30. Chapter 30

30

Chapter 30

Darick

I stand in front of the vast fireplace in my study, staring into the flickering flames. The scent of aged leather and parchment usually calms me, but tonight, it does nothing to ease the tension coiling in my chest.

"Fuck it," I mutter. The meeting replays in my mind on a loop. Lucien's smug face, his thinly veiled threats. And Rowan… Her presence had thrown me completely off balance.

I leave the fire and turn to the window, staring out into the darkness. Why did I feel compelled to apologize to her? She's just a witch, a means to an end. Yet the hurt in her eyes when I'd been deliberately cruel gnaws at me.

Marcus is lounging on the leather chesterfield, boots up on the coffee table in front of it. A picture of studied nonchalance. But I know differently. He's as troubled as I am.

I turn to face him. "We need to move quickly. Lucien's getting bolder by the day."

Marcus nods, his dark eyes serious. "What's our play?"

"We need allies. Trustworthy ones." I head back toward the fireplace. I can't seem to stand still. I guess it's not surprising. There'd been a time when my nights were spent hunting. Not all this…political maneuvering.

"Elias and Selene?" Marcus suggests, raising an eyebrow.

"Precisely." I nod. He thinks the way I do; they're exactly who I had in mind. "Can you arrange a private meeting? Somewhere discreet, away from prying eyes."

Marcus stands, straightening his leather jacket. "Consider it done. I'll use our old channels. No one will catch wind of it."

I nod, grateful for his efficiency. But there's something else gnawing at me, a concern I can't shake. "There's another matter," I begin, hesitating.

Marcus waits patiently, sensing my unease.

"Rowan," I say, trying to keep my voice neutral. "I'm concerned about her safety."

He purses his lips. "You should be. She's not going to stay off Marlowe's radar for long."

"I know. I'm worried about that." I heave a breath. "She's…valuable. As a blood source," I add quickly. "If Lucien discovers her connection to me, he won't hesitate to use her against me."

"Absolutely," Marcus says, his tone knowing. "And that's the only reason you're concerned."

I scowl at him. "What other reason would there be?"

Marcus holds up his hands in surrender, but I catch the hint of a smirk on his face. "Of course. We'll need to consider protective measures for her as well."

I nod, relieved he doesn't press the issue further. "Good. Let me know as soon as you've arranged the meeting with Elias and Selene."

He leaves the room, his phone to his ear before the door shuts behind him.

I return to my brooding in front of the fireplace. I don't like feeling this way. Like I have more to lose than I'm willing to give up.

My clan.

My leadership.

My…

What is she?

And is she really mine? I know I could compel her to concede to me. Make her do what I demand. Though somehow, I suspect she'd fight it. And is that really what I want? Besides, it should be enough that she'll let me feed from her. What more do I need? A constant supply? An assurance that she won't withdraw the offer once she has enough magic?

Something more?

I shake my head. I'm overthinking this. The main thing is making sure she doesn't get into the wrong hands.

Fucking Lucien.

I clench a fist, resting it against the mantelpiece. Vulnerability is not something I'm used to. And right now, I have too many weak points. I can't do this alone. It would be foolish.

I turn from the fireplace as Marcus strides back into the study, his face set with purpose.

"Selene's ready to see us now," he says, pocketing his phone. "She's reaching out to Elias as we speak."

"Good," I nod, satisfied. We're moving quickly, which is exactly what we need right now. "Where does she suggest we meet?"

"Her place," Marcus replies, a hint of surprise in his tone. "Says it's unlikely anyone's watching her."

I raise an eyebrow. It's an unexpected choice, but Selene's always been one to play things close to the chest. If she thinks her place is secure, I'm inclined to trust her judgment.

"Alright," I say, reaching for my jacket. "Let's not waste any time."

As we head out, I can't shake the feeling that we're walking a razor's edge. Selene and Elias are powerful allies, but bringing them into this puts them at risk, too. And then there's Rowan…

I push the thought away. One problem at a time.

"Did Selene say anything else?" I ask Marcus as we slide into the car.

He shakes his head. "Just that we could talk more when we arrive. She seemed…tense."

That's not like Selene. She's usually the picture of calm, even in the face of crisis. This thing is rattling her.

As we drive through the quiet streets, I find myself wondering what cards Lucien has up his sleeve. Somehow, he's always ahead of the curve, and I can't shake the feeling that we're still playing catch-up.

But with Selene and Elias on our side, maybe we can finally turn the tables.

I step out of the elevator into Selene's penthouse, Marcus close behind. The space is a perfect reflection of Selene herself – sleek, modern, and undeniably powerful. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a breathtaking view of the city skyline, glittering like a sea of stars against the night sky.

