A Wolf's Howl, A Fairy's Wing

On the opposing seats sat the rulers of the other two factions: Zara Yaga and Aria Lefay.

As with Vlad the Fifth, these two were descendants of legendary figures from the past, and all three of them had been born into families with powerful bloodlines and extensive knowledge.

They were the three most powerful people in the room by virtue of their rare affinities and high talent, despite the fact they were still only third-rank, like every other council member. Naturally, everyone in this room was locked in a race to be the first fourth rank.

Zara Yaga ruled the human faction with kindness and wisdom. She was a woman of medium height with long white hair, warm brown eyes and a voluptuous figure. Her motherly vibe and charisma had turned the human faction into something akin to a cult where the members hung on her every word.

She was a descendant of Baba Yaga, but how far removed, or even how old Zara was exactly, no one knew. In fact, Zara rarely spoke about herself or her past.

After the awakening, she had announced herself as the last remaining member of the Yaga bloodline, and since no one came out to challenge her statement, it was simply accepted as fact.

Her affinity was powerful, rarer than most and the same as Emma's second affinity: nature.

Last but not least, Aria Lefay ruled the shapeshifter faction with cunning and guile. Aria had a lanky build, but unlike what you might expect, her movements were never awkward. Instead, she possessed a graceful beauty.

Her face was slender and featured prominent cheekbones, light red hair and yellow eyes. It was a pretty face. But anyone who knew her would do their very best to avoid her like the plague, as her personality was anything but.

Her faction was not as coherent and unified as the other two, partly because most shapeshifters possessed a fierce desire for independence and partly because most of her faction members hated her. While the desire to submit to a powerful alpha was also a trait many shapeshifters possessed, Aria Lefay simply didn't inspire that kind of feeling in others.

She truly was the most powerful shapeshifter in the room, but she had solidified her rule only through blackmail, threats and deception. Aria was selfish and cared for little other than her own power. Her only redeeming quality was, perhaps, her absolute lack of racism.

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Human, vampire or shapeshifter. As long as they had something to offer her, she would welcome them with open arms and a knife at their throat to ensure loyalty.

If she managed to become the first fourth rank in this room, dark days would be ahead for Europe.

Aria Lefay was a descendant of the infamous Morgan Lefay and a wereserpent with the shadow affinity. Shadow and darkness related to each other, much like water and ice did, with one being a stronger version of the other.

Despite the fact that Aria originally came from the UK, that land was now ruled by the human faction.

This was because, during the council's formation, lands were assigned based on the population, not their current rulers and the UK simply had a much larger human population compared to either of the supernatural races.

Aria now ruled large parts of Germany, France and Spain. She had no problem with this development, however. More subjects meant more power, and she felt no particular attachment to her ancestral home.

Among the council members in the shapeshifter faction was a person well-known to Erik and Elora. Katya Ironova. On the podium in the middle of the hall were another two people they would have recognised, Seraphina Nightshade and Enzo Ricci.

Each of them was kneeling in the direction of their own faction, but while Enzo was relatively relaxed, Seraphina looked a little nervous. After all, Enzo was only guilty of failing, while Seraphina had actually betrayed the council, even if they didn't know it yet.

The council had just received a verbal report from Katya and Enzo about what happened in London, including the boat theft, but when it was Seraphina's time to talk, things took a surprising turn.

The vampire leader spoke up in an authoritative and slightly threatening tone of voice, "What do you mean... you say you cannot tell us anything of what went on in that house?"

Seraphina trembled a little. Well aware of this man's reputation. But she had decided that, because of Vlad's well-known fairness and her father being a council member, honesty was the best policy.

Or as much honesty as she could muster under the covenant's rules.

She gulped before answering, in as steady a voice as she could manage, "Yes, my lord."

His voice became a little more threatening, "And why is that?"

Hearing the question she most dreaded, Seraphina decided to face Vlad with courage, knowing he would respond better to that than cowardice. She stayed on one knee but raised her head to look Vlad in his piercing and accusing eyes.

Normally, those eyes would make any vampire in Europe quake with fear, but Seraphina felt herself unconsciously comparing them to Erik's amber-coloured gaze and found herself less intimidated than before.

Perhaps Vlad noticed this, as he raised an eyebrow but otherwise said nothing about it. Seraphina answered the question, "I cannot say, my lord."

The covenant prevented her from revealing any information about Erik and Elora that the council was not already aware of. And, unfortunately, that included their ability to make these covenants in the first place.

She wondered if she'd have accepted Erik's deal back then if she knew he was unlikely to hurt Emily or Emma.

Sure, she'd have been left bleeding on the ground, at the mercy of Liam's henchmen, but she doubted they would have had the courage to actually do anything to her.

Unlike the council.

She wasn't even sure why she helped Erik when Katya showed up! Was it just because of Emma's sincere words, or was it because she couldn't get the damn taste of that perverted asshole's blood out of her mind!

Another terrible consequence of her deal with him!

She sighed inwardly at her hastiness back then yet, for some reason, couldn't imagine refusing the deal if she went back in time.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Vlad's next question. He narrowed his eyes, leaned over a little and didn't lose the threatening tone, "Cannot, or will not?"

Seraphina began to tremble a little but quickly steeled herself, "Cannot, my lord."

Vlad didn't say anything else but kept staring into Seraphina's eyes as if searching for the truth. The vampire woman, many years his junior, looked back without wavering.

She may be afraid on the inside, but she wouldn't let that show. She knew Vlad favoured unwavering determination and courage above all.

Meanwhile, among the other vampire councillors, there was one man who looked at all this with anxiety, slightly squirming in his seat. This was Lucius Nightshade. Seraphina's father.

'Damnit, Seraphina, I don't know what happened back there, but if we both still live by morning, I swear I'll scold you until even my Runebound body loses its voice!' he thought to himself.

He didn't really think Vlad would kill both of them for his daughter's failures. He even doubted Vlad would kill the rising star of the vampire faction at all. But if, somehow, Vlad decided to make an example of Seraphina, Lucius would definitely step in.

He would fail and share in her demise. But step in, he would. He cherished his daughter, after all.

The rest of the room looked on with bated breath, wondering what Vlad would say to Seraphina's clear defiance. After all, defiance it was, regardless of her reasons.

Some, particularly those of other factions, hoped for the vampire prodigy's swift death. Others were indifferent, and only one person besides Lucius hoped for Seraphina's survival. Katya. After all, the girl was her subordinate and a damn good one at that.

After a few more moments of being stuck in a staring contest, Vlad nodded and leaned back, his face stern and his thoughts unknowable. "Fine. Seraphina Nightshade, you are excused."

Relief flooded Lucius and Seraphina's faces.

With no pause, Vlad turned his head towards one of the shapeshifter councillors, "Katya Ironova. I assume you realise your wrongs? What do you have to say for yourself?"

But before Katya could even open her mouth, it was the furious and lightly lisping voice of Aria Lefay that answered him, "Hold on a second, you old fart. Have you gone senile in your old age? First of all, Katya is my councillor, and if anyone is going to question or punish her, it will be me.

Second of all, you're gonna let that girl off just like that? Just because she is some kind of prodigy? Do you think Zara and I will accept that?! Whatever happened in London is raising all sorts of red flags, and we need to know what we're dealing with!"