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I pushed past those who called the Blood Brothel home, who were fighting with the Sentinels blocking the front of the manor, and followed the loud arguing coming from within the parlor.

They had the front doors blocked and were fighting with the Blood Whores that were surprisingly talented in more than just companionship. Bolts of energy illuminated the darkness, and the Sentinels struggled to deflect them before a second attack of inverted energy orbs came flying at them.

It was truly impressive, and deadly if I got caught in the crossfire!

Azrael easily caught up to me and regarded the Blood Whore that hurled the inverted energy orbs and he cocked an eyebrow.

The androgynous-looking Blood Whore looked over at us and then smirked, their eyes glowing turquoise, the whites of the sclera of each consumed in black. They wiggled their fingers at us, black and dark turquoise tendrils of energy wrapping around their long, cobalt-stained fingers before they disappeared in a shimmering in the visual spectrum.

"What in the hell was that?!" I mumbled.

"Do not concern yourself with it, there are other much more pressing matters for you to address at the moment, Miss Li," Azrael said, motioning for me to head around the manor. "Morning porch, go," he said, pushing me away from the fray before leaning to the side, narrowly avoiding the bolt of energy that was shot at him that was quickly followed by a shouted apology.

I hurried to the manor and pressed myself flat against the outside wall by the windows, splitting my attention between the Sentinels getting their asses handed to them by Blood Whores that were desperately trying to get to their Madame, and what was happening inside.

The Imperial Guard had the hallway leading to the entertainment room blocked.

I couldn't gain entry without joining the melee, and most likely I would end up getting blasted by one of the impressive magical assaults.

Not that Azrael would permit it.

And I couldn't take out all of the Imperial Guards blocking my path, so I appraised the situation as a trained Mundane would. I looked through the windows to the entertainment room where the single-sided trial without representation was happening.

"Please, Majandra," Viggo pleaded. "Tell them you were not serious and that it was just in jest."

"I shall do no such thing," she sneered, jutting her chin out in defiance. "I stand by what I said and the reasons why I said it. No crown or title or pedigree will ever change that."

"Do not be stupid, Riven. She is just being a pain in the ass like all women of distinction!" Zane said, coming to Viggo's defense, to my surprise. "Unless she planned to assassinate the King or Queen, I do not understand what the big deal is," he argued, trying to sound regal like Viggo, which was kind of amusing. "She is a Madame for Christ's sake, what is the worse she has done? Overcharged for a blowjob?"

And Zane pulled a Zane, causing Viggo to regard him for a moment, giving him the look that translated to 'Really?'.

Riven glowered at them both, pushing his falling glasses back up his small button nose. "The law is the law. There is no exception, even for your crown," he informed Viggo. "Orders are orders."

Somehow this was my fault; that I knew without question.

I just didn't know how it was.

I also knew that Zane and Riven would not last long as Charge and Guardian.

I moved down to the next set of windows, giving me a view of those arguing with Riven.

The look on Viggo's face made me ill to my very core; anguish, devastation, pain, loss...

I had to fix this somehow.

I hurried around the side of the manor to the morning porch then tried the door that was outside of a small seating area on the wrap-around porch, but it was locked. I threw my hip into the door, the protective sigil illuminating white before burning away as the lock broke and I hurried inside.

That wasn't normal, but I didn't have time to dwell on it either.

Down the hallway and through the butler's pantry I crept.

The back entry to the entertaining room was tucked behind the bookcase, a means of escape I surmised, and I slipped through the shadows between the bookcases to appraise the situation.

Riven had his back to me, a silver dagger in his hand instead of a stake for some reason.

"Mark this day, the sentence is carried out for high treason," he proclaimed, pulling the dagger back so he could slam it into the throat of the female sitting in front of him, looking up at him with rage burning in her beautiful light jade-green eyes.

Viggo was being held back by four of the Imperial Guard and magically restrained by a Wizard that was struggling to maintain their hold on the seething Vampire in the binding circle they had him in, which was a feat in itself.

Slevin and Harper stood back and kept their eyes on the floor, their hands folded together in front of them.

Zane was disgusted, but what could he do?

There was nothing either of us could do because we were Mundane.

We had no title, no power, and no leverage.

We had nothing but our principles, our sense of right and wrong, and an unfaltering moral compass.

Zane lit the cigarette that was hanging between his lips and turned to look out the window, humming under his breath, trying to drown out the noise, as he absently spun his pendant between his fingers.

Damn it.

The wood flooring under Viggo started to buckle and snap as he fought those holding him back, the binding circle struggling to maintain its hold.

Damn, that is sexy.

I grabbed the closest thing I could find that would be of use as I hurried into the room, a turn-of-the-century wooden chair.

Thankfully I had renewed strength from the mud and healing.

Riven brought the dagger forward just as the chair slammed into the side of his head.

I made good contact, and his body flew across the room before smashing into the wall, breaking the table he landed on before dropping to the floor, and the dagger and his glasses went flying in the opposite direction.

All attention was on me.

That wasn't normal, and I don't possess that type of strength.

It was something to ask about later.

I was fast, but I wasn't fast enough, and the dagger made contact with the front of Majandra's throat, and the tip sliced into her olive skin, drawing a line of blood.

Oh no!

Majandra looked at me then wrapped her hand around her throat, and a white light illuminated from between her neck and fingers before she wiped away the blood, the wound completely gone.

Talented Healer is an understatement.

"I think we need to talk about this," I said, dropping the broken chair to the floor. "What we have here is a misunderstanding and grave insult to more than one person that has proved invaluable to my recovery this evening."

Zane smirked, blowing smoke from his nose. "That was impressive, Sis. I never thought you had it in you."

I pulled another chair from the corner and sat in front of Majandra, and Zane came to stand beside me, his hand resting on my shoulder while the other hand absently slid his pendant back and forth on its long chain.

I offered a smile. "It is something you should have done instead of me, Brother," I scolded.

"You're right," he agreed. "Next time you inadvertently sentence a Madame of a Blood Brothel to death for something stupid, I'll assault the Guardian."

I patted his hand that was resting on my shoulder. "I'll hold you to it," I informed him, and he smiled wide.