Page 7

V anya

The message arrives at noon—a single line burning across my secured terminal.

Emergency session. Ivory League. Noon.

I stare until the words disappear. Emergency sessions mean we’ll meet in the sacred chamber beneath the Enclave, not some exposed corporate building. The heart of our fortress where shadows and ancient stone hide our conversations. Where the League has made its bloodiest decisions for generations.

Elder Vex’s signature tells me he’s moving against someone. Given the timing—barely three days since I reached out to Hargen through encrypted channels—I’m afraid of who his target might be.

I delete the message and stand, every movement calculated to project confidence I don’t feel. Control that’s been fifteen years in the making.

Today, that control will be tested. I feel it in my bones.

The elevator drops past administrative floors, past clan residential levels, deep into bedrock where our ancestors carved the first chambers. Ancient dragon motifs line the corridor, magical wards humming in the stone itself.

Once again, they’re waiting when I get there.

I take my seat with a nod to the others, not saying anything in case it gives away a tremor in my voice.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Vex begins, “we face a crisis that threatens the integrity of our bloodline protocols.”

My fingers remain steady on the table as I sink back into my seat. Let them see boredom, not the cold dread spreading through my chest.

“Intelligence indicates,” Vex continues, activating holographic displays, “that someone with access to our systems has been interfering with bloodline verification. Protecting individuals who should be subject to our standards.”

The images floating above the table make my stomach clench. Personnel files. Bloodline assessments. Verification reports dating back months. All connected by patterns I recognize because I helped create half of them.

“Fascinating theory, Elder.” I lean back, projecting confidence that has served me for fifteen years. “Do we have proof, or shall we waste the League’s time discussing your suspicions?”

His satisfaction radiates through the mask. “More than suspicions, Elder. Our investigation has revealed remarkable coordination.”

He activates the first projection. Personnel records from various operations. Bloodline verification reports showing inconsistencies. Reassignment orders that moved certain individuals away from scrutiny.

“Three months ago, we identified irregularities in Kiasog bloodline verification. Several individuals showing mixed heritage were reclassified as pure.” His voice carries a damning note.

“Similarly, members of the Empyreal line who should have faced disciplinary action were transferred to positions where their status became… less relevant.”

The image shifts to show a genealogical chart with highlighted discrepancies. Names I recognize because they represent people I’ve helped protect.

“Could these be administrative errors, Elder Vex?” asks Elder Helestre.

“One incident, perhaps. Two, possibly oversight.” Vex’s mask turns toward each League member. “But systematic protection of compromised bloodlines within our ranks? This suggests coordination.”

Elder Cymbane speaks from across the table. “You suggest internal breach? Someone within our verification systems?”

“I suggest,” Vex says carefully, “that someone with access to our highest levels has been playing a dangerous game.”

The words hang in the air. Not pointed at me directly—not yet—but close enough that I can feel the edge. Around the table, the other League members shift uncomfortably.

“Furthermore,” Vex continues, pulling up additional displays, “we’ve detected unusual patterns in our communication networks. Encrypted channels that don’t appear in any authorized systems. Messages that correlate with these… protective actions.”

Cassia, who’d been sitting silently overseeing the presentation, stops taking notes. I don’t look at her, but I can feel her tension spike. The network we’ve built over fifteen years of careful work is being dissected in front of us.

“Motion to call for investigation,” announces Elder Cymbane. “Full review of all bloodline verification procedures.”

“Seconded,” comes another voice. Elder Flamebrow. “If there’s a compromise in our systems, we must identify it.”

My heart lurches, but my voice remains level. “A thorough investigation serves our interests. However, I must question the wisdom of broad scrutiny. Our verification depends on confidential processes. Opening these systems to extensive review creates vulnerabilities our enemies would exploit.”

Cassia finally speaks. “If I may…” She clears her throat. “The technical aspects of any investigation would require careful consideration. Verification protocols, authentication systems, magical resonance patterns—all sensitive elements that could be compromised by hasty review.”

“What do you propose?” Vex’s voice carries barely concealed irritation.

“Preliminary assessment,” Cassia responds smoothly. “Internal technical review to determine scope and nature of any irregularities. If that review indicates significant compromise, then we proceed with full investigation under appropriate safeguards.”

I catch her eye for just a moment. Enough to see the warning there.

“The League will vote,” announces Elder Helestre from my left. “All in favor of immediate comprehensive investigation?”

Three hands rise. Vex, Cymbane, Elder Kiasog.

“Opposed?”

Two hands. Myself and Empyreal, whose clan has always maintained neutrality in political disputes.

“Abstaining?”

Elder Helestre and Elder Flamebrow remain motionless. Smart. Let others expose their positions first.

“The motion fails,” Helestre announces. “However, given the seriousness of these allegations, I propose a compromise. Internal review of all verification protocols. Full documentation of communication channels and authorization procedures. Timeline: two weeks.”

The vote is unanimous. Even I raise my hand, because refusing would confirm every suspicion Vex harbors.

“Two weeks,” Vex repeats, his voice carrying dark promise. “I trust that will be sufficient time to clarify these irregularities.”

