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I’d be stuck in a room jam-packed with vampires. The potential ways the night could end sent a wave of unease. But the thought of letting Christopher attend without me by his side tightened my stomach. With the current tension between humans and vampires, what if something happened to him?

Anger swelled as the beast's growls itched my throat. I cleared it but the beast persisted. Maybe. . .it would be best if Idid attend. Plus, my Doll has proved notallvampires could be pompous fucks.

But I couldn’t fully agree as distrust filled my system. “I’ll think about it.”

Late that night, Mr. Amelle gave me the best news: Nina was recovering in the Sephtis’ private infirmary after rescuing Alek from drowning in the lake.

On the first day of December, I bit the bullet and visited Nina.

The moment between my room to hers was a blur. Once the door shut, I finally took her in.

The dim light in the room contoured Nina’s umber skin and highlighted her green eyes that brightened the moment they fell on me. Her long, black hair poured around her and cloaked her body, nearly touching the ground as she stood.

Nina wasn’t gone like Mom. She was alive. She was safe. And after what felt like an eternity, I finally breathed.

Chapter 12

CHRISTOPHER SEPHTIS

In the years following our mother’s passing, it was expected of me to foster the role of caregiver as the eldest and the first heir to the Premier title. However, it was a part I could never acclimatize myself to, a mask I could never bear.

The near nineteen years I shared with our mother, I witnessed her growth and descent alike. But one particular element that was never changing was her lack of maternal instinct. Child after child, the world worked against her. She grew more detached, her focus simply on That Man. In truth, a fragment of myself understood. She was never meant to succeed. She was expected to fail.

However, the other fragment I possessed resented her for it.

Because like our mother, I was not fit to nurture, in the past nor in the present. We weren’t born with such inclination. It was a skill which required calibration through immeasurable love. Love held no ties in my existence. But abnormally, it had on our mother.

And the day she had displayed such boundless feelings, she vanished.

Yet, as her fifth death anniversary approached, her presence continued to influence all around me.

Possessing the History of Vampires and revisiting its scriptures led me to my library, where I discovered what I gravely needed answers to.

Mates.

Soon after Lorenzo’s departure this morning, the thick literature pulled at me, my eyes scanning until they stumbled on a brief description that resembled Lorenzo’s and I’s relationship. Though it targeted vampires, I couldn’t deny the uncanniness. Yet there was nothing in our collection.

“Christopher,” Sonia said as she bowed before my library desk, the persistent chime in my name amplifying the tenacious thrum in my chest. “We must speak.”

Ruby red lips thinned into a line as large mirrored-shades fell on me. In the depths of the library, where leather-bounded text crowded towering shelves, no solace was bestowed upon me through my increased visitations. My chamber lacked such support, too; however Lorenzo’s company during the dead of night atoned for it, a gift that continued to give when ponderous thoughts burdened my mind.

Yet, every morning, foregoing the guardian shift change, such affliction heeded in his departure, the loss of his warmth the foundation to my descent.

As the overseer amongst my brothers, my role in our schemes entailed a seamless implementation. Success was vital. However, what Sonia’s concern laid in was a matter I had no way of succeeding—the very weight I had unconsciously buried during fittings with Ms. Hoko in hopes it would result in a nightmare rather than the driving wedge of my relationship with Lorenzo.

The final verdict of the marriage arrangement.

With the Christmas Ball less than a month away, its weight now cemented itself amongst my brothers, and particularly,Sonia, as That Man thrusted on to her the dreadful task of reporting such pronouncement.

The Lower Belt, consisting of Elected Officials, and Cabinet, composed of Representatives and Heads of Ministry, alike were to hear of the decision the night of the Christmas Ball; High Parliament was to hear of it the night before.

“Has Anabella reported anything?”

Her father was surely as restless as his wives, who continued to pester their daughters onto us in recent visits.

Though it was expected of us, the Sephtis, to make a decision, it was up to the Ambrogios to accept or reject it. In turn, High Parliament would only be notified of such a decision after a sister supported the resolution—or simply denied it.

Sonia shook her head. “Nothing has changed, which is not good. Christopher, whispers are spreading of the Mubaraks’ disappearance. Vampires are slowly uncovering it and humans are nearing it. The stability of the Ministry and the Premier’s ruling rests on you, and if they do not receive an answer, then Heads of Ministry will step in.”

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