Page 59 of Blood Bound

I nod. “We do, actually. Especially given what we’ve uncovered about recent activities.”

She regards me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Finally, she sighs. “Very well. Let’s hear what’s so important that it requires all this secrecy.” She sinks gracefully onto the red velvet couch that extends the length of one wall, draping an arm along the backrest.

I lean forward, watching Selene carefully as she begins. Her diplomacy has always been impressive, and now, more than ever, we need it.

“Grand Elder,” Selene starts smoothly, “we appreciate your willingness to hear us out. Our concerns stem from a series of events that, when viewed together, paint a troubling picture.”

Arabella’s eyes narrow slightly as she flicks a look at me and then back to Selene. “And I suppose these events all revolve around Lucien Marlowe?”

Selene doesn’t miss a beat. “While some incidents do involve Clan Umbra, our concerns are broader than any one individual or clan.”

Arabella’s gaze flicks to me, a hint of skepticism in her eyes. I force myself to remain impassive.

Elias clears his throat, drawing attention. “If I may, Grand Elder?” At Arabella’s nod, he continues, “In light of recent concerns surrounding the Bloodbane, you may be aware that I, along with other members of the Lux clan, have been conducting research into the matter.” He pauses, and Arabella nods again for him to go on. “Well, we’ve noticed an alarming trend. The incidence of Bloodbane within Clan Umbra is significantly higher than in other clans.”

I watch Arabella’s reaction closely. Her eyebrow arches slightly, but her voice remains cool when she speaks. “While regrettable, I fail to see how this is relevant to our meeting.”

Elias angles his head slightly, his usually calm demeanor showing a hint of urgency. “The relevance, Grand Elder, lies in the implications. Such a high concentration of Bloodbane cases in one clan is statistically improbable. It suggests…”

“It suggests nothing,” Arabella cuts him off, her tone sharp. “Unless you have evidence of foul play, Lord Thorne, I’d advise against making baseless accusations.”

I can feel the taut atmosphere in the room ratcheting up. Selene shoots me a warning glance, silently urging me to keep my temper in check. I take a deep, unnecessary breath, reminding myself of the stakes. We can’t afford to alienate Arabella, not when we’re so close to exposing Lucien’s schemes. But when I see Arabella poising herself, as if about to rise from her seat, I can’t hold back any longer. The frustration from my encounter with Rowan, combined with Arabella’s dismissive attitude, boils over.

“For fuck’s sake,” I snap. “We’re dancing around the real issue here. Lucien is amassing power, manipulating the Bloodbane crisis to his advantage. He’s positioning himself to challenge the very foundations of our society.”

Arabella’s eyes flash dangerously, her posture stiffening. “Watch your tone, Drake. You’re treading on thin ice.”

I open my mouth to retort, but Marcus smoothly steps in, his calm voice a contrast to my outburst.

“If I may, Grand Elder,” he says, pulling out a sleek tablet from his inside jacket pocket. “We’ve compiled substantial evidence of Lucien’s growing influence across multiple clans.”

Arabella’s gaze shifts to Marcus, her expression guarded but curious. “Go on.”

Marcus taps the screen, bringing up a series of charts and graphs. “Over the past six months, we’ve tracked a significant increase in Clan Umbra’s involvement in key vampire businesses and political spheres. This graph shows their sudden rise in influence within the nightlife sector, particularly in areas traditionally dominated by other clans.”

He swipes to another screen. “More concerning is this data on recent council votes. There’s a clear pattern of decisions favoring Umbra’s interests, often supported by members of other clans who’ve never aligned with them before.”

Arabella’s eyes narrow as she studies the information. “And you believe Lucien is behind this shift?”

Marcus nods grimly. “We do. And we have reason to believe he’s using the Bloodbane crisis as leverage. Several influential vampires who’ve recently sided with Umbra have family members afflicted with the condition. It’s too much of a coincidence.”

I watch Arabella’s face carefully, searching for any sign that she’s taking this seriously. Her expression remains impassive, but I can see the wheels turning behind her eyes.

“What do you think would give him this leverage?” she finally asks.

My frustration mounts at her inability to see the big picture. “He’s blackmailing them, my Lady, “ I say brusquely. “Using threats to manipulate them. Or simple bribery with witch blood.”

She looks at me sharply. “Are you still on about that?”

“Yes, dammit! He’s harvesting them like cattle,” I respond, then force myself not to let my exasperation show. “My Lady, we can’t ignore the witch situation any longer. The attack on the Starlight Vigil was a direct provocation. If we don’t address this—”

Arabella cuts me off with a wave of her hand. “The witch question is not my concern, Darick.”

I blink, stunned into momentary silence. Did I hear her correctly? “Not your concern?” I repeat, disbelief coloring my tone. “With all due respect, Grand Elder, the tensions between vampires and witches affect us all. If Lucien is behind these attacks—”

“If, if, if,” Arabella interrupts, her voice sharp. “You’ve made these accusations against Lucien before, Darick. And yet, you still haven’t provided any proof of his involvement.”

Annoyance builds in my chest. “We’re working on gathering more evidence, but surely you can see the pattern here. The timing of the attacks, the way they align with Lucien’s agenda—”

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