Chapter 12

OCTAVIA

T here's a pause as Mother stares at me, waiting for me to confess. I glance at the ballroom and all the eyes on me, and I pray to the Mother of Blood that she buys the lie.

"We tried a shaving from a mansion: Castle St Clair, specifically," I say.

Mother's eyes narrow to pins, their prick hot and scratchy on my skin. "Why did you do that?"

I want to shout at her. How dare she question me? She didn't question the others.

"Because we believe that magic is the most beautiful element our city offers. Where does magic come from? And which castle is arguably the most powerful?"

"Castle St Clair." Mother presses her lips shut, but she gives me a nod of acceptance. Then a muscle in her jaw ticks.

She turns to the lectern.

"This displeases me. Someone is lying. Either one of my children or one of the hunters."

The Chief places her hand on Mother's wrist. "Or we have a winner in our midst that is not part of the trials."

Mother's eyes glance at where they touch, and I bristle. I scan both their faces but can't work out what's between them. By their expressions, it's hatred and yet there is a familiarity between them I cannot place. Are all enemies like this?

"Well," Mother says, pulling her hand away. "As of right now, I'm not sure which."

There's a murmuring in the crowd. Disquiet threatening to unfurl around the ballroom. The Chief folds her arms.

"What about the dhampir?" someone in the audience shouts.

"It's clear that the dhampir has awakened," the Chief says.

"And why's that?" Lady Netterley, one of Mother's pet nobles, says from the round table in front of the stage.

"Because…" The Chief starts and then unfolds her arms and takes the amulet from Mother. Their fingers brush as the Chief yanks the amulet away. That is far more like the enemy interaction I expect, and yet, something… something is going on that I cannot understand. I zero my focus in on the pair of them, watching every movement. My attention has been on Mother's movements since she executed that vampire right before the trial of beauty, but I'm still missing something.

The Chief holds the amulet up to a chandelier and twists it this way and that. She whispers a few words to the amulet and the crystal green liquid in the centre brightens to a pinpoint so sharp that I have to squint to stop it, making my eyes ache.

It shoots a beam of light upwards. Hovering in the eerie green shaft of light is the projection of a single bead of blood. I go still, suppressing the tremors threatening my body. I cannot let them discover us.

The Chief straightens and points at the shaft of light and projection of the blood drop. She whispers more words, and the blood expands, its composition appearing in the air before us.

"This is no vampire's blood. It is not hunter nor human, nor the blood of the dhampirs of old. No. I can only conclude that is a bead of blood from the new dhampir. Ladies, gentlemen, vampires, hunters and friends. We may not have identified who the dhampir is, but someone knows. I'd bet its someone in this room. Or perhaps the dhampir knows who they are and used the trial as a cover to get confirmation."

"Why don't we have magic back, then?" One of the Chief's hunters yells from a table at the back of the ballroom.

The Chief glances at Mother, who indicates she'll take this one. "The process of becoming a dhampir is more complicated than just awakening and discovering who they are."

She steps up to the lectern as if she's about to give an academy lecture. "The dhampir must embrace their power. They must transition into the powerful being they are destined to be. The Chief and I believe this will be a new breed, something different from the dhampirs from our history. This time they will be both healer and vampire."

Red pales.

"And if they don't transition?" someone in the crowd asks.

Cordelia slowly nods at the audience as if approving of the question. "First, they transition, then they unlock the door and cross the threshold. And when they return, so too will all of our magic. And if they don't, then… well, I can't say for sure…"

The Chief glances at her and nudges her with her elbow.

"Fine. If they don't fully transition, it's our suspicion that they'll die."

Red swallows hard beside me. I dig my fingers so hard into the palms of my hands I feel the skin splitting and resealing as I release the pressure. I can't afford to let Red smell my blood while we're on stage.

Lord Netterley stands up at the front table.

"Lord Netterley, something to say?" Mother says.

"When you say transition. You mean into a vampire?"

