaze many of the kindred wilted, murmured apologies, and tactfully withdrew.

“Is there anything I can do, milady?” Remy asked tentatively, watching Thaïs scuttle away with the others.

“No, Armiger. I have everything well under control.” Lady Rotteburg rubbed at her temple. “Forgive me. I am not used to causing such outbursts. I fear this will lower Lorien’s standing among the rest of the clans, but it had to be done.” She cast a glare upon her son.

“She didn’t do anything!” Lord Lorien protested again.

“You are not to seek her out, nor is she to stay in the same room as you in our time here. Do you understand me?”

The Second Court leader sighed. “Yes, Mother.”

With a loud harrumph, Lady Rotteburg retreated back into the room.

“As bad as that?” Remy asked sympathetically.

“Was she really just scrubbing your back, milord?” Elke asked casually.

Lorien met their gazes before his eyes drifted to the floor. “She’s very pretty,” he muttered, and Elke and Remy couldn’t help but laugh.

---

MALEKH DIDN’T look like he wanted to be there. He had once more eschewed sitting at the head of the table in favor of seating himself at the chair designated for the Third Court leader, deliberately facing away from the throne that was still taking up most of the unspoken questions in the room.

Remy sat on the floor in between him and Xiaodan, noting how the other familiars had positioned themselves in the same manner beside their own respective masters. The Antecedents, at least, had been solicitous enough to provide cushions in lieu of the hard stone ground, and they proved surprisingly comfortable. Xiaodan had looked ready to fight for the right to spare him a chair beside her at first, but Remy had taken Trin’s earlier words to heart, refusing more privileges than the other familiars had. It paid off in the approving look that Fanglei, of all people, shot his way.

“Zidan offered to lead in exchange for the high priestess providing us with more information regarding the mandurugo,” Xiaodan said softly for Remy’s benefit, all without moving her lips. “He knew she wanted him to handle the council in a more official capacity, and it was the easiest way to get her to agree.”

Malekh was doing something he hated for him. Remy gritted his teeth but otherwise kept his calm.

Xiaodan occupied the Fourth Court’s seat. Everyone knew the extent of Yingyue’s condition, but Raghnall had once more kicked up a fuss, arguing that Xiaodan was not capable of juggling the interests of two courts at once, and it had taken time to convince him to withdraw his protests.

Remy didn’t know where Alegra was and assumed that she was at the Fourth Court leader’s quarters. He spotted Elke searching the room for the tall warrior herself before her shoulders slumped in realization.

“Now we come to the matter of the Second and Fifth Courts,” Malekh said.

Hylasenth nodded. “It would do well to inject some fresh blood into the clans. The demise of the Second and Fifth have been through no fault but their own selfishness, but it would be good for morale to find better leaders for them.”

“And reform them we shall,” Raghnall boomed, sounding far more pleased than Remy suspected any of them would have liked. “The Seventh is the largest among the clans, and we have no shortage of kindred eager to join our ranks.” He raised his hand, and two of his subordinates waiting at one side of the room stepped forward. “Abel and Forshall are two of my most trusted clansmen, and they have offered to leave my court to make efforts to rebuild the Second and Fifth. You will not find their determination lacking, nor their experience.”

The looks on Hylasenth’s and Xiaodan’s faces plainly stated that it was not anyone’s determination or experience they were opposed to.

“And this is not a ploy to influence those courts to intercede in your favor on future sessions of the council?” Fanglei asked candidly and coolly.

“Did you not argue that Lady Song here is more than capable of overseeing the Third and Fourth without an overlap of interests?” The man shot her a smug smile, thinking he’d scored a point. “It’s not like I will be handling the affairs of three clans at the same time, as she handles two.”

“The council previously agreed to first make our selections from the former clansmen of both courts before we take other steps,” Malekh said.

“Survivors?” The other vampire scoffed. “You cannot think that anyone would be willing to return after all that transpired, for the Fifth in particular. There was no love lost between Etrienne Sauveterre and many of his own kinsmen, and you would be hard-pressed to find any who survived the purging you yourself wrought on them, much less one eager to take up the reins in his place.”

“That’s not quite true,” Elke said, stepping forward.

Raghnall narrowed his eyes at her, displeased by the interruption. “And who might you be?”

“I am Elke Whittaker. I once served as Etrienne Sauveterre’s head forger, and I am ready to take up the mantle of leadership for the Fifth.”

Startled murmurs sprang up from the rest of the crowd.

“And how are we to know that you are who you say you are? I knew Etrienne for close to four hundred years, and I have never seen you at his court.”

“If you knew Etrienne for that long, then you would have known about his propensity for possessiveness, milord,” Elke said, smiling grimly. “He was most appreciative of my companionship and my talent at metal smithing and strove to keep me a secret to all but his inner courts, for fear that someone else may spirit me away.”

