27. Chapter 27

27

Chapter 27

Rowan

G ran tilts her head and looks at me strangely as I open the door.

"Gran!" I say brightly. "I'm so sorry. I was running a bath."

Oh, my God, I'm going to die.

Gran is silent for a moment, considering this. "Of course, dear." She knows I'm lying. "May I come in?"

"I…I…" Inadvertently, I glance back to the empty room. Wherever he went, there's no sign of him now. Though I'm certain I can pick up the faint scent of him.

"Rowan…?"

"Right! Sure! Of course, come on in, Gran," I babble, stepping aside and letting her pass me. She stops a few feet into the living area.

Oh, God, please don't let her figure it out.

"I needed to chat to you, dear. Is now a good time?" The way that she says it makes me think she knows that it's not.

"It's fine, Gran. I was only going to have a bath and head to bed. Can I get you some tea?"

"That would be nice. Although I won't stay long. In fact, I hope you won't either. I want to ask you to join me at a meeting tonight."

"A meeting?" I pause on my way to the kitchen, looking back at her.

"Yes. A fairly…delicate one." She walks past me through the door and starts bustling about. Gran's spent so much time here with me that she knows the place as well as I do. Now she's filling up the kettle and switching it on.

"The elders of the Coven Conclave have arranged a meeting with the vampire Blood Assembly to discuss recent events. I'd like you to join me."

I freeze, my hand halfway to grabbing mugs from the cupboard. "Me?" I squeak, nearly knocking a mug down. "Why would you want me there?"

"Because you might provide a unique insight," she says. "Your connection could give us a better idea of how they think. We could use your insights."

"I'm not sure I know what you mean," I fumble.

She turns to face me, her eyes intense. "I think you know exactly what I mean, Rowan. Your…connection with the vampire."

My heart races. How much does she know? "I… I don't understand."

Gran sighs, her expression softening. "Darling, I've been around for a long time. I can sense these things. He's been here, hasn't he?"

I know there's no point in lying, so I don't. "Yes," I reply simply.

Gran sighs. "This is a dangerous game you're playing, Rowan. But for now, I think we can use it to our advantage."

I lean against the counter, my mind whirling. "Gran, I… I don't know what to say. I'm not sure I understand them any better than anyone else."

"Perhaps not consciously," she replies, placing a hand on my arm. "But there's more to this connection than you realize. Your perspective could be invaluable."

I swallow hard, torn between apprehension and a strange sense of importance. "When is this meeting?"

"Tonight," Gran says. "I know it's short notice, but these are extraordinary circumstances."

I nod slowly, considering the implications. "Okay," I hear myself say. "I'll come."

I'm silent as I make our tea, trying to calm my nerves as Gran explains what to expect at the meeting. Her voice is steady, reassuring, but I can sense the underlying tension.

"We've negotiated a truce for the duration of the meeting. But we'll need to be extremely cautious, Rowan," she says, her eyes meeting mine over the rim of her cup. "The vampires may not try anything overtly dangerous in such an exposed situation, but we can't let our guard down for a moment."

I nod, my throat tight. "Do you really think they'll honor the truce?"

Gran sighs. "Arabella Ravenscroft, their Grand Elder, is known for her integrity. But she can't control every vampire, just as we can't control every witch." She sets down her cup. "That's why we've taken extensive magical precautions."

As we finish our tea, Gran outlines the protective measures in place. Wards to detect ill intent, subtle charms to enhance our reflexes, and emergency portals if we need a quick escape. It's overwhelming, but I try to absorb every detail.

"Remember," Gran says as she rises, "your presence there is important. Observe everything, but be careful what you say; in fact, don't say anything at all. I simply want you to let us know if you pick up any hidden subtexts – you've been inside the head of one of them, you'll know better how they think. Your connection…it could be both an advantage and a liability."

I put my empty teacup down, smoothing my hair nervously. "I understand, Gran. I'll be careful."

She smiles, pride and worry in her eyes. "I know you will, dear. Now, let's go meet some vampires."

As we step out into the cool night air, I can't help but wonder if Darick will be there. And if he is, how will I keep my composure? With a deep breath, I follow Gran toward what promises to be a tense and potentially dangerous encounter.