Mother shakes her head. "Half. The prophecy indicates that this new type of dhampir will be a true hybrid of vampire and witch: ‘Blood of the night, a child of two worlds' embrace, A dhampir born, a dhampir turned. The heir to unlock this sacred space.' As they are currently human, they'll need to embrace their vampire side and allow themselves to turn."

Lord Netterley shifts on the spot, then a nasty sneer crosses his face. "Then I would like to offer my house as a host. To whomever you are, the most gracious dhampir. I offer you the blood and services of House Netterley. Let me open my arms and home to you. I am certain you'll need a noble vampire lineage, and as the first to offer, I do hope you'll see that it is my family that values you most."

The sneer reaches all the way to the ends of his impeccably groomed hair as he scans the ballroom, laying his eyes upon the other nobles in the room.

A hiss rips around the room as several vampires and several more hunters gasp. That was a bold move from Netterley. I glance at Red. This is quickly becoming a political minefield. There are protesters outside desperate for the cure not to be released. And yet in here, the vampires are welcoming the dhampir like family. A dhampir that is half hunter—the very thing they've hated for a millennium.

And it's now that I see Red's point. They are opening their arms not because they welcome the cure, but because they seek to control it, or more accurately, control her.

Lady Woodley stands next. "I too, offer my name, my blood, and my services. House Woodley would be honoured to have you as part of our family."

The hypocritical bitch. I swear that was who Dahlia said was supporting Mother's efforts to push back the hunter territory.

Noise erupts then. Offerings from a dozen different vampire families, until Mother bellows across the audience for everyone to be quiet.

It's only then I notice the only people to speak were vampires. Which is when a hunter I don't recognise stands. She's an elderly woman, but one in uniform and looking very much like she belongs on a political council. Perhaps a hunter elder, then?

"Yes?" the Chief says.

"Surely, if the dhampir is human currently—and a hunter, no less—then that makes them more hunter than vampire. In which case, I offer Hawk Battalion as their family. Vampires do not deserve the honour of claiming the dhampir. It is from hunter blood that the dhampir derives, and therefore, I am presuming they will reside in the Hunter Academy territory once they have fully transitioned."

Three vampires all sitting at the closest tables to the elder hunter stand up. Two of them snarling. The guards at the back of the room step forward. Two hunters and two vampires, the hunters have their hands on their stakes.

This will not end well.

Another greying hunter stands, again in uniform. She has several pips on her shoulder epaulettes, so I'm assuming she's someone fairly senior.

"I too offer Eagle Battalion."

"Fuck," the Chief mumbles.

Mother glances at her, and then raises her hands out to the ballroom. "ENOUGH. The dhampir is likely in this room, likely on this stage, and we do not need them to see the petty desires we harbour. This person is a free agent in this city. They do not have to align with any hunter or vampire house. And if they were to, I should imagine they would choose either the Chief or the St Clair family, given our highest-ranking statuses."

That doesn't go down well at all. I've heard enough. I glance at Xavier, who, while still inebriated, is skirting his gaze feverishly between all the shouting vampires and hunters in the room, trying to take stock of the political mood and how to make everyone friends again, I suspect.

"We need to get out of here," I say to Red and Xavier under my breath.

Mother tries to shout for silence, but there are now hunters and vampire nobles bellowing at each other across the room.

"Mother," I bark. She spins to face me. "I'm getting these guys out of here. This is dangerous."

She nods and says to all of us, "The next trial is the trial of spirit. Your instructions will come to you shortly."

She turns to the Chief, and they nod at each other and descend the stage to assuage the political discord.

I march out of the ballroom, my hand clamped around Red's wrist, Xavier trundling behind us.

"What are we doing? I want a drink," Xavier says.

"You need to sober up. Go get Amelia and meet us in the corridor. We're going to the carriage tunnels," I bark and grab his arm, too, yanking them both down the corridor. Red is sweating, her skin is clammy and greenish.

This isn't right, she's too hungry. Too needy for my blood. If the pace she's wanting to drink at continues to increase, I may not be able to satiate her, and that makes my insides burn like nothing else. But more than that, her hunger is far deeper than what's normal for an addiction.

