I stood before the joint assembly of the Witches' Council and Vampire Court with my head held high, though my insides were churning. The grand chamber beneath the old cathedral had been divided down the middle, witches on the left, vampires on the right, with a narrow aisle between them that felt like a chasm. The ancient stone walls seemed to absorb the tension radiating from both sides.
My grandmother Vivienne sat at the center of the witches' side, her silver hair pulled into a severe bun, and her emerald robes a stark reminder of her authority. Her face was carved from stone, not a flicker of familial recognition in her eyes as they bored into me. I had never seen her look so cold.
Across from her sat Lord Elias, the eldest member of the Vampire Court, acting as their representative
