In Speranza, Italy, at the headquarters of The Vampire Dominion, where the trial took place, they stood side by side along with Yuri but save Lucien, who stood in front of them, the shining, long, thin, lethal blade of a sword with its ornate gold grip that curled in swirls around his hand.

Serena, Gastineau, and a delegation of wraith and phantom witnesses floated behind them, off to the right.

Standing amongst them were Julian and Isobel, Lucien’s children, and Magdalene, his mother. They did not come as representatives of Etienne’s family. They came as the blood of Lucien and were there, as it was their due, to witness Lucien’s vengeance.

Beyond the phantoms and wraiths stood a five-person delegation of humans.

Regan, Ryon, Calder, Caleb, Saint, and a delegation of wolf and she-wolf witnesses stood to their back left.

Right behind them, Leah’s mother, her aunts, and a delegation of concubine witnesses stood.

Etienne, diminished of much of his strength due to the efforts of the phantoms, looking haggard and wearing an unattractive khaki jumpsuit, was on his knees in front of Lucien, his hands manacled behind his back.

Rudolf was off to the side, Cristiano just behind him. Rudolf had a tablet in hand and was reading out the charges.

And the verdicts.

The Dominion didn’t waste time. It had been only two weeks since the battle had taken Gregor’s life.

However, regardless, the evidence was irrefutable.

And unfortunately, there was a great deal of it.

When Rudolf finished, his gaze went to Lucien before he moved to him.

“Are you sure you wish it to be you?” he asked quietly. “This is unprecedented. His crimes are against all immortals and a member of The Council normally would carry out such a sentence.” He got closer and finished, “Cristiano has volunteered to take up the sword.”

“It will be me,” Lucien bit out.

“Lucien—”

Lucien turned his eyes to Rudolf and Rudolf fell silent.

“As discussed, I call this as my marker,” Lucien growled. “The Dominion’s debt to me is paid.”

Rudolf slowly nodded before he moved back to his earlier position.

He looked to Etienne. “You understand the charges. You understand the verdict. And now we carry out our ruling. Do you have any final words?”

Etienne’s face twisted with malevolence and he opened his mouth.

But no sound came out except a gurgle because Lucien had sunk the tip of the blade into his throat and twisted.

“I think we’ve all heard enough from him,” Lucien declared.

“Hear, hear,” Kate, one of Leah’s aunts, called.

“You feel the point of my blade through your throat for touching my mate,” Lucien said softly, eyes to his father’s.

Hate beamed from Etienne’s straight to his son’s.

Lucien was impervious to it.

“You’ve lived long, Father,” Lucien said to Etienne. “You’ve had much time to read, I know. It was something you enjoyed.”