Xavier returns with Amelia in tow, right as Red wobbles on her feet. Fucksake, we need to get blood in her fast, but not in Castle St Clair. Not where everyone can witness it.

"Xavier, get down to the carriage tunnel and get one ready for us. I'll carry her the rest of the way."

He speeds off in the direction of the tunnels. I bend my knees and sling Red over my shoulder.

"The fucth uuu doinnn," she mumbles into my shoulder and then proceeds to whack my back. "Lethhhh me donnn."

I ignore her and race after Xavier, albeit slightly slower. Amelia speeds along behind me.

Xavier, Amelia, Red and I climb into a carriage, and I pay the man double to get us there extra quick. He shoots us into the tunnels, driving the horses aggressively as he veers under the city as the afternoon dwindles and dusk approaches.

Red tries to stay awake but she ends up nodding like a rocking horse and eventually falls asleep on my shoulder.

Xavier, thank the Mother of Blood, sobers up. His brow furrows, and he glances at Red. "She doesn't look too hot."

"No," I shake my head.

"What's wrong with her?"

I grit my teeth. I wasn't going to remove the compulsion, but at this point I'm not sure who I trust? Perhaps no one? But how can I do this alone? I need a team around me, a confidante and unfortunately, Red is declining the closer she gets to transitioning. This is terrifying. I've never had to rely on anyone. I've never had people around me who liked me enough I could rely on them.

Xavier takes the decision away from me. "It's her, isn't it?" he says.

Amelia glances between Red and Xavier, her eyes widening. "No…"

Red rolls over, little snuffling snores emanating from her nose.

I sigh, "Look at me, Xavier."

He frowns but does as he's told. "Remember, Xavier St Clair. Remember what I took from you. Remember what you did, the sacrifice you made, but most of all, remember who she is."

He goes vampire still for a moment, his gaze glossing over, and then he shakes himself free of the remaining vestiges of the compulsion.

He glances at Red, then Amelia, and then at me. "We have a problem," he says.

"Yes. We do. It's going to become increasingly obvious it's her, and I'm not sure how to protect her from what's coming."

"It's more than that. Did you not just witness the political unrest at Mother's? It's not just the increasing protests from the public and the fact there's such division in the city. The vampires offering their houses will cause unrest between the nobles. It means that all the hunters, not only the ones in the trials, will be under increasing scrutiny. And the alliances between vampire families will be tested. Let alone hunter politics. What happened in the ballroom… it's concerning."

Amelia chews on her lip. "Wait. Wait. So, my sister is the…?

"Quiet," I snap a little too harshly. "But yes."

"Fuck," Amelia breathes.

"Quite," Xavier adds.

Amelia's eyes go distant. "Our mother used to have some residual magic. She could do little party tricks. I was always useless, but Red picked up some forging skills." She turns to Xavier. "You don't seem surprised. You already knew?"

"I did. I worked it out after she saved my life. Gave me some blood after Dahlia stabbed me with some kind of poisoned blade. If she hadn't let me drink her blood, I'd have died."

"Oh," Amelia says and then is quiet for a while before her head pops up. "The blood in the amulet…"

"Is Red's," I confirm.

"Gods," Amelia leans back on the carriage seating, her expression drawn.

"I tried to compel her memories away shortly after I realised. I compelled Xavier's, so that I was the only one who knew. It was a mistake. But aside from that, it didn't work, anyway. We…"

Amelia's eyes nearly bulge right out of her head.

"Mother of Blood, you bonded?"

"We did. She tried to leave Sangui and ran to her friends in New Imperium. Nearly killed herself stretching the bond like that. But I fear the bond has sped things up a little. She's grown increasingly thirsty."

"This is a lot to catch up on," Amelia says. "Do you not think we should tell her about—" Her throat tenses. Her words cut off, just as they should. At least the compulsion still works on her.

Xavier's eyes dart between Amelia and me.

"No. I do not think telling her anything else will help. What we need to do is to find the person who attacked Red on my grounds."

"Talulla was attacked too," Xavier says.

"Don't act like you're concerned about a piece of ass."