“You forged Etrienne’s sword,” Hylasenth said suddenly. “Dawnbreaker. I have admired it many times in the past. He told me that he had commissioned it from one of King Unhurst’s most brilliant smiths at the turn of the sixth century.”

“He was not wrong, milord. In fact, he fancied my work so much that he murdered my king and took me as his prize.”

Raghnall was still glaring at Elke, clearly pissed that his scheming was already heading south. Abel and Forshall were silent, looking to their master for further instruction. “You have yet to prove your identity,” the Seventh Court leader finally said. “Words are not evidence. If there is no one else to vouch for you—”

“I do,” Xiaodan spoke up quietly. “We encountered her during the Third and Fourth’s final battle with the Fifth, and a few more times before that.”

“And how are we to know that she isn’t just some kindred you found along the way here? You’ve always been biased against the Fifth, Xiaodan, and you would jump at the chance to control their court now that the Fourth is bereft of members.”

“Lady Whittaker has no clan ties with me, Raghnall. Any decision she makes will be of her own choosing, and not because she was ever my subordinate.” Xiaodan gave Abel and Forshall a pointed glance. “Unlike some other candidates who have been put forward.”

“I vouch for the Lady Whittaker as well,” Malekh said calmly, before the Seventh Court king could splutter another protest, “and confirm that she was a standing member of the Fifth Court long before our battle with them.”

“I, too, can vouch for the young Whittaker,” Cao Fanglei spoke up unexpectedly. “I saw the young lady quite a few times and always wondered of her position within Sauveterre’s court. The Fifth refused to reveal her origins when I put forth inquiries in the past, and I long suspected that there was more to her than he let on. More than just a consort, anyway.”

“It is settled, then,” Hylasenth said. “Begging your pardon, Lady Whittaker, but to have survived both Etrienne, his cruel proclivities, and the bloody war the Third and Fourth waged against them tells me all I need to know about your character, and I would be most pleased to see you restore the Fifth to even greater glory.” He looked around. “Let us make it official, then. Is anyone opposed to granting Lady Whittaker her right to the Fifth?”

No one else spoke; Raghnall was too outraged to speak, unable to come up with another counter to her claim. “If that is the case,” he finally said, “there is still the matter of the Second Court. As I said, I would be happy to offer both Abel and Forshall for your consideration.”

“That will no longer be necessary,” Malekh said. “May I present to the court the Lady Violet Rotteburg of Elouve and her son, Lorien Cedric Tattersall.” Aunoir and Deithnir were already gently guiding both forward.

“What?” Raghnall sputtered.

Hylasenth was taking this revelation less jovially than he had Elke’s announcement. He was out of his chair and before the young man in an instant, inspecting his face carefully. “Be at ease, madam,” the Eighth Court leader said when Lady Rotteburg started forward in alarm. “I mean no harm to him. The opposite, in fact. Tattersall, you said. Do you mean to say that this young man’s father was Redwald Tattersall?”

“Yes,” Lady Rotteburg whispered. It was the first time Remy had heard her sound so broken. “We were lovers. Eloped when I was still young. My father had written me off—he never knew I’d married a vampire—and we lived at the Second Court for many years, until…”

“Until the Alurians attacked Meridian Keep,” Fanglei finished for her.

Lady Rotteburg nodded. “Redwald helped me escape. I was already pregnant then, and he sent me away to his kin, who were disguised as humans in a nearby town. He died in the siege, and I raised Lorien on my own until my father died. We had no close remaining kin, and the law Queen Ophelia passed then allowed me to inherit his estate in lieu of other heirs. I kept Lorien in the countryside, but I needed to comport my life in a way to put myself above suspicion.”

And so you became a duenna and a terror in the hearts and minds of every rake, gold digger, and reprobate foolish enough to cross your path, Remy thought. Me included.

“If I am to lead anything,” Lorien said quietly, speaking up for the first time, “I shall pull my own weight, fight as hard as I would expect any followers of mine to. I believe I can bring that much to the courts.”

“And you would have me believe that you happened to find an heir to the Second Court from chance alone, Third?” Raghnall roared at Malekh.

“Redwald was a good friend of mine,” Hylasenth said. “I understand why he would seek to keep this part of his life a secret, even from me and his own court. He always did his best to temper Kurdashev’s flightiness. He would have made a better leader, given the chance. Save for the yellow hair, this young lad is his spitting image. However she found him, I have no doubts this is his son.”

“There is still the question of whether or not he is fit to lead the Second Court.”

“You are free to offer Abel and Forshall as his guides until he is able to take full command,” Malekh said. He watched Raghnall’s eyes light up for a few moments before he added, “All the other courts shall pledge advisors of their own. I’m sure Fanglei already has names in mind, but perhaps the Fourth and the Eighth would like to offer their own people to serve as mentors.”

“The Fourth would be well glad to,” Xiaodan said calmly.

