Alaric settled into the velvet chair, his movements smooth and unhurried.
"They are, Lady Selene," he said calmly. "Princess Aurelia is… remarkably suitable. Her bloodline is exactly as predicted. She will serve her purpose for us. And then, as we discussed, she will fulfill hers for the Sunstone Coven."
He leaned back, a low hum of satisfaction vibrating in his chest.
"The transfer will be discreet, of course, once her pregnancy is confirmed and stable. The Thorne line will secure its future, and in turn, the Sunstone Coven will receive its vital infusion. Everyone gains."
"Indeed," Lady Selene replied, her lips barely moving. "Our coven has high hopes for the progeny she will bear. We trust her assets will be… substantial."
"They will be," Alaric said, voice flat. "She is in peak condition. An excellent specimen. You will be pleased with the results."
He paused, his gaze steady.
"Now, regarding her relocation to the Obsidian Peaks and the precise day of her transfer to the Lord of the Southern Wastes, once our business is concluded…"
"And what of the compensation, Your Grace? For such a valuable… asset?"
The sharp voice sliced through the room, shrill and familiar.
Alaric turned, just slightly. Queen Lysandra stood in the doorway, her expression tight with hunger. Her eyes flicked between him and Selene like a predator spotting a wounded beast.
Of course she had been lurking. Always lurking. Waiting for the moment to claw her way into the transaction.
Alaric's mouth curved into something that resembled a smile.
"Queen Lysandra," he said smoothly, his voice a silken thread. "A pleasure, as always. We were finalizing your daughter's onward journey. For your house, we have arranged a sum of five hundred gold coins and an annual tribute of three prime horses. For the next ten years. A generous offer, given the circumstances."
Lysandra's expression twisted. The greed that had lit her eyes turned to fury.
"Five hundred gold? Three horses? My daughter is a princess! Of the Solara line!" she cried.
"A virgin. Untouched. Her bloodline is pure, her beauty unmatched! She will bear strong heirs not just for you, but for whoever receives her next. She's worth far more than that!"
Her voice cracked, rising into a shriek that echoed off the salon's high walls.
"Ten times more! She'll serve the Lord of the Southern Wastes exceptionally well. Her assets are beyond measure!"
Alaric chuckled. A low, humorless sound that sent a chill rippling through the room.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and fixed her with a gaze like sharpened obsidian.
"My dear Queen," he said softly. Each word struck like a needle.
"If Aurelia was truly so invaluable, so precious, then why was she on the market in the first place? Why were you so eager to part with her for a failing alliance? Virginity. Lineage. Beauty. These are attributes of a product, not a daughter."
"And as you know, a product's value is determined by what someone is willing to pay. You named your price. We simply refined it. Consider yourself fortunate we're paying for something you were so quick to discard."
Lysandra flinched as if slapped. Her lips parted, but no sound came. The greedy light in her eyes dimmed into something cold and hollow.
Lady Selene spoke next, her voice calm and crisp like frost.
"The arrangements are precise, Your Grace. The Lord of the Southern Wastes requires a female of impeccable lineage and proven fertility. Princess Aurelia is suitable. Our coven will send a diplomatic escort for her on the full moon, two weeks from now."
"She will travel in our private carriage, directly to the Obsidian Peaks. Her marriage to Lord Vorlag will be immediate. He has waited long enough."
Alaric nodded. He didn't bother to glance at Lysandra again. She was irrelevant.
"The papers for the transfer of funds and horses will be drawn up immediately. Consider it done."
He rose from his seat. The transaction was complete. The princess? Just a name on a scroll. A means to an end.
"Lord Vorlag is… demanding," Selene added, voice gaining an edge. "He expects obedience. Fertility. His bloodline is volatile but potent. A human vessel like Aurelia is rare. The match must be perfect."
Alaric's smile returned, slow and cold.
"She has proven adaptable. She will serve Lord Vorlag's needs exactly. Her compliance is ensured. Her… assets are pristine. She'll be delivered on the full moon, directly to his citadel."
"The Thorne-Solara alliance will be sealed. The Sunstone Coven will thrive. The Vorlag line will rise again."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.
"Aurelia will be the binding link. Between two ancient vampire lines. Between two kingdoms. Her life, her body, her blood will carry our future."
"And of course," he added with a glance at the frozen queen, "her very shrewd mother will benefit as well."
He offered Lysandra a mock bow.
"A perfect arrangement, wouldn't you agree?"