Page 75 of Soulbound Shadows: Part 1

My father snarled and spun away from the table, stalking over to one of the tall stained-glass windows with his wine glass in hand. He downed its contents in a few quick gulps, then sighed, smoothing back his still-flawless hair.

“Gabriel, I called you here tonight because I believe you could fulfill a valuable role. I know how eager you are to support my—our—subjects, and this could be a perfect opportunity.”

“What do you need me to do?” I asked. Excitement fluttered in my chest. Was he finally going to let me do my part and help people the way they needed to be helped?

“There are an increasing number of concerns among the lower-ranking vampires about the recent disappearances,” my father said, pacing back over to the table. Without looking, he waved over a servant, who refilled his wine and then blended back into the shadows.

“If you’d like me to investigate—” I said, leaning forward, but my father held up a hand, cutting me off.

“I want you to assuage their fears,” he said.

I froze. “What?”

“Tell them it’s under control, that it’s being looked into, and measures are being taken to ensure their safety,” my father said casually.

“What measures?” I asked.

“Oh, you can make up whatever you’d like,” he told me, waving a dismissive hand.

That flutter of excitement turned into something leaden and dead. “You want me to lie to them?” Evangeline’s hand found mine under the table and squeezed.

“It’s just politics, Gabriel,” my father said.

“Keeping people calm will be helpful,” my mother added smoothly. “Letting them panic solves nothing.”

“One of my friends was taken,” I said. “Nathan Fitzroy. He was kidnapped, and you want me to tell people not to panic.”

My father wrinkled his nose. “Fitzroy was never particularly… reliable, was he? Perhaps he simply left. I never cared for him, personally. Not sure what value you found in his company. “

I barked out a hollow laugh. “Right,” I said. “Of course.” I stood. I couldn’t stay in the room a moment longer—couldn’t see my father’s cool indifference and my mother’s silver-tongued complacency. “If you’ll excuse me, I need some air.”

I stormed out of the room. Before the doors slammed shut behind me, I heard Evangeline clear her throat.

“Uh, Lady De Montclair? Could you show me to the powder room, please?”

I fumed in the garden for longer than I would have liked to admit, glaring at every hedgerow that had the audacity to exist near me. Useless. Just as useless as telling everyone that things were fine, don’t worry, all under control, and sending them out to be kidnapped and drained.

There was a crunch of shoes on the pebble path, and I blew out a breath. Evangeline was the only one in the house who would actually make a sound while walking.

“Hey,” she said softly, brushing her arm against mine. “How you doing?”

“I’ve been better.”

“Yeah, I kinda figured,” she murmured. “Look, I think I might have found something while I was?—”

“Gabriel?” my mother said. It was only because I’d had hundreds of years to get used to it that I didn’t jump at her sudden appearance, but Evangeline wheeled backward in shock. I grabbed her, keeping her upright, and helped her stay on her feet.

“Yes, Mother?” I said cautiously.

“Come back in, won’t you? We’re about to serve dessert.” She looked impossibly regal in the low light, her posture impeccable, and her robe flowing behind her. “Roland has agreed to keep the conversation lighter.”

I let out a disbelieving snort, and she gave me a quietly sympathetic look, touching my hand just once before turning and sweeping silently back into the house.

“If he starts being a dick again, I’ll kick shit off,” Evangeline stage-whispered to me. My mother paused for a moment, definitely still within earshot by vampire standards, and then kept walking.

Dessert was a blood sorbet, served in crystal stemware. Before we ate, my father tapped his glass with a spoon. It seemed unnecessary, since there were only four of us at the table, but we all looked to him.

“Before we eat, I’d like to tell you the other reason I wanted you here tonight, my son,” he said. I recognized the look in his eyes, and it made my stomach sink.

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