Volencia Nostrom sat at the head of the table, resplendent in a gown of midnight-blue velvet that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it. Her silver-streaked black hair was piled atop her head in an elaborate arrangement secured with jeweled pins that glinted when she moved. Everything about her exuded power and control.
To her right sat Mael, uncharacteristically solemn, his massive frame somehow seeming smaller, hunched, as though he were trying to hide from the seriousness of the situation. To her left was Lana, who couldn’t quite hide the smugness in her expression. Farther down the table, Azazel lounged with practiced indifference that didn’t quite mask his interest in the proceedings.
And beside Nadi, unnervingly still, sat Raziel.
The silence stretched for what had seemed like an agonizing two minutes since they’d all been seated. No one touched the first course laid out before them. No one spoke. Nadi could feel the weight of Volencia’s gaze like a physical thing, assessing, calculating.
“I suppose,” Volencia finally said, her voice cool and precise, “we should discuss the hideous elephant in the room.”
Nadi fought the urge to laugh.Hideous. Nice.She kept her posture demure, her shoulders slightly hunched—precisely how Monica would behave in such intimidating company.
“You’ve made quite a mess of things as usual, haven’t you, Raziel?” Volencia continued, sipping from a crystal goblet filled with blood and wine. “The Valan arrangement was explicit. Thegirl was to be sacrificed according to tradition. Yet here she sits—not only alive butturned.Youabject fool.”
Raziel’s face remained impassive. “Things change, Mother.”
“Things change when I decide they change,” Volencia snapped, setting down her glass with enough force that the bloodwine sloshed dangerously close to the rim. “Your disobedience has cost us dearly in political capital. The Rosovs are already making advances on our territory in the lower districts, citing our ‘inability to honor traditional contracts’ as justification. Even the Toths are acting out of line. The Toths! You have no honor. I sometimes wonder if you aren’t somehow a bastard, after all.”
Nadi caught the subtle way Raziel’s jaw tightened, the only indication that his mother’s words had landed. She found herself fighting the unexpected urge to reach for his hand under the table.
“However,” Volencia continued, her gaze shifting to Nadi, “I understand your…wife…has manifested an unusual ability.”
Nadi lowered her eyes, playing the role of the intimidated newborn vampire. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Look at me when I address you, girl.”
Nadi raised her eyes, meeting Volencia’s cold stare. The matriarch studied her as one might study an insect under glass.
“Show me.”
Taking a steadying breath, Nadi allowed her form to shimmer and change, adopting Volencia’s appearance as precisely as possible—from the particular arch of her eyebrow to the way she held her shoulders. The transformation was perfect, in every detail.
“Fascinating,” Volencia—the real one—murmured, leaning forward slightly. “This is not mere illusion. You’ve replicated my form exactly.”
Nadi shifted back to Monica, allowing exhaustion to show on her face. “It…takes effort, ma’am.”
“I imagine it does.” Volencia sat back, tapping one long fingernail against the stem of her glass. “Well, this does change things. A shapeshifter in the family could prove useful. Particularly with the current political climate.”
“Mother, surely you’re not suggesting—” Lana began, but Volencia silenced her with a look.
“I’m suggesting nothing. I’m stating facts. Monica will be spared, not because she is Raziel’s bride,but because her abilities now represent an asset to this family.”
Mael cleared his throat. “The question remains of how we address the broken contract with the Valans.”
“Yes,” Volencia nodded. “Which is why I’ve called a full council meeting for tomorrow night. All branches of the Nostrom clan will be present, and we will determine the best course of action.” Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Raziel. “You and your wife will attend and accept whatever assignment the council deems appropriate to restore our standing.”
“Generous of you,” Raziel said, his voice carefully neutral.
“Generous indeed,” Volencia replied coolly. She gestured to the staff waiting by the walls. “You may serve the main course now.”
The staff moved silently around them, replacing the untouched first course with platters of rare meat and goblets of fresh blood. Nadi’s stomach turned at the sight, but she maintained her composure. Monica would be new to this diet, after all—some distaste would be expected.
“Before we begin,” Volencia said once the staff had retreated, “there is the matter of discipline.”
The tension in the room thickened.
“Mother,” Mael began, his gaze flicking to who he believed to be Monica, “perhaps this could wait until?—”
“It will not wait,” Volencia cut him off. “Raziel’s actions have undermined our authority and endangered our position. There must be consequences.” She looked directly at Raziel. “Remove your clothing.”
