Page 55 of Awakening the Dhampir

“Then let’s get this over with.” Nathan started to turn, but I caught his shoulder. He raised an eyebrow at me.

“You know I’ve all but abandoned my heritage,” I said, swallowing my apprehension. At some point, he’d stop trusting me if he thought I kept too much from him. “Some of the Exiled still see me as more than I am now.”

Nathan shrugged my hand from his shoulder. “And who do they expect you to be?” A red ring circled his irises, warning me that I’d better tell him everything sooner rather than later.

“I’m the youngest son of the Queen of the Summer Court,” I replied. “I have no rights to the throne, not that I want to be part of the royal politics. I was rebellious in my youth. They tried to force me to conform and ended up giving me to the Grand Master of the Summer Fae University when they couldn’t.” I shook my head at the memory of the man who took me in and let me learn everything I wanted. He was more of a father to me than my own. “I may carry their blood, but they’re no longer my family.”

Nathan squeezed his eyes shut and turned his back on me. I couldn’t help but feel the symbolism in his posture. Would he change his mind about supporting me? I truly hoped not. No matter what he thought, I needed him in this meeting.

“Is there anything else I should know before this meeting?” he asked, posture rigid.

“No, but there is still more I need to tell you,” I said, committing myself to giving him the full truth. “After this.”

He glanced over his shoulder at me. His eyes were back to normal, but the hard set of his jaw gave away his disappointment.

“Let’s go.”

I followed Nathan up the stairs and through the door he didn’t hesitate to push open. While I’d seen some of his insecurities during our private meetings with Elliott and Damon, Nathan never showed that uncertainty to our clan. I sometimes wished I had his ability to lead, but the thought rarely lasted more than a few moments. If I’d had the dominance needed to rule the Summer Court, I’d still be a prisoner of the royal family.

Yes, they were my blood relatives, but there was no love between any of us. I had no desire to stay tied to their manipulations.

Commotion in the foyer drew my attention back to the present. Two men and a woman stood at the bottom of the grand stairwell, with their fae attributes on full display. Each had the fae’s emerald eyes and pointed ears. To a human, they would’ve looked like siblings with their dark hair and lean physiques. I knew better. Their only connection was they were all born in the Winter Fae Kingdom.

“Kenrid,” one of the male fae said, acknowledging me first. I cringed at the slight given to my leader. Their leader. “Mr. Kaerne, we weren’t expecting you to attend tonight’s meeting.”

“Am I now required to announce my intentions, Brance?” Nathan asked.

“No,” Brance replied. “Had we known, we would’ve made proper arrangements for the clan’s leader.”

I shook my head.

“Special arrangements aren’t necessary,” Nathan said, stepping farther into the foyer. “Let’s get started, shall we?”

Nathan didn’t wait for the fae to acknowledge the suggestion. He crossed the open space and headed straight for the large ballroom where our meetings were always held. He’d only attended a handful over the years but seemed to know the layout of the home like he’d been there a hundred times.

The fae fell into step behind us. Their silence was unusual, probably brought on by Nathan’s presence. I didn’t mind. I wanted to get my announcement done so I could leave. The Exiled mansion had been my home for decades. I’d expected it to always be my home. I should’ve been fighting for everything I’d gained in the last thirty years, but I wasn’t. Now that Lorna had arrived, staying with the Exiled no longer felt right.

Two months ago, I would’ve ignored this feeling and gone with logic. Being around Damon every day made me realize I had to trust my magic—something I should’ve learned a long time ago. I wasn’t young or naive, but unlike Damon, I’d lived my life believing I was the manipulator of my magic. I was only now realizing that might not be true.

The ballroom was already full when we strolled through the open French doors. Rows of chairs lined the room, all of them occupied by the Exiled Fae. Nathan strolled down the center until he reached the front. I followed behind him with Brance on my heels. The other two fae must have found their seats among the others.

A long table stretched out in front of us. Five of the seven chairs were already occupied with council members, two women and three men. As I stepped up beside Nathan, I nodded at each of my fellow members. Brance took his seat in the last chair on the left, leaving only the center seat empty. My place at the Council’s table. I had no doubts they all expected me to fill the empty chair.

I didn’t move from Nathan’s side.

“Welcome Mr. Kaerne,” the woman at the center said, but her attention stayed focused on me. “What brings you to our monthly meeting?”

“My lieutenant has an announcement for your council, Alyssa,” Nathan said.

I didn’t miss his careful wording. He separated me from them by calling out my official title within his command structure. Alyssa, the Council’s second oldest member, didn’t miss the insinuation either. She curled her lip and narrowed her eyes at me.

“Which lieutenant would that be?” she asked, pretending she didn’t understand. “Why didn’t you bring them with you? It’s difficult for them to make an announcement when they aren’t here.”

She would not make this easy. Not that I expected any different. Alyssa, Brance, and I had founded the Council for the Exiled. She wouldn’t sit back and accept what I was about to say.

“I’m officially resigning my position with the Exiled’s Council,” I said. They needed to hear it from me, not Nathan. I took advantage of the shocked silence to continue. “Our clan leader needs me full time. The Council can easily function without me.”

An uproar of objections echoed through the room. I glanced at Nathan, expecting a look of disdain, but his focus was entirely on the council members. They’d all risen from their chairs and huddled around Alyssa. I couldn’t hear their whispered conversation over the protests surrounding us, but it looked like Nathan might.

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