Page 76 of Vampire so Virtuous (Boston Vampires #1)

“Gabriel,” Leonard took control again. “Antoine was telling us interesting stories of this night’s activities.”

Gabe didn’t hesitate. “Are you referring to Minh’s attack on my tower, spearheaded by an army of feral spawns?”

“Well, that settles it,” Jorge said. “This has been a waste of time. Are we done?”

“No, we are not done,” Roberto growled. “Antoine has broken the Code. That is why I called this session.”

“How, pray?” Raphael asked.

“Yes, do please get to the point,” Belle spoke for the first time, managing to sound as if the entire affair was beneath her.

Roberto leveled a finger at Antoine. “He fed on Minh.”

The room fell still.

Leonard cleared his throat first. “You have proof of this?”

Roberto shifted in his chair. “Minh told me himself, but now, conveniently enough for Antoine, he is dead.” He fixed Antoine with a hard stare. “Did you feed on Minh?”

Belle gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head, little more than a subtle movement to one side and back again.

“I killed him, my lord, not by feeding but by pulling his head from his neck.”

Jorge chuckled. “You’re right, he is smooth.” Antoine couldn’t tell to whom he was speaking.

“Meaning?” Roberto demanded.

Jorge gave a one-shouldered shrug. “He didn’t answer.”

“Technically,” Raphael said, “there is nothing compelling him to do so.”

“I demand that he be made to answer!” Roberto said, his voice rising. “Either he answers, or I challenge him.”

“I know you are new to the seat,” Leonard said coolly, “but Curia members do not challenge territory owners.”

“Do not, not cannot,” Roberto shot back. “There is nothing to stop me from enacting that right.” He gestured at Antoine. “Make him answer, and there will be no need for a challenge.”

Leonard cocked his head again, his eyes narrowing as he regarded Antoine. “The question stands, Antoine, and this time, I am the one asking. Did you or did you not feed on Minh?”

Belle remained as still as stone, not so much as a twitch, but Antoine could feel the weight of her presence. He knew, with a sinking certainty, that the truth would condemn him.

“No, my lord.”

Leonard leaned back, his expression darkening. The atmosphere thickened with an unspoken weight.

“ Now are we done?” Belle asked, her voice dismissive, barely concealing her impatience.

“Not quite, I’m afraid,” Leonard said, his eyes never leaving Antoine’s. The shift in his tone made Antoine’s blood run cold. “My bloodline allows for a degree of mind-reading. It is limited in function, but it does allow me to discern when someone lies. And Antoine is most definitely lying.”

Merde.

Antoine inclined his head, fighting to stay composed. “I may have sunk my fangs into Minh’s neck in the heat of battle when I killed him, my lord, but only because I had fought off half a dozen of his feral spawn and needed healing. I was defending myself.”

It wouldn’t hurt to remind them of Minh’s guilt in this.

“Not as smooth this time,” Jorge said.

“Entomb him!” Roberto demanded.

Leonard shot him a look, then turned away. “What do the rest of you think?”

“He claims he was injured,” Jorge said thoughtfully. “But he lied earlier, so he could be lying about that.”

“But feeding on another vampire?” Raphael said. “If we let that slide, it would be disastrous. We have no choice but to make an example of him.”

“I agree,” Jorge said, with a hint of reluctance. “But entombment seems severe, when Minh was equally guilty.”

“My lady?” Leonard prompted, turning to Belle.

Belle paused, regarding Antoine with more interest than she had shown so far. “I agree with Jorge,” she said thoughtfully. “Entombment seems unwarranted. Banishment, perhaps?”

Antoine fought to keep his expression neutral, but it was becoming difficult. He knew what Belle wanted—him back under her power. How was this the support she had promised Cally she would afford him?

Leonard turned to Roberto. “Would banishment satisfy you?”

“Meaningless,” Roberto said bluntly. “With his power? He would simply claim another territory.”

“I could take him back to Paris,” Belle mused, as if the idea had just occurred to her. “It would take him much longer to gain a foothold in Europe.”

No.

“Very well,” Roberto said, his eyes vindictive as he stared at Antoine. “Strip him of his territory, kill his thralls and chattel, and take him back to Europe in disgrace.”

“No.” Antoine couldn’t stop the word from escaping.

Gabe took a half step forward. “Forgive me for interjecting, my lords, but I lost many thralls assisting Antoine with his territory in the battle against Minh. May I propose, then, that his territory falls to me?”

Antoine stared at him, fists clenching at his sides.

“Yes, yes,” Leonard said, waving a hand impatiently. “I care little for what happens to his territory.”

“Thank you, my lord,” Gabriel said, carefully avoiding Antoine’s gaze. “I will keep his thralls and chattel as my own.”

“No.” Antoine shook his head. “I do not accept this.”

