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You must have at minimum four of the Seven backing you in order for the Challenge to be invoked.
I know you’re worried for the sake of your kindred and your childe, but fear not. The current supreme may not directly inflict harm or damage upon the Challenger, their backers, or those in league with the Challenger. If this occurs, the supreme is automatically found guilty and will be sentenced to death.
Once you’ve familiarized yourself with these unspoken rules, scry for me.
Nerissa
“Everything all right, Rory?” The hint of an accent lingers in those words, and I glance up to find Eivor standing in the doorway with an amused grin on his lips. His gaze flicks to the letter and then back to me. “You know, spying on a vampire is a surefire way to get yourself staked.”
If my heart had been beating, it’d have jumped into my throat. “I wasn’t—I didn’t—”
He laughs. “I’m kidding.” My shoulders relax just an inch. He gestures to the parchment. “What do you have there?”
“It’s a letter with information on how to Challenge a supreme.”
“Ah, yes,” he says. “Quill will fill you in on that once he’s finished with his meeting.”
His meeting with Nerissa. The female who sent him this letter.
A strange ember of possession flares in my chest, and I squash it. There’s no reason for it. I may have said Quill was mine in those quiet moments in my bedroom, but we’re both very much our own people.
I glance at the vampire in question.
“That’s a scrying mirror,” Eivor says, his gaze following my own. “It’s a way for us to communicate without being overheard by spies or wandering ears. Unfortunately, since we weren’t in here when Quill started scrying, we can’t listen in on the conversation currently taking place.”
“I really wasn’t meaning to spy.” The rabbit blood in my stomach sloshes uneasily. “I just… wanted to be near him.”
“He’ll be finished soon.” He surveys me. “You’ve got to be starving. A measly glass of blood couldn’t have satisfied you, even with Carver’s enchanted ring.”
Is this what it will be like for the rest of my life? Quill’s friends sent to babysit me while he’s off in a trance doing who knows what? My body aches to be close to him. It burns for his touch. I frown, looking down at my hands. I’m being ridiculous. Eivor has been nothing but kind to me since I’ve awoken. All these emotions… they must come with the territory of being a fledgling.
“I could certainly eat,” I say.
His opal eyes gleam like fresh fallen snow. “You’re in for a real treat.”
I put the letter back where I found it and venture from the hidden room with a desperate glance over my shoulder before I reluctantly follow Eivor to the kitchen.
Lined up across an expansive countertop are several jars of thick, red liquid.
Blood.
“This is all for you.” Eivor’s distinct voice pulls me from my thoughts. He gestures to the counter. “This is the freshest animal blood I could gather while we waited to see if you’d accept the Embrace.”
“Was there a chance I wouldn’t?” I ask, leaning against the counter. “Survive the Embrace, that is?”
He’s silent for a moment, brows knitting together. “If a mortal has lost too much blood, their transition into a vampire will fail. At the rite, they nearly drained you entirely. We’re still not even sure how you managed to survive the Embrace and whether it was Quill’s sheer will and desperation to see it through or something else.” He offers me a small smile. “We’re just happy you survived.”
Perhaps it was something else. Perhaps I survived the Embrace merely to spite Father and Vivvy.
I can’t help but smile a little at that too.
“So, this is all animal blood?” I pick up a jar and inspect the red liquid inside.
“Yes.”
“The mortal kings always claimed vampires feasted on mortals, not animals.”
Eivor’s shoulders tense. “It’s… complicated. Vampires can drink any type of blood. Human blood is obviously our favorite because it makes us stronger than animal blood does, but since the affliction—” He cuts himself off. “There’s something Quill wants to discuss with you before you’re given the choice between mortal and animal blood.”
