Page 38 of Blood Lord

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Raziel

Ihold my hand out to Selene, and she rushes across the room to take it. She's the picture of a newly Made vrakken—not even knowing her own speed and strength, yet. I make a show of hissing as she takes my hand, as if she is squeezing too hard, when she, in fact, can't hurt me.

But the male in front of me doesn't know that. Nor does he know that she has honey eyes and pale hair. To him, he sees a brown-eyed, brunette beauty, her lips stained with blood of a caesin. Stupid things didn't get any smarter in my absence.

I turn back to the vrakken, nodding to him. It takes all my effort to remember to keep my face neutral and speak as little as possible. I'm so different now, and under Brinda's scrutiny, I will have to be careful or she will notice.

So, I wait for the vrakken to turn his back on us before I really study him. Before, I may have not even noticed, but now, especially since I'm on high alert, I realize that I don't know this vrakken.

My stomach churns as I notice this, and at every turn, I take my chance to get a glimpse of his face. The shadows around his eyes aren't nearly as dark as mine, and his skin seems to be a shade darker than older vrakken. He's younger, a couple decades old.

Which means that he's newly recruited to the Council. The only reason that the younger generations would be interested in the Council is if there is something that's staving off their apathy, and in all my time as a vrakken, the only time I've seen that happen is when there is a promise of violence.

As we turn into the massive cavern, it is noticeably emptier than normal, and my limbs start to feel stiff. I try to keep my movements fluid, but they're clearly jerky as Selene's gaze darts to me out of the side of her eye. I squeeze her hand to tell her that I am fine.

But I can't help the way that my whole body tightens as we cross into the smaller cavern where the Council meetings are held. It's filled to the brim, in a way that I haven't seen in centuries. As we pause on the edge of the room, I fight to relax my shoulders and ease my facial expression.

I tilt my head subtly, so no one can tell that I am watching Selene, but as soon as I do, her scent hits me full force. I can tell she's afraid.

I hate that she feels that way, and I trail my hand up the inside of her arm, trying to calm and comfort her. I don't want her to feel so nervous to go before Brinda, and I certainly don't want the others to be able to smell her fear. It would give us away all too easily.

Fighting against the impulse to clench my jaw, I try to push my fears away, too. But knowing how tenuous my glamour is, easily wiped away by any member of the Council, I hope that there isn't a flicker of doubt to make them try.

"Bring them in."

Brinda's voice rings loud and clear above everyone else, and the room is deathly silent as we step into view. There's a long table before the Council's, which is still raised on a dias like always. We used to stand before the Council, but now, I'm guessing with so many wanting to watch, we are seated before them.

I'm careful to lean back in my chair, looking disinterested from everything with my hands placed palm down on the table. My eyes zone out as I wait, but out of the corner of my eye, I can see Selene leaning forward, her eyes bright as she takes it all in.

I don't think she's acting, and yet, she's playing her part perfectly.

"With the presence of our returned Elder, I call this meeting to a start."

"Thank you, Matriarch," we all respond.

She clears her throat before her eyes go to me. Brinda has never loved the way the Matriarch is treated. She believes in earned respect, not blind following, that's probably why so many of us trust her.

"Elder Raziel, you have returned from your trip to the surface." I let my eyes drag lazily toward her, my eyebrows pinching up just slightly in the middle to show I'm listening. "I request, before the Council and all that have gathered, a full status report."

"Brinda." I say, leaning forward. "May I stand? I don't like change, as you know, and this is uncustomary."

Her eyes dart toward Selene before responding, "Of course."

I rise slowly, pushing my chair out from behind me and fixing my shirt. I clasp my hands behind my back, coming around the desk so that I'm just slightly in front and to the right of it.

"Thank you. As for my report of the surface, it has changed since we have been up there. The lands are no longer as plentiful. There are sprawling dark elf cities instead." A collective hiss ripples through the gathered crowd just at the mention of them. "Our portal opens up just across the water from a large city called Liiandor."

"Is it a military city?" Brinda asks.

I snort. "The dark elves have fallen far. They are more interested in lustful and gluttonous activities to entertain themselves. They waste their magic with futile shows, but it seems to be less than anything we've encountered. While we've continued to grow strong here, the surface has grown soft, weaker. "

The crowd roars at that, and I let the ghost of a smile touch my lips, enough to show that even I am satisfied with this. Brinda raises a hand, and that's all it takes to silence the vrakken. "And what of their cities?"

"They are large and filled with many dark elves. They've taken to a traditional society one might even say is reminiscent of Earth." I watch for an indication that she isn't happy that I have mentioned our old planet, but there is none. "They have castes and jobs and slaves." I take a few steps closer. "And humans."

I can feel everyone holding a collective breath as Brinda archers her eyebrow. "Humans? On the surface?"

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