We made it to the end of the hall and stopped on the balcony that overlooked the main foyer. I peeked over the edge to see people lingering in groups with drinks. Conversations made a soft buzz throughout the room, but I could hear a piano playing a calming tune from somewhere. I inhaled a deep breath, preparing myself.

Avalon turned to head down the steps and I pushed myself after him, afraid I'd lose my courage. I stepped down the marble and wooden stairs with even, measured steps. I would never recover my dignity if I were to trip and fall. As if hearing my thoughts, Avalon offered his hand. I placed my fingers on the top of his wrist and came even with him, walking down each step together in a steady pace.

I always wondered how he seemed to know things in perfect timing to his surroundings. My brother was adept and in-tune with just about everyone we had ever met. It was as if he could see what would happen before it occurred, and he always knew what to say or do.

We were halfway down the stairs when the attention in the room focused on us. I noticed people's heads turned and conversations dropped to nothing more than a quiet murmur. I forced a calm smile on my face, biting down on my back teeth so my jaw wouldn't tremble.

I had never been around so many vampires in my life. The two Australian coven houses we had visited on our way to the United States had been much smaller. But the American coven was easily twice as large. According to our escorts on the trans-Pacific flight, there were supposed to be two more large parties joining us here.

As we reached the bottom of the steps, a male voice announced: "Lady Eris Alexandria Katherine Eos Mezdor, the Dark Child, and her brother, Master Scholar Avalon J. Mezdor the Prodigy."

There was polite, soft applause as we stepped down to the edge of the large gathering. I fought against the heat that swarmed my cheeks and ears in the form of a blush.

"The Blood Warrior, Logan Mezdor, fledge of Count Vlad Dracula Dex, and Lady Ranelle Faire-Mezdor of the House of Winslow."

I watched as our parents moved down onto the main floor, Mother still resting her hand on top of his as her guide. They moved with well-practiced precision, as if they had been part of the high society for decades before hiding in our small corner of the world. And I wondered if that was true...

"Welcome again, Eris," Seren said as he walked towards my family. "And we are pleased to have you all here with us. It's been too many years since we have last seen you," he added to my parents and brother.

"Thank you, Seren," Dad answered for all of us.

"The pleasure is all mine. Let's get you four introduced since this is your first time in the States."

I followed him when he waved us forward into the crowd. I glanced at the others, noticing how some immediately bowed their head to our presence. I tried not to fidget, surprised by the gesture. I immediately looked forward again when Grand Elder Seren waved at a group of vampires in front of a large, white marble fireplace. Elizabeth Bartholomeu was sitting on one end of a grey velvet divan while a blonde-haired woman sat at the other, their knees turned toward one another as they spoke quietly.

The dark-haired woman paused her conversation with her confidante and looked at us. Both stood in one fluid motion as the commander's face immediately filled with another curt, political smile. Her eyes went from my brother to my parents before settling on me. "Thank you again for accepting our invitation. I'm honored to have you join us here in America," she said as she and her companion curtsied.

"The thanks are to you, Commander. I'm grateful you thought of us," I answered. I could glimpse the warmth in her eyes that she was trying to mask with professionalism.

Elizabeth smiled, looking genuine. "May I introduce the rest of my council? This is Combat Shadow Captain Contessa Deloncré, my Head of Operations."

"Hello, mademoiselle," the blonde told me, grinning widely. She was smaller than Elizabeth, petite in frame and build. Her golden-blonde hair was pulled half-back in delicate curls, her eyes bright blue.

"Good evening," I replied, nodding my head sharply.

"Head of Security, Lord Malcolm Selway," Elizabeth continued. She gestured to a tall, red-haired man who stood behind Contessa Deloncré.

"Welcome, Lady Mezdor," he greeted. He had a thick, close-cropped auburn beard and his hair coiffed back in waves. "It's a pleasure to have you here with us."

"Thank you," I said. "I'm sure the pleasure is mine."

