Page 111 of Vampire so Virtuous

And there was Belle.

It was as if she knew he would be there. Her eyes found his as soon as a clear path across the room opened, her lips curling into a smirk. She looked just as he remembered, though her dress was no longer the height of fashion for eighteenth-century France. Still black and lacy, though. He realized he’d frozen in surprise and forced himself to relax.

“Apparently, they’ve arranged some kind of exchange program with the Europeans, as if it were all a jolly old school trip,”Gabriel had said.

I should’ve guessed it would be her.

She hadn’t been a member of the Curia when he’d left France, and maybe that had blinded him. But too much time had passed, and Belle had always enjoyed power.

“For those who don’t know,” Roberto said, walking into the room, “this is Leonard,”—he waved one large arm to the slim man in the suit—“Raphael”—the one dressed in more leather than even Antoine would consider—“Jorge”—a tall, swarthy man—“and, from Europe, Belle.”

There were no welcoming smiles. Instead, eyes narrowed, and jaws tightened. An uneasy stillness.

Roberto led them to the table. Leonard took the seat at the head, with the other Curia members and Roberto flanking him. Some of the other vampires sat as well, but there were not enough seats for all. Antoine leaned against the wall nearby, trying not to stare at Belle.

Leonard took in the room, briefly meeting the eyes of everyone present. “Thank you for coming.”As if we had much choice. “The Curia is touring the major cities, ensuring the stability of vampire territories.” He rested his hand on the table, his fingers lightly curled against the wood.

He paused as the other Curia members watched the room, gauging responses. ‘We’ve decided there are too many vampires in America. From this point forward, we’re relaxing the rules of conflict within the Code.”

There was an intake of breath from many of those gathered, and Antoine fought to keep his face impassive.They’ve just declared a no-holds-barred free-for-all.

“The primary mandate remains: we stay in the shadows. Beyond that, the strong shall survive, and the weak culled.”

He leaned back in his chair, his message delivered.

Anastasia leaned forward, having taken a chair, as was her right for holding one of the larger territories north of the river. “An interesting proposition, my lord. A question, if I may?” She waited for Leonard’s nod. “The Code allows for subverting territories through economic and political means, or through direct conflict. Resolution by submission, not death. Is the intent to remain within these principles but allow combat to the death?”

Leonard smiled coldly. “We want to encourage… consolidation.”

“Yes, my lord.” She leaned back, her face impassive.

Gabriel cleared his throat softly, and Leonard looked at him expectantly. “It occurs to me, my lord, that a consolidation of territories and the culling of the weak—while very practical policies—are rather…at oddswith remaining in the shadows. What steps will the Curia take to mitigate our exposure?”

“The Curia trusts that you will all take appropriate measures to keep this from becoming a concern.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

Or, in other words, that’s a firm, ‘Do what you want, we don’t give a shit.’

The message was clear: the Curia was setting them against one another and wasn’t planning to stick around to referee.

Minh spoke up from where he stood on the far side of the table. “It is a time for change. For too long, we have been stagnant, growing complacent and lazy, while the world around us has transformed. Chattel have achieved more in the past five decades than in nearly their entire history combined. If we don’t innovate, we risk being left behind. Worse, we risk exposure. Conflict drives innovation.”

Suck up.

Leonard didn’t react, but Roberto, to his left, spoke up. “Exactly that, Minh.” He snorted, the sound dismissive. “Finally, someone willing to say it.”

Gabe broke his impassivity to glance at Antoine, akin to an eyeroll under the circumstances. Antoine briefly flicked one eyebrow up in wry acknowledgement. Minh’s little gathering made a lot more sense now, andit was clear who their target was. How they’d learned of the Curia’s decree in advance was a troubling question.

“While we are on the subject of change,” Leonard said, “I’m sure all here will welcome the news that Roberto has ascended to a seat on the Curia.”

This revelation caused little stir. Vampires were not prone to compersion, and there was no risk of a spontaneous round of applause. On the other hand, jealousy and avarice ran deep, and a few eyes subtly narrowed at the news. It did, however, elevate Roberto above the level of the conflicts the Curia had just invited—not that he had ever been at much risk, given his power and age. Roberto held the largest thrall army of any vampire Antoine knew, with some hundred or more under his control.

“And finally,” Leonard continued, “we welcome Belle d’Aubigny.” He bowed his head, a gesture that placed her status firmly above his. Was she really so powerful? “The European Curia has chosen to take a more active position in respect to North American affairs. My lady?”

“Thank you, Leonard.” She gave the assembly one of her smiles, using her beauty to its full advantage. “The European Curia recognizes the growth here in America, and we have all profited through investments or businesses. Many of you were once European yourselves, your age and power a testament to the strength of vampires.” Traces of her French origins still lingered in her accent, but her English was flawless. “But with growth comes risk, and power breeds laxity. In recent years, the American people have been less inclined to question than many other nations, and their docile subservience had aided our cause. Yet even that is changing, and a resentful people question more. There have been…issuesin New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.” She inclined her head for emphasis. “We have therefore decided that this change is necessary.”

A thoughtful silence descended, then Leonard tapped the table twice. “Thank you, my lady. That concludes the formal part of tonight’s gathering. No doubt some of you may wish to linger and catch up with old friends”—his lips pressed thin into a line that could hardly be deemed a smile—“while others may prefer to leave and consider what we have discussed in solitude.” A beat of silence, then: “Stay in the shadows.”