CHAPTER 374: TOO DEEP FOR PEACE TALKS

Meredith.

Brackham cleared his throat. "Now," he said, straightening his tie, "let’s begin. You all know why we are here. The city is under siege. These unidentified creatures have attacked civilians in broad daylight. We have lost too many. Alpha Draven."

Then, his gaze fixed on Draven, "We need your help. Your people have proven capable of handling them. We have seen the footage. You killed those monsters like they were nothing."

Draven leaned back slightly in his chair, unhurried, unreadable. Then, with that calm that always unnerved men like Brackham, he asked,

"Tell me, Mayor, why are you so desperate to destroy the vampires instead of making peace with them? After all, you were the ones who drew first blood."

The room went dead silent. Then murmurs broke out seconds later, whispers rising from the senators like rustling leaves.

Brackham’s eyes widened, clearly not expecting that turn. Before he could reply, Draven’s voice cut through again— low, dangerous, and deliberate.

"Correct me if I’m wrong."

No one dared to speak. But their thoughts screamed loud enough for me to hear.

"What kind of nonsense is this wild animal spouting?"

"He is testing us. Arrogant beast."

"Maybe he wants to get rid of us next..."

My fingers curled against my thigh. The anger flared hot, almost uncontrollable.

Someone had just called my husband a wild animal.

I shut the mind-link off for a second, blocking Draven, Dennis, and Jeffery from my thoughts. I couldn’t risk them hearing the storm that surged inside me.

Just then, Brackham cleared his throat, the sound slicing through the tension in the room.

His composure was shaky at first, but he managed to pull himself upright in his seat and reclaim his voice.

"Alpha Draven," he began, his tone level but tight at the edges, "let’s be realistic. The blood feud between the vampires and us runs too deep for peace talks."

Then he paused, glancing toward his senators for silent agreement and continued, "They are nothing like you. The mayhem they have caused in my city proves they are irrational and unfit for any form of diplomacy. We cannot, and will not, entertain the thought of alliance or truce with them."

He folded his hands on the table, pretending to be calm. "The humans will not have any ties, alliance, or surety with the vampires."

Draven nodded slowly, as if digesting the words. "I see," he said finally, his voice smooth but laced with quiet weight. "Then tell me, Mayor, what kind of help do you want from me exactly?"

Brackham leaned back, exhaling like a man trying to sound in control. "I want you to get rid of them," he said. "Every single one of them. I don’t want a single vampire left breathing on Duskmoor’s lands."

For a heartbeat, silence pressed over the room. Then Draven leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on the table, eyes fixed on Brackham’s face.

"Do you understand the implications of what you are asking for?"

Brackham’s lips parted, but he said nothing. He simply blinked. So Draven pressed on, his tone still steady—perhaps too steady.

"One, eradicating the vampires from Duskmoor entirely is impossible. They are scattered, cunning, and not confined to this city alone. Two, by doing so, you would be making them our enemies as well— and unlike you, I don’t intend to provoke a war that stretches beyond control. Even without an existing truce between us and the vampires, I have no intention of forcing one into existence through blind slaughter."

His words cut through the still air with precision. And no one dared interrupt him.

The senators exchanged uneasy glances. But the silence didn’t stay silent for me. It hissed, crawled, and whispered through the thoughts I could hear.

Brackham’s inner voice slithered first. "I knew this would be a waste of time. Should never have called that arrogant beast here.’

Then, from others—

"All talk. I knew these wolves were useless."

"He is pretending to have principles because he is afraid of the vampires."

"This savage thinks he can lecture us?"

I felt heat rise up my spine. My nails dug into my palm beneath the table.

Through the mind-link, I sent my voice sharply to Draven, Dennis, and Jeffery.

"They are mocking you—all of them. Brackham says calling you was useless, and the rest are spitting filth in their heads."

Jeffery’s growl rumbled faintly through the bond. Dennis’s tone followed, hot with irritation.

"Say the word, brother. We can make them choke on their arrogance."

But Draven’s response was a steady pulse of calm. "No. Let them talk. Their thoughts will betray them before their tongues do."

I forced myself to sit straighter, watching as Draven’s mouth curved faintly in a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

"Then," he said softly, "perhaps you should make another request, Mayor. One that’s possible. Otherwise, there is nothing I can do for you."

The room fell into uneasy quiet again. It was one of the senators—tall, silver-haired, and visibly nervous—who finally spoke up.

"If you can’t fulfil our request, Alpha," he said cautiously, "then tell us—how exactly do you intend to help us?"

Draven’s gaze swept across them before he answered. "I can help you send the vampires away from Duskmoor City. Anything beyond that, I will not involve myself in."

Another senator, red-faced and bold with frustration, immediately snapped, "The Eastern woods and the other forests around belong to us. Are you saying we can’t rid our lands of those vile creatures?"

Draven remained silent. He simply sat there, dangerously unreadable. And somehow, that silence carried more weight than words ever could.

But the senators’ minds flared again, filled with venom.

"Arrogant animal."

"He is mocking us."

"These beasts should be put back in chains."

Their hatred churned in my head, ugly and raw. I gritted my teeth to keep my expression composed. Still, a part of me wanted to bare my teeth.

Across the table, Draven’s gaze flicked briefly to me —a silent reminder that he felt my pulse through the bond, that he knew how much restraint it cost me not to speak.

Then, he turned back to Brackham, his tone calm again but sharp as a blade drawn from velvet.

"Your choice, Mayor. Accept what can be done—or lose what little control you still have."