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I sucked in a breath. He wouldn’t be able to stop himself from breathing. He held his breath. I could tell, he was really, really trying. The vampire continued to stare into his face and I saw the moment he could no longer hold out. His breath whooshed out of him and his face crumpled.

“Is it true. She’s dead?” Peter croaked, staring at Tobias.

My heart shattered. It felt like I was about to vomit it up.

I couldn’t do this.

The crowd gasped and whispers filled my ears.

“He can’t be compelled. This is unheard of!” Wrenhaven shouted. Tobias didn’t answer. Peter’s eyes filled with tears, spilling down over his cheeks.

The back door slammed open. I turned to find Bastien entering. He had a hold of a very bloody man. The clothes. This was the guy they’d dragged into the house. The one that had a part in burning Crimson Nights.

Bastien dragged him forward. Blood dripped on the ground, leaving a trail behind them.

“Bastien?” Imogen asked, sounding confused.

The vampire sitting in front of us leaned to the one next to her.

“This is better than atelenovela.”

“What is this tomfoolery?” Roberta shouted. She glared down at Imogen. “You said he was blood-mad and chained.”

“Ah, did she? Well, I will get to that in a moment.” Bastien’s voice was smooth and calm.

Bastien tossed the vampire forward. He caught his balance and staggered.

“Your eyes,” the female vampire with the bob whispered as she watched Bastien.

“Who is she?” I whispered.

“Louisa,” Talia answered.

“I have proof of Imogen’s treason against Crimson Coven. That she has been behind the attacks on us, sabotaging our lives, refusing to follow our law even after her trial request.” Bastien pointedly cleared his throat.

The bloodied, beaten male with fingers missing, struggled to stand.

“I was ordered to oversee that Crimson Nights was burned down. I was also to provide Imogen with any assistance she might need in order to bring down the Crimson Coven.”

“Who ordered you to do this?”

His head lowered.

“I am sorry, Sire.” He lifted his eyes to Wrenhaven. “I do not betray you lightly. But . . . he has the blood-madness cure.”

Wrenhaven hissed and slapped the surface of the wood. A crack opened down to the base.

“This is good,” Talia whispered in my ear.

Roberta’s glare turned and settled on Wrenhaven. “This is outrageous! Have you helped Imogen circumvent our laws?”

Wrenhaven met her stare, but made no attempt to justify himself.

“Wrenhaven broke the sanctity of our laws.” The Council members murmured between themselves. They seemed moreupset about Wrenhaven than anything else I’d seen the Council talk about.

He raised his chin with a smirk.

Roberta glared at him and flicked her hand up. Wrenhaven stiffened and his body jerkily stood, the robes dragging around him. He flew over the podium and dropped in an unceremonious pile on the other side of the platform. He quickly got to his feet, brushing himself off with a sly grin. He turned to look at his Progeny.