“Let her ask.” Elena leans forward, interested. “I want to see what she wants to know.”
I take a breath. “Why did you all come? Really. Julian said you have history with Damien, that there are debts involved. But flying to the Bahamas to fight another vampire seems like a lot. What’s in it for you?”
The three of them exchange glances. Some kind of silent communication I’m not privy to.
Finally, Sofia speaks. Her voice is flat. Controlled.
“Damien killed my progeny. Left her ashes in a box on my doorstep with a note that said ‘regards.’” She meets my eyes for the first time. “I’ve been waiting for a chance to end him. Julian is providing that chance.”
“I owe Julian my life,” Nathaniel adds. “Shipping container incident in 1998. Don’t ask. The point is, debts matter in our world. He called this one in.”
“And I have known Julian for two hundred years,” Elena says. “He’s saved me more times than I can count. When he called and said he’d found someone worth fighting for—” she glances at Julian, something soft in her expression “—I wanted to see for myself.”
“Someone worth fighting for.” I turn to Julian. “That’s what you said?”
“I may have phrased it differently, but yes.”
“He said you made him feel human again,” Elena corrects. “That you looked at him like he wasn’t a monster. In two centuries, I’ve never heard him talk about anyone that way.”
The table goes quiet.
Julian is staring at his untouched coffee like it holds the secrets of the universe. I can see the tension in his shoulders.
“You really said that?” I ask softly.
“I told her the truth.” He meets my eyes. “You do make me feel human again. You always have.”
I reach under the table and find his hand. His fingers curl around mine.
“Okay,” I say. “So we’re fighting a vampire because of debts and vengeance and—” I squeeze Julian’s hand “—love. What’s the plan?”
“First, we assess the threat.” Elena shifts into what I’m starting to recognize as her tactical mode. “Damien has been planning this for over a century. He’s patient. Methodical. He won’t make obvious mistakes.”
“He wants Julian to suffer,” Sofia adds. “Not just die. Suffer. That means he’ll try to destroy what Julian cares about before he destroys Julian himself.”
“Which means me.”
“You and your family.” Nathaniel’s voice is gentle but serious. “He’ll target anyone Julian might try to protect.”
My stomach tightens. Violet. Mom. Even Preston—as much as I’d like to pretend otherwise, I don’t want him to die.
“So the reception?” I say. “So you really think he’ll wait until then? Not the wedding, or even earlier? Are you sure he won’t hurt me or any of my family until then?”
“Yes, I don’t think he will.” Julian’s hand tightens on mine. “He’s very patient. I think you are all safe for now. The reception is the likely flashpoint. Cameras everywhere. Family gathered. The perfect stage for whatever he’s planning.”
“So what do we do?”
“We watch. We wait. We position ourselves to respond the moment he makes a move.” Elena’s eyes are sharp. “The Council has strict rules about vampire-on-vampire violence. We can’t strike first. But if Damien attacks, we have every right to defend.”
“You’re using him against himself,” I realize. “Letting him come to us so we have legal coverage.”
“Smart girl.” Sofia almost sounds approving. “Julian, you chose well.”
My phone buzzes. I check it automatically.
SAGE: Just checking you’re still alive
SAGE: I know you said you’d call tonight but I’m ANXIOUS