"And lastly, my second-in-command, that charming showman over there on the piano," Elizabeth added, turning to look over her right shoulder to a dais that was framed by columns. A baby grand piano sat propped open, a man at its bench and his hands on the keys as he played.

He looked up and let the tune die away on an appropriate final note as he got to his feet. He walked towards us with a polite grin. His chocolate-colored hair was cut close on the sides, slightly longer on top and gelled to one side so it was out of his hazel eyes. He was tall and slender in build like Avalon. He immediately approached, his hands going behind his back.

"Lord Marcus Aurelius Augustus," Elizabeth introduced. She looked up at him with a smile that seemed livelier than her business-professional demeanor.

"At your service, Lady Mezdor," he added, bowing his head.

"Thank you, Lord Augustus," I said, smiling.

He looked up from me to my parents. "It is good to see you again, Lady Ranelle. We've missed you at the Grand Tribunal the past two years," he said, smiling at my mother with a warm expression before training his eyes on Father. "And I am pleased to finally make the acquaintance, Lord Logan. However, I am ashamed to say that my father has some rather damning claims about the Blood Warrior's drastically 'too good, cheating,' poker skills."

Dad laughed from behind me at the joke and he stepped forward to shake Marcus Augustus's hand before the younger man turned and shook my mother's in greeting.

"Good to see you again, Marcus," Mother replied, smiling. "I'm not sure if you've ever been introduced to our son," she added, nodding to my brother.

"No, unfortunately not," Marcus answered with a dignified grin. "It's good to meet you, Master Prodigy. Your skills amongst the scholars at the Capitol have been reported as nothing but good things," he continued, offering his hand to my brother.

I watched as Avalon's eyes flicked from the American Second before shifting to Elizabeth, seeing her smile at Marcus Augustus. "Pleased to meet you as well, Lord Augustus," he answered, his voice blunt yet professional.

Elizabeth turned her attention back to us. "Can we get you any refreshments or wine? We are just waiting on the New York coven's council, and then we should be ready to begin talks around strategy and next steps."

"Thank you," I replied before Avalon could answer her. I turned my head as another staff member in all black came forward with a tray. Glasses of red wine and snifters of whiskey made up the refreshments. A decanter of blood sat balanced between them. I noticed clear glasses of water sat on the outside of the collection of drinks, and I quickly chose one.

The staff member offered to our mother and she copied my choice.

I watched as Avalon leaned forward to take a whiskey glass. I knew he enjoyed sneaking bottles into the house when our parents were preoccupied, drinking it within his art studio long after we had all gone to bed for the day. "Thank you, my lady," he said, making sure to salute her lightly with his glass.

My father then took his chance and picked up a glass of whiskey. He inhaled a short breath, sniffing the amber beverage. He raised an eyebrow and glanced at the younger coven leader. "Irish?"

"Surprisingly, no. It's distilled here in the States," she answered him with a grin.

"Thank you," my father said, nodding his head to her as he saluted her gesture with his drink.

Elizabeth turned her attention back to me. "Please, make yourselves comfortable," she added, nodding to the empty chaise just off to her council's left.

"Thank you," I echoed in what had felt like the millionth time. I moved to sit on one end just as my mother followed. We sat and she reached over to squeeze my arm for a short moment in a sign of reassurance. "This home is beautiful. The architecture is stunning," I added, attempting polite small talk.

The dark-haired woman looked from me to the ceiling, taking in the exposed, rustic beams and delicate marble and woodwork. "Thank you. The grand elders thought it would be lucrative to have a secondary coven here in the States." She looked over to Seren casually. "We've been here since the Seventies, yes?"

The grand elder nodded in agreement. "Yes, erected in the Colonial style. We decided to build our United States home with as much American style as we could muster."

"It's beautiful," I complimented again.

"Thank you," Seren answered.

"Mademoiselle, if you think this gorgeous, then I am excited to see your face when you lay eyes on the Capitol," the blonde named Contessa said, grinning and giving me a wink. "You will love it."

Mum nodded in agreement with a light giggle.

"I'm looking forward to it," I responded, smiling. The Head of Operations was charismatic and sociable. But I could make out a calculating person behind her warmth, much like how my cat looked when purring.

