Chapter 2

I laughed, the sound sharp and sudden in the silent hall.

"I have nothing to say," I said, leaning back in my chair and meeting his gaze without flinching.

After all, he'd already found me guilty.

Joseph was silent for a moment before finally announcing, "Elizabeth, the clan needs order. Your actions have caused a public outcry. I have no choice but to punish you."

"Punish me?" I raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to throw me in the Silverwater dungeons?"

"I'm not that heartless," Joseph sighed, a mask of false sympathy on his face. "But as of this moment, I am officially revoking all your authority within the Nightwood Clan."

"You no longer have the power to contact our allies, open the treasury, or consult any of our ancient texts."

He turned his head to the woman who was smirking in triumph.

"Julia, you will take over these duties," Joseph declared. "You are now responsible for replenishing the spent mana crystals and rare bloods. Conduct a full audit of the accounts."

"As you wish, my Lord Earl," Julia said with a curtsy and a smile.

It hit me then.

This wasn't some spontaneous accusation. This was a coup.

Joseph was jealous of my influence, afraid of the vast resources I controlled. He wanted my allies, my network, my blood stores.

And Julia was just the attack dog he'd sicced on me.

"Of course, Elizabeth," Joseph said, turning back to me, his tone softening as if offering a scrap of mercy. "Once you have repaid everything you've taken, I will restore your position as Chief Advisor. Now, for the stability of the clan, hand over your directory of allies."

So the mask finally slips.

He couldn't wait to get his hands on the network I had built.

I didn't argue. I didn't rage.

I calmly pulled an old, black leather-bound scroll from my sleeve and tossed it onto the obsidian table.

The scroll rolled to a stop by Joseph's hand. Greed flashed in his eyes.

I stood up, smoothed the wrinkles on my gown, and gave him a small smile.

"I hope you can actually persuade them to listen."

With that, I turned without a backward glance and walked out of the hall.

Thirty minutes later, I stood at the floor-to-ceiling window of my room, watching the gloomy sky.

A flurry of wings erupted from the main tower.

Thousands of blood-ravens burst from the windows, a black, ominous cloud spreading to every corner of the estate.

The clan's highest form of official notice.

I didn't need to guess what the messages tied to their legs said.

"Chief Advisor found guilty of embezzlement." "Abused her position to steal from the treasury." "Suspended from duties, pending further review."

I could already hear the whispers of the lower-ranking vampires downstairs.

They were gossiping about my "greed," mocking my "fall from grace."

A clatter of footsteps echoed from the hall.

BANG!

My door was kicked open without ceremony.

Julia strode in, flanked by two armed guards, her head held high.

She walked directly to my sofa and sat down, crossing her legs like she owned the place.

"How does it feel, Elizabeth?" Julia asked, admiring her freshly painted red nails, a victor's sneer on her lips. "To be spat on by the entire clan? It can't feel good."

I looked at her coldly. "Who gave you permission to enter? Get out."

"You think you're still the high and mighty Chief Advisor?" Julia shot up, her voice rising. "You're nothing but a criminal waiting for sentencing!"

She stepped closer, lowering her voice, her eyes gleaming with malice.

"The Earl is being merciful," she said with mock sympathy. "He's willing to forget about the fifteen crates of mana crystals."

"All he wants is for you to contribute your private blood bank!" she stared at me, her greed unconcealed. "Turn it into a public clan resource. As payment for your crimes."

My private blood bank.

It held my personal collection of priceless bloods brought from House Valerius, each vial worth a fortune.

They didn't just want my power. They wanted to bleed me dry of my last remaining value.

"And if I don't?" I asked, my voice ice.

Julia gestured to the menacing guards behind her, her threat clear.

"Then we will have no choice but to exile you from the clan and broadcast your greedy crimes to every vampire coven there is. You'll be a pariah, unable to ever show your face again!"

She took a step back, lifting her chin arrogantly, a true commander.

"So you'd better be smart about this. You have three days. Hand over your private blood bank."