The tension in the room thickened, the air almost suffocating as the Lords exchanged sharp glances. Thaddeus, the first to speak, leaned back in his chair with an incredulous expression."Who... on empire is that fucking gorgeous?" he asked, his voice dripping with both fascination and hunger.Gabriel's pale blue eyes flicked toward Damian, his nose scrunching as he took another deep inhale of the lingering scent. "That scent..." he murmured, his voice soft but laced with something dangerous. "Are you all forgetting her scent? It's unlike anything I've ever encountered."Isaac leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as his dark eyes glowed faintly crimson. "Who is she, Damian?" he demanded, his tone low and ominous. "Is she even a vampire?"Damian's jaw tightened, his expression unreadable. "No," he said simply, his voice calm but firm.That single word ignited a wave of reactions.Their eyes turned red almost simultaneously, the glow intensifying as snarls escaped their lips. Their expressions twisted, and the hunger in their gazes made Damian's patience wear thin. It was as if the scent of Arabella in the air had awakened something primal in them, a deep craving they couldn't suppress."She's not a vampire, and she's none of your concern," Damian snapped, his voice sharp enough to cut through their growing frenzy.Thaddeus grinned, his fangs glinting as he leaned back lazily in his chair. "Not our concern?" he repeated, his tone mocking. "Oh, Damian, you can't just drop a little lamb into a den of wolves and expect us to ignore it.""Agreed," Gabriel said, though his tone remained deceptively calm. "That scent... it's impossible to ignore. And her beauty..." He trailed off, his eyes flickering with an intensity that made even Damian uneasy.Isaac remained quiet, his brooding gaze fixed on Damian. But the tension in his posture spoke volumes. The hunger in the room was palpable, and it was taking everything in Damian's power to keep the situation under control.In the corner of the room, Aamon stood leaning casually against the wall, his usual smirk plastered across his face. But behind the facade, his mind was racing. The Lords' growing agitation was dangerous, and he knew it wouldn't take much for their curiosity—and hunger—to spiral out of control."Now, now, gentlemen," Aamon said, pushing himself off the wall with an exaggerated stretch. "You're all acting as if you haven't fed in days." His tone was light, teasing, but there was a nervous edge to it.Gabriel turned his piercing gaze on Aamon, one eyebrow arching. "And what exactly are you suggesting?"Aamon clapped his hands together, his smirk widening. "I'm suggesting we take the edge off, of course." He strolled toward the door and gestured to someone outside. Moments later, four women stepped into the room, their expressions nervous but compliant. They were human, dressed elegantly, and their necks were exposed, the faint pulse of their veins visible.Isaac's crimson eyes flicked to the women, his nostrils flaring. "What is this?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous."Dinner," Aamon said simply, shoving one of the women forward. She stumbled slightly, but Aamon caught her, brushing her hair aside to reveal her neck. "Gentlemen, there's no need to lose control over one little girl when you've got these lovely offerings right here."Thaddeus tilted his head, his grin widening as his gaze roamed over the women. "Hmm... I suppose you do have a point."Aamon didn't wait for further approval. He leaned toward the woman in his arms, his fangs extending as he pierced her neck. Her soft gasp filled the room, followed by a quiet moan as the initial pain gave way to a strange, euphoric pleasure.The scent of fresh blood filled the air, thick and tantalizing. It was enough to snap the other Lords out of their frenzy."Don't mind if I do," Thaddeus said with a chuckle, grabbing another woman and pulling her close. He sank his fangs into her neck with practiced ease, his eyes glowing brighter as he fed.Gabriel, ever the gentleman, approached his chosen prey with a quiet smile. "Relax, my dear," he murmured, his voice soothing as he brushed her hair aside. "This won't hurt... much." He bit down, and the woman's gasp turned into a soft whimper.Isaac was the last to move, his brooding gaze lingering on the remaining woman. She trembled under his stare, but she didn't move as he approached. Without a word, he tilted her head to the side and sank his fangs into her neck, his movements slow and deliberate.At first, the women seemed to enjoy it. Their quiet gasps and soft sighs filled the room, their bodies relaxing as the Lords fed. But as the seconds ticked by, the pleasure turned to pain. One by one, they began to struggle, their whimpers growing louder."P-please..." one of them whispered, her voice weak.Aamon ignored her, his grip tightening as he drained her blood. Her struggles became more frantic, but it was no use. Within moments, her skin turned pale, her body going limp as life left her.The others weren't far behind. The remaining women let out faint screams, their voices fading as their bodies grew cold and lifeless. By the time the Lords were finished, the room was silent once more.Aamon wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, tossing the lifeless body of the woman onto a nearby couch. "Well," he said with a satisfied sigh, "that should keep everyone calm for a while."Thaddeus grinned, his crimson eyes glinting as he leaned back in his chair. "You always know how to entertain, Aamon."Gabriel said nothing, though he licked the blood from his lips with a faint smirk. Isaac, as usual, remained brooding and silent, his intense gaze flicking to Damian.Damian, who had been watching the scene with barely contained disgust, finally spoke. "This is exactly why I didn't want you here."Thaddeus raised an eyebrow. "Oh, don't be such a bore, Damian. We're vampires. This is what we do."Gabriel leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "Still, you're hiding something, aren't you? That scent..." His eyes narrowed slightly. "It wasn't coming from the humans."Damian's golden eyes burned with barely restrained anger. "I told you, it's none of your concern."Isaac finally spoke, his deep voice cutting through the tension. "We'll see about that." His gaze was sharp, his tone laced with quiet menace.Aamon, sensing the rising tension, stepped in once again. "Now, now, let's not get too heated. The night is young, and there's no need for unnecessary drama." He turned to Damian with a sly grin. "Why don't we let our dear brother handle the rest of the evening? He's so good at smoothing things over."Damian shot Aamon a glare but said nothing. His focus remained on the Lords, his mind racing as he tried to figure out how to keep Arabella safe.Outside the room, Selene stood in the hallway, her arms crossed as she waited for the commotion to die down. Arabella's scent still lingered faintly, and she knew it was only a matter of time before the Lords pieced everything together."This is a disaster," she muttered to herself.As the muffled voices continued from inside the room, Selene's icy blue eyes flicked toward the end of the hallway. Her fingers twitched, a faint glow of magic surrounding them as she prepared for whatever might come next.