Sarah hisses beside me, likely as offended by what my mother said as I am. Mother snaps her fangs at Sarah before looking at me questioningly. “Why is your companion expressing hostility toward me? This is a downgrade, to be sure.” This comment does not help.
“Mother, please. First, Sarah is not a replacement for Elina. She is betrothed. Second, she is only an hour old—you’re lucky she hasn’t attacked you yet.” She appears surprised by this revelation, tapping her fingers on her desk and tilting her head slightly in contemplation. “Third, she is Elina’s family. She is here because she wants to help.”
“Your sireling? Fascinating. It’s been at least a hundred years since you deemed anyone worthy of joining you. Elina really has done a number on you. Marcus is in the receiving hall, let’s go.” As thegovernaturnoof the French Quarter, I, technically, fall under her jurisdiction, and therefore, when I create a sireling, I must present them to mother first. She will present them to Marcus.
“There is a prohibition on turning, as you may well remember,Sebastien,” she reminds me as we follow behind her, her heels clicking rhythmically on the tiles.
“I have not forgotten. I am sure you can convince Marcus considering the circumstances.” The circumstances in question being his refusal to provide any help to my search, as well as the splintering of his court.
She doesn’t miss a step. “I’m sure.”
“Do you seek to create your own army since I won’t give you mine?” Marcus asks me, fury lacing his tone once my mother has finished her presentation.
“Of course not, Re. This is a special circumstance. She has a vested interest in finding Elina, and she is betrothed to a vampire. She is also the only vampire I have ever created within Ville de Sang. I hardly have an army—I do not believe Sarah to be an army of one.”
“I forbid the creation of new vampires, afteryouasked me. Now, you defy my order in my own court. You are the heir, Bash, you can’t do whatever you want.” He’s frustrated with me, and in this case, I can’t really blame him but it was necessary.
“Re, please allow me to register her so we can continue hunting for Elina.” He looks around the room at the few members of the court who are loitering.
“Everyone out!” He orders them and they retreat hastily. “Give me whatever information you have on the hunt for Elina while you fill out Sarah’s paperwork.”
“I actually have an update I have not even gotten a chance to give Mother yet. Yesterday, right at dawn, Gia and Minnie caught Elina’s scent in the Bywater district. Near the docks.”
“That’s Talia’s domain. Have you told her yet?”
“We have not, considering her scent was found alongside Elina’s.”
My mother gasps and Marcus looks at me, digesting this information. “I assume Talia is a suspect then?”
“She always was. In April, she threatened Elina’s life. She called it a promise. It was the first time I had ever brought Elina here. After she left, Talia snuck into my apartment, seemingly to seduce me, and when I turned her down, she promised Elina would not survive this.” I watch him absorb this information, for any indication that he believes me.
“Talia is a member of the Court. This is quite the accusation.”
“I’m not accusing anyone of anything. I am gathering information and trying to find the woman I love. I will deal with the rest later.”
“Well, I won’t. I may be unwilling to sacrifice my soldiers for this but I am not without sympathy. And if this situation can be cleared up by having a discussion with Talia, then a meeting is in order.” The anger in his tone makes me momentarily concerned about what this conversation will consist of, until I remember she may have stolen the only woman I have ever loved right from under me. “Now, to the other matter. Sarah, step forward. I would speak to you.”
Sarah steps up to my side. I can feel her shaking inconspicuously, from fear or nerves, I don’t know.
“Bow,” I whisper under my breath, loud enough for Sarah to hear but sounding like an exhale to the rest of the room. Sarah executes a small but respectable bow.
“Sarah, did you ask Sebastien to turn you?”
“Yes.”
“Did you do so willingly or were you enthrall?”
“Yes, willingly.”
The answers to these questions don’t affect anything. Vampires are added to the ranks of theSanguine Nocturnusunder duress all the time. It is not nearly as pleasant as the way Sarah was turned.
“Do you understand that you are now a part of Sebastien’s household and under the jurisdiction of Vespera, thegovernaturnoof the French Quarter?”
“Yes.”
“You may sign the register. Bash, I will be bringing Talia in for questioning. Should I send for you when she arrives?”
“Yes, please do.” I feel the sting of anger, deep in my chest, burning for release.
Recounting the events for Ethan and Jack later that evening, I feel like we have finally made a sliver of progress. Now, we wait. Marcus should have Talia in his grip soon and I can only hope his interrogation yields some sort of information for our search.