When we drive through tall, ornate gates and pull up in front of the vampire Blood Assembly's headquarters, I'm momentarily overwhelmed. Situated in a vast estate on the outskirts of town, the building is a towering gothic monolith from which various wings extend. More modern, I'm guessing, since they're made from glass and steel, unlike the intricate ivy-clad stonework and spires of the main structure. It's an artful blend of old and new, and I'm sure it's designed to intimidate. My mouth hangs open for a moment.

Pulling myself together, I follow Gran into the opulent entrance hall. The place reeks of wealth and power, with its marble floors and gilded fixtures. It's nothing like the cozy, herb-scented spaces I'm used to in the witch community.

As we round a corner, I spot a small group of familiar faces. Seraphina Moonshadow stands tall and serene in a flowing cream pantsuit, looking every inch the High Priestess. Beside her, Morgan Shadowmaster's dark eyes scan the corridor warily. Lysandra Starfire and Thaddeus Runeweaver complete the group, their expressions serious.

"Evelyn, Rowan," Seraphina greets us with a nod. "I'm glad you could join us."

Gran squeezes my hand reassuringly before addressing the group. "What's our strategy?"

Morgan steps forward, glancing around before he speaks. "We need to confront them about the attack on the Starlight Vigil. That, first and foremost."

Lysandra nods in agreement. "Plus all the other incidents recently. Vampires encroaching on our territories, testing our defenses. More so than before."

"We can't let them think we're weak," Thaddeus adds, his dark eyes flashing. "We need to present a united front."

I listen intently, trying to absorb every detail. The gravity of the situation weighs heavily on me. These aren't just abstract conflicts anymore; I've seen the violence firsthand.

Seraphina turns to me, her gaze piercing. "Rowan, your grandmother tells me you may have some unique insights. We'll need you to pay close attention to any details the rest of us might miss."

I swallow hard and nod, hoping my nervousness isn't too obvious. "I'll do my best," I manage to say, wondering just how much Gran has told her. Although knowing my grandmother, it would have been just enough without compromising my situation. I'm sure she's as reluctant to share my secret with others as I am. A witch with a vampire? It's a freaking disaster.

Not that I'm with, with him. It's a business arrangement. Magic for blood. That's all.

Liar.

My skin is still tingling with the memory of his touch.

I force myself to focus on the matter at hand. As the group continues to discuss strategy, I can't help but wonder what awaits us behind those imposing doors. And whether he'll be there, watching me just as closely as I'll be watching him.

Dammit, Rowan! Stop thinking about the man!

As we enter the room, I'm struck by its grandeur. Towering columns of polished marble line the walls, supporting a vaulted ceiling adorned with faded frescoes that must be as old as the building itself. A massive oval table dominates the center beneath the warm glow of concealed lighting.

But that's not what has my attention.

My eyes are immediately drawn to him. Darick. He stands tall and imposing among the other vampires. He's beautiful in the way that a predator is beautiful – breathtaking and deadly. His chiseled features seem carved from marble, perfect and cold and utterly disinterested. It's as if he's totally unaffected by my unexpected arrival, the pale blue of his eyes barely flickering as they move over me.

I wish I could say the same for myself. I take in the sight of him as if he's a three-course meal and I haven't eaten in weeks. He's wearing a crisp black button-down, open at the throat, beneath a tailored gray suit jacket that clings to his broad shoulders. It makes my breath catch as I think of how I was clinging to those shoulders just a couple of hours ago.

I force myself to look away, taking in the other vampires. There's a tall woman in a white tailored suit whose regal bearing says she must be their leader. Beside her, a man dressed completely in black with jet-black hair and cunning eyes watches us with barely concealed hostility. I count six vampires in total, each radiating power and danger.

We take our seats, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife. The silver-haired vampire – Grand Elder Arabella Ravenscroft, I learn – inclines her head slightly toward Seraphina.

"High Priestess," she says, her voice cool and measured. "We welcome you and your delegation."

Seraphina returns the nod. "Grand Elder. We appreciate your willingness to meet."

Suddenly, Darick's voice fills my head.

" What are you doing here?"

I stiffen, my hands clenching under the table.

" Get out of my thoughts," I project back fiercely. "You know the rules!"

"I asked you a question."

