“First of all, who are you?” Kamaria asked.

“I am Xaen, the leader of this Clan,” the man replied, “and anything that someone does that goes against the Vampire Code must be reported to myself. Your father went against the Code when he got too close to your mother. That is why he could not see you until you turned fifteen, the age of maturity for a vampire.”

“I see. So, what did Aedin do this time?”

Xaen furrowed his brow. “Well, you see, he—-” He was interrupted by Melanie, who opened the heavy silver door. The light from the other chamber made her bright green hair look like it was glowing.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she said. “Um, Xaen, sir, your presence is requested in the Herrunt Ebvin. I didn’t mean to interrupt you, but it’s rather urgent.”

Xaen looked at Melanie angrily. “What is it now?!”

She appeared worried. “Well, sir, it’s Romulus. You know, the filthy werewolf? He seems to have escaped.”