Page 65 of How to Stake a Vampire

Gregory looked equally confused. “But—Virgil failed the vampire trials.”

I stared before leaning sideways toward Victoria.

“There are vampire trials?” I hissed out the corner of my mouth.

“Yes, to determine who can be the next head of a family, among other things,” she murmured.

This was news to me.

Ellie gulped. Bo’s eyes brightened with unhealthy interest.

Everyone else was looking at Virgil.

“He threw Ludvik through a steel door,” Barney explained. “Even I might struggle in a fight with your son,” he told the Tremaines.

Surprise flashed across Virgil’s face.

His parents sat shell-shocked across the way.

Gregory finally recovered and pinned his son with a hard stare. “What happened at the vampire trials?”

Virgil rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “I deliberately flunked them.”

“What?!” Constantia squealed. “But—why?!”

“Because I don’t want to step into Father’s shoes and be made to continue the old traditions!” Virgil snapped.

Constantia recoiled. Gregory swallowed hard and laid a hand on her arm.

I felt a little sorry for them.

“Virgil, you shouldn’t upset your parents like that,” Ellie admonished softly.

“She’s right,” Victoria said kindly.

Virgil clenched his jaw.

“Do you hate our family that much?” Gregory asked his son in a haunted voice.

Virgil blew out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t hate our family. I hate that the vampire community we’re supposed to lead doesn’t want to change. I hate thatyouwon’t allow me to try and change it.”

“The bloodsuckers could do with being dragged kicking and screaming into the twenty-first century,” Finnic grunted before taking a swig of his drink.

“Must you call them that?” Daria asked sharply. “And how much have you had to drink?”

“I mean, Finnic’s not wrong, and neither is Virgil,” Titania said uneasily while Daria and the dwarf had a tense exchange about the legal alcohol limit for attending an Alliance meeting. “Some vampire families still use hearses for transportation.”

I made a face. The mystery of why Amberford had so many hearses was finally solved.

Gregory’s jaw set in a rigid line, but not before I glimpsed the hurt in his eyes.

“I wished you’d told me that instead of leaving our home,” he told Virgil half-accusingly.

“You never had time for me,” Virgil protested.

“Virgil,” Constantia said gently. “You’re our son. We’ll always have time for you.”

Virgil flushed, his chin trembling.