Chapter 34

I wondered how long it would take for the entire company to discover that my report had led to people being fired. The thought gnawed at me, and I briefly considered hiring bodyguards. While I could handle a few humans easily, facing an angry mob was a different matter altogether. Rationally, the optimistic part of my mind assured me I was overreacting—nothing bad would happen. Normally, people feared me too much to risk open confrontation. But my situation was far from normal.

Sighing heavily, I stood and prepared to leave the CFO’s office.

“Goodbye, Mr. Grimsby,” I said with a faint smile as I headed for the door.

“See you tomorrow, Ms. Drayton,” he replied, winking teasingly.

As I opened the door, I collided with someone. My nose hit a solid chest, and I stepped back, muttering, “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you.”

Looking up, I froze. Cold, reddish eyes glowed like rubies against an eerily pale face. With hair as light as spun gold and skin that rivaled fresh snow, the man looked otherworldly. An albino? No, a vampire—undoubtedly. Instinctively, I stepped further back, widening the distance between us.

“Philip, come inside already. Stop staring at my favorite employee,” Lucian’s voice called out from behind me.

The man—Philip—brushed past me with a glare as sharp as a knife. For a fleeting moment, I considered introducing myself, but his frosty demeanor screamed disinterest. Instead, I managed a polite smile before slipping out of the office and into the hallway.

The door shut firmly behind me.

“What a rude bastard,” I muttered, clicking my tongue.

Then again, this was typical vampire behavior. Vesper often reminded me that vampires and humans rarely got along. It was nearly sunset, which meant he was probably one of the "commoners" she had mentioned. Shaking off my irritation, I headed to the car. It was time to meet the Night Council.

Elio’s cheerful mood helped distract me from my anxieties about the upcoming testimony. Only when the car veered off our usual route did I realize we weren’t heading back to the castle. He stopped in the middle of a dusty road surrounded by fields and a sparse scattering of trees.

“Elio, why did you stop here?” I asked, forcing a nervous smile. The mist clinging to the landscape felt unnervingly cold.

“I apologize, Ms. Thalassa. This is as far as I can take you. The Lord Protector’s car will arrive shortly. Don’t worry—they’ll be here any minute.” He spoke with forced confidence.

With no other choice, I stepped out of the car. Elio quickly drove off, leaving me stranded on the deserted roadside.

"Elio, if no one comes for me soon, I swear I’ll track you down and make you regret this!" I yelled into the stillness.

Fifteen minutes later, I was shivering, the autumn air unnaturally frigid. Just as I started to lose patience, a sleek black car emerged from the mist. It stopped beside me, and the back window rolled down to reveal Hadrian’s familiar face.

“What are you waiting for? Get in,” he ordered, his tone sharp enough to jolt me into action.

I scrambled into the backseat, my earlier anger dissolving in relief. The warmth of the car was a welcome reprieve from the cold.

Hadrian sat beside me, his piercing gaze taking in my trembling hands.

“Why are you shaking?” he asked, his tone more curious than concerned.

“It was c-cold out there,” I stammered, teeth chattering.

“Gareth , turn on the heat,” Hadrian commanded, feigning indifference.

Gareth sighed but complied, and soon, warm air filled the cabin. My body slowly thawed, and I managed a weak smile.

“Thank you,” I murmured.

Hadrian’s reply was blunt. “You can’t look mistreated after I saved you from the casino. You need to appear credible when you testify.”

His explanation was practical, but a part of me wanted to believe he cared. I stole glances at him, catching his eyes once or twice. He didn’t seem as cold as he had the night before, and that small shift put me at ease.

The car stopped in front of a towering iron gate. I scanned the area but saw no cameras or obvious security measures—only a large stone beside the gate. The driver stepped out, pulled a knife from his pocket, and sliced his hand. I flinched as his blood dripped onto the stone, disappearing into its surface. Moments later, the gate creaked open.

“How did he do that?” I whispered.

“He didn’t do anything,” Mr. Larkspur scoffed, turning to face me. “The stone has a blood detector. Humans aren’t allowed to enter unaccompanied.”

Embarrassed by my naivety, I stayed silent until we arrived at our destination. The car stopped before a grand, ominous residence—darker and more imposing than Hadrian’s castle.

“These are the Night Council’s headquarters. Let’s go,” Hadrian said, stepping out.

I hurried after him, reluctant to navigate this foreboding place alone. To my surprise, he stopped and offered me his elbow. My jaw nearly dropped.

“Thank you,” I said, holding onto his arm.

He sighed, adjusting his pace to match mine. Mr. Larkspur’s expression betrayed his shock, but I couldn’t suppress my grin.

We reached the end of a long corridor where two guards stood by a grand door. As we approached, they straightened and opened it.

“Entering—the Lord Protector of Kessler!” the announcer’s booming voice declared.

Hadrian smirked, pulling me closer. Leaning in, he whispered, “It’s showtime…”