“Quiet,” Roberto snapped. “You stand before the Curia! Keep your place.”

But Antoine could not remain silent. “I will accept banishment, if that is Curia’s will, but I will take my thralls and chattel with me. In return, I will vow not to seek another territory. ”

Jorge shrugged. “Seems reasonable to me.”

Raphael fixed him with a hard look. “You would choose to live as an outcast?”

Gladly.

Antoine bowed his head, keeping as much humility as he could muster. “If that will placate the Curia, my lord.”

“It will not,” Roberto grated. “I want his taint expunged, his thralls and chattel dead. I want him gone! Send him to Europe.”

“Very well,” Leonard said wearily, looking at Antoine with a hint of reluctance. “His territory falls to Gabriel, his property will be destroyed.” He turned to Belle. “My lady, he is yours.”

No.

“Noah! Get Cally out of there. Take her and run.”

“I do not agree to this, my lord,” Antoine said.

“So be it,” Belle replied to Leonard with reluctance, as if doing him a favor. Antoine didn’t buy it—this was Belle realizing the fruition of her plans. “I was planning to leave soon anyway.”

Now you are. You’ve got what you came for.

“Noah? Noah!”

There was no response to his mental call. Was he out of range?

Gabriel cleared his throat. “I thank the Curia for their wisdom. If Antoine is to be banished to Europe, perhaps my Lord Roberto will not object if I make his thralls and chattel as my own?”

Roberto scoffed. “He comes in here stinking of a chattel, and now you’re so eager to claim them? Must be some creature.”

Gabriel inclined his head respectfully. “She does taste nice, my lord.”

Antoine glared at Gabriel, his fists clenched so tightly his nails cut into his palms, and the metallic tang of blood filled the air. “You want her for yourself.”

Roberto looked amused. “You have designs on his chattel? How perfect! Very well, take her.”

How did I not see this?

Gabriel gave Antoine a grin. “Mustn’t let such blood go to waste, my friend.”

“ We were never friends,” Antoine growled. He turned back to Leonard, the only one who could still intervene. “I refuse this judgment, my lord.”

“You don’t have a choice,” Leonard said, disinterest creeping into his tone. “It is done.”

“No!” Antoine raised a hand, pointing a finger at Roberto. “I challenge him! If I win, I take his seat, and keep my territory.”

“Oh, be still,” Leonard said. “At least we’re allowing you to keep your life.”

“How dare he challenge me,” Roberto spat, full of mock outrage. He sank into his chair, a triumphant smirk on his lips, and met Antoine’s eyes, clearly relishing the moment in a way that sent a chill down Antoine’s spine. He paused for effect before his next words fell. “Now I push for entombment.”

Leonard huffed, the sound betraying a mix of frustration and resignation.

“This has gone on long enough,” Jorge said. “Entomb him and be done with it. It is embarrassing to squabble before a member of the European Curia.”

“I will see to it, my lords,” Gabriel said smoothly. “Entombment as per our laws.”

“Permanent,” Roberto said, his lips twisting with cruel satisfaction.

Leonard looked at him, hesitant. “Permanent?”

“Permanent,” Roberto replied with finality.

Gabriel frowned. “There’s never been a permanent entombment in our history.”

Roberto sneered at Antoine. “There will be tonight.”

Belle had been watching Gabriel with something akin to curiosity, but flicked a glance at Antoine before turning to Leonard. “I agree to the necessity,” she said, her tone still disinterested. “Entombment, but not permanent. It would set an unwanted precedent.”

Antoine stared at her, fear swelling inside him. How was this protection? He should’ve known she would interpret it in her own way.

Leonard inclined his head. “Thank you, my lady.” He turned to Antoine, his voice formal. “Entombment until the Curia is satisfied.”

“Or until he escapes,” Belle added pointedly, and with a hint of amusement. “We do include that, do we not?”

Roberto barked a laugh. “I will entomb him.” He leaned forward, supporting his bulk with one hand on his knee, his small eyes narrowed, burning into Antoine.

“I will bury you somewhere you’ll never escape, and I will never, ever, be satisfied.

” He grinned wolfishly. “In fact, I might be satisfied tomorrow—but it won’t matter, as I’ll have forgotten where I put you. ”

“Noah! Noah!” There was still no reply to Antoine’s calls, but maybe Noah could hear him anyway. “Take Cally and go!”

“No,” he said, jaw clenched. “I refuse this. I will take my thralls”— and chattel—“ and I will go.”

“He’s yours.” Leonard waved a dismissive hand. “Get him out of here.”

“No!” Antoine said, stepping back as Roberto heaved his bulk out of his chair.

Jorge stood too, arms folded across his chest, watching Antoine as if ready to intervene if needed.

“At least take your punishment with some self-respect,” Raphael drawled.

Antoine glared at Gabriel. “So much for allies.”