Page 192 of Vampires of Eden

It’s strangely silent today. Empty aside from the purebred auras radiating just beyond the double doors ahead.

Raphael came to Amber’s cottage first thing this morning and brought a suit for me, some dress shoes and stapled copies of the proposal in a folder for today’s meeting.

Apparently, my mother and father have been fighting a lot. Raphael says that ever since I left the house, they’ve been having muffled shouting matches behind closed doors.

This news is wild to me, because I’ve never seen nor heard my parents fight. Not once. If there’s a disagreement, my mother asserts her perspective—loudly and forcefully. As if no other opinion could ever possibly be as valuable or correct as hers. Father almost always concedes to whatever she wants. The end.

As we approach the double doors, I slow, because… I sense her now. My mother. Inside. Sheneverattends board meetings.

Stressed, I throw my senses out and scan the room with more detail. Turns out, she’s not the only intruder. “The fuck is going on?” I say, turning to Raphael. He looks at me but stays awkwardly quiet. Very unlike him.

“What’s the matter?” Daniel asks.

“There are vampires here who are not part of the board,” I tellhim, then focus on Raphael. “Is this some kind of trap? What aren’t you telling us?”

“No, Alexander. There’s no trap, it’s just—are we ready?”

I frown, feeling unsettled as I glance over at Daniel. He nods and I force myself to relax my shoulders. I take his hand in mine and he clasps our palms. “We’re ready.”

Raphael steps past us and pulls one of the heavy oak doors open.

We step inside and the high, painted domed-ceiling of the room seems to amplify every sound we make. Raphael stays near the door, taking up his position like a security guard outside a vault. Or maybe a warden securing a prison cell.

Warily, I walk forward with Daniel, confused about what’s happening right now. Seated at the center arc-shaped table reserved for board members are my father and Nadya—which mostly makes sense. Nadya told me that she was prepping to take her mother’s place on the board. I haven’t officially traded off with Father yet, so his position is still valid.

What doesn’t make sense is Sebastian seated beside Nadya. He’s dressed more formally and much less flashy than usual, and his expression is somber. An attempt at seriousness that reads more like a sad puppy.

What’s more bizarre, Ashwin is seated in the position beside him at the end of the arc, which is usually where Lord Cherrington sits. I flare my senses out, checking for good measure once more. Lord Cherrington is not in this room, but he’s close by.

In the elevated, general seating era, my mother watches us with an impassive but haughty glare. Her hands are set primly within her lap and her honey-blonde hair is straight and spilling over her shoulders. Lady Bhaduri, Nadya’s mother, sits to her right and Governor Ellis, Sebastian’s mother, is seated to my mother’s left.

The room is uncomfortably reticent as we approach the table. They all stare as if we’re a pair of wild, unpredictable creatures prone to violent episodes. Likewe’rethe ones in the wrong.

When Danny and me stand before them, my tone is sharp. There’s no use hiding my bitterness with this entire situation. “This is my mate, Daniel Lim—Daniel, you know my father. Beside him is Lady Nadya Bhaduri, Lord Sebastian Ellis, and finally, Lady Ashwin Griffins.” It takes everything inside of me not to make a snide remark about Ashwin’s presence. I deserve a cookie for this level of restraint.

Daniel nods politely as his hand grips mine like a vise. “It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Daniel,” Nadya says. “Congratulations to you both. We… On behalf of the council, I welcome you. Unfortunately, we have some unpleasant business that needs to be addressed before we can discuss Alexander’s proposal.”

“Unpleasant business?” I ask, frowning.

“Daniel?” My father smiles while bypassing my remark. “Would you please go and sit in the rafters beside Governor Ellis? Alexander, please take your seat beside me, as usual.”

My whole body tenses as my pulse beats in my temples. Board meetings are usually systematic. We have an open hearing where outside constituents and aristocracy members make scheduled presentations. Then, we conduct private deliberation on said presentations, plus any other relevant administrative topics. Like my proposal.

Today, the atmosphere is serious. Grim, even. What the hell is about to happen?

“We’re okay,” Daniel says softly, gripping my hand once more before he lets go and walks toward the stairs leading to the upper benches. I watch him go, like I’m worried he might encounter some disastrous incident on the way to his seat.

He makes it there, safe and sound. Governor Ellis greets him with what appears to be a sincere smile and nod that he politely returns. My gaze flickers over to my mother. She stares straight into the distance, not looking at me, Daniel or anyone. I’m waiting for her to throw Daniel a nasty look and start some shit?—

“Alexander? Father says, breaking the chain of my hostile thoughts. “Please, come sit down so we can begin.”

I roll my shoulders, breathe and walk over to the table. When I’m seated and have set the folder of proposal copies in front of me, Father’s voice resonates through the hall once more.

“Bring him inside.”

The ornate double doors located along the west side of the council room clack loudly, then one pulls open. Lord Cherrington strides through the door with his chin held high—like an important, busy man who’s been kept waiting and the very notion of keeping him waiting is absurd.