Page 37 of Depths of Desire (The Emerald Dagger Mafia #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

“ W hat the hell is this place?” I mumble to Luca.

“Eldryn Castle,” he replies. “It’s where the vampire council meets.”

The hall itself is massive, the arched ceiling lost in shadow above the flickering glow of floating lanterns that cast an otherworldly light—pale gold and silver, with threads of violet fire.

Stained glass windows line the upper walls, depicting scenes of ancient vampire victories and betrayals.

The shifting colors create spectral patterns across the black marble floor.

At the far end of the hall sits the Council of Five, each on a high-backed throne of dark stone, set in a semi-circle on a raised dais.

Each throne bears the sigil of its kingdom—daggers of varying colors and sizes.

The kings wear long ceremonial cloaks, each one more regal and intimidating than the last.

The thing that sets my nerves jangling is the way their eyes glow faintly in the dimness, old and unblinking.

I fight the need to puke. It’s like being called to the principal’s office times one thousand. If their goal is witness intimidation, they have succeeded beyond anyone’s wildest imagination.

In the center of the room is a circle, a wide, inlaid design of runes and what I am guessing are sacred symbols that shimmer beneath the surface of the floor.

“What’s that?” I murmur to Luca, gesturing to the circle.

“It’s the Tribunal Circle,” he says. “It marks the place where judgment is rendered, and truth is bound by blood and magic. It’s where we as the defendants stand.”

Holy shit. This is so intense that my knees threaten to buckle. I will kill Nico myself for not being here for this. Leaving me to face this alone.

We approach the outer edge of the Tribunal Circle, Renzo on my left and Luca on my right.

Both brothers are dressed in formal attire—dark, tailored suits edged with the Valdici crest in deep green embroidery.

I remind myself that they are here as my protectors, to be my voice while Nico is missing.

These are my brothers-in-law, after all.

Both of them radiate tension barely held in check. Not exactly confidence-inspiring.

To the right side of the circle—opposite me and the Valdicis—is a tall, curved bench carved from obsidian. A woman is sitting there. She’s dressed in velvet robes lined in orange.

“Who is she?” I breathe.

Renzo answers softly. “Lady Sivara Draethe, Malrick’s appointed representative.”

I look around but don’t see Malrick. “Where is he?”

“Good question,” Renzo replies. He looks at Luca. “I don’t like it. He should be here. Him not showing is a mark against his claim.”

“Isn’t that good for us?” I ask.

Renzo hesitates. “Yes, but it makes me wonder what the hell he’s up to.”

I stare at the woman across from us. “What did you say her name is again?” She looks young, but I know that doesn’t mean anything. She has a cold, flawless beauty, like her skin was carved out of alabaster. Her hair is an icy platinum, cut bluntly at her chin.

Luca nods. “Lady Sivara Draethe. She’s from a very old family. She’s around eight hundred years old herself. I believe.”

Great. “Is she any good?” I ask, hoping against hope that she isn’t as competent as she looks.

I realize it’s not her robes that I find so intimidating.

It’s her eyes. They are pale lavender and glowing faintly, as if she’s a conduit of pure energy, able to unleash it on demand.

When she speaks, her voice is low and musical, but somehow still cold.

Renzo frowns. “She’s excellent. Sivara is known in the magickal realm as the Widow of the Pale Court, a vampire who once ruled her own minor house before aligning herself with Malrick for reasons known only to her.

Her presence at this tribunal is no accident—she’s as ruthless as she is beautiful. Malrick chose well.”

My stomach plummets, and I wrap my arms around myself.

Was this just a dream, a nightmare, I’d be able to wake up from if I just pinch myself?

. I realize that I want Nico here very badly, despite the truth that he left me to face this alone.

However, I know having him here wouldn’t change anything.

I try to marshal my thoughts. I have to get through this.

Just survive. That’s it. You can do it, I tell myself, but I have serious doubts.

Nothing about this makes me feel like I’m going to survive. Nothing.

The room goes eerily quiet, not that it was loud before. The enchanted torches hiss softly, and the faint pulse of magick beneath the Tribunal Circle beats like a second heart. I feel watched, measured. My head starts to pound.

“What is that hum?” I ask Renzo.

He shakes his head. “I’ve no idea.”

One of the vampire kings—perhaps the eldest, draped in a cloak the color of dried blood—clears his throat and says, “Let the matter of the Valdici union and the claim of Comescu’s house be heard.”

