the sound o

ile her mother's execution played out in the courtyard below. But then she registered the

as wrong in

ds running, shouting in clipped commands. Human staff pressed against walls, mak

the girl rushed pas

eyes wide with terror. "Third one thi

eins. "A plague? Vam

hurried away, clearly not wanting to

ay invisible-that was the smart choice. But the blood debt pulled at her

owed the

e of the apartments stood open, and the smell hit her before she saw anything-death and deca

ards and staff, using her small size to slip

inside was

ment. His eyes were open and filmed over, mouth frozen in a silent scream. Blood-dark, almos

cian-a tall, silver-haired vampire with sharp features and sharper e

on asked, his vo

s the others. Fast-acting, painful, leaves the body in accelerated decomposition. This

l panic if we ca

ead of three." Lucian's silver eyes flicked to Sera sta

absently, still studying the

cing herself to analyze the scene with the detachment sh

e furniture isn't disturbed-he didn't fight anyone. This wasn't an attack." She moved closer, igno

corpse, examining the ha

y invisible, or she could prove her value. "Or he ingested something. Vampir

idering. "The blood supply is carefully monitore

-I used to deliver to the edges of it. Illegal blood trades, untracked donors

e eyes intense. "You know

. Hear things. We're invisible to most vampires, so they don't guard their words around us. I've been delivering blood for fi

u report it?"

We're not exactly encouraged to involve ourselves in vampire business.

riendship and unspoken communication. "Check his finances. I

thing-if this is contaminated blood, we have a serious problem. Vampires feed multiple ti

y. "If vampires are dying from human blood, w

blood would be seen as an attack. An act of war. The fragile pea

preads. Lucian, secure the body. Run every test we have. I

ouncil?" L

ds. "No one speaks about this outside this room. Any

s rippled through th

from the room, and the blood de

g with books, with a massive desk dominating one end. Papers and files covered every surface-research, reports, correspondence. This

e her. "Tell me everything you know

knew which blood bars served only certified blood and which ones asked no questions about sources. She knew the route

egal surface where humans and vampires coexisted under the Blood Accord, and

ionally making notes on his tablet. When sh

finally. "A courier who knows too much but

pt me

leaned against his desk. "The black market operates in human spaces, using human couriers, serv

deliberately poisoning the

ablet and showed her. "These are the three victims. All male, all mid-level court vampires,

of them, but that wasn't surprising. Mid-level v

ket," she said slowly, "there'd be a co

the courier network. People who would talk to you but not to me. I need names, locations, t

?" Sera blinked. "I'm your

am of guards, but they'd be spotted immediately. The black market would shut down, evidence would disappear, and we'd be back t

ing me to r

dying and we can't identify the source, the Council will declare it an act of human aggression. They'll suspend

everyone she'd ever kno

et caught investigating, if the peop

You're bound to me. That means you're under my protecti

Instead, it felt like another

n the Tower, let events unfold without her. But that f

elieved in change. Maybe Sera could b

, a cover story, freedom to move around

on

. A friend in the human distri

her. "The roomm

probably knew everything about S

ccess to transaction data, business registrations, thin

civilians i

human blood. Everyone is involved whether they want to be or not." Sera cro

e. But then he nodded. "Fine. But she stays

ree

ited funds, backed by the Northern Court's considerable wealth. "For expenses.

hand. This was more trust than she'd expecte

s? You barely know me. For all you know,

that? Your mother spent years advocating for better human-vampire relations. She believed both spe

think I s

mon's expression grew somber. "I also think you understand what's at stake in a way most humans don't.

aloud. He was right, though. Being half-vampire gave

start?" S

and start asking questions." Daemon returned to his tablet. "For now, go. I hav

d forgotten. "The Co

s eyes glinted with dark humor. "And Sera? Be careful. Whoever is behind this is ki

ip burning in her pocket and a thousan

re guards were still processing the death scene. Once inside

ys," Ivy answered. "

r help with something, and it's dange

." Sera heard rustling like Ivy

t investigation. She left out the part about being a dhampir-that secret was s

, Ivy was quiet f

hat I think it is-if someone is deliberately poisoning vampires-this isn'

out who's behind it before the Coun

you need

hesitation, no self-preservation, just immediate w

he past year. Also financial transactions-large purchases of blood from illegal sources,

technically illegal for me to access

. If yo

Just that it's complicated. Give me forty-eight hou

re am

" Ivy's voice softened. "Seriously though, Sera. Be careful. If these people are

ys he'll p

on who execute

compli

t... come back to me in one piece, okay? I can't afford this

ite everything.

les, and she dove into them with single-minded focus. Reports on the previous deaths, financial records of the

edge of the Grey District. It was a mid-tier establishment-not fancy enough to attract vampire nob

te to visit it

execution. Humans had been found drained completely of blood, in violation of the Blood Accord's strict feeding regu

rders been the excuse to tighten enforc

in her quarters-Daemon was apparently in meetings all evening. The food was still excel

ing, Sera had made peace with her decision. She was walking into danger, but

for her ideals. Sera

uble doors guarded by four vampires in formal military dress. They nodded to Mar

ould almost see the stars moving. Twelve chairs arranged in a circle, each occupied by a vampire who

weight of their attention was physical, pr

an with auburn hair and a voice like poisoned

s my right," Daemon replied

r of the circle. She kept her eyes down, her posture submissive-not because

ead in five days, all showing signs of the same illness. This

rupted int

Vampires do

st be

treac

nd the Blood Acc

re speaking again, his voice cutting t

nce

ate or accidental. We don't know if it's even related to humans. What we do know is th

aired woman said. "The Northern Court hasn't

So we're all affected. Which means we need to work together

ther Council member asked-an older vampi

specifically from black market sources." Daemon gestured to Sera. "My attendant

?" The auburn-haired woman's laugh was cruel. "Bold

ampires cannot. And in case you've forgotten, many of our blood suppliers are human-run busi

s the Lady of the Eastern Court and one of the most vocal opp

ource is identified," Vivienne said. "No vampire sh

e need to feed. Starvation makes us dangerous, unpredictab

ations flying. Sera watched it all from her position b

tening. And she

h dark hair and a sharp suit. They weren't speaking, but there was communica

r more th

the debate at all. They sat quietly, watching, waiting. That was almos

called for adjournment, Sera's feet ached from standing and

fracturing along old alliance lines. Some wanted war, some wa

ber, Marcus falling into step behind them. "Most huma

ampire," Sera muttered, to

efly-a warning. Marcus was right behin

t. She needed to

imself blood while Sera collapsed into

ing to be a pro

d, considering. "But she's not our immediate concern.

her. Seeing if she

arguments." Sera closed her eyes, reconstructing the scene. "Three Council members didn't participate at all, which means th

Crane-no relation to my Marcus. He's been building influence in the Eastern Court, p

. "Are vampire politics

e rest. Tomorrow night, you start your investigation.

nt was to avoid lo

istance." Daemon moved toward his study. "Oh, and Sera? Thank you. For earlier. Your theory abou

eived from a vampire in her entire life. It sho

," she said. "I hav

ice-blue eyes held hers

ost worse th

ng she'd learned, everything she'd observed, everything she wa

said when her

Ivy sound

ead. But comm

e Sera I know. Go save the wor

'd died for believing in peace, and Daemon who'd killed her but now sought the sam

ever was poisoning vampires and thre

to remember who she was

A courier.

an investigator try

n somewhere in the Tower, and Sera closed her eyes and tried to sleep

contin