I paused to search for her mind again, then swallowed when I still couldn’t reach her.
Focus, I told myself, taking a deep breath.Almost done.
Actually, no, I was nowhere near done.
I walked over to the stage to lean back against it and considered the kneeling vampires before me.
“We all were humans once,” I said softly. “Some of us more recently than others. Can you look upon the stage behind me and say this is okay? That the way we treat humans is fair and just? We’re superior in all ways, but with that superiority comes a sense of responsibility to protect the weak. Instead, we weaken mortals even more and enslave them.”
My focus shifted to the platform once more, to the humans who were listening to my every word and refusing to risk a look.
“I remember a time where I had to seduce my prey. Where I had to work for my blood. Where humans presented the potential to be a conquest. Now they just bend over and take it. And frankly, I’m bored as fuck by it.”
A few of the vampires stirred at that, their gazes flicking sideways to meet those of their allies and friends.
“There was once a vampire who believed we could coexist with humans in a very different manner than what has been done. Many of you know his name despite Lilith outlawing our ability to mention it.Cam. The oldest of my generation. The oldest among us.”
I pushed off the stage to resume pacing.
“Lilith tells everyone he’s dead. He’s not. He’s hidden in a bunker somewhere, perhaps even here in Lajos Region.” I paused to evaluate the vampires once more, searching for any hint of a reaction to my words. “We’ve already found several of her secret research facilities. We’re aware that Bunker 37 is in Lajos Region. But we’re not sure which island.”
I waited, allowing the bait to settle. We already had a pretty sound idea of where the bunker was located based on intelligence from Lajos’s former Vigils, but I hoped someone here might want to prove their worth via helpful means.
It took a few more seconds before a female with dark hair cleared her throat and a pair of almond-shaped eyes lifted to mine. “I don’t know where the bunker is, Your Highness. But I think I can help you find it.”
“How?” I asked, noting her torn wardrobe. She likely worked here with Mouse.
“His office, My Prince. He has one here in this building, as it’s his preferred club.”
I nodded. “That’s helpful. Anyone else?” I took in the group. “I’m offering you all an opportunity here. You might not agree with reform. You might prefer the status quo of this bloodbath. But you’re in for a rude awakening when you realize the blood shortage of our world. We’ve grown gluttonous, and there’s not enough blood to sustain us all at the rate of our consumption. Very few regions have enough to maintain.”
I pointed at Jasmine’s still form.
“If you don’t believe me, evaluate Jasmine Region. She wanted to meet with me today to propose a trade—blood for tech. And there’s a reason she was desperate enough to call me for support. She’s not the first. She won’t be the last. Because unlike many of my brethren, I appropriately regulate blood in my territory.”
No one spoke.
I blew out a breath and ran a hand over my face.
“Look, change is upon us. It’s your decision. Either you’re tired of this bullshit and want to see what I’m proposing, or you prefer the status quo. Send your videos and messages, then toss your phones and devices onto the stage. If you want to learn more about my plans, stay. If you prefer our current world of chaos, leave. I won’t stop you. Because I’m not Lilith and I don’t believe in ruling through fear.”
And I was too fucking tired of all this to say anything else to make them stay.
I needed to find Cam.
Then we would address the council.
Assuming everyone met next week.
Who the hell even knew now? All that planning, all my acting and persuading… gone. Ruined. Destroyed for a female.
I nearly laughed at the insanity of it all.
But then I felt a little inkling of life stir in my chest. A tug on the bond. Calina’s spirit latching onto my immortality to begin the process of rebirth.
And I knew it’d all been worth it.
Such a bizarre, unexpected shift of thought and feeling.
