Lady Sylvia cursed under her breath; Vienna doubted if she ever had real feelings in her life. "If both sides are decided, and the queen approves, you are merely here for appearance. So now you are dismissed," Lady Sylvia said.
"Very well." Vienna nodded then curtsied. The queen had prepared her for that, so when she stood she raised her gaze to meet Lady Sylvia's. "It is my understanding that you should consider yourself lucky, to be included in the conversation at all. I wish you a good afternoon."
The council broke out into angry conversations as Vienna took her exit. Leaning against the wall outside in the hallway for support, she put her face in her hands. She had gone and done it. She had angered a bunch of old, scary vampires, and had aligned herself with a mad queen. She was the