Selene greets us at the door, her raven hair cascading over one shoulder of her tailored black blazer. "Darick, Marcus," she nods, her eyes sharp and assessing. "Come in."

As we enter the living area, I spot Elias already seated on a low, white leather couch. He rises to greet us.

"Darick," he says, clasping my hand. "Didn't expect to see you again so soon."

I nod. "I wish it were under better circumstances."

Selene gestures for us to sit, then perches on the arm of a nearby chair. "So, what's this about, Darick? Your message was…vague."

I take a deep breath, collecting my thoughts. "It's about Lucien. I have reason to believe he's planning something far worse than what he's letting on."

Elias's expression darkens. "We've all heard his rhetoric. What makes you think there's more to it?"

"The attack on the witches," I say, watching their reactions carefully. "I believe Lucien was behind it."

Selene's eyes widen, while Elias sits back, looking troubled.

"That's…a serious accusation," Selene says slowly. "Do you have proof?"

I shake my head. "Not concrete proof, no. But the timing, the way it was executed…it all points to Lucien."

Elias nods thoughtfully. "It's not unbelievable. Lucien's always been…ambitious."

"Devious, you mean," Selene corrects, pursing her lips. "But what's his motivation?"

"Blood." I clench my jaw. "He's taking them for their blood."

"The Bloodbane." Elias looks grim.

"Yes. I think he's keeping them as a source."

"For those of his clan who are afflicted?" Selene eyes me curiously.

"On the surface, yes. But I don't believe that Lucien's all about altruism. If he's doing this, there's a bigger motivation." I sit back against the soft leather of my seat. It creaks slightly.

"Like what?" she asks.

"Not sure. Probably thinks he'll be able to extend his reach into the other clans needing witch blood. Not everyone is opposed to taking it by force. But not everyone wants to get their hands dirty. Lucien has no such problem."

"Motherfucker," mutters Elias, who's always had an issue with inflicting pain. Pretty unusual for a vampire.

"It's just a theory, though," I add. "He could be up to anything. Who knows how his mind works."

"So how do we fit in?" says Selene.

I take in a breath before I address them. "What I'm proposing is an alliance. Between the three of us, we have the resources and influence to counter whatever Lucien has up his sleeve."

Selene nods slowly, a hint of intrigue in her expression. "Go on."

"Think about it," I continue. "Elias, your medical expertise and connections in the scientific community. Selene, your diplomatic skills and network of informants. Marcus's strategic mind and combat experience as my military advisor. My leadership and…" I hesitate for a moment, "…certain unique advantages I've recently acquired."

Marcus nods, backing me up. "We're stronger together. Lucien's been playing us against each other for too long. It's time we turned things around."

Elias shifts uncomfortably in his seat. "I understand the appeal, Darick, but going against Lucien directly…it's risky. He has a way of seeing everything."

"Which is precisely why we need to act," I counter. "Lucien's ambitions won't stop at just one of us. By the time he finishes with me, it'll be someone else. Maybe one of you. But if we stand together, we can stop him in his tracks."

The pair exchange glances. They know there's truth in what I'm saying.

"Personally, I think he's after Arabella's seat," I say bluntly.

Elias sucks in a breath. "A coup?"

"Nobody has overthrown the Grand Eldership in over five hundred years." Selene looks alarmed.

"I'm guessing Lucien thinks it's about time for a change." My tone is grim. "We have to nip it in the bud."

"Damn straight," interjects Marcus.

I pause, carefully considering my next words. "There's also the matter of protecting certain witches who may be vulnerable to Lucien's plots. We can't allow him to exploit them for his gain."

Selene tilts her head, her eyes sharp. "Certain witches? Anyone, in particular, we should know about?"

I keep my expression neutral, not wanting to reveal too much about Rowan. "Let's just say I have reason to believe some witches are of particular interest to Lucien. Their safety is crucial."

Crucial to my survival. Among other things.

Selene's fingers tap thoughtfully on the arm of her chair. "It's an intriguing proposition. But I need more details. What exactly would this alliance entail? And how do we ensure our own safety in the process?"

I settle against my seat, my hands clasped together as I elaborate on our potential alliance. "Each of us has unique resources that, when combined, create a powerful force. Whether it's financial support, access to rare materials, or simply manpower, we stand a much better chance together."

Selene's eyes narrow thoughtfully. "And how do you propose we coordinate these resources without drawing attention?"

"We'll need to be discreet," I admit. "But that's where your diplomatic skills come in, Selene. You have a knack for maneuvering in the shadows."

Elias nods slowly, but I can see the concern in his eyes. "What about the medical side of things? If Lucien is indeed harvesting witch blood, we may need to deal with the aftermath."

