I sat down in an empty chair, briefly registering that Nico had moved to stand against the wall. I tried my best to sit up taller and not show the table full of men that I was intimidated.
“We are discussing serious business, young lady. You can wait outside.” A vampire at the table looked at me with undisguised contempt, his pale face twisted in disgust. “You are not welcome here with your... with your purple hair and inappropriate attire.”
Reality crashed back into me. I’d spent my entire life being dismissed by men like him who thought power was their birthright and that women were decorative at best, nuisances at worst.
I slowly turned my head in his direction, fighting to keep my expression neutral despite the rage bubbling beneath my skin. “You have got to be kidding me. All this time, and we still oppress women? Where I’ve been?—”
“We know where you’ve been. You can go right back.” The vampire’s dismissal cut me like a knife, reminding me exactly why I’d never missed the politics of the court.
I straightened my spine, feeling the weight of Nico’s gaze. He believed in me even when I struggled to believe in myself. Drawing strength from his presence, I schooled my features into the calm mask I’d perfected.
“My people are requesting a place on the council.”
“Absolutely not!” a council member barked, his facereddening. “The nomads are criminals! Parading around with their bright colors and debauchery!”
Laughter rippled around the table, and I forced a small smile to my lips, though each chuckle felt like a slap. These men hadn’t changed in centuries. They had the same prejudices and dismissive attitudes. They hadn’t learned a single thing during Lilith’s reign of terror.
Was she a good example of female leadership? No. But this table of ancient fossils who’d perfected their misogyny instead of their governance wasn’t a good example either.
“That’s enough.” Reve’s voice silenced the room. “With me stepping down, Sammy can step in for me until a solution is reached.” He stood and pushed in his chair with a finality that made my stomach drop. “Good luck.”
Then he was gone. He literally disappeared into thin air, the way only an alpha dream demon could. My chest tightened painfully. Had he truly come back only to abandon Inferna again? To abandon me again?
Minutes stretched in tense silence as council members exchanged glares. Nico’s concern radiated from across the room, and his protective energy calmed me a bit.
The vampire finally spoke, breaking the silence. “Let’s bring Samara staying to a vote.”
“You heard what Prince Reve said. She’s to take his seat.” Falcon shifters had always been voices of reason.
“He renounced the throne, not only for himself but for any of his bloodline.” The vampire’s ancient face creased with disdain, as if my very presence offended him. He was a stuffy old bastard who looked like he was two bites away from eternal sleep.
“We can’t vote. Valentino and Winston aren’t present,” another demon reminded them, his brow furrowed.
“I have a question.” I clasped my hands in my lap to hide their trembling and leaned forward slightly. The room fellsilent as all eyes turned to me. “You are the most powerful in your respective groups. Why didn’t you remove Lilith yourselves? Why did it take my brother, whose blood also runs throughmyveins, to end her reign?”
The vampire’s scowl deepened, his fangs gleaming as his lip curled. “Why did you run if you are so certain your blood makes you worthy of a seat at this table?”
His words struck at my deepest insecurities, the doubts that had plagued me for centuries. Why had I run? Because I was afraid. Because I was weak. Because I had no powers to fight with and no strength to draw upon. Because my brother had ordered me to. But none of those answers would impress the council.
I rose to my feet, hiding and running no longer pressing down on my shoulders. “I intend to make Inferna the home it once was. The darkness is growing, and if we don’t manage it, it will consume us all.”
With those words hanging in the air, I turned and walked toward Nico, every step away from that table feeling like a victory. Their faces were a mixture of shock, outrage, and grudging respect as Nico and I left the room together.
Once outside, I let out a shaky breath, and my hands trembled as the reality of what had happened sank in. I’d faced the council. I’d seen my brother. And for the first time in centuries, I’d stopped running.
Time was a funny thing.It felt like just yesterday I was sitting in my room, whittling a bar of soap when everything changed, not centuries ago.
Since Lilith was dead and all of her followers had either run or were locked away, I reclaimed my old bedroom. Nico tried to argue with me and say it wasn’t safe, but word ofmy return would spread fast, and the inn wouldn’t be any safer.
“Whoa, I’ve never seen so much color in one place before. This room must have cost a fortune to decorate.” Nico had walked in front of me, insisting that he check the room first before letting me in.
I sighed and looked around my old bedroom. It was the size of a small house, and the bed was large enough that two people could sleep with their arms spread wide, and there would still be enough space. It had a sitting area, an attached bathroom, and a desk where I had made my soap carvings.
The bedspread was a light pink, and the drapes were a deep burgundy color. I definitely couldn’t afford to have things made in those colors now.
“What did you expect?” I was incredibly frugal now, so I could see how my past tastes in decor were a bit jarring.
When I’d left with nothing but a bag of clothes, it had taken some getting used to not having everything I wanted. Fending for myself made me more grateful for what I had as a princess.
