Charles held the door, his silvering dark brown hair catching the lamplight as he inclined his head. A faint gleam of humor warmed the sharp hazel eyes. "He's been expecting you."
Those quiet words nearly stopped Tyr in his tracks. Of course Lord Damien had known he would come. The ancient vampire missed little that happened in his domain, especially regarding members of his own clan.
Tyr entered the study, the massive doors closing behind him with a soft thud. The familiar scent of ancient leather-bound books and wood smoke filled his nose. Firelight danced across the room's dark wood paneling, casting flickering shadows that seemed alive.
Lord Damien and Alyssa sat together on a leather chesterfield before the stone fireplace, warm golden flames crackling in the hearth. Her presence softened the formality of the room, as it always did.
Damien's dark eyes reflected red sparks from the fire as he acknowledged Tyr with a slight nod. His arm draped possessively around Alyssa's shoulders, his pale fingers a stark contrast against her midnight hair.
Alyssa's smile lit her entire face, her blue-green eyes twinkling with genuine warmth. "Tyr! I'm so glad you came." Her enthusiasm earned a faint quirk of amusement from Damien's lips.
Tyr bowed deeply, the gesture automatic after centuries of practice. "My Lord. Lady Alyssa." His voice carried the proper formal tones, though Alyssa's presence always made these audiences less intimidating than they might otherwise be.
Damien's elegant fingers gestured for him to come closer. "Join us."
Tyr chose an armchair facing the couple, its rich leather creaking softly as he settled into it. The firelight cast shadows across Lord Damien's features, highlighting the sharp planes ofhis face. His trademark black attire - a fine linen button-down tucked precisely into black trousers - absorbed the golden light rather than reflecting it.
Beside him, Alyssa curled comfortably against her Chosen, her oversized blue sweater making her appear even smaller next to Damien's commanding presence. Her feet, clad in cozy Ugg boots, were tucked beneath her. The casual comfort of her pose contrasted sharply with Damien's rigid formality, yet somehow they balanced each other perfectly.
The Steward materialized at Tyr's elbow, a crystal decanter of deep red wine held with practiced grace.
"Wine, sir?" Charles's cultured voice carried centuries of proper service.
"No, thank you." Tyr told him politely.
Charles inclined his head in acknowledgment before withdrawing to his customary position near the door, fading into the shadows as only a veteran Steward could manage.
Alyssa's eyes danced with mischief. "So, I heard there was a misplaced hellhound in your community up north?"
Tyr couldn't help laughing, tension easing from his shoulders. "Thank you for sending Kayja - Harper and Nathan were completely out of their depths with that one." He shook his head, remembering the massive puppy's enthusiastic attempts to climb into everyone's laps despite being the size of a small pony. "They had no idea what to feed it, let alone how to handle those sparks shooting everywhere."
"I imagine not." Alyssa's musical laughter filled the room.
Damien's expression remained neutral, but Tyr caught the slight softening around his dark eyes as he watched his wife's amusement. Even after centuries, it amazed Tyr how Alyssa's presence could warm the ancient vampire's typically stern demeanor.
The easy moment couldn't postpone the inevitable forever. Tyr's throat suddenly felt dry as parchment as Damien's gaze shifted to his face.
"What can we do for you this evening, Tyr?"
Tyr's fingers curled into the leather arms of his chair. His throat suddenly felt dry as parchment. He swallowed hard, forcing the words past his lips. "My Lord, I... I have found my Chosen."
"Oh!" Alyssa bounced upright, her mussed hair dropping into her eyes. "That's wonderful!" Her smile lit up her entire face as she clapped her hands together.
Damien merely raised one elegant eyebrow, his expression unreadable as he studied Tyr's face.
"Who is she?" Alyssa leaned forward eagerly, her blue-green eyes sparkling with genuine joy. Her enthusiasm made the crystal decanter on the side table rattle slightly, drawing a quelling look from Damien.
"Beth Kerrigan," Tyr said, his voice steady despite the tension coiling in his chest.
A subtle shift crossed Damien's features. "One of the sisters from the rogue shifter family." Damien's voice carried neither judgment nor approval, merely stating fact.
"Yes." Tyr kept his response simple. There was no need to defend Beth's innocence in that situation - the ancient vampire's intelligence network was legendary, and Damien would have thoroughly investigated every shifter in the Hudson Valley.
Damien studied Tyr with the unhurried patience of immortality, his aristocratic features carved in stone as he let the silence build, each passing moment making his expression even harder to read than usual.
Tyr's fingers dug deeper into the leather arms of his chair. "I want to bring her over…. Turn her."The words escaped before he could cage them, seven centuries of diplomatic trainingcrumbling in an instant. He had planned this so carefully—reasoned arguments, measured words, the respect due his lord. Instead, his heart had spoken first, blurting out his deepest desire like a fledgling.
The silence stretched, broken only by the sound of the flames in the fireplace. Damien's expression remained utterly impassive, those ancient eyes giving away nothing of his thoughts. Even Alyssa stilled, her earlier excitement settling into watchful attention, her eyes on her Chosen.
