Eris lay in Shira’s bed in the Shadowrealm. She was sleeping soundly, her back to him. He noted how small her back was and how different she looked when she wasn’t dressed like a killer. She could almost pass for a Vampyre. The difference may be subtle, but no one missed them.

Eris moved over to her, taking her in his arms to kiss her on the neck. She woke up instantly, turning to him to kiss him full on the lips. Eris hugged her tighter as her legs wrapped around him. Shira sat up, slipping out of his arms effortlessly. Straddling him, she traced one long black fingernail across his chest.

“You seem happy, Eris.”

“I’m content.”

“Really?” Her finger moved down his chest. “Will you ever be happy?”

His thoughts immediately turned towards Azelia, and he suddenly grew very sick with himself. Why had he succumbed to her? He shut his eyes, not wanting to look at her. But he still felt her as she moved on him. He grabbed the sheets tightly, hating himself. Her hips moved slowly in a circle.

“Well? Happy yet?”

Eris tightened the hold on his eyes. Against his will, his eyes opened wide as she began moving her body in intoxicatedly sensual ways. He stared at her, hungry, and jerked up, digging his fangs into her neck. Her blood, black as night, dripped down his chin and down her neck, over her breasts. He loved how it tasted, better than any type of human blood, making him feel even more powerful. His excitement rose as her nails dug into his skin. He did not know how long they were going when he finally collapsed onto the bed.

“Happy now?” she said breathlessly, a smile on her face.

“I need to go.” Eris collected himself and left through the shadows of the shadow realm.

Back in his room, he sat on the edge of his bed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, conflicted. He didn’t know what he was. Was he happy? Was he even sane? He didn’t know either way anymore. All he knew was that Selene maintained her sanity, her life. If Jason turned out to be a creation of the Dark Ones, then he would hunt him down and kill him before she had a chance to encounter him. If he turned out to be a creation of beings of Light, he would turn him.

Before she found him, of course. If she found him and fell in love with him, history might repeat, and she…she might get her wish this time around. Her grief would see to that.

His bedroom door swung open, sending vibrations through the air. He did not need to look up to know it was Nivette. When her feet, bare and gleaming in the dim light, were next to his feet, he looked up and met her eyes that stared back blankly at him.

“I’ve been looking for you.”

Fear seized him. “Why? What happened?”

“We need to hold a meeting, according to Selene. And with some urgency.”

“Why?”

“Oh, would you just come already. You’re Coven Master. It’s your job. So be at the meeting. Besides, it involves the hunting.” Nivette left the room coldly, slamming the door behind her. He stared at the door cautiously, wondering if she suspected where he had been. Pulling himself together and brushing the thought away, he stood up, looking briefly at the shadows as they flickered in the candlelight before he left. He knew by now to suspect that he was always being watched.

Eris walked down the hall to the Spelled Council Chamber. No sound ever left the room, so when he entered, he was surprised to see that they were all arguing.

“No one in this Coven would even take a life, no matter how insignificant,” shouted Miagra, an older Vampyre from the previous regime. Miagra had not mourned the death of the previous Coven Master and knew well enough to fear him and Selene, a fact that had kept her on the council.

“We have three names,” shouted Selene, sounding exasperated. “Not one, not two, but three! Whatever they are doing with it, they have it in their possession. Unless they use it for magic, their lives are forfeit.”

“Who do the names belong to?” Eris saw his sister stiffen while she looked at him coldly. “And how many others are on the list?”

“There are seven names total. The three belonging to this coven are Calpurnia, Amelia, and Aero.”

“Do you know the others?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “They are either from another Coven or Roamers.”

“Find the Roamers.”

“Eris I think—”

“Find the Roamers!” Eris watched her stiffen and saw Nivette stare at him, shocked. The hatred in Jeanette’s eyes flamed, and the distrust in Blake’s eyes grew.

“Very well, Eris. I will not rest until I find them.” Eris watched his sister bow stiffly and leave the council room. Her garrison quickly followed, each sparing one glance at him in different shades of concern and distaste. He waved the door closed and turned to face the only person left. His head snapped to the side, and he lost his stable foot, stumbling back a few paces. The cuts from Nivette’s slap healed up before a single drop of blood could escape.

“What the hell has gotten into you!”

“Don’t hit me,” he said, regaining his balance.

“Oh, I will do whatever I damn well please Eris. That is your sister, and you just brushed her off as though she meant nothing! Did you not see her stiffen when you simply entered the room? Did you not see her flinch? You didn’t even listen to what she had to say!” Her voice kept rising and rising, and with his heightened hearing, he could hear her pulse quicken.

“There was no need.”

“No need? Three of our own are on that list! One of them is likely the killer!”

“It’s also just as likely that the killer is one of the Roamers.”

“It’s a possibility, but it would have made her job easier if she cleared those names first instead of always having the lurking thought that it could still be one of our own. Thoughts hinder investigations! And what if it is one of them? Hmm? She could nip it in the bud just like that,” she finished, snapping her fingers for emphasis.

“I will handle them,” he exclaimed, losing his temper and shoving her away. After a few deep breaths, he stared at her blankly. “Happy?”

Nivette stared at him disgusted. “No. What happened to you? You are practically giving your sister to the dogs! You know the Kings’ Garrison does not like her. They will find any little excuse to kill her. I thought you cared about her?”

Eris glared at her, baring his teeth. “Never question my love for her.”

“Then don’t put it into question.” Nivette stalked from the room. Eris slammed the door behind her. He leaned forward on them, breathing heavily. He muttered a few words, sealing the doors with magic.

“Shira, I need you to do something?”

Shira materialized, leaning against the wall. “I thought I was supposed to find Jason?”

“I’ll do that. No, I want you to find one of these Roamers. Just one, preferably a male.”

“Why? Oh my, you’re going to frame him, aren’t you?” He could hear the smile on her face.

“In time, just watch him when you find him and learn his routine.”

“That will take some time, Eris. Can you hold out that long?”

“I don’t intend to Shira.”

Shira studied him for a second. “Very well.” She turned away, her body already slinking back into the shadows. “One more time, Eris. Are you finally happy?”

Despite himself, his lips curled into a sliver of a smile. “Ecstatic.”