The Council gathering was held in a hotel in downtown Vancouver. Ostensibly a conference for a tech company—the cover was elaborate, complete with lanyards and name tags and scheduled presentations. The vampires arrived in luxury cars, dressed in business attire, playing human.
Lyra wore a gray suit. Her father wore black. Marcus Valerius found them in the lobby, his smile polished.
"Lyra. You look well."
"Thank you."
"I was hoping we might have dinner tonight. Before the formal proceedings."
"I'm sorry. I have preparations to make."
His smile flickered. "Preparations?"
"My father and I are presenting. On the history of the treaty. I'm assisting with the research."
Marcus's eyes narrowed slightly. "I wasn't aware the Silvanus family had an interest in historical revision."
"It's not revision. It's context."
"We'll see."
He walked away. Lyra exhaled.
That night, she called Kael. He was in a hotel across the city—wolves couldn't attend the gathering, but he'd insisted on being close.
"How is it?" he asked.
"Terrifying. Marcus suspects something. I don't know what."
"Stick to the plan. Present the history. Let them draw their own conclusions."
"And if they draw the wrong ones?"
"Then we adapt. We always do."
His voice was steady. Warm. She closed her eyes and let it wash over her.
"I miss you," she said.
"I miss you too. But I'll see you soon. One way or another."
"Promise?"
"Promise."