He shrugs. "Perhaps not, but you owe me two bottles of Sangui Cupa for bedding her before the first trial. Or did you forget our little bet?"

I had, in fact, forgotten that bet. But I always pay my debts. Debt is what got Xavier adopted in the first place.

He was orphaned young, and rather than being taken into the Sangui care system, he took to the streets, and we all know how those stories go. But Xavier had one thing to his advantage. He was beautiful. One of the club owners back then took him under his wing, put him on the door to attract the ladies into his club. Unfortunately for Xavier, ladies' nights weren't the only thing the club ran. He got addicted to the casino nights. It was the appeal of wealth, you see. In his eyes, it was everything he wasn't. Everything he'd never had. He was good too, for a while, until he wasn't. Isn't that just the story of every gambler? One losing streak led to another, and then he was indebted to the club owners.

Luckily for him, Mother attended one night and saw his potential, so she bought his debt. He was twenty-one. She made him work it off the first four years, until, like Gabriel and Dahlia, she turned him against his will at twenty-five. The least harrowing of all our stories, I think.

"Well, I agree too," Amelia says. "We could try to torture the information out of them…"

I cock my head at her. "Since when are you the dark one in the room?"

"It's not a bad idea, though," Xavier agrees.

I frown.

"You have a suspect?" Amelia asks. Red shifts and rolls over again, a bead of sweat on her brow.

"No. But I suspect Mother. I think she has something else at play here. She was quick to kill the vampire responsible for the carriage attack. Yet he was adamant he didn't do the first set. There was no reason for him to lie. Which means it was someone else. Who has the most to gain from the cure not being retrieved?"

"Mother?" Xavier asks.

I shrug. "Maybe, maybe not. But I don't buy the retirement line at all. Though I have no evidence to support her being behind those attacks."

"Why would she be if she was the one organising the trials and wanting to open the door and get the cure in the first place?" Amelia says.

"Unless she's hiding in plain sight?" Xavier adds.

"Fine. I'm in. I'll help however you need. I'm thinking I should try the church and maybe the library? If you guys focus on the attacks, I'll focus on Red, see what I can dig up about her condition. Cordelia said she's a new style of dhampir, but there might be something in the old grimoires."

Xavier nods, "Good idea. And in the meantime, what are we going to do with her?" His eyes fall to Red, who is now in a fitful sleep.

"I'm going to leave a few vials of my blood with Amelia. Unfortunately, I think we're going to have to increase the amount of blood she's given."

"But you won't allow her to feed from another vampire? If you give up too much without feeding regularly, you'll weaken yourself. What happens if there's a physical trial of some sort? They've been far too intellectual to date. We can't afford you to be in a weakened state if that does happen."

"What else would you have me do? Not feed her?" I say a little too abruptly.

He leans back in the carriage seat, rubbing a thumb along his chiselled jaw. He pulls his fingers through his hair and when he glances up at me again, I dislike what I see.

I press my lips together.

"You suspect it's going to get worse? That your blood is going to have a decreasing impact?"

I nod, and it makes Xavier's eyes widen.

"You've worked it out, too, haven't you? That's why you suggested leaving vials with me?" Amelia says.

"We can't afford for Red to be in a weakened state, either. What the hell is going on?" Xavier says, glancing at her restless body.

"It's just a theory at the moment. Perhaps you'll find something to back it up, Amelia."

"What's the theory?" she asks.

"It was something Mother said in the ballroom. That the dhampir will be a true hybrid and that they have to embrace their vampire side…" I say a little too loudly. My words hover in the air, thick with unsaid realisation.

"Oh, fuck," Amelia says and a second later, Xavier groans.

"She's not going to like it," he says.

"That much is evident." This time I can't help the little snarl that rips from my chest.

Red wakes, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "Where are we?" she says and coughs, struggling.

"Thirsty?" Xavier asks.

"Yeah, but… umm. I…"

"Come here," I say, saving her the embarrassment of having to answer. I hold out my arm, and she slides back into my embrace.

She seems smaller at this moment. More fragile and I hate it. The Red I know is strong, fierce, angry, but she's weakening without what she really needs.

