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“They don’t want to cause more tension,” Kayode says as I mull it over. “It has only been eight months since we were all at each other’s throats.”

I raise my eyebrows at him. That’s not strictly true. Vasile, Deacon, Moreau… They all knew who the true enemy was.

“I already played our hand by hearing Augustine out in the first place,” I say, “and they don’t want to undermine my authority so publicly. Not yet. I fear I am in a precarious position.”

“How?” Elle asks, scowling. “None of us would take your place.”

I believe none of them would, even if I think they should. Afsaneh smiles when I look at her like she knows just what I’m thinking.

“No, but the Council has undoubtedly had discussions about the treaty and how well it holds. It gives us our independence, our own governance, but Tamesis’ appearance and attack threatened that. I have no doubt they considered dissolving the entire thing.”

Grim faces all round, and any surprise is only a flicker.

I know that Vasile left the clan because he wants to be with Deacon and also because he was tired of his role here, but I cannot help but wonder if it was also because of this.

New leadership gives us a new lease on what we have.

They are watching me. Assessing us. But perhaps it is more time than we would have had if Vasile had stayed.

“They don’t have the right,” Kayode says, his voice a low growl.

I meet his dark gaze. “They have every right. The Council’s one job is to protect humans. How many died in December because of what happened?”

He shakes his head. I understand where he is coming from, but I have to look at it from their side, too, or I will never be able to anticipate what to do next.

“So,” Afsaneh says, “what do we do now?”

“I need to find out where Augustine is and what he’s doing.

” I raise a hand when Briar protests. “If he were one of our vampires, I would be more cautious, but then I would also expect them not to be plotting to kill a wolf and potentially destroy our relationship with our allies. Not only that; if he attacks Kieran’s pack, I think he’s more likely to end up dead than they will. ”

Elle nods. “Yeah, that tracks.”

“Do any of you know any vampires who can help?”

“There is a couple in my district,” Briar says lowly after a moment. “Literally, a couple. Vampire and human. I can’t say they ever do anything illegal, but… I think they can handle it.”

“Good. Brief them. I’m sure we can get a photo of Augustine from somewhere—he was standing outside the clan house the other night. They’ll have to find him first, but if he’s in London, he’s either in vampire or neutral territory.”

Briar nods. “I’ll speak to them tonight, crai.”

“If they discover any plotting, anything that might endanger the clan…”

“I’ll have him brought straight to you.”

“We are not assisting his petition, then?” Kayode asks.

“I have done what I can. I would hope some kind of challenge would sate him, but he is fighting hard to face Quinn one-on-one, and that appears to be out of the question. And aside from that…” I sigh.

“Augustine wants to kill him. Quinn has already been judged for what he did, and his circumstances were taken into account. Augustine does not get to overrule that.”

Kayode raises an eyebrow. “An eye for an eye?”

“Pointless. If Augustine had killed him in the moment, that is one thing. If he had even directly come after Quinn when he came here… This is too drawn-out, now. He knows what he wants, and he knows we will not give it to him.”

“We will deal with it, crai,” Afsaneh says. “I also have some vampires who can keep an eye out. Briar and I can coordinate on that, so it is not just one of us.”

“I can, too,” Kayode says.

Elle nods as well.

“Thank you all.”

Briar nods and gets to her feet. “If that’s everything, Elle and I should get back. I want to get this briefing done before daybreak.”

I nod and thank them again as they leave. Kayode follows soon after, and then only Afsaneh and I are left.

“Do you need help with anything else?” She’s the picture of poise on the sofa, and I sigh where I’m standing by the door, having seen the others out.

“Not tonight.” I need to check my emails again, in case anything has come up, though I doubt it has. I must finalise the application for potential chieftains to fill out. I’ve narrowed the list down to three potential candidates, but I’m too tired to go over that with Afsaneh now.

And I need not to think of Maurice. Not that I can stop. I think he’d be proud of the way I handled things tonight, the conclusions I’ve drawn.

“You’re certain?” Afsaneh’s eyes flick away, then back, holding mine challengingly when she asks, “Not even a more… adventurous donor?”

I swallow hard. I suppose it was too much to believe no one knew about what I was doing before I became crai. I don’t believe she’s worked it out from the time I spent with Maurice. No; more likely anyone who saw us coming back from either night in the park thought we were fucking.

“I—No.”

“I’m not judging you for anything, Njáll,” Afsaneh says. She gets to her feet and approaches me slowly. “As long as everyone agrees, it’s not my business. But I understand that this position requires more discretion in that regard.”

I shake my head quickly. I had Bel come to my rooms a few days ago—he’s a donor I’d spoken to before, but I noticed the way Maurice spent time with him, and that piqued my interest. His blood is fine, and he’s pleasant to speak with. That’s enough.

That has to be enough.

Besides, I don’t know that I can trust myself to chase donors anymore. I don’t know that I want to, after having a taste of Maurice.

“It’s really fine, Afsaneh,” I say. “I don’t… It’s fine.”

She smiles tightly. Does she believe me? I truly don’t think she’s judging me for what I want; every vampire but the youngest amongst us has chased down their prey before.

“All right. You know where I am if you need anything.”

“I do. Thank you for tonight. And for your advice in general.”

Afsaneh squeezes my arm and smiles. “I’m always glad to help, crai. We’ll let you know as soon as we have eyes on Augustine.”

That said, she leaves, and I perch on the edge of my desk, looking at the empty room.

It makes no sense, this hollow feeling in my chest. Maurice was not here for long, all things considered, and yet the room feels emptier for not having him in it. If he were here, he would already be sprawled over the sofa, long limbs askew, watching me as I paced and thought aloud.

He would have advice.

He would have taken me to find Augustine myself.

I miss him. I shake my head at the thought, but that does nothing to dislodge the truth of it. I miss him, and there is a fair chance that, despite everything, I will never see him again. Even if I do… We will not be alone together, I am sure. We will not have a private moment.

I mourn that future—one we could never have—for a few more seconds before I push off from my desk with an irritated growl.

Maurice is gone, and I have work to do.