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“You can’t be serious,” I scoff and shake my head incredulously. “This is all to get rid of the council, not bring another person in as leader.”
“Yes, but what happens to the families who rely on the council? The ones who have lived under their rule with no idea how to move forward on their own?” Gustav says, leaning forward and bracing his elbows on his knees. “You’re starting this war in anger, Gabriel, but it will lead to our liberation.”
“I’m no leader—”
“Bollocks, and you know it. If anyone is capable of leading us, it’s you,” Aiden interjects. “You have no greed, you’re not power-hungry and took up this role as King to protect your nest, knowing the past you have with the council. If that’s not fucking leadership, then what is?”
Aaron nods. “I wouldn’t follow anyone into war but the man whose family was the first to rebel against the council, and now you’re doing the same as your father and grandfather. Rebellion and leadership run in your blood, Priest; accept it and stop being so modest.”
I lean my elbows on the desk in front of me, chuckling. “You fucking assholes,”
They smirk, knowing that they’ve won this without me even having to say another word. But even with all the faith they have in me, can I truly be a leader? Who says everyone will look to me once the council falls? I never wanted this, never wanted to be responsible for every fucking vampire out there, and now it might just happen.
What have I gotten myself into?
“We’ll be in town until we put this all into effect; keep us up to date with the Fae woman and what Kazimir does,” Gustav says when I walk them out of the estate. “I’ll bring the eldest Vasile to our next meeting.”
“That goes without saying,” I say and shake their hands before watching them walk away. Phase one has just started; now I have to talk to Valentine and Amara before going to diffuse the bomb that is Katherine.
I’m not sure why she stormed off like she did or what conclusion she came to all by herself, but I have a feeling that I need to do some damage control.
Valentine and Amara are already waiting for me in my office when I walk in, and I can’t help but notice the obvious tension between the two of them. Whether or not they like it, or they’re just brushing their tryst off as a one-time thing, what I sense is as clear as day.
These two want each other and they hate the fact that they do.
“Right, let’s dive straight into this. I suspect Kazimir has left you alive to continue your work as a spy while creating unrest between Katherine and me. So Amara, tonight you’ll let the council know that Aiden and Aaron Teague came to see me and we were in my office for hours. Since I have this place checked out daily for any listening devices and hidden cameras, I think it's safe to assume that they're not aware of what's happening.” I start.
She nods, but her frown remains. “How will luring the council here help?”
“Because the minute they leave the stronghold, they’re no longer a united front, and that gives us plenty of time to arrange an attack on the castle and rescue your daughter. To capture the so-called traitors, they’ll all show face to show me no mercy while killing the twins. The rest you don’t need to be aware of.” I explain.
Valentine sighs, shaking his head. “How do we know we can trust the others?”
“Because they owe my family their lives and if there’s one thing we all have in common apart from revenge on the council, it’s honor.” Especially now more than ever. They’re all older than me and yet look to me as their leader. I’m already being crushed under the weight of expectation.
Amara lowers her gaze before speaking again, and I still sense her apprehension. She has no reason to trust me; I understand that, and I have no reason to trust her while only going on Valentine’s word.
“Okay,” she sighs, “I’ll do it.”
I look at my timepiece before getting to my feet. “Do it after midnight and let Valentine listen in on the conversation,” I say, nodding towards my second in command, who looks like he’s about to punch me.
Oh, well - both he and Church need to fucking grow up and seize what’s theirs.
As soon as I walk up to our bedroom, a shiver runs up my spine, knowing that I might be arguing with Katherine the second I walk in there.
However, when I open the door, I see her simply standing at the window with her arms wrapped around her. She doesn’t look my way when I approach but stiffens up when I come to a stop next to her.
“Are you done with your meeting?” she asks, not looking my way.
“We are; there are a few things I need to discuss with you regarding it,” I say, not failing to catch the odd smile on her face.
“So now I’m good enough to discuss warfare with?” she says, finally turning her head. “Why didn’t you discuss anything with me before this, Gabriel?”
My guess was right; she’s upset because she thinks I’ve left her out of things.
I sigh and place my hands on her shoulders. “I think you’ve got it all wrong, little lamb. I didn’t want to discuss this with you before knowing what was happening myself. There was no point in dragging you into something that might or might not be viable. I didn’t want to get your hopes up like that.”
She shakes her head. “I would still like to know, regardless of a letdown. We’re in this together, you know,” she exhales, then bites her bottom lip. “Are you using yourself as bait to get Kazimir here?”
