Corbett tensed as the doors opened silently.
His uncle, the leader of the Deminski coven stepped briskly through, followed closely by his personal guards. Tall, dark-haired and stunningly beautiful, Scarlett followed in a thin-strapped red dress studded with shimmering waves of diamonds.
She smiled at him, and her blue eyes froze him in place for a moment.
He blinked, looking away.
His cousin and he were more genetically different than possible. While his hair was a light, golden blonde, hers was a deep, rich chocolate brown. Her eyes were a strangely hypnotic crystal blue, whereas his were a cold grey that rarely betrayed his emotions. She was a wild party-girl, whereas he was more civilised and professional. They were completely different. Even their fathers were different.
Xavier bore charcoal black hair fading slightly into grey, whereas his brother Amadeus had a head of mahogany brown locks. But both bore the trademark Deminski eyes; grey and fierce, yet subtle and almost expressionless.
Amadeus lowered himself into the chair opposite Xavier, and Scarlett took his right. Corbett shifted in his chair, his hand falling lightly to the scabbard at his waist.
His grey eyes flickered to Sade, his personal guard, who stood in shadow in the background. She shifted, her hand fingering the compacted quarterstaff at her right hip.
Corbett glanced at Amadeus' security. Ten guards had followed him into the meeting room.
If a fight broke out, both parties were evenly matched.
"Dear Amadeus," Xavier said lightly, breaking the silence with the wave of an airy hand, "How joyful I am to see you again."
"And you, too, brother," Amadeus replied. "I judge all is well?"
"All was well," Xavier answered. "Before my coven was attacked."
Amadeus stiffened slightly. "I have spoken with the rebels who led the attack and they have been dealt with accordingly. They will not bother you again."
"No, they will not," Xavier said, his voice cold. "I assure you of that. And I will hold you to your word."
Amadeus' eyes turned to stone.
Corbett glanced between his father and uncle, uneasy.
Xavier smiled, which seemed out of place in the tense room. "Such aggression. Do you remember when we found that dying stag, all those years ago? And I wouldn't leave because I thought you'd drain it while I was gone? We were so young...emotions last so long, wouldn't you agree?"
Amadeus' lip curled as he understood the message underlining Xavier's words. "You don't trust us?"
"Frankly, no. And that is precisely why," he continued. "I propose a Peace Treaty."
Amadeus started slightly. "A Peace Treaty?"
Corbett didn't recall a Peace Treaty ever being called, not since the Wars of Dominor in 1066AD. This was unusual.
"One of your men in return for one of mine," Xavier replied. "If either is murdered, then the coven they formerly belonged to can wage war on the other."
Amadeus nodded slowly. "I agree."
Xavier nodded, steepling his fingers, before turning to Corbett.
"Son, you may choose the Hunter to trade."
Corbett nodded, rising.
Once out in the corridor, he paused.
"Sade?"
The girl stepped from the shadows. Her emerald green eyes sparkled in the dim light cast by the lamps lining the corridor. She wore black pants that came to her knees and a black singlet that revealed the eye-shaped tattoo on her left shoulder blade.
"Master?" she asked quietly.
"Fetch Blake, the hunter of the 52nd Division."
"And bring him to the meeting room, sir?"
"Yes," Corbett replied, turning back and entering the room.

Sade jogged silently to the 52nd Division's training room, expecting to find Blake there.
Instead she found Crevan.
Although most didn't know it, Crevan was over a hundred years old and one of the most skilled Hunters within Raziel's Coven. He had once been Xavier's personal guard, but had retired to train younger pupils.
He looked up as she entered, his blue eyes sparkling as he smiled. "Sade, how pleased I am to see you. Is there something I can help you with?"
She nodded. "Is Blake presently available?"
His smile fell slightly, a frown replacing it. "No, I'm afraid he isn't. He heard noises from Deanna's holding room and went to investigate. I haven't seen him since."
"Thank you," Sade replied with a inclination of her head.
She did indeed find Blake in Deanna's holding room.
He was lying on his stomach, a faint bruise on his temple fading into the skin.
She nudged him gently with her foot. He stirred, his eyes blinking open.
"Where-?" he moaned, before jumping up and staring around. "Is she gone?"
Sade frowned in annoyance. "It appears so. But we will search for her later. You are needed in the meeting room."
Blake hesitated, before running a hand through his black hair, nodding. "Okay, let's go."
They wound through the hallways, passing a guard repositioning his broken nose, until they reached the meeting room.

The moment Blake stepped through the doors, Scarlett caught his attention.
He paused, staring at her eyes.
Corbett sighed in annoyance. Scarlett liked to tease boys and there were few who could resist her hypnotic charm.
Blake frowned, before looking away and moving on to stand beside Xavier. He bowed.
Annoyance and confusion crossed Scarlett's face, before being replaced by excitement. A challenge; a resistant boy to lure in.
Xavier gestured to Blake. "Will this Hunter suffice?"
Amadeus eyed Blake, who stood perfectly still. "He will. I will send one of my own Hunters tonight, and we will return to sign the Treaty. Are we in agreement?"
Xavier nodded slowly, smiling. "We are."
Amadeus rose from his seat, followed by Scarlett. "Then we will take our leave."
As they were leaving, Xavier called out, "How - may I ask - is Aimee?"
Amadeus turned slowly, smiling. "She is healthy and well, and currently carrying our fifth child."
"Ah, then congratulations to you both," Xavier replied.
Corbett tried to recall what his aunt looked like. She looked vaguely like Scarlett; brown hair, blue eyes.
He rarely got to see his family, mainly due to the fact that they belonged to different sides of the two largest covens fighting for dominance.
As soon as the Deminski coven's procession had departed, Xavier turned to Corbett, rising.
"Explain to the Hunter what is to become of him. And warn him of the consequences if he does not obey orders."
Once alone, Corbett turned to Blake.
"Congratulations," he said with a grin. "You've just been chosen to take part in a Peace Treaty."
"A Peace Treaty?" Blake repeated.
"Its somewhat of a covenant that stops a feud between two covens," Corbett explained boredly. "Amadeus and my father will sign the document, and you will donate some of your blood to the covenant. You will then leave with Amadeus and his men, while a member of the Deminski coven will replace you. You are to serve the Deminski coven as if they were members of Raziel's coven. Amadeus will be your master and any refusal to obey commands or disruption of the coven and you will suffer severely. Are we clear?"
Blake glared at him for a few moments, before nodding swiftly.
"Good," Corbett said, standing up. "Sade with show you to your room, and you will collect your belongings, before returning here. I'll see you in three hours."