Page 58 of Viktor's Temptation
“I hear you need my help,” Sorcia said, stepping inside. She took one look around and wrinkled her nose. “Oh my. No, this is not conducive to health or happiness.”
Before Gracie could respond, Sorcia waved her hand. A shimmer of magic filled the air, and the entire house transformed before Gracie’s eyes. The dirty dishes were gone, the counters suddenly spotless, and the garbage had vanished. Even her carefully sewn pillows were back in their place, plumped and pristine on the gray sofa.
Gracie gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. “Wow!” she exclaimed, spinning around to take it all in. Then she rushed over to Sorcia and hugged her tightly. “Thank you!”
Sorcia laughed, hugging her back. When they pulled apart, Sorcia leaned closer and whispered, “You’re going to marry him, right?”
Gracie glanced over her shoulder at Viktor, who was watching with a faint smile. “Yes,” she admitted with a shy nod. Then she added with a grin, “And you don’t have to whisper—he can hear everything we’re saying.”
Sorcia laughed and tapped her ear. “Vampire hearing. Scary good.” She turned to Viktor and gave him a pointed look.“Take care of him,” she said to Gracie. “He’s one of the good ones.”
“I will,” Gracie promised.
With a nod, Sorcia walked to the back door. A sleek vehicle that hadn’t been there moments ago waited for her. She stepped inside and disappeared just as mysteriously as she’d arrived.
Gracie turned to Viktor, her expression softening. “Thank you,” she said.
“For what?”
“For… everything.”
He stepped closer, taking her hands and placing them on his shoulders. “Thank you for coming into my life,” he murmured. “You’ve transformed everything for me.”
She rose onto her toes and kissed him. “You’ve given me more than I’ll ever be able to say. I love you.”
“I love you too,” he whispered, his voice filled with emotion.
Chapter 32
The mountain air was thin and sharp as Viktor and the four other clan leaders climbed the winding trail leading to Cerberus’s secluded home. His estate, a hulking fortress of dark stone and ivy, loomed like a ghost from another time. The gothic architecture was eerie, even for a vampire’s dwelling. Viktor exchanged a glance with Sorin, leader of the Eastern Europe clan, whose grim expression mirrored his own.
“This is it,” Viktor said, his voice low but steady. “Cerberus has been hiding here for centuries, manipulating from the shadows. It ends today.”
The five leaders—Viktor, Sorin, Alaric of the Northern Territories, Sienna of the Mediterranean, and Leila from the Southern Americas—entered the grand hall. Cerberus was waiting, seated on a high-backed chair as if he were a king holding court. His ancient, pale face was smooth, his hair a stark white that fell to his shoulders. His black robes billowed as he stood, his crimson eyes narrowing.
“So, the tribunal comes to my door,” Cerberus said, his voice smooth as silk but carrying the weight of his centuries-old arrogance. “Have you traveled all this way to bow before me, or have you come to beg for mercy?”
“No,” Viktor replied coldly, stepping forward. “We’ve come to judge you for your crimes.”
Cerberus smirked, his lips curling in disdain. “Crimes? Enlighten me, Lord Viktor. What crimes have I committed? Do the whims of lesser leaders now define justice?”
“Enough!” Leila snapped, her voice cutting through the room. “You’ve orchestrated the illegal transitioning of humans, murdered innocents, and plotted to overthrow established clans to create your own empire. These are crimes against all vampires.”
“And against our laws,” Sienna added, her golden eyes flashing. “You’ve sown chaos to satisfy your delusions of grandeur.”
Cerberus chuckled darkly. “Laws are for the weak. I’ve simply exercised my power. I offered loyalty to no one, and none had the strength to stop me—until now.”
Alaric growled low in his throat, his massive frame radiating barely restrained fury. “You’ve destroyed lives, Cerberus. This isn’t power. It’s cowardice.”
Viktor raised a hand, silencing his peers. “The evidence against you is overwhelming. Dave and Johnny confessed to your orders. They described your plans to create an army and build your own clan.”
Cerberus’s smirk faltered, but his voice remained steady. “And yet here I stand. Shall we see who truly wields power?”
With a wave of his hand, Cerberus summoned shadows that writhed and twisted into humanoid shapes. But the clan leaders moved as one, their combined strength overwhelming the summoned creatures in moments.
Once the odd twists of non-human figures faded away again, Cerberus’ features turned worried. “We’ve heardenough,” Viktor said. He turned to the others. “The tribunal will vote.”
Each leader voiced their judgment, one after the other: “Guilty.”
