His head was held high, and hair—once as dark as mine—was now white at the temples, making him look distinguished, rather than ancient. His perfectly tailored suit was black, his shirt blood-red, his tie the same deep shade as the carpet beneath his polished, handmade wingtips.
Two members of the Brotherhood flanked him,remaining a respectful step behind—one of them was Nico, his expression blank, his hand close to his weapon, missing nothing.
My father stopped, his sharpened gaze sweeping across the room like a scythe.
Without a word, everyone dropped to their knees.
Every family member lowered their heads in acknowledgment—both to the Don and to the power he represented. To the Compact he held over their lives. To the debt they owed him, how he held their futures in his hands.
I watched everyone, but no one more carefully than the DiRavellos
Emberline hesitated before she dropped to her knees, a vision of submission in a sea of silk and diamonds, and my traitorous cock stirred again as she dipped her head, so dark against that perfect pale skin. The brother was right beside her, mirroring her pose, his skin five shades darker as if the sun was his champion.
But the moon… clearly, the moon loved her more.
She was as ethereal as slivered moonlight, and I wondered if her alabaster skin would feel as soft to the touch as it looked, if she tasted like…
“Gabriel, is there a problem?” Nico’s sharp concern echoed from the comm, and I shook my head.
What the fuck was I doing, drooling over a female when I was supposed to be in charge of fucking security?
Tension in the kneeling crowd was ramping up, my father’s hands still raised over his head, and I took a deep breath. Went back to scanning the throng, making sure the Draconi soldiers were in place.
But my gaze kept returning to Emberline, her hands squeezed tightly into fists, her arms trembling. As if she sensed my attention, she raised her eyes to mine, and inthem, defiance burned like a flame, before the brother smoothed his hand down her bare arm, whispering to her.
Her head dropped, severing the moment between us.
And left my heart hammering against my ribcage, holding onto nothing but that brief glimpse of seething malice.
8
GABRIEL
My father climbed the steps to his throne, movements unhurried, absolutely sure. His awareness brushed against mine, a subtle, distant pressure against my mind.
In a few short years, this will be you, my son.
But for today, watch and mark our enemies carefully.
A dark shiver of anticipation went through me at his warning, completely at odds with the deferential, blank mask I was forced to wear around him since the day I was old enough to know what fear felt like.
That day is coming sooner than you think, Marcello. I held onto that thought as I kept my eyes on the breathless crowd waiting for my father’s customary speech.
Marcello took his seat, one hand casually resting on the carved throne, the other on his thigh. Severin shifted a half-step closer to the Blood Basin, monitoring the crowd, while Nico melted into the masses like a dark ghost.
“Once we were hunted,” my father began, his deep timbre carrying over the sea of dark heads. “Scattered to the four winds before the Dynasty gathered us together, protecting those who were loyal. Faithful.True.”
His gaze studied them, one by one, searching for signs of weakness. A few vampires shifted on their feet, the color draining from their faces as Draconi soldiers closed ranks, forming an inescapable wall.
Now there was only one choice.
Bleed and hope what was in your heart matched the words coming from your lips.
As if I couldn’t help myself, my eyes were drawn to Emberline again, those bare shoulders that looked as delicate as porcelain. Wondering if she would pass today’s test, or if I would be the one to order her death.
As for Giovanni… if he truly was as corrupt as I believed… well, six hundred years of vampire cunning might be enough to trick even the Blood Basin.
“Tonight,” Marcello intoned, “we honor the ancient covenant that has kept our bond strong—and our kind safe—for centuries.”
