And at the head of the table, directly to my right: Lucien Ashford.
Ancient vampire.
Five centuries old.
Impeccably dressed in a charcoal suit that probably costs more than most humans earn in a year.
He is old money. Old power. Old hierarchy.
And he is about to learn that hierarchy has shifted.
I do not sit.
Not yet.
I stand at the threshold, my wings folded tight against my back, my amber veins pulsing with steady, controlled light.
"Thank you for convening on short notice," I say.
My voice carries across the room—low, resonant, absolutely devoid of warmth.
"We have a situation that requires immediate tactical response. Sentinel Dynamics has escalated their corporate espionage operations. They have deployed illegal bio-engineered enforcers. They have attempted to leverage financial blackmail against my personal assets. And they are currently positioning themselves to poach three of our highest-value government defense contracts."
I pause.
Let the weight of that settle.
"We are going to dismantle them. Completely. Permanently. And we are going to do it in a way that ensures no other firm ever considers targeting Obsidian Aegis again."
Kael nods once.
Commander Vex leans forward, his expression sharpening with predatory focus.
Seraph's fingers fly across her tablet, pulling up financial projections.
Lucien remains perfectly still.
Watching.
Calculating.
I turn toward the door.
"Before we begin," I say, "I need to introduce someone."
The room goes very still.
I can feel the shift in the air—the sudden tension, the unspoken questions.
I open the door.
And Tamsin walks in.
She is wearing black slacks and a crisp white blouse—professional, understated, completely at odds with the high-end tailored suits and tactical gear filling the room.
Her hair is pulled back in a simple ponytail.
No jewelry.
