“Why not?”
I glanced at Emmett before meeting Raven’s gaze. She had always been good at hiding what she was thinking. I could tell nothing from her neutral expression. “Because he deserves a chance,” I said softly.
“Lucian. You can’t expect me to believe you’ve changed so much.”
“He has though,” Helena managed, and Nancy loosened her stranglehold on her. “He just stopped me from impaling you with a wooden spear.”
Raven swallowed hard, then leaned in even closer to me so that our noses nearly touched. “I don’t know if I can believe you. I know you as a heartless bastard. That’s the only Lucian I have ever known.”
“Let me change your mind,” I said. “Please.”
Raven watched me for a moment. “Do you truly think all of the pain and misery you’ve caused can be forgiven so easily?”
“No, I don’t think that. You can do what you want to me. Just let my friends go.”
Raven’s lips curved into a smile. “I’d really hoped to extend your suffering for a good many years, but perhaps it’s best to end this now, so I can focus on the future.”
Emmett stepped before me and crossed his arms, facing down his maker. “Raven, I owe you so much, but I can’t let you do this. He spared my life. I can do no less than see that his is spared as well.”
Raven scowled. “Get out of my way, Emmett.”
He lifted his chin. “This grudge is making you cruel. If you destroy him, you’re no better than him. I expect more from you.”
Raven hesitated. “He is only going to ruin things for us. He can’t be allowed to live.”
Isabel slipped up behind Emmett and leaned on him. “Raven, darling, if you truly profess to see vampires and humans coexisting one day, this is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate your commitment.” She gestured to the room around us. “Everyone is waiting to learn by your example. Do we kill humans when they are inconveniences, thinking as little of them as cattle? Or do we work with them, even though it’s the harder route, and trust is difficult to come by?”
The air in the room was full of tension. With one word from Raven, what she’d worked for could either falter or be realized. The question was whether her thirst for vengeance outweighed her hope for an uncertain future.
“If you do this,” Emmett said softly, “I won’t remain to watch your downfall.”
“Me neither,” Isabel agreed, flashing Emmett a brilliant smile. “Where Emmett goes, Violetta and I go.”
“Same goes for me,” Nancy piped up, smiling sheepishly in my direction. “I’m rather fond of the count.”
“Most in this room are,” Helena added, steely gaze defiant.
Raven considered for a moment, eyes darting between Isabel, Emmett, and me, before straightening and loosing a sigh. She gestured to Nancy, and she released Helena, who slumped to the ground, rubbing her shoulder. “At least if you’re human, I can end you quickly and easily if you do fall into old habits.”
I pursed my lips, gazing around the room. “Raven, these vampires …”
“They were all given a choice.”
I nodded, smiling wearily. “You really have become a good person, despite your teacher. I thought I was doing what was necessary for our survival when I taught you what Konstantin taught me.” I hesitated. “I was also given a choice that wasn’t a choice at all.” I let out a deep sigh. “I’m truly sorry I didn’t learn enough from my pain to save you yours.”
Raven chewed on her lower lip. Was it my imagination or were her eyes shimmering? “Yes, well, you were in the wrong. Most of the time. But maybe you being in this world won’t be the worst thing.” She scoffed. “You do have a lot of experience to offer, I suppose.”
“I wouldn’t count on my advice.”
Raven laughed. “Oh, believe me, I won’t. I was just being nice.” She shook her head as I chuckled. “Look, there’s the possibility of a kinder future for us.” Her eyes flicked to Isabel. “As this newling has aptly pointed out, so long as there are sheep and cows, there are plenty of ways to avoid killing humans needlessly. I do believe coexistence is possible. You were perhaps the greatest test I could have endured to see if that could be the case, Lucian. Luckily, I chose my family well and my children were here to make me see reason.”
“Hope for a brighter future. Who would have thought?” I sighed. “I suppose I will have to give up terrorizing the countryside. I suppose that’s acceptable.”
With a snort, Raven clapped me on the back. “Very well. We’ll talk. The vampire hunters will have to be dealt with, but perhaps we can come to some sort of compromise.” She smiled. “It’s strange how this turned out. Unexpected.”
“That’s one thing I’ve learned over my many years,” I said. “Life is very unexpected.”
Flora walked over to join Emmett. She tilted her head. “And where are my other boys? Are they with you?” She looked past me, then stilled when she noted the expression on my face. She put a hand on my arm. “Tell me.”
