The dining room was just as elegant as the rest of the estate. Altina looked around her and was glad she had chosen to wear one of the dresses she had packed. One of the pencil skirts and blouses would have made her underdressed. The table was solid carved marble with delicately engraved wyverns, amaranths, and fire lilies.
The chairs were carved black walnut, and only four were set around the long table. Duke Xanthus already sat at the head of the table. Opposite him at the foot of the table, an iron raven candle holder held a lit white candle. It sat on the charger among the rest of the gold, crystal, and pure white porcelain of the table setting. Two more settings were set up to the right and left of the iron raven.
Altina took the seat on the right, allowing the dhampir slave to push
