Chapter 222 - 212

Chapter 222: Chapter 212

Drake

The grand council hall was packed.

Bright glass lights shone down from the tall ceiling, casting a sharp, white glare across the long polished table where twenty regional leaders, clan elders, and high-ranking vampire lords sat in silence. The air in the room was dense, filled with the quiet murmur of side conversations and the sharp, metallic tang of tension.

I sat at the head of the long table, my hands resting flat on the cool wood.

My dark formal coat was buttoned tight to my chin, my posture straight, my face carved into a flat, unyielding wall. Beside my chair, Commander Valen stood in dark leather armor, his hand resting on the hilt of his sidearm, his sharp eyes scanning the faces of the lords around the room.

For three days, the court had been whispering. The violent scene at the gala, the shattered windows in the reception parlor, and the total lockdown of the west wing had sparked wild rumors across every border city.They wanted answers. They wanted to know if the territory was weak, if the house was divided, and who would stand at my side as a partner.

"Sovereign," Elder Malakor said, leaning forward in his high-backed seat near the center of the table. His pale skin looked paper-thin under the overhead lights, his ancient eyes narrow and calculating. "The rumors from the gala have spread past the river. The border clans are restless. They are asking if your house remains secure."

"My house is entirely secure," I replied flatly, my voice dropping into a quiet, cold register that instantly silenced the whispers along the table. "The internal threat from the gala was handled. The perimeter is fully locked down."

"And your consort?" Lord Vane asked smoothly from the far end, tilting his glass. "The rumors claim the half-breed was seen in the company of Gideon during the event. Is he still holding status in your home?"

A dark, sharp static flared around my knuckles, but I kept my face completely still, keeping every drop of emotion buried deep beneath my skin.

The image from that night flashed behind my eyes—Lysander in the dim parlor, leaning into Gideon’s arms, his face soft, his hands on Gideon’s shoulders. The sight cut into my chest like a fresh blade, turning my blood to ice.

"Lysander no longer holds status in this estate," I declared, my words dropping into the quiet room like heavy stones. "He has been stripped of his position, removed from council matters, and confined permanently to the west wing."

A ripple of low gasps and quiet nods swept across the long table. The vampire lords exchanged quick,approving looks, while the clan elders leaned back in their chairs, satisfied by the swift, cold display of authority.

"That is a necessary step," Elder Malakor said, tapping his thin fingers against the table. "A leader cannot keep a compromised partner at his side. But a strong domain requires a proper consort. The border clans need a true union to guarantee the peace."

"Which brings us to the purpose of this assembly," I said, rising slowly from my seat.

I stood tall at the head of the table, looking down at every lord, elder, and investor in the hall. My hands relaxed at my sides, my voice level, precise, and completely devoid of warmth.

"As of today," I announced, my voice carrying clearly to every corner of the room, "I am opening formal court proceedings to select a new mate. A noble partner from a recognized bloodline to take the official place at my side."

The hall erupted into instant, excited chatter.

Lord Vane smiled, inclining his head in deep respect. "A wise decision, Sovereign. My house has two eligible daughters who would be honored to submit their lineage records for your review."

"My family will prepare our documents by evening," another elder added, his eyes bright with ambition. "A true union will stabilize the entire northern territory."

"Commander Valen will oversee the submission of all formal court proposals," I continued, ignoring the rising excitement in the room. "The selection process will begin immediately. Every regional house may send their representatives to the estate by the end of the week."

I didn’t wait for the council to formally adjourn. I turned on my heel and stepped away from the head of the table, walking out through the wide double doors at the back of the hall.

Valen fell into step right behind me as we walked down the long, quiet stone corridor toward the central courtyard.

"Sovereign," Valen said softly, keeping his voice down so the passing guards wouldn’t hear. "Are you certain about this public announcement? Lord Julian is still alive in the subterranean cell. If the news reaches the west wing—"

"Let it reach the west wing," I cut in, my tone cold and absolute.

Valen paused slightly, his brow pulling together, but he quickly caught back up to my stride. "Lysander is still recovering from the poison, My Lord. Dr. Star reported this morning that his vitality is low. He barely touches his food trays."

"His health is monitored by the medical team," I replied, my eyes fixed straight ahead on the sunlit garden doors. "He will receive his meals, his tonics, and proper care until the child is born. That is where my obligation ends."

"And after the birth?" Valen asked quietly.

"After the birth," I said, every word tasting like dry ash on my tongue, "he will remain in the lower wing, away from court business, while my new consort takes the official seat."

We stepped out into the bright afternoon sunlight of the central garden. The fountain trickled softly in the quiet air, the green leaves of the potted ferns rustling in the cool mountain breeze.

I stopped near the stone path, looking up toward the tall glass windows of the west wing high above the courtyard.

Behind those dark, reinforced glass panes, Lysander was sitting alone. He would hear the news soon. The servants would whisper it in the halls, the guards would speak of it outside his door, and the whole estate would know that his place at my side had been given away to the highest noble houses in the region.

A sharp, hollow ache squeezed tight around my chest, but I forced it down, locking my jaw until the muscle throbbed along my face.

You brought this on yourself, I thought, my gaze remaining fixed on the quiet window above. You gave your loyalty away in the dark, and now you will watch me build a home without you.

I turned my back on the west wing, pulled my dark coat tight around my shoulders, and walked back toward my private study to begin reviewing the noble lineage records, leaving the ghost of our sanctuary behind in the cold afternoon sun.