"And we are excited to have you finally presented before the Grand Tribunal," Elizabeth agreed with me, nodding. "It's good to see a woman begin to make her rise towards the top. We are all curious to hear what you plan to do for bringing some semblance of peace between the two covens."

I fidgeted uneasily, surprised they were already placing wagers on me. I knew absolutely nothing about their world. "Thank you," I echoed again, still trying to smile without looking nervous.

"And thank you, Miss Mezdor, for your bravery to take on such a battle," Malcolm Selway said from behind Contessa, his head nodding.

"Absolutely. I think that is true of all of us," his commander said, nodding again. "Lady Ranelle, when do you plan on coming back to the Capitol? It feels like it's been forever since you and I have seen each other at court with the High Council," Elizabeth added, her attention turning to my mother. "I trust your judgement on the standards set forth in Grand Tribunal."

I used the distraction to take a quick sip of my water. Suddenly I wondered if I should have chosen a glass of blood to help steady my apprehensions. I lowered it back to my lap, careful not to let the condensation drip onto my legs.

"Soon, or so I hope," Mum answered her. "Now that we find ourselves in these times, I doubt summits will be slowed down."

"Well, I'd be happy to remind the coven commanders of all that you do for us behind-the-scenes," Marcus said.

"How are your parents, Marcus?" my father asked, continuing the conversation. I made sure to listen hard, remembering little facts and snippets, adding to my growing biographic knowledge of the coven.

"Very well. They were just here for a visit two months ago," Marcus responded.

"Yes, Marcius has used his trips as an excuse to whip all of us into shape," Contessa teased, making the coven council laugh lightly at her joke. I made a mental note to question Avalon about Marcius Augustus later.

"That sounds about right," my father chuckled, nodding in agreement.

"And how was your travel?" Elizabeth continued the talk. Her tone wasn't quite as friendly as her second's or her operations professional's had been, but I couldn't deny that she had perfect manners, just as Avalon and I had been raised with.

"Very smooth," my mother answered her.

"Yes, it was quite exceptional," Avalon added, finally able to get a word in.

"Good. We weren't sure if you would have problems getting here in the West. There have been a few reports come our way of the enemy's movements across Southeast Asia and the Pacific," Elizabeth said, looking at my brother with another polite smile.

I swore I could hear his heart beat faster for that one instant.

"How bad have they been here in the Americas?" Dad asked.

She shifted her attention from Avalon to our father. "Only just now becoming a pest," she told him honestly. "We rarely get any word of migrations, and only two or three outposts throughout the area have had run-in's with them in the past couple years."

"That's good that you're still somewhat under the radar," he replied.

"Yes, very much so," Malcolm agreed. "We've been very careful in how we camouflage our activities outside of the property. We operate solely off-the-grid."

"Excellent," Dad praised.

Just as Elizabeth was about to turn towards me to say something, the wide double doors of the front entrance opened and her attention turned in their direction immediately.

I glanced over my shoulder just in time to see who had arrived.

A man and woman came through the door, the man wearing a black suit and his companion in a black dress. They grinned and nodded as the American coven house all bowed their heads. Mother stood from her seat with a smile, turning to look at them as they approached. My father also grinned.

"Well, if it isn't the entire Mezdor clan?" the man said in a strong British accent. He had dark, raven-colored hair that was slicked back away from his face. "Long time, Logan," he greeted as he held out a hand to Dad.

"Too long, Brother," Dad agreed as they grasped hands.

"Hello, Ranelle," the blonde-haired woman said to my mother as they embraced.

I smiled uneasily, my mind racing to place their names. They had to be the coven leaders Avalon had mentioned.

"Hello, Kearran, it's been so long," my mother answered the woman.

The blonde named Kearran smiled as she let go and stood back up to her full height, a few inches taller than Mum.

"Yes it has," the woman agreed before turning to hug our father as she switched places with the other man.

"Hello, Nathan," my mother greeted him as he hugged her gently, careful of her stomach.

