Lucian's pov
The vale did not sleep, they never did
Lucian vale stepped through the iron gate, lanterns burning low along the walls
He didn't knock, he didn't need to because the opens before he reached them
Inside the vale's mansion, the air is thick and ancient with marble floors and dark woods
"You're late"the word echoed from the upper balcony
Lucian didn't look up immediately"i wasn't summoned"
"I was expecting you", cassain vale, his father said as he dasecend the staircase with slow precision
"What have you got yourself into? ", cassian asked
"How? ", lucian asked back
A second prescense entered the room with soft steps
Seraphine vale, lucians'mother watched from the edge of the room, her expression expressionless but curious
"We've heard rumor"she said smothly"a transitional human"
Lucian didn't say anything immediately that makes cassian's eyes sharpened"it's true, then", cassain replied, pissed off
"She was attacked and left unfinishly turned into vampire"lucian replied evenly
"Then is she unstable"cassian said "instability attracts hunter"
"She's stabilizing", lucian said as his jaw tightened
" Under whose authority", seraphine asked
"Under mine", lucian didn't hesitate
The room shifted
Cassian's eyes flickered between them"you claim responsibility? "
"I claimed protection"lucian said
Cassian replied slowly " Protection implies risk to the clan"
"I need to protect her, she did not even what she is yet", lucian replied
" That's precisely the danger"seraphine said
Silence setteled heavly between them
Seraphine circled slightly, stidying her son
"You've grown..., you're brave now isn't it? ", seraphine said
Lucian's eyes flickered to hers he didn't reply her instead he remain calm
Cassion stepped closer to him, talking face to face with him"i will give you three options, turn her fully and bind her to this house, erase her and end her risk, or surrender her to the council custody"
Lucian's pulse slowed delibrately
"She's mot an assest", lucian replied
" She's becoming one", cassian said quietly
The truth of it pressed cold against his thoughts, if he turned her fully, she will belong to the vale bloodline, and if he erase her.. His jaw tightened slightly and if he surrendered her, she will be studied