"Not really the way I'd describe her," I confessed.
"Probably best." Callie watched Kat's approach the way a snake watched a mouse, like the mouse's death was already a foregone conclusion. "The weak always envy the strong. It can make them aggressive."
Kat's face flushed as she caught the tail end of Callie's insult.
The tiniest glow flickered deep in the depths of Kat's eyes. Deep and abiding loathing looked back at me.
I didn't understand it. Nothing I'd ever done to her warranted this level of anger.
I'd never liked Kat, that was true. She was too invested in climbing the vampire social hierarchy to ever trust, but I didn't go out of my way to antagonize her either. Despite any belief she had to the contrary.
Daniel and Makoto cast questioning looks at Liam, asking if he wanted them to stop her. He hesitated before shaking his head.
They faded into the crowd, keeping one eye on Kat and the other on Thomas.
Kat stopped in front of us, two vampires flanking her. These weren’t the two from the club, but rather new ones. "I challenge Aileen."
There were murmurs from those around us, not all of them vampire either. Callie looked like she was finding this whole thing amusing.
"Do not test me, child. You will not like the result," Thomas warned, his voice taking on a sibilant hiss.
Kat's chin lifted. "Not even the master of the city can stop a challenge."
Was Kat really this stupid? Thomas might not be able to stop a challenge, but he could certainly make her pay dearly for it afterward.
Thomas’s expression grew cold and harsh, his eyes burning with an anger that would have made me quell if I'd been standing in her place. "Much as it pains me to admit, you're right."
Victory moved through Kat's expression.
"Explain why you've taken such a foolish course," Thomas ordered in a silky voice.
"You show her a favoritism she doesn't deserve. She's a yearling, yet she flouts every law we have. She disregards our rules at every turn." Kat raised her voice so those around us could hear, playing to her crowd. "She's an embarrassment who needs to be brought in line."
The words touched a chord in those around us, murmurs of agreement rising.
Whether I liked it or not, my actions reflected on Thomas. This was a power play, and I was the pawn.
The only question was if Kat thought up this challenge alone or if someone was pulling her strings.
In the end, it didn't matter. The trigger had been pulled. The only way forward was to answer the challenge. Better to address this now rather than let it cause further rot.
I had a feeling Liam had already come to the same conclusion.
"Options?" I asked in a low voice.
Liam's jaw worked. "You could refuse."
We both knew that wasn't possible. Not if I wanted to keep my business. Kat had chosen her venue and audience well. If I refused word would get around.
They'd say I was weak. Any respect I had built up would be gone. Thomas would have no choice but to take a firmer hand with his wayward yearling.
If he didn't, the challenges to his rule would continue. Only next time they'd come from a clan matriarch or patriarch.
"Fine, I accept."
Liam's unhappiness washed over me like boiling water.
Still, he didn't object, nor did he point out how likely I was to get my ass kicked.
