Suddenly Christian stood and the room became still. "Cease," he commanded. "Lord Devereux is correct in his statement." Dead silence followed his statement amidst shaken looks. Enhard seemed physically pained. Christian continued. "She is under my protection as Lord Devereux's companion has attacked her twice now. Given the strained relationship between our societies, I thought it best to take her under my protection. Our laws do not forbid this."
"If by protection, you mean something else entirely, then I will say she is surely well protected," Lucian said, his insinuation clear. The room twittered in response. Christian's hands clenched at his side, and Victoria knew that it was time. He couldn't do this alone, not without her help. She stood, walking to the middle of the room and commanding everyone's attention.
"My Lords," she said, addressing the Council, "I confirm that I have been attacked twice by this woman and threatened once by Lucian Devereux himself. In fact, the protection of His Grace," she said, echoing Lucian's sarcastic emphasis as well as Lena's strange formal address to Christian, "is the only reason I stand here before you today."
Victoria didn't mean to consciously do it, but her sincerity was delicately and cleverly amplified by her magic. The Council nodded in unison, some even sitting forward in their seats at the unexpected power of her simple words. She heard the soft gasp of the blond witch sitting behind her, and could feel their startled glances. Compulsion on one person was not something easily done—it took immense skill and concentration to magically sway conscious thought. Compulsion on a roomful of vampires in a space warded against magic was another thing entirely.
"But I saw him with her!" Lena said. "He wants her!" Christian turned but Victoria beat him to the punch.
"Of course he does, he wants me to be safe from you," Victoria said, deliberately misunderstanding her words and diffusing Lena's poisonous exclamation. Lena opened her mouth to argue but Christian's crisp command pierced the room.
"Leave us, please," he said quietly. Victoria was amazed that everyone left without so much as a whisper in deference to his command, and the room emptied until it was just Lucian, Lena, Enhard, herself, and Christian. Lucian had told Lena to stay which seemed to anger Christian. He turned to him. "You forget your place, brother," Christian said.
"And you forget your duty!" Lucian said. "She is a witch!"
"That didn't stop you from wanting her, did it?" Christian's retort was just as quick. Victoria noticed the stunned look that flashed across Lena's face. "And why is she here?" Christian said, indicating Lena. Lucian looked at him coldly, spitefully.
"She is, after all, your Companion, is she not?" he said, his eyes glittering.
Christian glanced at Victoria, seeing shock crack her composure. "Lena chose another path, Lucian, you know that and she knows that," he said, but Christian knew the intended damage had been done. Victoria refused to look at him. "What do you want, Lucian?"
"You know what I want."
"I have already given you control of the House of Devereux. Anything more is impossible, you know that," he said.
Christian stared at Lucian, knowing exactly what was going through his head; there was another alternative, the right of succession. Lucian wanted the title Christian held as the first-born Devereux son. But Lucian was too cowardly to fight him in a fair fight, and he was afraid of the combined strength of the Council and the sway they held over the six other vampire Houses. Lucian believed that if he controlled Le Sang Noir, then he would have complete dominion over Christian and over all the Houses.
Challenge me then, Lucian, Christian silently said. Take what you think is rightfully yours. Slowly and with open loathing, Lucian stared at him.
Another day perhaps, brother. The time will soon come, that I promise you.
Lucian turned on his heel and sat insolently in his chair. Christian did not respond to his barely veiled threat and after a few moments, he signaled Enhard to bring in the Council. He wanted this over with quickly, so he could turn his attention to Victoria. He could already feel her anguish consuming her.
The Council members resumed their places, and as the meeting came to a close, Victoria slipped out the doors feeling Christian's eyes follow her exit. She went to the small room they had been in when they had arrived and collapsed onto a chair. Christian had a companion. She didn't have to be a vampire to know what that meant.
The very same woman who had tried to kill her, the one that she herself had said would be perfect for him. She felt sick with jealousy. Christian had made someone. He had loved someone enough to have made them a vampire. He'd made her. Hot tears leaked from her eyes as she sat hunched over. After everything they'd been through, the betrayal was crippling.