Draven.
An hour after breakfast, I was halfway through reading an old scroll on interspecies treaties—something I hadn't bothered to look at in years—when the door to the study opened.
Jeffery stepped in, his tone calm as always, but his words broke through the quiet like a pebble hitting glass.
"King Alderic is here."
I looked up, startled. "Here? In this castle?"
Jeffery gave a small nod. "Just arrived. He's with your father in the main sitting room."
I closed the scroll with a soft thud. "It seems the vampire corpses couldn't wait for today's council."
Jeffery smirked faintly. "That's what I figured, too."
We left the study together and headed for the main living room. Sure enough, King Alderic was already seated comfortably, deep in discussion with my father.
Their low voices carried across the space, interrupted only when Alderic caught sight of me.
"Ah, Draven!" Alderic rose with a wide smile, hands extended.
