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Rory’s eyes widen as she picks up the die and rolls. Ten. She gingerly moves her pawn ten spaces and draws a question from the pile of handwritten, enchanted cards stacked in the middle of the board.

“What is your worst fear?” she reads aloud, teeth biting into her lower lip.

Nerissa flips the hourglass. “You have one minute to come up with a truthful answer or it’s back to the start.”

My mate fidgets with the fringe on the throw blanket, her gaze flicking between Nerissa and me. There’s less than fifteen seconds left in the hourglass when she says, “Losing Quill the way Nerissa lost Godrick.”

Her words are soul-crushing. I’ve frightened her with my honesty, with my history.

Nerissa’s eyes swell as she pats Rory’s hand. “We won’t let that happen.”

It’s Nerissa’s turn next. Then mine. On and on we go around the board, telling the truth as we make our way around its perimeter.

We’re neck and neck by the time I draw my next question and pause. I’m as familiar with every question in Consortium as I am the scars marring my body.

This one is new.

If you became supreme, what would you do for the future?

My gaze snaps to Nerissa, who raises her brows, a know-it-all grin playing at her lips. She reaches for the hourglass and turns it.

One minute. I have one fucking minute to plead my case to her.

“If I become supreme,” I say, not hesitating to start, “I will help usher in a new era of peace among creatures and mortals.” My gaze drifts to Rory. “There will be no need for mortal kings and their sacrifices, no need for hunters to slaughter and be slaughtered. This needless bloodshed could truly end if we give co-existing with the mortals a fair chance.” I rise to my feet, hands clenching and unclenching into fists at my sides as my mind swirls with all the possibilities I’ll have at my disposal as supreme. “It won’t be easy, and it won’t happen overnight. But it will happen one way or another. Whether I’m acting as supreme or as the leader of the Mors Soluta, peace among creatures and mortals has always been my goal.”

Nerissa hastily wipes her hands across her cheeks. “You sound just like him.”

“Back me,” I beg, falling to my knees before her. “Give me your support in challenging Mihal.”

Her pale green eyes search mine. “Do you truly believe you can beat him? I’ve already lost Godrick. You, my son, are all that is left of him. I will not lose you too. If there is even a chance that you cannot⁠—”

“I will destroy him, Nerissa.” I reach for her tear-wet hands. “For Godrick, for you, for me, for Rory, and for my kindred. For all creatures and mortals, I will destroy Mihal and become vampire supreme.”

Rory inhales sharply as Nerissa’s gaze drifts to the board game. I don’t have to look over my shoulder to know the bow and arrow pawn is gliding into its final spot and declaring me the winner of the game.

Declaring that everything spoken this night has been the whole truth.

“Then you have my backing,” says Nerissa.

She reaches for the siren supreme’s dagger sheathed beneath the skirt of her exquisite gown. It’s the first time I’ve seen the dagger up close, the one she inherited from the siren supreme before her, and I can’t help but wonder what my dagger will look like since I won’t be inheriting Mihal’s.

Mine will be created from the magic of those who back me.

Rory’s eyes widen at the sight of Nerissa pricking her finger and then doing the same to mine. Two twin swells of blood emerge, and she presses our fingers together.

“As siren supreme, you have my vow, Quill Godrickson,” Nerissa says. “Blood to blood, I choose you to fill the role of vampire supreme.”

Pride surges within me as heat crawls across my wrist, ink staining the swath of pale skin there in the shape and color of a pearl, a twin to the pommel of Nerissa’s dagger.

“You have been marked,” she says. “Show this to three others, and as they back you, so will the dagger expand on your arm.” She sheaths her own blade. “Once it is complete, you can pull it from your skin and declare yourself as Mihal’s opponent.”

One down. Three to go.

Rory’s smiling as she rises to her feet, stretching like the cats she loved so dearly.

“It’s nearly dawn,” says Nerissa. “You two try to get some sleep. I’ll send word to Alyvia and Eliphas to let them know you have my backing.”

“And Riven?” I ask quietly.