“What are you going to do?”
“You will be there when it happens.” He cupped her cheek in his palm. “Say a prayer for me.”
“What should I pray for?”
“Success.” He kissed her again, quickly, and then he was gone.
A short time later, Katiya and Andrei appeared in the apartment.
“I brought you something to wear,” Katiya said. “I think it will fit.”
“It’s lovely,” Elena said. “Thank you.” The dress, of dark mauve, had a velvet bodice and a long satin skirt.
Katiya reached into her pocket. “I brought a brush for your hair, as well.”
“Thank you.”
“I will see you soon,” Katiya said, and vanished from sight.
Elena looked at Andrei, who had taken a seat on the sofa. “Do you know what’s going on?” she asked as she ran the brush through her hair.
“Knowing how Drake feels about this place, I have a fair idea.”
“He seemed worried earlier.”
“I would be surprised to hear otherwise.”
Elena found little comfort in his words.
The gown Katiya had lent her fit Elena as if it had been made for her. She had barely finished changing clothes when a drone knocked at the door. Elena ducked out of sight when Andrei went to answer it.
“Lord Drake requests your presence in the Council chamber immediately,” the drone said.
Andrei blew out a breath. “Here we go.”
A million nervous butterflies took wing in Elena’s stomach as she followed Andrei down the hall toward the Council meeting room. When they reached the door, Elena grabbed his hand. “Are you sure he wants me here?”
“Very sure,” Andrei said, and opened the door.
Elena’s gaze swept the chamber in a single glance. Drake, dressed all in black, sat in Rodin’s chair on the dais. Liliana, also dressed in black, sat on his right. Katiya, looking young and lovely in pale blue, sat on his left. The Council members were seated.
Drake rose when he saw her. “Please, come in.”
Taking a deep breath, Elena entered the chamber at Andrei’s side.
Liliana rose. “What is this outrage?” she demanded, her voice as cold and brittle as arctic ice.
“Liliana, sit down,” Drake said, his voice equally cold. “She is here at my request.”
Liliana glared daggers at her son, but she did as he said.
Impressive, Elena thought.
“As you all know,” Drake said, “Rodin has been destroyed. As the new Master of the Carpathian Coven, I have decided there are changes that need to be made.”
He cast a warning glance at Liliana, who had started to rise. Fury radiated from her eyes but she remained silent and seated.
“Katiya,” Drake said. “Come forward.”
Rising, she stood beside him. She looked cool and unruffled, her face serene, making Elena think that Katiya was well aware of whatever change Drake was about to make. Aware and in agreement.
“As Master of the Coven, I hereby renounce my marriage vows to Katiya Belova. How say you, Katiya? Yea or nay?”
“Yea, my lord.”
“So let it be recorded,” Drake said. “So let it be done.”
“So let it be recorded,” the Council members said. “Done and done.”
Leaving the dais, Katiya took a seat in the back of the room.
“Elena Knightsbridge, come forward.”
Heart pounding, she moved toward the foot of the dais.
Drake smiled at her. “Come, stand beside me.”
“No!” Liliana’s voice echoed through the room like rolling thunder.
“Be still!” Drake shot a quelling glance at his mother. “If you interfere again, I will have you removed.” He held out his hand to Elena. “Come.”
Praying that her legs wouldn’t fail her, Elena took Drake’s hand and stepped up on the dais.
Drake faced the Council. “Rodin Sherrad annulled my marriage to Elena Knightsbridge. As Master of the Coven, I hereby revoke that annulment. From this time forward, Elena Knightsbridge will be my wife. All who wish to shelter here will accord her the respect to which she is entitled as my consort. So let it be recorded. So let it be done.”
“So let it be recorded,” intoned the Council members. “Done and done.”
Taking Elena in his arms, Drake kissed her lightly. “I love you,” he said quietly. “Please take your place.”
Fully aware of Liliana’s fulminating gaze, Elena took the chair vacated by Katiya.
“Andrei Lazarescu,” Drake said, “come forward. As Master of the Coven, I now unite Andrei Lazarescu and Katiya Belova as husband and wife by my hand. Andrei, how say you? Yea or nay?”
“Yea, my lord.”
“Katiya, how say you? Yea or nay?”
“Yea, my lord.”
“So let it be recorded,” Drake said, smiling. “So let it be done.”
“So let it be recorded,” the Council members said. “Done and done.”
Hand in hand, Andrei and Katiya left the room, smiling.
“Liam Tarasova, come forward.”
The vampire who strode toward the dais was of medium height with short, dark brown hair and heavy-lidded brown eyes.
“Liam Tarasova, as Master of the Carpathian Coven, I appoint you as the thirteenth member of the Council. Do you accept the responsibility this task entails, and do you now swear to uphold our laws? Yea or nay?”
“Yea, my lord.”
“So let it be recorded,” Drake said solemnly. “So let it be done.”
“So let it be recorded,” the Council members said. “Done and done.”
“One last matter of business,” Drake said. “I have never approved of keeping humans as sheep. It is my intention to offer them their freedom.”
This announcement elicited a gasp from everyone in the room, including Elena.
Liliana stood, her whole body quivering with outrage. “You have no right—”
“I have every right,” Drake retorted sharply, “given to me by your own hand. Sit down.”
Liliana glared at him, her eyes burning bright red, and then she vanished from the chamber.
“I intend to give the sheep their freedom if they so wish it,” Drake said again. “If they choose to stay, they will no longer be prisoners. They will be allowed the run of the first three floors of the Fortress. They may stay or go at their pleasure, but those who decide to leave will have all memory of this place and what happened to them here erased from their minds. Further, I revoke the decree making it unlawful for humans and vampires to marry.”