Thomas was in his element as he leveled a condemning look on the kneeling vampire. “As you can see from the documents Noah just handed you, Sophia has been a very naughty girl. Correct me if I’m wrong—but isn’t there a rule against transforming underage humans into vampires.”
Jabari flung the file he was holding at Sophia’s head, a rare show of fury on his face. “What were you thinking? They were children. We do not prey on the young. No matter how tempting you may find them.”
The quiver in Sophia’s lips was the only sign of trepidation in her otherwise flawless facade as she lifted her chin to meet Jabari’s accusing stare. “None of those I offered the gift could be considered children. They weren’t much younger than me when I was turned. In a different age, they would have been old enough to take wives of their own.”
“You can justify it however you want, but your claim would have carried more weight if you hadn’t transitioned quite so many,” Thomas drawled. “And if you didn’t have the habit of disposing of them once you grew bored.”
Fear was beginning to eclipse Sophia’s former arrogance.
The council couldn’t ignore what she’d done. There was a reason humans weren’t offered the transition before they reached their twenties. Vampires turned too young tended to come out a little wrong. Something about not being able to weather the advancement of centuries without growing twisted.
In Sophia’s case—evil.
How many lives had she ended? Dozens? Hundreds?
There was no way of telling.
“Someone who so flagrantly flaunts our laws cannot be allowed to sit in judgment of others who might do the same,” Thomas said scathingly.
Sophia pleaded with Jabari. “Please.”
The councilor shook his head regretfully. “You know the rules. There is no forgiveness. Not for something like this.”
Sophia’s gaze sought Tse’s.
The vampire nodded at Thomas. “Do as you wish.”
A wail ripped from Sophia as she fought to escape.
At Thomas’s nod, Anton reached forward and snapped her neck. Her struggles ceased as she collapsed.
Together, Daniel and Anton grabbed her arms, dragging her back into a kneeling position as Eric ghosted forward. The enforcers held her steady as he plunged his hand into her chest, ripping out her heart.
Under his impassive gaze, it burst into flames.
Anton and Daniel dropped the former councilor, drawing back as the fire spread from the heart in Eric’s hand to her still body.
Tse turned and left, half of the enforcers following.
Jabari addressed Thomas. “We will have to fill Sophia’s seat now that she is gone. It can’t be left empty.”
Thomas nodded. “I’ll leave the arrangements to you.”
“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a council seat change hands. Now there are two at once. There may be some upheaval later.”
Thomas’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m sure we can handle it. My father will expect nothing less.”
In other words, straighten up and do your job or you’re next.
“Quite so,” Jabari said with a faint tightening at the corner of his eyes.
He inclined his head in a respectful nod to Thomas before taking his leave, along with the rest of the enforcers who’d accompanied him to Summer’s Heart.
“Think they’ll listen?” Nathan asked.
“They should. Neither Tse nor Jabari are fools.”
“If they don’t, they’ll deal with the consequences,” Liam said, the grim note in his voice leaving me with no doubt as to what those consequences would be.
