As they wove their way through the crowd, Dorian began pointing out key individuals. His voice was a quiet, steady stream of information. “That’s Marquis DuPont,” he murmured, nodding toward a tall, pale man in an impeccably tailored suit. “One of the oldest vampires in Europe, with a fortune that could rival kingdoms. Over there is Lord Bancroft—he’s dangerous, not because of his wealth but because of his influence. Bancroft has been around since the fall of Rome. And, most importantly…” Dorian’s gaze landed on a commanding young woman at the far end of the room, surrounded by a circle of attendants. “That, my son, is Countess Cortana. She is the Elder.”
Ryder raised a brow. “Elder?”
“In vampire culture,” Dorian explained, “an Elder is one of the oldest and most powerful among us. They
