Nobody moved. Edmund glanced at Nathaniel. Nathaniel stared at the floor. The three younger guards looked anywhere except at Claudius.
“I gave you an order,” Claudius snarled.
“The Justiciary is here,” Nathaniel said quietly. “If we kill them…”
“If youdisobeyme, I will see you exiled from every coven on this continent.”
“If we obey you,” Edmund said slowly, “we’ll be arrested as accomplices to murder.”
Claudius whirled on him. “Youdare…”
“I dare consider consequences,” Edmund interrupted, and for the first time since Viktor had arrived, the vampire’s polished composure cracked completely. “You told us the accountant was a thief. You said there was no evidence. Youpromisedthe Justiciary had nothing.”
“They havenothingwithout…”
“They have photographs of your confession.” Nathaniel gestured at Ant. “Written in your own hand, in yourjournal, Claudius. How could you be so…?”
“Don’t question me.”
“Someone should’ve questioned you decades ago,” Edmund said flatly. “Before you dragged the entire coven into your mess.”
Heavy footsteps echoed through the manor’s main floor. Multiple sets, moving with purpose.
“Justiciary!” someone shouted. “We have a warrant to search the premises.”
Claudius’s face went pale. Not just pale - ashen, like he’d finally grasped the magnitude of what was happening.
“No,” he whispered. “No, you can’t…this ismy estate…”
“This estate is now a crime scene,” Ant said calmly. “And you’re under arrest.”
Footsteps pounded up the stairs. Viktor counted at least six sets, moving fast. Claudius turned back to Viktor one last time, and the expression on his face was almost pitiable. Not regretful - Claudius didn’t possess that kind of self-awareness - but genuinely bewildered, like the world had suddenly stopped making sense.
“You were one of us,” Claudius said hoarsely. “Youbelongedhere…”
“I never belonged here,” Viktor said quietly. “I just didn’t realize it until I found somewhere I actually did belong.”
The footsteps reached the hallway. Viktor caught the scent of unfamiliar vampires and mages - Justiciary enforcement teams, trained and armed with legal authority Claudius couldn’t intimidate or threaten.
“I will fight this,” Claudius hissed. “I will fight every charge, contest every piece of evidence…”
“Good luck with that.” Viktor stepped aside from the doorway, clearing the entrance. “You’re gonna need it.”
The first Justiciary enforcer appeared in the hallway. He was a broad-shouldered vampire in tactical gear, badge displayed prominently on his chest. Behind him, three more enforcers and a mage carrying what looked like spelled restraints.
The lead enforcer’s gaze swept the room. “Lord Claudius Raven?”
Claudius drew himself upright, trying to summon what was left of his dignity. “I am. You are trespassing on private property…”
“We have a warrant for your arrest on charges of murder, illegal use of vampiric trance, financial exploitation, and assault on a Justiciary investigator.” The enforcer’s voice was professionally neutral. “You have the right to remain silent…”
“I willnotsubmit to…”
The mage raised one hand, and silver light flared. Spelled restraints snapped around Claudius’s wrists before he could finish the sentence, glowing with containment magic designed specifically for vampires.
Claudius jerked against the bindings, fangs bared. “Youdare…”
“Yeah, we dare.” The lead enforcer gestured to his team. “Take him downstairs. Separate holding cells for the accomplices.”
