For the second time in just a few short days, the atmosphere in the underground formal dining room had grown tense and heavy as Ashlynn's coven and Nyrielle's progeny gathered to await Marcel's arrival and the news he carried.
Unlike the gathering a few nights ago, there was only one exception to the rule restricting attendance at this critical gathering, and that was to allow Lennart to attend, even though he was Zedya's progeny rather than Nyrielle's. Perhaps, when Nyrielle's other progeny finally founded lines of their own, that distinction would matter more, but for now, he was not only Zedya's first and only progeny, but her husband, and one of Virve's closest friends as well, and no one wished to see him excluded.
There was barely an hour left before dawn, and all of the vampires, from Lord General Thane to Lennart, looked like they were ready to return to their bedchambers as soon as the news was delivered.
