CRAVES

THE COUNCIL

Amelia had barely slept.

Every time she closed her eyes, another piece of the previous night returned.

Bryan's confession.

The necklace.

His mother's disappearance.

The way he'd stood several feet away from her when she was afraid, giving her enough space to decide whether she wanted him near her.

And the word that had changed everything.

Vampire.

She sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the silver raven resting against her chest.

It looked harmless.

Almost beautiful.

She touched it once.

Then remembered that it had belonged to a woman who had disappeared centuries ago.

Her stomach turned.

A knock sounded.

She looked toward the door.

"Come in."

Bryan entered.

He was dressed in black trousers and a white shirt beneath a dark coat. His hair was neatly brushed back, making him look even more severe than usual.

His eyes found hers.

He stopped.

"You didn't sleep."

Neither did he.

She could tell.

"I tried."

He nodded.

Neither spoke for a few seconds.

Then he walked toward the window and opened the curtains.

Morning sunlight poured into the room.

Amelia squinted.

Bryan stepped away from the light.

She noticed.

She had noticed that before.

She hadn't understood it.

Now she did.

"You really are a vampire."

He looked at her.

"Yes."

She nodded slowly.

Saying it aloud made it feel more real.

She stood.

"So what happens today?"

"The council."

"Are they going to hurt me?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

She searched his face.

He didn't hesitate.

That helped.

A little.

He walked toward her and stopped when there was still a comfortable distance between them.

"If you want to stay here, you can."

She frowned.

"You said I was coming."

"I want you to."

"But?"

"But I won't force you."

She looked at him.

It was strange hearing that from him.

The contract had given him control over far too many parts of her life.

Yet when it mattered, he always gave her a choice.

She picked up her coat.

"I'm coming."

His shoulders relaxed.

Barely.

She noticed anyway.

...

The journey to the council chamber took almost an hour.

They left the manor through a different gate and drove into the older part of the city.

The streets became narrower.

The buildings older.

Amelia watched through the window as modern shops gave way to old stone structures with iron balconies and dark wooden doors.

Bryan sat beside her this time.

Not opposite.

Their shoulders were close enough to touch whenever the car turned.

Neither moved away.

She looked at him.

"How old are you?"

He looked at her.

She waited.

He glanced out the window.

"Old."

She rolled her eyes.

"That's not an answer."

"It is technically."

"Bryan."

He smiled faintly.

She folded her arms.

"Fine."

After a moment, he said, "Three hundred and twenty-seven."

She stared.

He looked amused.

"You don't look that old."

"I appreciate that."

She laughed despite herself.

Then the realization hit her.

Three hundred and twenty-seven.

She shook her head.

"That's ridiculous."

"What is?"

"I married someone who was already alive before my great-great-great-grandparents were even born."

He considered it.

"That's one way of putting it."

She looked at him.

"How many people know?"

"About the vampires?"

She nodded.

"Very few humans."

"Why?"

"Because humans and vampires have spent centuries trying to kill each other."

Her expression changed.

"And now?"

"Now we mostly leave each other alone."

"Mostly?"

He didn't answer.

She didn't need him to.

The car slowed.

They had reached an old building hidden between two taller structures.

There was no sign.

No security.

No indication that anything important happened there.

Bryan stepped out first.

He held the door open for her.

She climbed out.

The moment her feet touched the pavement, she felt it.

Eyes.

Watching.

The street looked empty.

Yet she could feel people looking at her from behind closed curtains and dark windows.

Bryan noticed her reaction.

His hand moved toward hers.

He didn't grab it.

He simply offered it.

She took it.

His fingers closed around hers.

The tension inside her eased slightly.

They entered the building.

...

The inside was nothing like the outside.

The corridor stretched far deeper than the building should have allowed.

Tall black pillars lined the walls.

Candles burned inside glass holders.

No electric lights.

No modern technology.

Everything looked old.

Not abandoned.

Preserved.

Amelia walked closer to Bryan.

He glanced down at their joined hands.

He didn't let go.

At the end of the corridor stood enormous wooden doors.

Two guards opened them.

The room beyond was circular.

A long table occupied the center.

Men and women sat around it.

Some looked young.

Others looked older.

But Amelia knew better now.

Appearances meant very little.

Every pair of eyes turned toward her.

She instinctively tightened her grip on Bryan's hand.

His thumb moved once across her knuckles.

A quiet reassurance.

They walked forward.

Bryan stopped at the center of the room.

Amelia remained beside him.

An elderly-looking woman seated at the head of the table studied her.

Then looked at Bryan.

"You brought her."

Bryan's expression remained cold.

"You requested her presence."

"We requested an explanation."

"You'll receive one."

