"Soon. Within the week. He's already sent messages to the other lords. Requesting a gathering to discuss 'matters of mutual concern.'" Cyrus swallows. "Once they see the full picture, how much power you've consolidated, they'll view you as the threat,not him. By the time it's over, you'll have the entire city against you. And then he'll take everything."
The silence stretches.
Maximus turns to Marcellus. "Contact our people in the neutral territories to have them prepared. I’m going to set up a meeting with the other lords on neutral ground, following formal protocols. The meeting will be within forty-eight hours."
"They're not going to want to meet," Marcellus says. "Not if Konstantin's already been talking to them."
"They'll meet. Because if they don't, it confirms they've already sided with him. And that becomes its own problem." Maximus looks at Julian. "Pull all intelligence on Konstantin's safe houses. Cross-reference with Cyrus's information. I want possibilities for where he's holding the family."
"Sir?" Julian sounds uncertain.
"Separate operation. Marcellus, pull together a team. Small, fast, capable of extraction. We find where Konstantin is holding them, and we get them out."
Marcellus's expression tightens. "That's a significant risk for a traitor's family."
"It's leverage Konstantin shouldn't have. And it's the right thing to do." Maximus's voice is flat. "Cyrus made his choices. His family didn't."
I watch this exchange, seeing the calculation behind Maximus's decisions. He's not doing this out of forgiveness. He's doing it because it weakens Konstantin's position and because innocent people shouldn't be pawns.
Maximus turns back to face Cyrus. "Anything else?"
"The gathering he's calling, it's not just to expose you. He's going to offer the other lords a deal. Join him in containing your expansion, and he'll share the network once he takes it. Everyonegets access to clean blood, and you're isolated." Cyrus's voice cracks. "I'm sorry. I didn't want any of this."
"But you did it anyway." Maximus's voice is cold. "Take him to a holding cell. Comfortable, but secure. No communications. We'll deal with him after I handle the other lords."
The security vampires escort Cyrus out. The room is still crowded, but people are moving to their assignments. Marcellus heads toward the communications station. Julian pulls up data on his tablet.
For a moment, no one is standing close enough to hear.
I step near Maximus, keeping my voice low. "I'm not sure I would have done differently. If someone had Simone."
He doesn't look at me. Just keeps his eyes on the screens. But his jaw tightens.
"You would have come to me first," he says quietly.
"Maybe." I pause. "Or maybe I would have been too scared they'd find out."
He's silent for a long moment. Then nods once, barely perceptible.
People start moving, assignments are distributed, and the machinery of response is grinding into motion. I hang back, waiting until the others have dispersed.
"Are you taking me with you?" I ask. "To meet the other lords?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Maximus considers the question. "Because Konstantin has been telling them stories about you. The fighter I've been keeping close. My new weakness. If I show up without you, it looks like I'm hiding something. If I show up with you, they can see for themselves that you're an asset, not a liability."
"So I'm a prop."
"You're a statement." He meets my eyes. "And I trust you to make a good impression."
There's more in that sentence than the surface meaning. He trusts me. After eight days, after everything that's happened, he trusts me.
"What if I make things worse?"
"You won't."
