A knock sounded on the door and everyone became quiet. Daryn got up from his place and went to open the door. A servant was there to give them refreshments and whiskey. He closed the door and shook his head. "Why do I feel that there are spies everywhere in Norhall?"

"Because there are," said Emma.

​​

Daryn's eyes became wide. "Tell me more Emma," he said. The woman had stayed in the castle for almost five hundred years, waiting patiently to take the necklace from Sedora. His gaze traveled to her husband to see for the necklace, but it was obviously well hidden beneath his buttoned up black shirt.

She picked up a glass of whiskey. Crossing her legs, she relaxed back. "Sedora was their queen for a long time. She was known for her cruelties. Sorcerers who were as wicked as she was or who gained something by doing business with the castle supported her. This resulted in formation of several lobbies. All the council members are businessmen. They have some or the other transactions and trades with the royalty. Over the years they have formed strong allegiance with her. So you have to first know what all they do."

"Why not just remove them?" said Daryn sipping his whiskey.

"No," replied Dawn. "You can't remove them just like that. We have subdued one revolt, their sudden removal is going to stir a hornet's nest."

"That's right. They are pretty deep rooted in their dealings and it would take all your acumen and logic to throw them out. But yes, if you want to start fresh, you must chuck them out. I don't know who was close to Sedora, but if I were you I would go for the man who has the maximum to lose," Emma said. "Right now Caleb is too young and not trained. Plus the fact that his mate has just turned, he might be busy. So he has to deal with things very shrewdly."

"True…" Daryn nodded. They all had to go to Ulfric for his wedding. He just hoped that Elize woke up soon.

"You can ask me about these things whenever you like. In fact it would be better if Caleb asks me," Emma said very confidently, certain that both he and his mate would be up and above within a few hours. "I know a lot about Sedora and have been in touch with many of these sorcerers for a long time."

"Then why were they surprised when they saw you and Lazarus?" asked Daryn.

"Shouldn't they be? Given the current conditions in which Canton is dead and Caleb is about to ascent the throne, they think of me as a threat. Not only that, when I was around they knew that I was catering to Sedora's whims and fancies. They thought that this would continue forever, but ever since I got the neck lace back with Dawn's help, they know that my fealty lies with Dawn, and that is their biggest concern."

She heard Lazarus growling beside her. "Nothing will happen to me m'lord," she said and patted his thigh. "With you beside me, nothing can happen to me."

Lazarus leaned in to grab her neck from behind and pulled her closer to him to kiss her on the side of her lips. He knew that if he delved into her mouth, he would end up giving her a blood kiss and that would result in something, which would be out of his control.

Dawn smiled at them and turned her glance to see Daryn, who was already watching her over the rim of his crystal glass. She knew that the beast in him was already rousing.

Emma groaned and chuckled. When Lazarus released her, she said, "The concept of Mozrath had been floating for a long time, but it has taken its formal shape recently with Áed Ruad being at the helm of affairs. He wasn't their leader at first, but with Sedora's powers lessening, he has proclaimed himself to the status of their leader. That Fae is mad. He thinks that he would rule the world one day and has a twisted mind. He is too young but has a mind, which is razor sharp and very dangerous. The worst part is that he is feared in his kingdom to the point that not a leaf moves unless he orders it to move."

Dawn gasped. "That is concerning." She looked at Daryn. A muscle in his jaw feathered. They knew that the person who would be directly affected by this information was Ileus.

"I am glad that you've been able to defeat the winged demons," said Emma. "Thanks to your experience with them." She rolled her eyes and then gulped her whiskey down the throat.

"Would you want more?" asked Lazarus. He was getting horny as hell thinking of drinking her intoxicated blood and then having wild sex.

"I would m'lord," she replied with a faint smile.

Lazarus got up to get more whiskey from the bar. He picked up a bottle and smelled it. "This one is almost a hundred years old," he remarked with a raised eye.

"Yes," Daryn replied with equal amusement. "There are plenty like that inside."

"Hmm," Lazarus hummed with approval. "I will take one for my wife," he said and opened the cabinet. "Each of these would cost over thirty thousand dollars for a peg in the market," he muttered.

Dawn shuddered at the memory of fighting with the winged demons. "Those are such pests!" She said with disgust and anger and fear.

"They are," Emma replied.

"I had a small proposition," said Dawn. She looked at Emma and then Daryn. She wasn't sure how her idea would be taken but she had to speak it out because if she didn't, it might be too late.

"What is it?" asked Daryn with a frown.

Dawn sucked breath through her teeth and then exhaled heavily. "We need to form an alliance against Mozrath. While they are already gathering forces of the Lore, we are simply sitting and watching them and becoming the victims of their connivance. If we all come together and form a coalition of sorts, then we will be seen as one and that would benefit us all collectively."

Lazarus turned to look at Dawn with a bottle in his hand. He leaned his back to the bar and narrowed his eyes at her proposition. He was the type who always fought alone but this was interesting. Plus the fact that he had risen after five hundred years, he was sure that his enemies had become pretty active. "I second this idea," he said from across the room. The notion couldn't have come at a better time.

Emma smiled. "I am in, Dawn. You should also ask Brantley, but I highly doubt that he would refuse. And of course, we have Ileus. However, he has very high stakes in allying with us."

"I know that Ileus will ally with us," said Daryn. He drank the alcohol in the glass and stood up to go to the bar. He looked at Lazarus and asked, "Would you be taking that?"

The vampire nodded and said in a whisper, "I would love to drink from an intoxicated Emma."

Daryn chuckled. "You shouldn't leave until Caleb is crowned as the king of Ixoviya. It would be my honor to have both of you for the ceremony."

---

The servant standing right outside the door clenched his jaw.