The woman looked at Amelia again.

"What is your name?"

Amelia answered.

The woman nodded.

"Do you know what he is?"

Amelia glanced at Bryan.

Then back at her.

"Yes."

"And you still came?"

"Yes."

A murmur moved around the table.

The woman raised one hand.

The room fell silent.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Interesting."

Bryan stepped forward.

"Why am I here?"

The woman ignored him.

Her attention remained on Amelia.

"How much has he told you?"

"Enough."

"That isn't what I asked."

Amelia swallowed.

"He told me he's a vampire."

Another murmur.

The woman's gaze moved toward Bryan.

"You told her."

"She deserved the truth."

"After how long?"

Bryan's expression hardened.

"That's irrelevant."

"It isn't."

The woman leaned back.

"You broke every rule when you married her."

Amelia looked at Bryan.

He didn't react.

"What rules?" she asked.

The woman answered.

"No vampire may bind themselves to a human without council approval."

Amelia frowned.

"Bind?"

Bryan's fingers tightened around hers.

The woman noticed.

"So he hasn't told you everything."

Bryan's voice became sharper.

"Enough."

The woman smiled faintly.

"You're already protecting her."

"She is my wife."

The room went silent.

Something about the way he said it made several members exchange glances.

The woman at the head of the table leaned forward.

"Your wife for how long?"

Bryan didn't answer.

"One year?"

Still nothing.

Her gaze shifted to Amelia.

"Do you know what happens when the contract ends?"

Amelia looked at Bryan.

He remained still.

Her heart began to beat faster.

She had known the marriage was temporary.

She had known there was an end date.

But suddenly, the way the woman asked made it sound like there was something she didn't know.

"What happens?" Amelia asked.

The woman looked at Bryan.

"He hasn't told you."

Amelia turned toward him.

"Bryan."

His jaw tightened.

"We'll discuss it later."

"No."

The word left her before she could reconsider.

He looked at her.

She pulled her hand from his.

"If this concerns me, I want to know now."

The council watched them.

Bryan's expression softened slightly.

Then he looked toward the woman.

"The contract ends when the year is complete."

"That's not all."

Amelia's eyes moved between them.

Bryan was silent.

The woman spoke.

"At the end of the year, the council decides whether the human leaves."

Amelia felt cold.

"Leaves?"

"Or remains."

Her eyes widened.

"What does that mean?"

Bryan stepped toward her.

"It means nothing without my consent."

The woman laughed quietly.

"That is precisely the problem, Bryan."

She looked at Amelia.

"Your husband has always believed he can make his own rules."

Bryan's expression became dangerous.

"And you're forgetting who I am."

"No."

The woman's smile disappeared.

"We remember exactly who you are."

The doors behind them suddenly slammed shut.

Amelia flinched.

Every vampire in the room turned toward the sound.

A guard rushed to the doors.

They wouldn't open.

Bryan's attention shifted.

"Who locked them?"

No one answered.

Then the candles went out.

Darkness swallowed the chamber.

Amelia felt a hand grab her wrist.

She gasped.

Bryan caught her immediately and pulled her against him.

"Stay behind me."

Something moved in the darkness.

Fast.

Too fast for her eyes to follow.

A crash came from the opposite side of the room.

Someone shouted.

Another impact shook the table.

Amelia held onto Bryan's coat.

His body became rigid.

Then his eyes changed.

The darkness around them seemed to sharpen.

His pupils disappeared beneath a deep crimson glow.

She had seen his eyes change once before.

Never like this.

He stepped forward.

A low growl escaped him.

The sound didn't seem entirely human.

Amelia's grip tightened.

A figure emerged between the extinguished candles.

Tall.

Pale.

Smiling.

The same silver-haired man she'd seen beyond the gates.

He looked directly at Amelia.

Then at the necklace around her neck.

His smile widened.

"She has it."

Bryan moved in front of her.

"Who are you?"

The man ignored him.

His eyes remained fixed on the raven pendant.

"I wondered how long it would take you to give it back."

Bryan's face changed.

"Give what back?"

The stranger smiled.

"Your mother never lost that necklace."

He took one step forward.

"She left it for her daughter."

Bryan froze.

Amelia's fingers closed around the pendant.

The stranger's gaze shifted to her.

"And you have no idea what is sleeping inside it."

The doors suddenly burst open.

Light flooded the room.

The stranger was gone.

Bryan remained motionless.

Amelia looked at him.

His eyes slowly returned to normal.

But his face had lost every trace of calm.

"What did he mean?"

Bryan stared at the empty space where the stranger had stood.

Then at the necklace.

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"I don't know."

For the first time since she'd met him, Amelia believed him.