Page 2 of Let Sleeping Vampires Lie

His gold eyes asked the question without a sound.

My answering glance was just as quick.

No. I’ve got it.

But stay close.

His jaw flexed once, a silent promise.

I stepped forward, letting my gaze sweep the room. I didn’t raise my voice—true power didn’t need volume.

“Death dealers aren’t Rene’s pawns,” I said calmly. “We’re his teeth. The reason this clan has survived wars, betrayals, and centuries of enemies who wanted to wipe us out.”

I let that sink in.

“We’re the reason you get to stand here and complain instead of being ash under Dimitri’s boots.”

A ripple cut through the room. Not anger but recognition. Memory.

“But sure,” I added with a razor-edged smile, “if you’d like to deal with the warlock incursion yourself, by all means⁠—”

“Cass.” Con’s voice was low, warning, but there was a hint of amusement beneath it.

I ignored him.

“If Rene is weakened, that means the clan has to be stronger. Unified. Disciplined. Fear doesn’t get to make your decisions for you. We do.”

Meredith swallowed, her confidence wavering.

“And one more thing,” I finished. “If you ever refer to my squad as pawns again, I’ll personally assign you to night patrol duty in the old graveyard. Alone. The ghosts there could use the entertainment.”

A few chuckles broke through the tension.

Some shoulders relaxed.

Not many, but enough.

Con stepped closer, his voice carrying easily as he addressed the room. “Valerian wants division. Doubt. Fear. Don’t give him what he wants. Follow orders, stay alert, and let us do our jobs.”

The clan gradually dispersed, still wary but calmer, conversations dropping to uneasy murmurs instead of panic.

As they moved away, Con leaned slightly toward me, his voice low and meant only for my ears.

“That could’ve gone worse.”

“Could’ve gone better,” I muttered.

He huffed a soft laugh. “At least you didn’t stab anyone.”

“Only because I don’t want to get blood on my jacket.”

He looked down at me then, eyes gold with something warm and dangerous. “They’re scared, Cass. But they’ll follow you.”

“And you?” I asked before I could stop myself.

He didn’t hesitate.

Not even a heartbeat.