"Good to see you again, poppet," he answered her in a warm tone. I remembered that a man named Nathan had been one of my mother's mentors in her first few years as a vampire. She had often told me stories when I was young, about her early adventures of traveling around the world in different times and places. And she had spoken highly of the man and woman who had taken her under their wings.

He pulled back from their hug and looked over her shoulder to me. "And you must be Eris," he added, giving me a friendly smile.

"Nathaniel, I'd like you to meet our daughter, Eris," my mother affirmed his guess. "Eris, this is Commander Nathaniel Bartholomeu from London."

"Good to see you again, young lady," the Brit said. "Last time I laid eyes on you, you were only a few nights old. You've grown up quite a lot since then."

"Pleased to meet you, Lord Bartholomeu," I answered, shaking his hand when he offered it.

"The pleasure is all ours," he answered. "We are more than happy to be here."

"Papa, we weren't expecting you until tomorrow," came the sound of Elizabeth's voice from my right, and I quickly stepped out of the way. "You should have called me."

"Hello, kitten, good to see you, too," her father joked as he hugged her. "My goodness, when are you going to stop growing up on me?"

"When you stop remembering me as a twelve-year-old," she teased back.

"My fault, Lizzy. I didn't want to wait another night," the blonde woman said as she moved from shaking Avalon's hand to hug her daughter.

"Kearran Silverstone," my brother's hushed voice suddenly came from behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder to see he had moved to stand near me. "You'll like her."

I nodded, giving him a look of gratitude for filling in the blanks.

"Of course," the younger woman responded, smirking as they let go of their embrace. "Then it's a good thing I asked the staff to have your room ready tonight instead of tomorrow."

The American coven leader's parents and my mother laughed. I smiled, quickly taking in how the dynamic of everyone changed with the British coven leaders' arrival. It had gone from polite politics to casual friendliness in only seconds. I would have to figure out how to adapt to the new atmosphere and catch up on the history between the company of strangers.

Elizabeth glanced from her parents to her council and then Seren Winslow. "Do we have an E-T-A on the New York coven yet?" she asked, her voice betraying her business tone.

"Within the next half-hour," Contessa answered her.

The grand elder nodded in agreement before walking to the new arrivals and greeting them. "Knowing Anthony Romano, he'll expect us to wait until he wishes to make a grand entrance," he added. I tried not to smile at his clear dislike of the Eastern seaboard's commander.

"Perhaps not if someone hadn't called him 'Tony' the last time they were here," Contessa said with a light giggle, and I watched as both Elizabeth's and Marcus's gaze went to Malcolm.

The Head of Security rolled his eyes in exaggeration. "Well, he was acting like—what is it they call Italians?—a guido. What did he expect, me to call him, 'the Godfather?'" he asked before taking a sip of his glass of whiskey.

Marcus chuckled when Elizabeth chose to ignore the comment, her head shaking. "Then let's stick with formal names only tonight," the second-in-command replied. He looked at my parents and Nathaniel and Kearran. "Please don't be offended, but we kids don't always get along with our East Coast brethren."

My father chuckled after taking another sip of his drink.

Nathaniel shook his head with a grin. "You four have proven you can act like adults. I don't think we're as worried as we used to be," he told the younger generation. "But just know your parents are only a short phone call away now that cell phones have become so popular."

The group laughed, and I found myself giggling along with them despite the lack of context.

"Then why don't we take this reception into the lounge while we wait on Commander Lord Romano and his council?" Marcus added as he gestured towards the other side of the grand foyer to a pair of double doors.

Elizabeth clenched her jaw for a moment before replacing the look with a fixed smile and a nod. I suspected she had been planning for another visual when her countrymen arrived, but she was willing to defer to Marcus's idea.

"Excellent," Nathaniel Bartholomeu responded and turned to head that way.

I watched them go before my mother reached over and circled her arm around my shoulder to walk with me. She gave me a gentle squeeze. "You're doing well. Don't be nervous," she whispered, making me smile at her.

I nodded, comforted by her praise.