Vincent
Mater wanted something.
I knew this because she invited me to sit at her table during dinner when those seats were usually reserved for the Grigori elders.
It had been two weeks since our victories in Aswan and Athens, and the Council had launched two more attacks on Imperium compounds within seaborn territory. The warborn wanted us to gain control of the lands bordering the Mediterranean Sea in order to “concentrate, then expand.” The first thing they did was set up temporary command of the newly liberated strongholds. Everyone on the Council was a little unnerved by their efficiency, you especially.
And now that the seaborn had reclaimed their majority of their ancestral lands, the other tribes were impatient for the same. Several arguments had arisen as to which compound we’d attack next. The Council was split down the middle on whether to move westward and capture the Imperium base in Monaco or move eastward and overtake Istanbul, the gateway to the Black Sea. I suspected Mater was warming me up in preparation for the Council vote tomorrow, to sell me on the Monaco front, as it was the western border of her ancestral lands. But her angle was something else altogether.
“I’d like you to reconsider an alliance,” she said. “As a way to build power and cement your leadership among the tribes. You’re young, Vincent, and you need to earn your legitimacy.”
“By sleeping my way to the top?” Why couldn’t this subject die a natural death?
“Your youth and your body are your assets, as are your lands. Just as Lucian has his cunning and Henri has his fighting abilities.”
I glanced over to where you were dining with the beastborn. No one at your table appeared to be conversing. Everyone was entirely focused on their food. With a little more body hair, you could easily pass for one of them. Lately, you’d been wrestling and sparring with Ashur while I was in meetings. I was a little bit jealous. Training sounded like a lot more fun than being embroiled in tribal politics, only half of which I understood because it seemed they were always talking in code or referencing literal ancient history.
“I bet you never tried to marry off Henri,” I said to Mater.
“I definitely tried, but you know Henri.”
I wanted to be that stubborn and cantankerous too, to be able to scare people with a look or a snarl. Powerful enough on my own that I didn’t need anyone else propping me up.
“Henri is bloodborn and I’m sunborn. Why couldn’t that match work?”
“As much as I hate to admit it, the bloodborn tribe isn’t as powerful as it once was. And they don’t exactly trust us.”
“Theymeaning the warborn?” With the exception of the twins and Ashur, Mater seemed to have the other Tribal Council members wrapped around her little finger.
“Yes,theyare the biggest threat to our revolution.”
Biggest threat to our revolution or biggest threat to her scheming?
“Who would you have me choose?” I took a slow survey of our present company. There was Eubuleus, favorite son of the hearthborn tribe. Dolos, a weasel-faced panicborn who attempted at every opportunity to ingratiate himself with me. Ashur who would literally worship the ground I walked on…
“Orcus,” she said, and I nearly spit out my wine.
“You can’t be serious.”
Her cool, blue gaze showed no indication that she wasn’t. “He’s the most powerful of the Tribal Council, his visions are invaluable, and with his connections to the under realms, the warborn wouldn’t dare cross him.”
“Mater, he’s, like, ancient.” My stomach turned just thinking about it.
“We’re all ancient. Even those of us who appear young.”
“His breath smells like death.”
“It’s from consuming souls. The way our breath smells like blood.”
“But I like the smell of blood. And why don’t you form an alliance with him yourself? I’m sure Orcus would jump at the chance to get with all that.” I waved my hand in her general direction.
She frowned. “I’m not as desirable as you might think. More of a liability, in fact.”
I searched for Orcus and found him engaged in a conversation with none other than my spy. Stefan was smiling and leaning in close in order to hear something Orcus was telling him. I looked forward to our confab later that night.
I shook my head. “That isnothappening. It’d have to be a cold day in hell—like, frostbite conditions.”
Mater’s eyes narrowed and she gave a little huff of impatience. “You won’t be so prideful when you find yourself under the boot heel of the warborn. Their ambition must be checked, and an alliance with another tribe of influence is the only way to do it. Unless…” She eyed Hyas with renewed interest. He and Aretha appeared to be arguing, both their faces tense with displeasure. “The male twin is hungry for power. If you were in his bed, I’m sure you could feed his ego enough to drive a wedge between the siblings.”
