There was a knock on the door and Daxos went to open it. Standing there looking nervous was a palace servant holding another damn scroll with black wax seal and gold-embossed script, bold, official, and dripping with subtle menace.
Daxos glared ripping the scroll from the servants hands and then slammed the door shut before the man could even start to say a word scowling as he turned around and began unrolling it.
By decree of the High Council,Lady Valkhara Emberborn is required to attend tonight's Unity Dinnerto reaffirm her position in the Trials and dispel all concerns regarding her power.Sprite-like red flames flickered in the lettering itself.
I stood from my chaise, heartbeat soaring.Flanked by Daxos and Nyra, I traced a fingertip over the seal.
Hell. They formally summoned me. AGAIN.
Nyra tossed it aside with a bored flourish. "They're rewriting the invite to golden threats. Cute."
"This time they are wanting an audience. But why?" Azril said.
"I don't know, but if they want an audience I will give them a fucking show." I said feeling the literally steam seeping through my finger tips as the fire in my veins raged.
******************************************8
Getting Ready
The suite's mirrors reflected three women preparing for war masquerading as diplomacy.
Nyra twisted a gemstone into my braid — flame-red, flickering with subtle arcane pulses.Azric hovered with a brush and shadow-smoke eyes. With each stroke, I felt him lean in, colors dancing in his aura.Sevrin paced behind me, blade-edge glinting in reflection. He didn't touch and didn't speak, but his presence was a primal drum in my chest.
I slipped into the gown: it was BLOOD RED and satin with jet-black boning.Bones shaped like claw marks. A thigh-high slit that bled into the shadows.I saw the glance: fierce. Ferocious. Unapologetic.
Nyra chuckled. "They thought they could summon ash. They are about to meet fire."
I turned to see Daxos standing there eyes almost black "FUCK" was all he said
and before I could say anything images were flooding my head.
Me in my dress, with it pulled up still in my heals and him bending me over the table fucking me from behind... I shivered as the image disapeared and locked eyes with Azril who was smirking as his purple eyes glowed.
Sevrin's body brushed my chair then and I felt his hand before I felt the tip of his dagger blade pressing into my neck. I looked into his storm grey eyes through the mirror in front of us as he pressed it just deep enough to break the skin as the blood trickled down my neck he smiled a sinful smile and moved his fingers... I watched the blood that was just trickling down my neck now floating in the air from his magic...
"We will kill them all. Maybe not tonight, but they will all die." he said with finality as he used his magic to bring my blood to his lips savoring the taste closing his eyes like it was the most delicious thing in the world.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"You ready?" Nyra asked?
I inhaled. "Let's fucking do this"
Ride to the Grand Hall
The corridors gleamed under candle-bright light. Flames reflected off my red dress like embers drifting on silk.
Passersby shifted out of the way. Three men —monsters —flanking one woman. The corridor whispers were a low hum building into a roar.
"Holy—""Is that the Emberborn girl?""Marked on each of them…"
We emerged. The outer doors dropped open like a breath caught in stone.
We were late on purpose. I wanted a grand entrance and baby I got one... because the Grand Hall paused mid‑serving.
Crimson tassels on silk banners.Low tables laden with roasted boar, crystal goblets, and polished silverware — abandoned in mid‑pour.
My entrance tore the sound barrier between hush and hysteria:
Daxos behind me — shadow wound in muscle, lips parted in reverent hunger.
Sevrin to my right — steel at the ready, eyes not missing a single flicker of movement.
Azric to my left — violet aura leaking like scented oil and a slow grin that spoke of secret satisfaction as he sifted through minds.
Nyra breezed through last, green gown like acid brilliance:
"I hope someone saved me a seat in the heads-up competition."
Music stuttered back to life. Whispers climbed like nettles.
"Blood‑red…"
"Three marks, three vampires…"
"They let her in?"
"They're all there?"
"There hasn't been a Triad Bond in centuries."
I approached the long central table head Council in stiff robes. They rose as protocol demanded. Their smiles were brittle.
The Head Councilor cleared his throat.
"Lady Emberborn…"
I stepped forward and claimed an empty high-back chair. The seat for the winner. At the Council's left flank the place of power.
I pulled it out. Watched their skin tighten.
Sevrin remained standing.
Azric lifted a glass of blood-red wine and didn't lower it.
Daxos loomed behind me, betraying nothing but readiness to annihilate. But through the bond I could feel him shaking with uncontrollable rage.
The Councilor tried to pick up:
"A toast… to unity…"
His words were hollow.
I sipped black wine, tasting iron and warning.
"Let's toast to control," I said above him. The hall froze mid‑gulp. "Because if we're going to talk unity, let's see if you can handle mine."
Ice glossed over the Councilor's eyes.
Utensils rattled. A servant froze, wine glass quivering.
Nyra whispered, amused.
"Is this a dinner or a declaration?"
"It's the opening act."
Others tried small talk.
"How do you feel about…"I tipped my head. "About surviving? I feel like you forgot to bury me."
Sevrin's fingers tightened around the hilt. Azric's smirk spread until it almost broke.
Daxos stepped closer. "You see fear," he murmured into my neck.
I exhaled. "Good."
I caught Council members glancing sideways:
"Marked by all three…"
"She drinks blood…"
"She knows she's marked as their queen…"
"How do you kill someone like that?"
I rose again smooth as blood none of their whispers bothering me.
"Thank you for reminding me that nothing is safe… nothing is sacred. "I paused to let it land. "But remember this: the Trials can be paused. Fear can be faked. And glass can be polished."
I lifted the glass:
"But the throne won't be stolen. Not with your rules. Not with your threats."
The goblet in the Councilor's hand cracked, the little crack splintered along its rim. He didn't flinch.
Sevrin exhaled behind me. Azric sealed the wine bottle with a wrist flick. Daxos held onto my shoulder — grounding me — but the steel behind me made the entire room hunch.
I lowered the glass.
Nyra tapped mine against hers.
"To fire," she said.
"To reign," I finished.
looking at all the council members faces, burning their features into my brain so I could remember this moment when I burned them one by one. I could hear my mates' dark chuckles as I had sent my thoughts to them so they would have those same faces burned into them as well.
Then, I stood.
"Thank you so much for this.... unity dinner.... I look forward to the next trial" I said with a smirk turning around and walking away leaving no question that they could not keep me from participating.
Behind me I could hear the Council members whispering as I walked away and then the head councilor stood.
"Dinner is concluded," the Councilor said, voice clipped. "We… look forward to your continued cooperation." Like they had just controlled the narrative.
Daxos began — one slow step.
Azric followed.
Sevrin closed the distance.
Nyra locked eyes with every silent courtier:
"You can whisper about me now. Just don't pretend you're not watching. Because my bloodline will get its vengeance" I whispered back and used my magic from Azric to send the thought internally to everyone at the dinner.
I heard gasps.
I didn't wave I just kept silently moving and walked out the doors.
As the doors closed behind us, I could feel the storm I had just released brewing.