I stare studiously ahead of me, refusing to let him in. I imagine a heavily padlocked door slamming shut, barring his access. It seems to work because the silence in my head is immediate. Across the table, I notice him shift in his seat, his features setting with barely concealed rage, his eyes narrowed on me.

He's pissed.

Too bad.

Gran's hand finds mine beneath the table, giving it a reassuring squeeze. I glance at her, seeing the silent support in her eyes. Taking a deep breath, I try to focus on the meeting, but I can't shake the acute awareness of Darick's presence across the table.

Arabella moves forward slightly, her eyes on our High Priestess. "What is the purpose of this gathering?" she asks, her voice smooth as silk but with an underlying edge.

Seraphina doesn't hesitate. "We're here to address the recent attack on one of our most sacred rites, a Starlight Vigil," she says firmly. "It was a grievous violation of our long-standing agreements."

Arabella's expression softens slightly. "We deeply regret any harm that has come to your people," she says, sounding genuinely concerned. "Such actions are not condoned by the Assembly."

Before Seraphina can respond, the dark-haired vampire cuts in. "The witches have no right to jump to conclusions," he says icily. "This could easily have been the work of rogue elements. We can't be held responsible for every vampire's actions."

"Lucien." The Grand Elder fixes him with a look. "Let them state their case."

I feel a surge of anger at his dismissive tone, but Seraphina doesn't rise to the bait. She continues as if Lucien hadn't spoken.

"Beyond this recent attack, which you deny responsibility for," she shoots a look at Lucien, "we must address the ongoing issue of witch abductions," she says, her voice steady but forceful. "This has been a problem for centuries, forcing our people into hiding. It's time we get to the bottom of these incidents."

As Seraphina speaks, I can't help but be acutely aware of Darick's presence across the table. I don't look at him directly, but I can feel the weight of his gaze. It's like a physical touch, a touch that I know all too well. I clasp my hands on the table in front of me, wishing it didn't feel as if my nipples were tightening.

"Rowan…" It's him again.

"Out!" I focus on that padlocked door, the one that's barring him from my thoughts. Surprisingly, it's still working.

"We've been tolerating this situation for too long," Seraphina continues. "Defending ourselves by keeping ourselves hidden. It's affected every aspect of our lives. It needs to stop." She looks around the table at the others. "The vampires need to understand that we will no longer accept these abductions. We are prepared to take more…proactive measures if necessary."

There's no hiding the threat in her words. Further down the table, I notice a male and female vampire exchange glances, her brow furrowing. Does she think we're being too outspoken? Too bad. I feel the same outrage that I can hear in our High Priestess's voice.

Throughout this exchange, I notice Lucien's dark eyes flicking between Darick and me, a curious expression on his face. It makes me uneasy, and I wonder if he can sense something between us. I straighten in my chair, trying to appear confident and unaffected.

It's not easy because I can feel a constant tugging at my consciousness. Darick's trying to draw my attention. And I won't allow it. I almost smile at the irony. The magic that I've gained from our "arrangement" is the very thing that's keeping him out.

I take a deep breath, reminding myself why I'm here. Gran brought me to observe, to pick up on any peculiarities that the others might miss. I force myself to focus, pushing thoughts of Darick to the back of my mind.

As I scan the room, I notice varying degrees of curiosity and animosity from the vampires. Some seem genuinely interested in what Seraphina has to say, while others barely conceal their disdain. But it's Lucien who keeps drawing my attention.

I'm not a mind reader, at least not in the traditional sense. But ever since my connection with Darick began, I've become more attuned to the subtle ways people communicate. I use that skill now. Vampires are masters of masking their emotions and intentions, rarely being direct. Yet there's something about Lucien that sets my nerves on edge.

His dark eyes flit between the speakers, but there's a calculating gleam in them that makes me uneasy. When Seraphina mentions the abductions, I notice a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth. It's barely perceptible, but it's there. And when the discussion turns to potential consequences, his posture shifts ever so slightly, as if he's suppressing a reaction.

I can't shake the feeling that Lucien's up to something. The way he occasionally glances at Darick, then at me, makes me wonder if he suspects our connection. I make a mental note to mention this to Gran later. Whatever he's planning, I have a feeling it's not going to be good for any of us.