"Yes, of course I would welcome you to my home. Have I ever been anything but a gracious host before?" Elias said with a charming drawl over the phone in his office.
He knew that Claire was outside the door, but he did nothing to dissuade her presence. If she stayed within the mansion, he did not care. But if there were plans for a sudden visit by the local arm of The Council, he would need to prepare her as best as possible. And to Elias, that meant getting her as far away as possible.
As soon as the phone was set down, Claire sprinted away to the library. She scoured the books, grabbing anything on The Council that she could find. Elias walked past the room at one point but paid her no mind. He was glad that she was reading up; it would save him explanations. He knew exactly what was in his library, and he could shape his answers around that.
Finally, after too many hours, he entered the grand room and took a seat on the plush chair across from her. Claire looked up hesitantly and whispered softly, "Why would The Council come here?"
Elias told the barest part of the truth that he could, "They wish to speak with you. About you."
"Why?" Claire pushed, already frustrated. Elias had never even told her about this 'governing body,' but they had the right to demand entry into their home?!
Elias shrugged casually, "The Priestess of the Yew Coven spoke to the Alpha of the Half-Moon Pack yesterday evening about something that possibly pertains to what you came across in the forest. As they are the two local representatives of The Council, it is being called a Council Meeting. But there will be no fae present, so it is not a legitimate meeting."
Claire knew of all of Elias's abilities save one. He could alter the mood of those around him. To most, his effect was minimal, closer to a suggestion. But to the young woman he sired? He was capable of almost total control. So, he calmed her down as he spoke, taking away her anxieties.
Relaxed, she nodded. A pin-prick of guilt needled Elias's conscious as he so blatantly controlled her, but he quickly pushed it aside. It was better for everyone if she was relaxed. "They will be here within the hour. Go clean yourself up. Do not come until I call for you." He stood to leave and then turned to face his child. With a serious expression, he said, "Eat well."
Claire nodded and left for her room. Elias doubled back to the library and examined how much reading she had done. He relaxed slightly when he found that she had yet to get to the laws set out by The Council. It would be best if he explained them himself.
Just under an hour passed before Elias heard them arriving. He found it amusing that the old Priestess traveled alone, yet the Alpha brought half a dozen warriors, along with his Beta. Wolves were always wary around the other supernatural creatures; they themselves were the closest to humans, and the only ones truly capable of living their entire lifespans among humans. Their abilities to switch between forms left them outsiders in both worlds, always on the edge of being too much of one for the other. Though history did prove that their caution was warranted.
The witch entered first. Elias had not seen her in over forty years, and her face forced him to do a double take. Something caught in his throat as he looked at her wide nose, blue eyes, and full brows. A dreadful thought popped into his head, but he pushed it out immediately, chastising his mind for even considering the possibility.
"Priestess," he nodded politely as she approached him first.
The old woman smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. She held her hand out, surprising Elias. Most witches were too superstitious to shake hands. Touch was a popular way to pass along minor curses. When Elias did not return the gesture, she laughed hollowly, "Elias, have we not known each other long enough for such trivialities to be unnecessary?"
Elias raised a brow in response. Keeping his hand by his side, he replied, "Appears that we have not, Jocelyn."
She tittered and moved to take the head seat. The chair did not move under her touch. Long ago, Elias had a witch enchant certain furniture to not move unless it was his hand or that of a vampire he sired. Jocelyn smiled sourly as she felt charm prickle her wrinkled fingertips. Her hatred for the other supernatural creatures, as well as intermingling among them, was well known. The only reason her coven's pact still stood with the Half-Moon Pack was the magic that bound her to it.
Within a few minutes, Alpha Peter and Beta George walked up to the garden gate. Their army of guards stopped obediently along the fence, with a few more behind them on the driveway. Elias was already quite perturbed by how this meeting had been called, so he took no issue with bothering the wolves a bit by commenting, "You seem to have left your entire pack helpless with the number of warriors you've taken to guard you, Alpha Peter."
The Alpha's eyes flashed dangerously at the vague threat, but his expression did not change. Instead, he laughed, clapping Elias on the shoulder.
The pair took their seats opposite Jocelyn, speaking through their mind link. Elias allowed them to wait for him for a few moments, smoothing his suit jacket and running his fingers through his trimmed beard. Finally, he joined the group. Wordlessly, he poured himself a cup of tea from the kettle sitting in the center of the stone table. He added a single sugar cube before blowing on the golden liquid and taking a long sip. "Shall I have the butler bring out something else?" he asked as if they were a group of old friends or business partners.
"I do not have time for your false niceties, Elias." Jocelyn cleared her throat and began. "We have reason to believe that the young vampire in your house is a hybrid."
Elias could sense Claire loitering by the garden door, basking in the sun. She should not be able to hear what was being said, but he never got the chance to test her abilities. He nodded his head calmly to the witch and replied, "That is quite the accusation to make. Especially since you do so without a fae representative present."
Jocelyn did not hesitate to respond, "If we are wrong, bringing her out will settle the matter within a moment."
Elias laughed, taking another sip of his tea. "And what precedent would I be setting then? I wish to have your proof before I embarrass my child in such a manner. I will not parade her around like some," he shot the wolves a snide glance. "Some show dog."
Alpha Peter narrowed his dark eyes and asked, "Child?"
"Not every vampire sires with the intent of taking a paramour," Elias snapped. "We have more on our minds than mating."
"Speaking of mating," Jocelyn began, but Peter cut her off.
"Do you wish to explain what creature created this scent?" he asked with a cutting look at the witch.
"You know the scent of every fae creature there is?" Elias replied, losing patience. Though his interest had been piqued momentarily by Jocelyn's mention of mates; it had confirmed a sneaking suspicion that Claire had raised when she had first returned. One he did not want to think about anymore.
"If you do not bring the vampiress out, Elias, I will be forced to take greater actions. A deer was found on my lands that did not smell of fae, witch, wolf, or vampire. And it was traced back to the land allotted for you. Now bring her out."
Elias smiled calmly. He rose from his seat and went to the patio door. Claire was dressed in a forest green blouse and ripped denim cutoffs, and she incessantly picked at the frayed edges. As Elias approached her, she jumped to her feet and stared at him, eyes clouded with worry. "What do they want from me?" she squeaked out.
He placed a hand on her shoulder, which immediately relaxed the young woman. She knew Elias. He would take care of her. He had from the moment he met her. "They want to ask about the deer. The one you ate, that is all."
"Was it sacred?! A shapeshifter?!" The panic returned with newfound vigor.
Elias shook his head and raked his hand through his long, black hair. He searched for the correct words and finally settled on, "None of that. Know that these people, they will be stern and likely unkind. But just remember, ma chérie; I love you as my own child. I will not let them take advantage of you."
Claire nodded, though she was a bit confused. But she trusted him, and followed his lead as they left the house. She held onto his arm, absorbing all the comfort she could from his touch. The trio in front of her seemed frightening, but she did not let the fear grip her; she was with Elias, who had never given her reason to doubt his word. And he had promised to always keep her safe.