Chapter 9 - The Gathering of Kings

  ***Leo's POV***

  The Vampire district loomed ahead, a silhouette of gothic spires and ancient stone towers bathed in the silver glow of the moon. Shadows stretched long over the cobbled streets, winding like veins toward the heart of the kingdom—Castle Noctis. Unlike the werewolf lands, where life pulsed through the earth and the air smelled of pine and wet soil, the vampire court was suspended in eternal twilight. Braziers of eerie blue flame lined the streets, their cold light casting flickering patterns against the onyx walls. Even the air itself felt different, thick with an unnatural stillness, carrying the faint scent of aged parchment, spiced wine, and the coppery trace of blood.

  Leo’s boots echoed against the marble floor as he stepped through the grand entrance of the castle. A vast hall stretched before him, lined with towering columns carved from obsidian, their surfaces reflecting the dim candlelight from the grand chandeliers above. At the far end of the chamber, seated upon an ornately carved throne of dark wood and crimson velvet, was the Vampire King.

  Sivren.

  He looked every bit the legend he was. Over two centuries old, he had ruled long before humans even knew of the creatures lurking in the night. Before the treaty that bound their fates together. He wore his age with a regal elegance, draped in midnight black robes embroidered with silver filigree, the high collar framing his sharp features. And beside him, lounging with his usual arrogance, was Raze.

  Raze’s golden eyes flicked toward Leo, amusement dancing behind them. Unlike Sivren’s calculated elegance, Raze was a storm barely contained. Dressed in fitted leather, his dark auburn hair was tousled, and his lips curled in a smirk. Though he was seated at Sivren’s right hand, his body was turned toward the throne, his fingers drumming idly against the armrest—a silent display of possessiveness. The two were always like this, locked in a power play that neither would admit was laced with something deeper.

  The only other occupant of the hall was Cassian, the Fae King. He stood near one of the massive arched windows, his silver-white hair catching the moonlight, his golden eyes reflecting the starlit sky. The youngest of the three rulers, yet his lineage stretched back just as far. He was dressed in dark forest green, his long coat adorned with intricate gold embroidery that marked him as the heir to an ancient, near-forgotten dynasty.

  Leo stopped before them, offering a respectful nod before speaking. “I traveled to the human sector to retrieve my mate’s family,” he began, his voice steady but carrying the weight of what he had seen. “It’s worse than we feared. The city is in ruins, overrun with those… things. I barely made it out with her brother.”

  Sivren’s gaze sharpened. “And the cause?”

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  Leo hesitated. “I don’t have proof, but I suspect Randolf had a hand in this. The last time we met, he was already speaking of drastic measures, and now the timing is too convenient.”

  Cassian exhaled slowly, fingers tracing the pillar he had been leaning on. “That human always reeked of desperation. If he’s involved, he’s gambling with forces beyond his control.”

  Leo nodded. “And given what we know of his ambitions, I doubt he cares about the consequences.”

  A dark chuckle broke the tension. “Funny you should say that,” Raze mused, stretching as he stood. “I had a… rather interesting encounter the other night.”

  Sivren’s gaze flickered toward him narrowing. “Elaborate.”

  Raze smirked, enjoying the attention. “I was at one of our dens when I caught the scent of something off. A woman. Red hair. I have no clue what her name was.” He tapped a finger against his temple. “Read her mind and found something quite curious. She wanted to infect me.”

  Silence fell, thick and heavy.

  Cassian’s brows furrowed. “And you’re just mentioning this now?”

  Raze rolled his shoulders. “Didn’t seem important at the time. I killed her for attempting to harm me and my people.” His smirk faded slightly under Sivren’s cold stare.

  The vampire king leaned forward, his tone dangerously soft. “You killed her because you were angry, not because you understood the implications. We will discuss your unchecked behavior later.” His crimson eyes gleamed with something unreadable before he shifted his gaze back to Leo. “If humans are attempting to infect us, then they are either ignorant of what they’ve created… or they know exactly what they’re doing.”

  Raze sat back down quietly feeling anxious about his newly awaited punishment he was surely going to receive.

  Leo’s jaw tightened. “We can’t afford to wait until we have the answer.”

  Sivren nodded. “Then we act. Raze and I will go to the human sector personally. We will gather information, assess the extent of the damage, and—if possible—secure a few of the infected for experimentation.”

  Cassian inclined his head. “You believe the effects can be reversed?”

  Sivren’s expression remained unreadable. “We won’t know until we try.” His gaze flicked between them. “Regardless, humans are integral to the balance of our world. We may not need them to survive, but we thrive because of them. Their blood sustains us, yes, but they are more than that. Lovers, companions, a delicacy cultivated for centuries. If this disease destroys them, it will unravel everything.”

  Leo exhaled, knowing there was no arguing with him. And truthfully? He didn’t want to.

  Before they adjourned, he spoke again, his voice low but firm. “One more thing.” He looked at each of them, ensuring his words carried their full weight. “We fought our way back through the human city. One of my men, Hank, was bitten.”

  Cassian stiffened. “Did he turn?”

  Leo shook his head. “Yes, it took about five of six hours give or take, but he eventually got extremely sick and turned. He has already been dealt with though.”

  Leo met his gaze, unflinching. “I discovered something else on our way back. These creatures, whatever they are, they don’t stop. Nothing slows them down unless you chop there limbs off.”

  Cassian’s voice was quiet. “Then how?”

  Leo’s jaw tightened. “Sever their heads. It’s the only way.”

  A heavy silence settled over the room, each ruler absorbing the grim reality of what lay ahead. Sivren was the first to break it, his voice colder than before. “Then we move quickly. Before we are overrun.”

  Leo nodded, the weight of what was to come settling onto his shoulders. He needed to return home swiftly and begin preparing the others for war.