s words felt heavier than

g at the council like he was calculating how many people in the room he co

"What did he mean by queen?" His jaw flexed. Sera, we're leaving. "No." His eyes met mine. I could see the war

ard the black stone in the center of the chamber. The thin line of blood that had appeared there was no longer red. It had turned silver. I stared. My stomach twisted. "What is that?" No one an

ow that." Lucien's face changed. Where? "I don't know." The answer came honestly. I touched my temple. "I've seen it." Th

looked at him. "Sealed?" He didn't answer. You said I don't remember things. His expression softene

urned to mine. Your mother. Everything inside me stopped. "My moth

y should have. I stared at him. "Who would kill me?" The older vampire answered. Every house represented in this chambe

stared at him. That made no sense. "You said vampires came from seven houses." We lied. The room seemed to tilt. Lucien stepped closer. That's enough. I looked at him. "You knew." I

ame closer. I didn't marry you because of your blood. "Then why?" His eyes searched mine, an

lack stone cracked. A deep sound rolled through the chamber. The silver blood disappeared into the c

ors exploded inward. A gust of freezing wind swept through the chamber. Ever

skin. Only two pale

ollow

w him, something inside me recognized him. He l

oward me. Don't listen to him. The stranger laughed softly. Then he looked at Lucien. You still haven't told her, have you? Lucien's expression became murderous.