I turn to him, grateful for his insight. "Exactly. Your expertise will be crucial, Elias. Not just for treating potential victims, but also for developing countermeasures against whatever Lucien might be cooking up in those labs of his."

"Synthetic blood," Elias muses. "I wondered about that when he raised it. I hadn't heard anything about him dabbling in that field."

"Wouldn't surprise me if he said he was manufacturing Synth when what he's planning to peddle is the real deal." Marcus's lip curls in disgust.

"There's something else…" Elias pauses as if considering what to say next. "The Umbran blood consumption patterns don't make sense."

I look at him, my interest piqued. "What do you mean, Elias? What kind of patterns?"

He takes a deep breath before speaking. "I've been tracking blood consumption rates across the clans. It's part of my ongoing research into the Bloodbane. Lucien's clan…their numbers don't add up."

"How so?" I press, feeling a surge of anticipation. This could be the evidence we need.

"Well," Elias continues, "their consumption rates are far lower than they should be, given their reported numbers."

"What does that mean?" Marcus frowns.

"On the surface, not much," Elias adds, leaning in closer. "The official records show normal consumption rates. It's only when you dig deeper that you see the discrepancy. They're not consuming human Synth the way they used to."

"So? Maybe they're just feeding from blood groupies," says Selene. "God knows that bastard's collected enough of them."

"I don't think so." Elias shakes his head. He's still not telling us everything.

"Spit it out, man." Marcus is growing impatient.

"I think Lucien's not being transparent with how many of his clan members have the Bloodbane," Elias finally says.

Marcus and I share a look. Marlowe isn't the only one who's not being forthcoming on that front.

Selene's eyes narrow. "How did you get access to that kind of information?"

Elias gives a small, wry smile. "I have my ways. Let's just say I've cultivated some useful contacts over time."

I nod, impressed. "This is exactly the kind of intel we need. Elias, can you compile a detailed report on these findings?"

"Already working on it," he replies. "But we need to be careful. If Lucien catches wind of this…"

"He won't," I assure him, my voice firm. "We'll make sure of it."

A silence descends as we all consider this for a moment.

Selene breaks it. "So what's next."

"That depends on you, Lady Nightshade." I smile. "I'm hoping you'll agree to my proposal." I look at Elias. "Both of you. And with any luck, we'll add more to our ranks."

Selene taps her bottom lip with a manicured fingertip, mulling this over. "I'm in," she says at last.

"I'm on board, too," Elias adds. He looks concerned, but I think we've put up a compelling argument.

I exhale a heavy breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. "Excellent." I continue, eager to get started now that we're in agreement, "Our first priority should be gathering concrete evidence of Lucien's activities. We need more than just suspicions."

Selene nods, her eyes sharp. "I can put some feelers out, see what my contacts can dig up."

"Good," I say. "And Elias, that report…?"

"I'll have something for you within the week," he assures me.

Marcus clears his throat. "What about the Grand Elder? You mentioned bringing her evidence that Lucien planned that attack on the ceremony."

"Yes," I acknowledge. "But that's not going to be enough to stop him."

"Why not?" Selene asks, her brow furrowed.

"Because not all the clan elders oppose the idea of forcibly taking witch blood," I explain. "Lucien's already proposed a task force. Even if we proved he was behind the attack on the vigil, he could easily claim he was just…pre-empting a move he thought would be accepted. She might rap his knuckles, keep an eye on him…but if she doesn't see him as a threat, I doubt she'll do much more."

Elias looks troubled. "So without proof of his plans to usurp Arabella…"

"Exactly," I nod. "We need more than just suspicions to truly bring him down."

We hit another silence, and eventually, Selene stands. "You've given us a lot to think about, Lord Drake." She puts a hand on my shoulder. "My brother had better hope he hasn't dragged me into a mess."

"Can't make any promises," Marcus says unapologetically.

"Typical." She gives a delicate little snort. "Get your ass out of here before I change my mind." She softens her words with a wink. "For the record, I think we're doing the right thing."

As Marcus and I leave Selene's penthouse, my mind is racing. We have a plan, allies, but it still feels like we're playing catch-up.

And then there's Rowan…

I pause in the hallway, causing Marcus to look at me quizzically.

"Everything alright?" he asks.

I nod, but I can feel a strange tightness in my chest. It's been so long since I've felt this…uncertain. This protective. And it's not just about securing a blood source anymore. The thought of Lucien getting his hands on Rowan fills me with a rage I can barely contain.

Part of me almost wonders if I've been galvanized into action against him because I'm afraid of what he might do to her. I shouldn't be behaving this way. Should have my eye on the big picture. There's more than just one little witch at risk here. But somehow, I can't see beyond her.

What is she doing to me?