It was like I was seeing her for the first time. Her eyes were wide with earnest. She wanted to help these girls as much as I did. “Thank you, Catina.”
Chapter 37
ROMAN
“We should wait for Catina.”
I rolled my eyes at Enso. The longer we delayed, the more I had to endure being here. Being away from Estrella made my skin feel tight. If I couldn’t keep my eyes on her, it was all too easy for someone to take her from me.
“She can catch up once she arrives,” I growled. Isabella had already informed me she wouldn’t be attending—someone had to stay with the girls. Where I should fucking be.
I reached out to Catina.Hurry the fuck up.
I’m coming. I had to wait for your girlfriend.Her sarcasm was muted. She had been helping the girls around the clock, protecting them just as I had done for Estrella. I guess even Catina could be a softie sometimes. My mood lifted at the thought that Estrella was on her way.
They entered together shortly after, Catina holding the door for Estrella. The rest of the group seemed surprised to see the pair together in one piece, but Catina wouldn’t push Estrella after everything she had endured. Razvan shifted down a chair, gesturing for Estrella to sit between us.
Concern swept over me as I surveyed Estrella. This was the firsttime she’d worn anything other than a nightgown in a week. While I was glad for the small steps, a sense of dread settled in my gut. I wanted to see her as a star rising above all her darkness, but the dark evergreen gown wrapping her from head to toe felt wrong somehow, like a black hole sucking in all her light.
Are you alright?
Later, she replied, her tone distant. I frowned, unable to shake the worry gnawing at me.
Sorin spoke up. “The other houses are interpreting our failure to handle the situation with the Bursucs as a sign of weakness. We need to address this swiftly and decisively.”
They were right; our handling of the situation reflected my own weakness. “Additionally, my informants have reported that remnants of the house, even from other regions, seem to be congregating in the north. At this point, we can assume Codran is staging a rebellion.”
“He is.” Surprise rippled through the table as Estrella spoke, her gaze locked onto mine.
“Right before he bit me, he delivered a speech about his plans to overthrow you so they could return to hunting humans. He claimed they would return to righteousness. They want to drag us back to the dark ages.” Her breath came out in a rough rattle. “I’m sorry, Roman. I should’ve told you sooner.”
My gut lurched. What a horrifying revelation to hear just before her attack. I reached out and took her hand in mine, allowing the warmth of her skin to release some of the tension in my shoulders.
Sorin looked as mortified as I felt. He turned to Enso. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Enso nodded gravely. “The House of Krevlan. He’s trying to revive it.”
I grimaced. My grandfather had disbanded that cult when he tookthe throne. They believed in the inalienable right to humans, treating them worse than cattle. It had been run by Codran’s father, Mihal, one of the original vampires. This wasn’t just about the throne, this was about something bigger than all of us. If we failed—if I failed—the human race would suffer a fate far worse than death.
Sorin voiced what we all were thinking. “Mihal is behind this.”
“Who’s Mihal?” Estrella asked.
“He was the first vampire tsar, one of the three originals. Roman’s grandfather overthrew him, though no one knows how. He was incredibly powerful, but he’s been in hiding since then. He even allowed Codran to take over the Bursuc House,” Sorin explained, glancing nervously between me and Enso.
Mihal was little more than folklore these days, but I knew he had been very real. He was said to be indestructible, completely consumed by his desire for power. It made sense that his son would follow in his footsteps.
“We need to capture Codran quickly, before Mihal can gain any footing,” I said in a rough whisper.
“We must ensure his detention is above board. We cannot give Mihal any ground to stand on,” Razvan added thoughtfully.
“That shouldn’t be too hard. We all know how theft will be perceived by the Houses. That’s the easiest angle,” Catina responded. I froze.
“I’m sorry, theft?” Estrella sounded confused, though her tone was sharp. She understood exactly what Catina meant. Catina glanced at her and snapped her mouth shut.
Unfortunately, Sorin had no such filter. “In our culture, you’re seen as property. Codran stole you from Roman, and to a vampire, that’s the worst crime imaginable. It’s more than enough to rationalize his capture and execution.”
Do you ever know when to shut the fuck up?!I snapped.
