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Thorne nodded, still smiling. “The very same. But don’t worry. We’re keeping a close watch on him. He’s completely helpless without any weapons with which to defend himself. Isn’t that right, Lord Merick?”
Merick sneered, exposing his glimmering, sharp teeth. “Exactly right, Lord Thorne. I’ve battle-tested him myself, and he’s no more likely to hurt any of us than that newborn veal.” He met Haven’s eyes for the briefest of moments and winked. Rage flared hot and ugly in Haven’s gut.
Reyber regained his hold. “It’s more than that. They have the backing of the humans across the sea. The ones that escaped the cull. They’re calling themselves the Humanitarian Union.”
Thorne rolled his eyes. “How original.”
“This is serious! Surely you realize how serious! If the humans cross the sea and join forces with the Veritas, they’ll vastly outnumber us.”
“They already outnumber us,” Thorne retorted. “What’s a few thousand more? We beat them back once; we can do it again. I’m not afraid of the Humanitarian Union.”
Mirae Varney’s hesitant voice sounded across the hall. “I heard those humans overthrew vampyre rule. That’s a bit…concerning.”
“Any vampyre that’s weak enough to be killed by humans isn’t worthy of living to fight another day anyway!” Thorne chuffed. “What’s more, those humans are surrounded on all sides by vampyres! They managed to win back one small isle of land, and they think they’re impenetrable. Let them come to the mainland and face the true strength of the Dominion!”
“Even if the HU stays on their island, that doesn’t eliminate the threat of the Veritas!” Reyber interjected, regaining control of the floor. “They know things about us. Things they shouldn’t know.”
“What things?” It was Gaius who spoke this time.
“Our weak points. How to infiltrate our strongholds. How to kill us. We’ve kept them illiterate and mindless all these many years, so how has this information gotten out?”
“What are you suggesting?” Druitt De Rais spat.
“There are traitors among us. Vampyres working to funnel information to the Veritas.”
“And you don’t suppose any of this could have been won through years of trial and error? Fighting against us, capturing us? This theory you have—it’s ridiculous that any vampyre would do this. Helping our livestock win their freedom? Doesn’t that seem absolutely counterproductive to our way of life?” Thorne snorted, a wicked leer etched on his face. He looked at Reyber with disdain and contempt, masked by a playful facade. But Haven could see through his master. He was sure the others could as well.
“They keep getting in. They keep making adjustments. When we lunge, they parry. They’re being informed of our movements and assisted along the way. Someone is helping the cattle revolt.”
Thorne shook his head, a bored look on his face. “And who do you suspect are these so-called traitors among us, Lord Tepes?”
Reyber bristled. “Well, you, Lord Thorne. For starters.”
A murmur rushed through the crowd. Chills shot up and down Haven’s spine as he turned his gaze to Thorne. But still, Thorne’s smile had not faded.
“Me?” He feigned a pained look. “I’m wounded, Lord Tepes. What would I have to gain from siding with the livestock? New Avalon is the capital of the blood trade, after all.”
“You play your games,” Reyber said coldly. “No doubt you’d do it just because you’re bored.”
Thorne’s coy smile curled. All around them, the room had fallen into tense silence.
Druitt De Rais rose to his feet. “One way or the other, we must regain the balance of power. The Veritas cannot be allowed to persist, threatening our way of life.”
“Says the vampyre so concerned with human rights,” Reyber hissed, his eyes narrowing. “Perhaps you’ve sided with them as well.”
“That’s ridiculous.” Druitt glared down the bridge of his long nose, his face a fearsome mask.
“We’re wasting time arguing among ourselves,” Gaius interrupted. “Lord Tepes, has the Veritas made their intentions clear? What do they want?”
“Total annihilation of vampyre rule. They want to overthrow the Dominion and take back their freedoms.”
Thorne scoffed. “A futile mission. They’ve no real bite. So, we hunt them down and end them. Force them to heel.”
“It’s not that simple,” Reyber persisted.
“And why not? They’rehumans.”
“Precisely.” Reyber’s hands shook, so tightly were they clenched into fists at his sides. “They’re fleshy cockroaches that should be easily subdued. And yet they’ve managed to persevere and kidnap ten vampyre nobles right under our noses. My children have been sent back to me in pieces.”
