One was a tall, imperious-looking male with long black hair and diamond-like eyes. He was Soren’s son, Khalil.

The other two were a man and a woman. The man was Wyr, handsome and also tall, with tawny hair. He had once been Dragos’s First sentinel, and now he was Carling’s mate, Rune.

The woman was Carling. She was beautiful, with almond-shaped eyes, warm brown skin and short dark hair. The last time Melly had seen her, Carling’s hair had been long and flowed down her back.

“Ah, Evenfall,” said Carling. “It holds such memories.” She murmured to Rune, “I could take it all back, you know.”

“You love your new life too much,” Rune said. He gave his mate a sleepy-looking smile.

Carling turned to Julian and Melly. “There, you see? I can’t even tease him. Hello, Melly. Julian.” She gave the others a nod.

While Carling appeared to be relaxed and Rune remained smiling, Melly noticed neither one stepped forward. Khalil didn’t even pretend to smile. Instead the Djinn folded his arms and watched everyone with a raised eyebrow.

Melly didn’t realize she was gripping Julian’s hand so hard until he said telepathically to her, It’s all right. Broken trust can’t be rebuilt in a day. Aloud, he said, “Thank you for coming.”

“You’re welcome,” said Carling. “Truth be told, while I’d love to stay and watch what happens next, I would be too tempted to get involved. As my Rune so wisely pointed out, I love my new life too much. So, Julian Regillus, I will say it again. You’re free of any obligation to the Nightkind demesne save those you choose for yourself. Your future is no longer what I order.”

“Unless you try to hurt my mate again,” said Rune, still with that sleepy smile. In contrast to his lazy, handsome expression, his gaze was sharp as a drawn blade. “Then your future ass becomes mine.” As Carling raised her eyebrows at him, he shrugged. “What? I had to say it.”

At Carling’s words, Melly had felt a tremor run through Julian’s big body. She whispered, “Are you all right?”

Squeezing her fingers reassuringly, he nodded. He said to Carling, “I won’t forget that you were willing to come here and do this.” He looked at Rune. “Either of you.”

“I hope you find the path that makes you happy, Julian.” Carling paused. Then she nodded at Khalil, who put his hands on her and Rune’s shoulders, and the Djinn’s Power swept them away.

Did Carling’s pause go on a heartbeat too long?

Melly spun around to face Julian. What did she do? What did she say? She didn’t take it back and order you to do something else, did she?

He took hold of her arms reassuringly. No. It’s all right. She just advised me about something I already knew I needed to do.

What’s that? Melly searched his expression.

He said, I have to kill Darius.

Councilman Darius?

Yes. Dominic was a bad surprise, but we’ve known for a long time that Justine and Darius were co-conspirators. He said aloud to Xavier, “Open the doors.”

It was hard to step away from Julian, but she forced herself to do it. Beckoning to Tess and Shane, Melly led them to one side, while she murmured in Shane’s head, This meeting may get a little touchy.

It’s a good thing you warned me. Shane’s mental voice sounded comfortably dry. I was in danger of relaxing.

She rolled her eyes at him. If things go the way I think they will, you can take the troops home afterward.

He nodded in acknowledgement. This was a good outing. It’s been a good day.

As Xavier opened the doors, the surviving ten members of the Nightkind council poured in. Although she wasn’t acquainted with any of them very well, Melly knew all their names.

Marged, Connor and Nicholas. Dylan, Leopold and Annis.

Trey, Jaylinn and Gustave.

And of course Darius.

Danger entered the hall on quiet cat feet along with the council. These Vampyres were some of the most deadly of the Nightkind.

Julian strode to the center of the room. The other Vampyres grouped loosely around him. After the last one had entered, Xavier closed the doors again. With his customary erect posture and quiet dignity, he made his way around the edge of the room to Tess, Melly and Shane.

Melly noticed how Leopold and Annis positioned themselves in front of her, Shane and Tess. She didn’t know who had prompted that, whether it had been Julian or Xavier, or if Leopold and Annis had volunteered to do it on their own, but she knew it hadn’t happened by accident.

As Leopold glanced over his shoulder at Melly, he inclined his head. Thank you for what you did earlier.

She returned his nod with a smile. You’re welcome.

Other council members took in the trio’s presence with less equanimity.

Darius said, “Really, Julian, a human and two Light Fae? This is an emergency council meeting. Not even Xavier should be present.”

“Shut up,” Julian said. His icy voice cracked like a whip.

Reaction rippled through the council. Gustave and Jaylinn looked outraged, while Marged, of all people, appeared unsurprised.

Darius snapped, “You dare talk to us like that? After slamming martial law down on this demesne then disappearing into thin air – And now you’ve killed two members of this very council —”

Julian had stood in such a neutral posture that when he exploded, Melly startled violently.

Oh, shit.

He had said he needed to kill Darius. He didn’t say he needed to do it right now.

Julian body slammed Darius into the wall. Both Vampyres blurred into vicious movement. Snarling filled the air.

Shane shoved Melly back into a corner and covered her body with his, facing outward. Xavier did the same with Tess.

Julian and Darius tumbled along the length of the room, striking blows at each other. Like an avalanche or some other natural disaster, they seemed utterly unstoppable, until Julian slammed Darius’s head into the floor so hard, the crack resounded through the hall.

The blow would have killed any number of other creatures, including younger Vampyres. Darius struggled to get to his hands and knees.

Some of the council members had stepped forward, as if they might plunge into the fight as well, while others moved to block them. Tension held everyone at some kind of brink. They stared at Julian and Darius with shocked faces and reddened eyes.

Before Darius could fully rise up, Julian kicked him. The blow flipped him onto his back. Coming down hard with both knees on the other Vampyre’s stomach, Julian drove one fist into Darius’s chest wall, pulled out his beating heart and crushed it in his fist.