Sivara’s eyes flick to me with a calculating smile.

“Thank you, your majesty,” she says as she stands.

“It is our intention to prove that Malrick Comescu was promised Ms. Luna Benedetti’s hand in marriage well before she married Niccolo Valdici.

By marrying her, he has broken the sacred contract that was signed by Ms. Benedetti’s parents and thereby needs to be punished, and the marriage between them needs to be dissolved. ”

The red king, at least that’s how I think of him since I don’t know names, asks, “Where is Malrick Comescu?”

Sivara smiles ruefully. “Unfortunately, he has been detained, but he wanted me to ensure that you all understand his fierce desire to have this abomination put to rights.”

The red king looks at me and then at Renzo and Luca. “And where is Niccolo?”

“He, too, has been unavoidably detained, but he stands by his marriage and his love for his wife. He believes they were destined to be together by fate. He wishes to remain married to Ms. Benedetti forever, as is his right as her husband.”

“The red king’s expression sours, but before he can speak, the king next to him, wearing a blue robe, says, “I do not like that neither party is here. Do they care so little about this issue that neither one can be bothered to appear? Lady Draethe,” he continues, his voice loud and echoing around the chamber, “Comescu demanded to be heard, claimed it was an emergency, and yet he fails to appear? Does he think our time is any less valuable than his?”

“No, your majesty. He is bereft that he could not be here in person. He asks your forgiveness.”

Damn. She handled that much better than I would’ve. She’s not in the least bit intimidated. My heart sinks. If this goes wrong, I will have to leave here with her. That cannot happen. No matter what, I won’t go with her. I will not be with Malrick even if it means I have to do something crazy.

“Mr. Valdici, what is the reason your brother is unavailable? Does he not love his wife enough to show up?” the blue king thunders.

“My son is currently dealing with a family crisis. His love for his family is the only thing that would keep him away from such an important council meeting,” Nico’s father, Leonardo says as he comes to stand behind me.

I had no idea he was here. He gently touches my shoulder by way of greeting, and I want to think it’s to provide me some comfort.

But I’m smart enough to know that he did it for the benefit of the other kings.

He wants them to see that he supports this marriage.

“Nico will, of course, make up any offense he has caused, Aldryn.” The senior Valdici is clever to use the other king’s first name.

I know he’s doing it to impress upon them that he is one of them.

Sivara frowns, and her eyes glitter. She did not like that one bit.

She must show deference to the council while Nico’s father is their equal.

Score one for our side. I stifle a giggle.

I’m losing it. The stress is getting to me.

I link my hands together and squeeze my knuckles to help me focus.

Laughing would be a major mistake that I cannot afford to make.

“Very well then,” Aldryn says. “Lady Draethe, you may call your first witness.”

At this, Renzo, Luca, and I sit down on another curved bench.

Leonardo sits down on the first bench in the gallery behind us.

Close enough to intervene if he wants but far enough away to stay out of the fray.

I’m never sure about Leonardo. In all the times I’ve met him which isn’t that many, I’ve never really managed to get a read on him which makes me nervous.

She nods. “Thank you. I call Vaelen Morgrave to appear before your majesties.”

I blink then lean toward Luca to whisper, “Who the hell is Vaelen Morgrave?”

“He’s Malrick’s right hand.”

“Why are they calling him?” I ask.

Renzo looks at me with narrowed eyes. “You don’t know him?”

I shake my head as I watch the vampire enter the circle and stand before the council.

“I’ve never seen him before. I would remember.

” And I would, no question. Morgrave’s hair is a shock of deep red swept back from a pale, angular face.

He has a fine dusting of freckles that spans the bridge of his nose and his cheekbones, incongruous and oddly captivating, as though he’s a teenager still.

But his eyes are something else. They are the green of pond scum and just as cold.

“Your majesties,” Morgrave says as he gives a slight bow, his voice carrying clearly around the chamber.

“Mr. Morgrave,” Sivara begins, “please state your name and the position you hold within Mr. Comescu’s house.”

Morgrave opens his mouth, but Leonardo cuts him off. “We all know who he is and what he does for Comescu. I see no need to drag this out any longer than necessary. Your time is valuable, as is ours.”

The kings all nod in agreement. “Get to it, Lady Draethe.”