Page 61 of How to Stake a Vampire

“I didn’t have time to give her a blow-by-blow of our entire bestiary,” Virgil retorted irritably.

“It is a rather long list,” Pearl observed with a sniff.

Samuel’s hand found the small of my back as we reached the stairs. “Remember, we’re here to tell our side of the story, not to start a fight.”

I could feel him trying to pacify me across the mate bond.

“I’m not making any promises,” I muttered.

Victoria sighed like she needed a drink. Ellie chewed her lip worriedly. Virgil’s expression had stiffened into that of someone preparing for his execution. Barney pursed his mouth in a way that indicated he would rather be swimming with alligators. Pearl appeared ready to fire someone at the smallest infraction. Bo wagged his tail with total disregard for the knife-cutting tension.

Yup, this meeting was going to be a total disaster.

Now that I’d had some time to calm down, the prospect of tonight’s meeting was weighing heavily on my mind. I debated telling Samuel we should turn around, but we were already at the top of the stairs and heading down the hallway toward our doom.

Voices reached us as we approached the conference room.

“Completely unacceptable that we weren’t informed immediately,” someone was saying in clipped, aristocratic tones.

I recognized Wendall’s voice.

“The situation was contained,” came Gregory’s measured, if exasperated, response through the heavy doors. “There was no immediate threat to the Alliance.”

“We have company,” Portia warned shrilly.

The conversation died just as Samuel pushed open the doors.

The Alliance members were already seated around the polished conference table, their expressions ranging from curious to buzzed to openly hostile. Gregory and Constantia satat the far end, both looking like they’d aged a decade since I’d last seen them. Concern tightened their faces at the sight of their son.

A pang of sympathy shot through me. Whatever their grievance with Virgil, it was clear the couple cared for their son.

“Sorry we’re late,” Samuel said, even though we weren’t.

Daria acknowledged this with a regal nod while we took our seats.

The rest of the Alliance members observed our group with mixed expressions. A few gazes lingered warily on Barney, while others considered Virgil and Ellie with frank disapproval.

“This is highly irregular,” Oscar declared, sulfur wafting from his shadowy corner. “These meetings are for Alliance members only.”

“Or their registered associates,” Melody Flowers added all too sweetly from across the table. “I must say, this is quite the eclectic gathering.”

“Indeed,” Cornelius contributed with narrowed eyes.

Daria sighed. “How about everyone pipe down? Samuel asked for permission to bring his guests. They’re here to inform us of an important matter.”

I frowned at Samuel. “You told Daria?”

He shrugged. “She’s the Alliance chair.”

Victoria turned a cool stare on Melody. “I would have thought you’d be too busy with your little territorial disputes to attend tonight’s meeting, Melody.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t miss this for the world, Victoria,” Melody replied with a smile that could cut glass. “One must stay engaged in the community. Speaking of which, Oscar, I hear you’ve been expanding your reach in the neighboring towns.”

Daria rolled her eyes. “Must we do this?”

Oscar bristled in his kingdom of gloom. “At least I’m doing so through legitimate means.”

“Hear, hear,” Portia murmured.