A vampire just has to take possession of her to gain control of everything.
If a rival vampire knows he doesn’t stand a chance at claiming Jolie for his own, he might take her out to prevent anyone else from gaining that much power.
I scramble to think of a way out of our quandary that would ensure her safety but can only come up with one solution—Stanton and I need to claim her before any other vampire thinks to take her from us.
Maybe I’m selfish, projecting my deepest desires to justify my need to claim her for my own, but it’s also the most logical answer.
Neither of us wants the house seat or the added power that would come with it. It rightfully belongs to Jolie. She earned it through blood and death.
Not to mention we already know that we work well with the wolves. It’s almost like we were meant to be together. We were just waiting for her to connect us.
As I guide Jolie toward the study, I become convinced my plan is the only one that will work.
Now, I just have to convince Stanton of it.
I give a perfunctory knock before letting myself into the room, not surprised to see Stanton already sitting behind the desk. His head jerks up at our entrance, his eyes immediately landing on Jolie like he sensed her presence before we even entered.
Which doesn’t surprise me, if what I suspect is true, and we were all meant to find each other.
“Since most of the rooms have been cleaned, I’m going to have the guys organize the furniture and make a list of things we still need.” I look down at my tablet, prioritizing everything that has to be done. “I’m going to run through the finances with Jolie, then work through the applications for employment and citizenship that we received.”
Stanton grunts in acknowledgment, then flicks the invitation in his hand onto the desk, disturbing the stack already piled up. I can only blink in surprise. There have to be over a hundred invitations. “How does everyone know about her already?”
A dark chuckle escapes Stanton, and he leans back in his chair, looking up at us from under his brows, the position giving him an almost sinister expression. “The house has been under watch since the disappearance of Dafoe and his minions. Our presence here is a dead giveaway that the house has fallen.”
Of course.
I’m such an idiot!
I wince at missing the obvious answer, but I’ve never been around during a change in leadership. Usually, something of this magnitude only happens after a bloody war that stretches decades.
The ornate invite Stanton dropped catches my attention, the linen paper landing directly in the center of his desk. While the paper is a stark white, the ink is a dark maroon. I sniff lightly and grimace when I realize it’s actually blood.
It’s not an invitation—it’s a summons.
Each vampire master is required to attend the formal gathering being held at the end of the week.
Just two days away.
Fuck!
It’s way too soon for her to venture out of her nest.
Jolie needs time to gain allies, create alliances, and build up her own people. She doesn’t stand a chance going up against ruthless vampires centuries older than her. While she’s powerful, she’s a newborn with little control and even less understanding of her abilities.
It will be a massacre.
Everything inside me curdles at the thought of Jolie being taken from me before I even have a chance to get to know her.
Deep in my soul, I know she’s meant to be mine.
I can’t let her go.
Not without a fight.
* * *
JOLIE