“As will the Eighth,” Hylasenth said.

Things were not going Raghnall’s way. He looked about ready to spring from his chair and fight them all, but Trin, who was seated at his feet, laid a hand on his right knee. That was enough to soothe the man, who slumped back down with a glower.

“I believe that Lord Tattersall should be given the chance to speak first,” Malekh said.

The lad bravely squared his shoulders and turned to Malekh. “I am prepared to do so, milord.”

Knowing what to do, Elke slid into the chair kept empty for the Fifth, and after some hesitation, Lorien did the same for the Second Court seat. Remy saw Daoming taking Lady Rotteburg gently by the elbow and leading her back to where the other kindred were waiting.

“I see no reason not to place both Lady Whittaker and Lord Tattersall as temporary leaders of the Fifth and Second Courts respectively, and take into consideration any others who may wish to present candidates in the future,” Malekh said. “Which brings us to matters involving the First Court.”

Remy could feel the tension in the air again. Raghnall was still sulking. Hylasenth was frowning, and while Fanglei’s features remained placid, there was a faint wrinkle in her forehead.

“The Alurians see the benefits of an alliance with the rest of the courts. There are far too many newly turned covens about, pledging loyalty to the Night Empress. There are mutations attacking human villages.”

“But weren’t these mutations created by the Alurians themselves?” Hylasenth said. “I see no reason to help them clean up their messes when it is clear that they made these foul abominations to use against us.”

“It became our problem when the Night Empress found a way to manipulate them to attack both kindred and humans alike,” Malekh said, and judging from the mutters and gasps from the other kindred, many hadn’t known of this. “An evolved incarnation of these mutations tried to invade the Fata Morgana—webbed feet and scales, all exuding poison.”

“Now that you’ve mentioned it,” Hylasenth said. “My court recently defended ourselves from a similar offensive.”

“We have found similar assailants back in Situ,” Fanglei confirmed. “Green scales? Rows of jagged fangs?”

Hylasenth nodded. “We were able to use the inoculations you sent us to prevent them from rising up, Third, though I fear that will not be enough if this goes on for much longer. Perhaps you are right. It is one thing to sit back and wait for the Night Empress and the Alurians to see their way to a mutual destruction, but it is another to let the rest of us slide into the hellfire along with them.”

“And what if the Night Empress is found to have better claims to the Night Court than Lord Malekh has?” Elke asked unexpectedly.

Remy gaped at her, unsure why she was suddenly choosing to square off against Malekh, but Raghnall was quick to take advantage. “If the right to lead the Second and Fifth Courts are based on the seniority of its surviving members, then none of you should be able to oppose the Night Empress if she can prove closer blood ties to Ishkibal than Zidan.”

“She is free to assume the Night Court’s throne if she wishes it,” Malekh said, in a too-tranquil voice Remy learned to expect when he was about to make everyone else angry with his next announcement. “That changes little of the danger she poses to us all. I will have no qualms about laying her and her clan to waste a second time, regardless of title.”

The proclamation did not sit well with the rest of the council. Hylasenth sat with his arms folded across his chest, lips pursed. Raghnall looked about ready to have an aneurysm. Elke was careful not to display any expression on her face, and Lorien looked nervous. Remy shot him a sympathetic smile, and Lorien’s lips twitched up before he caught himself and looked down at the table.

Fanglei tsked loudly. “Who are you to say that the Night Empress, too, does not wish to unite us? It seems to me that her enmity has always been directed at the Alurians, and that she chose to attack the Third and Fourth Courts because they have aided the humans. What benefit do we have from siding with the mortal kingdoms?”

“The mutations who attacked my mother’s home thought that we were from Situ,” Lorien said. Heads swiveled in his direction, and he looked ready to crawl under the table from their scrutiny.

“You never mentioned that,” Fanglei said quietly.

Lorien cleared his throat. “I didn’t know anything about the Night Empress at that time and thought it possible that the Sixth Court, being the closest, had instigated it as a ploy, to eventually ingratiate yourselves toward me. Even more so as I am likely to take on the leadership of the Second Court.”

There was a tense silence before Fanglei broke it herself with a soft chuckle, her manner now relaxed. “If I still entertained any doubts that you were Redwald’s boy, I have none now,” she said. “It was exactly the kind of reasoning he would have come up with. I commend your mother for raising you in a way that his line breeds true. But I am most curious to know why you think you were attacked because they thought you were under my protection.”

“It was something one of the attackers said.”

“What?” Malekh asked. “Are you saying that one of these creatures spoke to you?”

“It was not so much speaking to me as announcing what they intended to do to me and my mother, milord.” Lorien took a deep breath. “They called me impure. Cambion. Said none of the other courts had retained the purity of Ishkibal’s bloodline. That the First Court would be borne anew of his blood alone, just as it had once been—with no other courts alive to dilute their lineage.”