Page 67 of Vampires and Violas

“He wanted to keep his house clean,” Cassian says.

Sophia nods. “The man was sick, so I agreed. Not long after, he hired me again…and again. I’ve kept quiet, and so has he, but I’ve noticed a trend.”

“What’s that?” Noah asks, frowning.

“Most of the rogue, troublemaking vampires come from those particular clients, and they’re primarily centered here in Colorado.” She pauses. “Where Cassian lives.”

Cassian closes his eyes and leans his forehead against his steepled hands. “Whoever hired you is trying to destroy my house name.”

“I’m afraid so,” she answers.

He turns his stern gaze on Sophia, making her flinch. “A simple task when one of my vampires agreed to help them.”

She flinches and sits up straighter, using her posture as armor. “Cassian, I didn’t know. Even now, I have no proof that was their goal.”

“But you suspect it was,” he says.

She purses her lips, nodding.

Noah frowns as he thinks it over. “We started noticing an increase in crimes involving undocumented vampires around the time people started talking about nominations.”

“Who hired you, Sophia?” Cassian demands.

“I’m not giving you any more information until you promise you won’t stake me or throw me in jail.” Suddenly, her eyes light like she’s just thought of something. “I want an official house pardon, Cassian.”

I don’t know what that is, but the air becomes heavy.

Cassian crosses his arms. “I can’t give you that, and you know it.”

“Of course you can give it to me—you’re the only one who can.”

“If I condone your crimes, it will ruin me.”

“You said you don’t have political aspirations,” she snaps.

“And I don’t. But I have no particular desire to drag my name through the mud to save your skin.”

“You’re being dramatic,” she says petulantly. “It would make you look benevolent.”

“It would make me lookguilty,” he argues. “People know our history—they’ll think I was involved. Theyalreadythink I was involved, thanks to my house being linked to all these criminals.”

“Please, Cassian.” Sophia’s expression becomes solemn, and for a moment, I wonder if she’s going to fall on her knees and beg. “Things have gotten out of hand. I need you.”

Oh, that did it. I see him crumbling right in front of me.

Exasperated, his anger softens. “Why didn’t you come to me sooner?”

But that was the wrong thing to say. Sophia narrows her eyes. “Besides the fact you almost murdered me the night before our wedding?”

Whoa.

He breathes out slowly through his nose like he’s searching for patience. “All right. But whynow?”

“Because…” Sophia wrings her hands. “I think this house might be behind the archduke’s assassination.”

15

I didn’t signup for monarchy drama. This is the kind of meeting that causes people to disappear, at least in movies. And my life has been a lot like a movie lately, so I think my concerns are justified.

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