when they discovered their longest-serving Law Guardian was a walking embodiment of their most-feared crime!”
“They weren’t nearly as amused as you are,” I confirmed.
“Now I know why they issued that death sentence against you several months ago,” she said, regaining control of herself. “My spies couldn’t discover why, and normally, people talk no matter how sacred the secret. But you humiliated the council so badly that they didn’t even discuss it among themselves. Ah, Veritas, or Ariel, thank you for that. They richly deserved it.”
“Not all of them,” I said, trying to steer the conversation away from vampire bashing. “Almost half the council wanted to decriminalize mixed-species people. It was Haldam who cast the tie-breaking vote against the tri-bred child not too long ago, and now, Haldam is dead.”
Marie’s left eyebrow twitched—the only indication that Haldam’s death was news to her.
“You already know that Pyotor and Claudia are dead, too,” I went on. “As I told you before, I didn’t kill them. I was framed by the gods I was trying to warn you about.”
Her shrug was careless, but her gaze was hard. “Again, what business is that of mine?”
“They tried to take out the vampire species’ rulers. You rule the ghouls, so you could be next,” I said bluntly.
A smile ghosted across her lips. “Someone has wanted to kill me since my youth as a human. If I cowered in fear at every new attempt on my life, I would never leave my bed.”
This wasn’t going in the direction I’d hoped. What might cause Marie to rethink her “not my problem” take on this?
“I told you Haldam cast the deciding vote that kept mixed-species people outlawed. Now, Haldam’s seat and two others are vacant. If they’re filled with three more moderate-thinking council members, any number of discriminatory laws might be overturned.”
“Or they could be filled with three more bigots,” Marie said in a sharp tone. “I’m more inclined to bet on that.”
“Vampires don’t have a monopoly on being prejudiced,” I said evenly. “It wasn’t long ago that your people were ruled by a rabid bigot who nearly brought ghouls and vampires to all-out war twice over mixed-species people. Then, he was killed and you took the throne. Positive change can happen. You’re proof of that.”
“Besides, these gods won’t stop at taking out the vampire hierarchy,” Ashael said in a dark tone.
“Won’t they?” Marie had a new gleam in her eye I didn’t like. “What makes you think they’re enemies of my people?”
“They tried to rule the world once before,” I pointed out. “Now they’re back, and they’re already blowing up mountains, cooling the arctic, and cracking open the earth. That’s not in celebration of discovering Internet porn, so what do you think they intend to do with such incredible powers? Allying with vampires against them might be the only way to stop them.”
Marie let out a sharp laugh. “As if I would ever trust vampires for my people’s liberty.”
Nothing I said would change her mind about that, and with good reason. Vampires couldn’t stop discriminating against other vampires at the moment. Until that changed, Marie had every reason to believe we wouldn’t treat ghouls equitably because we didn’t even treat each other equitably yet.
“As I said, positive change can happen,” I settled on. “Besides, you don’t have to trust vampires to align with them. ‘My enemy’s enemy is my friend’ is a saying for a reason.”
“That’s right, your enemy.” Marie’s tone was silky as she glanced at the Rolex on her wrist. “Not mine, and I remind you that I guarantee all my guests safe passage to and from a meeting with me. Anyone who violates that safe passage guarantees themselves an immediate, painful death.”
What caused her to make that threat . . . ?
My arm burned the instant before a knock sounded at the door. Jacques streaked over to answer it. In the seconds that took, my fitted sleeve had bulged from a pair of cuffs and chains that hadn’t been there moments ago.
I didn’t need Jacques to open the door to know the identity of Marie’s new guest, nor did I require what he said next.
“The goddess Morana is here to see you, Majestic.”
Chapter 35
Ian teleported in, sword drawn. Magic made the sword’s blade gleam with inner lights as he planted himself in front of me. Then, I felt his power build to heights that had Marie casting first an interested and then a wary look at him. Ian must be drawing on the cursed fruit he’d