"Forever, my Cyn."
Chapter Fifty-eight
Cyn leaned against the window behind Raphael's desk, feeling it vibrate with every wave that rolled in on the beach below. Raphael sat in front of her, watching impassively as Juro escorted Mirabelle into the room. Duncan entered next, one hand on Alexandra's elbow, as if he were escorting her into an elegant salon. Raphael stood, lingering long enough to trail one hand along Cyn's arm before making his way around the desk to face them. He positioned himself slightly to one side so that Cyn could see his face clearly.
Mirabelle didn't wait for the vampire lord to speak to her. She broke away from Juro and threw herself at Raphael's feet, burying her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with silent tears.
Raphael regarded her prostrate form somberly, before lifting his head to meet Alexandra's cool gaze from across the room. She raised her chin defiantly, black eyes flashing.
"Mirabelle,” Raphael said.
"My lord,” she cried, weeping so hard she could barely speak. “I would never betray you, Master! Never."
Raphael cocked his head quizzically. “Did I say you had, child?"
Mirabelle didn't look up from her submissive position, addressing her response to the carpet only inches from her face. “I heard the guards talking, my lord. I know someone called Jabril. But it wasn't me. I swear to you, my lord.” She did look up then, her blue eyes full of pain. “I did not betray you, Master. I would not!"
Cyn studied Mirabelle's face. She saw despair there, and loss, but no guilt, no fear of discovery. Mirabelle wasn't the traitor, she thought, and knew it was true.
Raphael's gaze shifted to Alexandra where she stood proud and haughty, supremely confident.
"Did I not warn you, Alexandra?” he asked. “Did you think I could forgive this?"
"I have no idea—"
"Silence.” It was a single word, spoken softly and without emotion. But Raphael's anger was a physical presence in the room, weighting the air like a storm about to break. “You forget, Alexandra, that I am more than our mother's son. I am your master. You have no secrets from me."
Alexandra's eyes widened in surprise, and for the first time her face reflected an uneasy concern. “You have been bewitched by this human,” she snarled. “I tried only to save you. You'll understand one day, and you'll thank me."
Raphael regarded her silently, waiting.
Alexandra jerked her hand in a nervous gesture, as if waving away his anger. “I am your sister, Raphael. Your blood. You cannot choose a human, even this one, over your own blood. You love me."
"Five hundred years ago,” Raphael said gently, “I loved a child named Sasha.” His voice hardened. “You I don't even know.” He gestured and Juro stepped up to Alexandra, his massive paw closing around her arm like a manacle.
Alexandra struggled uselessly, trying to pull away. “Raphael!” she cried. “You can't do this! I'm your—” Raphael simply glanced at her. Her pleas were cut off mid-syllable as she struggled to speak against his compulsion, leaving her with nothing but wordless sobs of disbelief as Juro and his brother carried her away between them.
Mirabelle was still kneeling on the floor, her mouth hanging open in shock, her expression more than slightly touched by relief as Alexandra was escorted from the room.
"Mirabelle.” Her head swiveled around when Raphael spoke her name and she cringed in fear.
"I would never—” she began again.
"I know that, child. I never suspected you. Go now. Elizabeth has been asking for you."
Mirabelle scrambled to her feet and bowed quickly. “Thank you, my lord,” she said fervently. Her gaze skittered quickly over to Cyn and away before she hurried from the room. Duncan followed her, closing the door behind him and leaving them alone.
Cyn circled around the desk to Raphael, and he reached out automatically to pull her close. She burrowed against his broad chest and asked, “What will you do?"
"The Council has called a meeting to deal with Jabril's empty territory,” Raphael responded wearily. “Most likely they'll throw it open to anyone who can hold it. None of Jabril's minions are strong enough to challenge for the right—no one who wants it, anyway. And besides, there are many young ones agitating for greater power in the territories. This will release some of that pressure."
"That's not what I—” she started to say, but the look in his eyes told her he didn't intend to give her any other answer. She stared back at him, uncertain how she felt about that.
"I am Vampire, Cyn,” he said, as if that explained everything.
"That's not good enough,” she told him. “I won't let you hide behind that inscrutable vampire shit. I want to know what you're going to do with Alexandra."
Raphael regarded her out of flat black eyes. “You nearly died."