“More than sufficient.” I stand, projecting confidence I don’t feel. “We’ll provide complete documentation of every protocol, every authorization channel, every communication method used in our systems.”

True, in a way. We’ll provide documentation. Just not the kind that will satisfy his suspicions.

The meeting dissolves into smaller conversations as members file out. I remain seated, reviewing the tactical displays one final time. Memorizing the evidence Vex has compiled, the timeline he’s constructed, the pattern of my own protective actions laid bare.

All the work that we’ve done, and now, in two weeks, the investigation could expose everything.

The parking garage beneath the Enclave echoes with expensive engines and hushed conversations.

I wait beside my car until I hear footsteps against stone.

Cassia approaches from the shadows between support pillars, her professional demeanor intact even in private.

Her hands shake slightly as she checks her phone for surveillance signals.

“Clear,” she murmurs. “For now.”

“What does he know?” I keep my voice low, though we both know the garage is swept for listening devices twice daily.

Cassia’s composed expression finally cracks, showing the fear beneath. “He knows someone’s been messing with the systems. Not who, but enough to be dangerous. The pattern analysis, the operational reviews—he’s connecting specific individuals to the protection network.”

My blood turns to ice. “The documentation we’ve maintained…”

“Is clean. For now.” Cassia pulls up encrypted files on her phone. “But Vex isn’t looking at official records anymore. He’s examining correlation patterns. Timing relationships. Traces from the communication arrays.”

She shows me the analysis. Data points mapping successful interventions against operational timelines.

Communication pattern analysis showing encrypted traffic that doesn’t match any authorized channels.

Geographic patterns that could lead to communities where certain protected individuals have been relocated over the years.

“What’s his next move?”

“Personal investigation. Deep-background verification of anyone with access to the relevant systems.” Cassia’s voice drops. “Starting with the most obvious candidates.”

Anyone who could have known about the bloodline assessments. Anyone with access to verification systems. Anyone whose movements could be correlated with the timing of successful protections.

Anyone like me.

“Can you delay the verification?”

“For a while. But not indefinitely.” She looks around the garage, paranoia evident in every gesture. “We need to accelerate whatever contingency plans we’ve discussed. If this investigation goes deep enough, it’ll expose everyone we’ve been helping.”

Everyone. The mixed-heritage individuals we’ve shielded from disciplinary action. The families we’ve helped relocate when their status became problematic. The handful of people feeding us intelligence from within various clan operations.

And Ember.

“How much time do we have? Realistically?”

“A week. Maybe ten days before Vex pushes for comprehensive investigation.” Cassia pockets her phone. “After that, they’ll assign independent teams. Blood magic authentication that I can’t manipulate. Deep-scan protocols that will expose every secret we’ve hidden.”

Ten days. Ten days to save everyone I’ve sworn to protect before the investigation destroys them all.

“There’s something else,” Cassia continues. “Aurora intelligence has been asking questions about our operations. They know someone’s been helping people escape persecution, but they don’t know who.”

My stomach drops. “How much do they know?”

“Enough to be interested. Not enough to identify any of us.” She pauses. “Yet.”

Vex suspects internal manipulation. The Aurora Collective knows someone’s helping from within. And somewhere in the middle of this brewing storm, the encrypted message I sent three days ago is making its way through channels that could expose everything.

“I need additional resources,” I tell her. “Emergency protocols. Clean documentation for rapid extraction. And alternative identities. For multiple individuals.”

Cassia goes very still. “How many individuals?”

“At least three. Possibly more, depending on how this develops.”

“Vanya.” Her voice carries years of friendship and shared secrets. “If you run, Vex will know. He’ll tear apart everything we’ve built. Everyone we’ve protected over the years—they’ll all be exposed.”

“And if I stay, the investigation exposes us anyway.” The words catch in my throat. “Along with everyone I care about most.”

“Including me?”

I swallow hard. “Cassia, I—”

“It’s okay.” She holds up a hand. “I’m a big girl. I know what I’m involved in.”

We stand in silence, listening to the distant hum of activity above us in the Enclave. Two women who’ve spent decades fighting a war from the shadows, finally facing the reality that every secret eventually comes to light.

“I’ll get you the resources,” Cassia says finally. “But understand—once you use them, there’s no coming back. The network we’ve built, the people we’ve saved—it all dies with the exposure.”

I know. I know exactly what I’m choosing. The careful balance we’ve maintained between helping others and protecting ourselves is about to collapse.

But as I drive away from the Enclave, Elder Vex’s suspicions hanging over me, I realize it’s not really a choice at all. It never was.

I will protect those who depend on me. Even if it means sacrificing everything else I care about.

My phone buzzes. A message from Ember.

Coming home for dinner? I’m making that pasta you like.

I squeeze my eyes shut for a second. Dinner. Pasta. Normal conversation. The pretense that we’re just an ordinary mother and daughter, sharing an ordinary life.

Soon she’ll know the truth about everything. About the dangerous legacy flowing through her veins. About the war being fought for her protection. About the choices I’ve made to keep her safe.

I send back a simple response: Wouldn’t miss it.

Because maybe, if I move fast enough and fight hard enough and sacrifice everything else I care about, I can give her a few more days of ordinary.

Before the alternative destroys us all.