“I am a former Beaumont, but I have shed that name,” Riley says. “My father has broken Trueblood law more than once throughout history, and he has endangered Trueblood society and our delicate balance by killing off-limits humans and allowing his one Nightside servant to go out of control. But by breaking the law, he has taught me some valuable lessons, such as how not to run a coven.”
A few laughs rise from the rows behind us, and the sound almost lulls me into relaxation. Almost.
“Go on,” Li says.
“I will not repeat my father's mistakes. I have trained my Nightsides well. Soon, I will bring more Truebloods into my coven and continue to obey Trueblood law. My new coven will be named the Johnson coven, and we will work with the Rivera guild to ensure balance and to ensure that the outside world does not find out about us.”
Can I influence the other masters to vote yes? If they do, then we won't have to fight. We'll get voted in, get to leave, and go back home to figure out the rest.
I can sense minds, but I’ve controlled no one without looking before, but my senses stretch back and I hear the Truebloods and the other Nightside servants picking at their suits, shifting in their chairs, and tapping their feet on the concrete. Which ones are the masters? There seems to be no seating arrangement for masters and servants. I've spotted them throughout the night, the older Truebloods who lead the covens, but I don't know who controls what for sure.
I should have planned for this. Shit.
I remain still, not daring to betray my panic as Li lets more silence drag out. That's her weapon.
“Is that all?” she asks. Already, they've decided, so why are they wasting their time with this?
Then I hear motion behind me, in all thirty rows.
One vampire in each row is scooting to the end of their chair, ready to rise. Or to pounce. Yes. It's to pounce. They all fear this Prophecy and want to contain the threat.
“Stella?” Li asks at last.
Stella shifts in her seat, almost as if she's uncomfortable, and then she produces a piece of notebook paper. “I received this note from an anonymous source,” she explains. “It concerns this new coven, but first I will read the Nightside Prophecy, which many of you in the audience are familiar with, thanks to Dominic's former friendship with Duke Carrington, the first known Nightside.”
A few mutters ring out behind us. Clearly not every Trueblood knew about this twist.
My heart rises into my throat. Riley remains on his feet, and most of the Nightsides rise to stand with him. I'm the last up.
We have to fight. Now.
“Sit,” Li orders.
“Why are you reading the Nightside Prophecy? Is this an attempt to make me and my new coven look bad?” Riley asks. “I'm telling you that none of my Nightsides are the chosen one, if that's what you're about to imply.”
Gasps ring out. Riley's standing up to the High Council. And as he does, he shuffles closer to me, as if to shield me from what's to come. We will not take this sitting down.
“Read,” Li snaps at Stella.
I could stop Stella, but she’s hyper-focused and Li would override her, anyway. What am I supposed to do? I feel out Li and Stella’s minds, but they’re steel. Stella squirms in confusion as she reads and looks to Li, but Li’s glare forces her to continue. “One shall rise, of the day walking race, who shall be twice the power of any other, who shall subdue those of the nightwalking race, who shall be the master of all those who feed on the blood of the living. One shall rise, once in all time, who shall spill the blood of the nightwalking race and feast upon the living, and who shall be the greatest abomination ever to walk the earth.”
The words fall like hammers, and I take a step back.
I'm shaking.
I can't do this.
No. I will, because no matter what happens now, people will die. I'll protect Riley and the other Nightsides, and I can't let the Originator—this Duke Carrington, if he stands among us—take control of me and make this Prophecy real.
“And also, we received a note from someone anonymous,” Li says, raising her voice. “This monster we have all feared for the past centuries is among this new coven. A Nightside with two copies of the mutation has finally been born, through pure chance.”
The pressure explodes in my chest.
The High Council rises.
“Li? Are you sure? Where did this note come from?” Enrico asks.
“Wait!” I shout, wrapping my influence around Stanley and preparing to toss him forward. “We have a gift for you. This Duke Carrington guy has been working against us and plotting to overthrow the High Council. He probably planted the note to start a fight.” Or it was Dominic. Whatever.
But Stanley resists, staying back in the line. He looks to Trish.
More mutters rise in the audience. The hunters all tense on the sidelines, and Lily looks back and nods at someone behind her.
We've got no way out except through the High Council. If we want any chance at surviving, we must barricade ourselves in the lounge. Even the High Council will be easier to deal with than hundreds of Truebloods. I look to Riley, and he also eyes the door and nods.
“You have him?” Enrico asks, eyes widening.
“Yes,” I shout over the loud chatter, sweat gathering under my dress.
“He is not the one in the Prophecy,” Li shouts, bashing her fist against the podium. “I cannot allow your coven to live. I'm sure you understand that we must protect our society.”
More mutters rise, and Riley shouts, “But the vote!”
“I invoke emergency powers,” Li shouts. “Eliminate them!”
“To the door!” Riley shouts, not missing a beat.
Chairs tip and Truebloods hiss behind us, and I whirl to find two dozen