Xavier clears his throat. "I know who you are… what you are."

"Me too," Amelia says.

Red's eyes snap up to him and then flick feverishly between all three of us.

"Xavier is going to help us," I say.

"And you trust him?" Red asks.

Xavier glares at me, but I discover, in this moment, that I truly do.

"He was willing to sacrifice his memories for you. I trust him with your life because he owes you his."

"If you're curious, I've actually known longer than anyone," he purrs.

"How?" Red says, her throat dry and crackling.

"Your blood. When you helped heal me in the amulet challenge, I took your blood and knew it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever experienced. If I weren't so injured and in such shock at the exquisite taste of your blood, I may have had a problem controlling myself. You are quite the delicate morsel."

"Xavier," I snarl. His eyes have gone dewy.

"Sorry," he says, breaking out of the memory. "I do apologise. That was impolite. I will, for the record, just reiterate that you have my word of secrecy. It might interest you to know I was the one who told Octavia about your blood. And as a result, you weren't the only one Octavia compelled. She's only just given me my memories back. My point is, you saved my life. I will help to save yours."

The carriage slows to a halt as we reach the underbelly of the Whisper Club. Xavier helps Red down and out of the carriage. She leans on his arm as he guides her through the club and up towards my office.

Erin waves at me .

"Could you send word to Rhea Nightfall that I'll be visiting?" I ask.

Rhea works in a border town between our city and the next. Gods, I hate that fucking city. It's run by seven fae mafia families. Awful place it is. No one has any morals, everyone's a fucking villain and none of them can see that their city is going to corrupt itself to death if they don't get a grip. But I suppose you can't save everyone.

Rhea, though, has good standing with all the families. She's a mediator of sorts. She also has ears everywhere in this city. So if anyone knows what's going on with the hunter attacks, it will be her.

Erin vanishes, and I return to my office. Amelia is sitting on a chair with one leg crossed over the other, her foot tapping as she sips from a blood bag she hasn't even bothered to pour into a glass. Xavier leans against the back wall, his expression stiff, like he's trying to calculate something unfathomable.

Red is scrunching her nose at the bag and turning a sickly shade of green.

Fuck me.

"One. Drink," I say to Red.

I slide my fingernail down my wrist and cut until the vein bursts and blood wells up. Red is lightening quick and sinks her increasingly sharp teeth into my wrist.

My pussy reacts immediately. This is not going to be helpful. I inhale, trying to force calm through my body. Forcing myself to think about hairy legs and decomposing corpses and anything disgusting so I don't think about how fucking wet I'm getting, how every pull of her mouth against my veins makes my breathing rougher, my clit pulse harder.

"Fuck!" I yank my arm away. "That has to be enough."

Red doesn't look even half satiated, but the colour has dropped back into her skin and the sweating has eased.

"You okay?" I ask.

She nods. "I may need to go to the er… well, somewhere private."

"I use a bedroom in the back when I can't be bothered to return home. You'll find what you need in there. But first we need to talk."

Red shifts in her seat, glaring at me hard. But I'm well aware of her need. I have the same one pulsing between my legs. She repositions her trousers and then nods at me to continue.

"Your hunger is increasing," I say.

Amelia stops drinking and scrunches up the blood bag, chucking it in the bin under my desk.

"What does that mean?" she says.

"Xavier, check the door, send Frank away, make sure Erin is at the end of the corridor, and tell her no one is to disturb us."

He speeds out the door and is back in ten seconds flat. Red is skittish. Her eyes drop to my wrist and then Amelia's blood bag in the bin.

Amelia catches Red's movement and fidgets. No one says anything.

"Alright, I've had enough. What aren't you telling me?" Red asks.

Amelia puts her head in her hands. "And feeding her more vampire blood won't help? How much have you given her? What if Xavier and I?—"

"No. In terms of vampire blood, it's mine and only mine," I snap.

Red's eyes narrow to slits. "What do you mean in terms of vampire blood? What other blood is?—"

She cuts herself off. Her gaze drops to the bin where Amelia just threw the blood bag. She gets up suddenly, shoving the chair she was sitting on away.

"No. Absolutely fucking not. No way. Never," she says, pacing the office.

Xavier's nostrils flare as wide as his eyes. Amelia is wearing a grimace I'm not sure she'll ever remove it's so deeply engrained in her features. This is what we feared.

"Amelia, this is on you. You're going to have to convince her. Otherwise… well, I don't want to experience the consequences."

"We'll talk. And then I'll head off and do the research," Amelia says.

"We have a little time until the next trial. I'm taking Xavier to see a contact I know and hunt down the people attacking the hunters. And especially the vampire who attacked Red on Castle Beaumont grounds. We need to find out who he's working for. In the meantime, I am entrusting your sister to you. Her life is in your hands."

"I won't let you down."

"I am fucking here. And since she is MY baby sister, I'll be doing the looking after, thanks. I'm fine now I've had some of your blood. Save for the raging horn I'm currently experiencing. I'll come with you," Red says.

"Gross," Amelia cringes.

I don't care what Red thinks she needs; she needs to rest. "You're staying put, and you're going to talk to your sister. Xavier and I won't be long. This room. Those of us here now… I…"

I pause because what I have to say is so alien I'm not sure I've ever uttered words like it.

"I need you. I am placing my trust in you, and I… I don't think I can do this without you. And honestly, that is terrifying for me, and I don't know how to process it but… This is me asking you to please help me."

Red's mouth falls open, her face softens, and I swear I want to leap across the room and shred her clothes from her. But she's still furious with me, and I can't keep fucking her under tables for my own pleasure. She's right. We do have to sort things between us.

Amelia lowers herself to one knee. "I pledge myself to House Beaumont."

"Wow, Tave. You're really growing," Xavier says.

"Go fuck yourself, Xavier," I say, rolling my eyes.

But to my surprise, he also lowers himself to his knee, and it takes my breath away. He picks my hand up and kisses my knuckles.

"I love you, and we both know I'm not responsible enough to run this city. And honestly? I think you will make a fine leader. I pledge myself to House Beaumont."

I rub my throat, feeling… I'm not sure how to describe the swirling in my stomach. It's a new sensation. My eyes sting. I feel rather out of sorts.

Xavier continues. "I'll make you a deal. I'll bow out of the competition in all but name. Mother would slaughter me for actually giving up. But you can count on me as part of your team. I've no doubt Dahlia and Gabe are making a similar deal, anyway."

Red's mouth hangs lower, Amelia smiles from her position on the floor. I can't breathe. I'm not sure I've ever had anyone swear fealty like this. Certainly not an offer of unconditional support like this. It makes me believe for the first time that I can run this city. If I can get two people to pledge their allegiance, perhaps I can convince the city, too. My eyes sting. I think… if I'm not very much mistaken, that this might well be the first time I've ever truly felt… accepted. For me. As me.

But I also know Xavier. "Alright, but what will it cost me?" I say, my voice barely above a whisper as I try to suppress the tremble.

"So crass, Tave. Straight for the balls, as always," Xavier says.

"Am I wrong?"

He sniffs. "No."

That, at least, reassures me a little that even though he's on his knee, I'm not having a complete mental breakdown. This is actually happening.

"The cost?"

"A position of power without too much responsibility. One I can come and go from. Publicly seen powerful; privately, I'll handle some of the finer negotiations for you. Consider me your right-hand man, and we'll call my life, loyalty, and love yours."

I meet Red's eyes from across the room, and even though the fury still bubbles under her skin, she's smiling at me, like she too is proud.

"You have your deal, Xavier St Clair."

He kisses my knuckles, sealing his pledge with a kiss, and I pull him up off the floor.

"Now. Come. We have business to attend to. Amelia. You know what you need to do."

Red's expression turns thunderous. But I don't have time to argue, and I am in no position to convince her that if she doesn't drink human blood, she's going to die, and all this will be for nothing.

For the first time in my life, I'm relying on someone else to do that, and it's fucking terrifying.