Lucanis and Rook weaved their way through the rooftops, keeping to the shadows. Lucanis moved like a man on a mission. Which, frankly, he was. This was to be the night, this would be the night he could exact his revenge on his good-for-nothing cousin. He looked at Rook, "it doesn't matter what my cousin thinks he's doing, it ends now. We go in, find Caterina, and we'll have the perfect shot at Illario."

Rook chuckled, keeping pace with him, "so we're paying a visit to your family home? It has been… years… since I last been."

Lucans nodded, "yes, we are. And we aren't exactly on the guest list."

Rook gave a soft throaty chuckle, hopping off the edge of a roof onto a darkened balcony, "so we are breaking into a home. Owned by Crows. Who are good at traps. You know how to keep a girl entertained on a night out, Lucanis."

The soon landed on the roof of one of the older, ornate buildings. Lucanis went over to a door and.

"Need a lock pick?" Rook asked, "I got a spare."

Lucanis held up an old, ornate key, "you don't need one when you have this."

"Smart ass."

Lucanis smirked as he slipped the key into the door and turned it with a click. He pushed the door open. With a flourish, he beaconed to Rook, "and here we are."

Smells like dust and linseed oil!

'Don't say that when Caterina is in earshot.'

Lucanis lead Rook down darkened corridors, walking lightly, avoiding the moor busier corridors that he knew tended to be pass ways for any staff of visitors. Every so often, the echoes of the gathering groups would drift to the halls.

Lucanis crept to a familiar door. He motioned Rook over with his head. He raised a finger to his lips to signal silence. This was the door to Caterina's private quarters. Who knew what he would find behind that door. He took a breath and unsheathed a dagger in preparation.

He pushed the door open and was immediately on the defensive. He hand shot up and stopped the cane coming down towards his head. His eyes followed to the person holding it.

Lucanis gasped. "Caterina?"

The elder Crow lowered the cane she was holding and reached out to cup her grandson's face, "Lucanis! My poor boy!"

Lucanis leaned in and gave her kisses on each cheek. He couldn't believe it, she was live. And she was standing here before him. Caterina Dellamorte was a hell of a woman, strong, tough, but he knew she deeply loved him. Lucanis glanced at Rook before turning once more to his grandmother.

"We need to take you someplace safe before we confront Illario."

Caterina regarded him with her steely gaze, "you will do no such thing. There's no time for heroic nonsense."

Rook looked at Lucanis and back to Caterina, "uh, that's what saved your grandson. And you now. We can't let Illario do more damage,"

Caterina waved her off the the authority that only somebody that was the head of hired assassins could, "Go. I will meet you at the opera house." She walked away from them, the tapping if her cane echoing lightly in the hall.

"I hope she can keep herself safe."

"Caterina may be one of the few people I actually fear. She will be fine," he looked at Rook and raised an eyebrow, "welcome to House Dellamorte, Rook"

In time, they came to the closed door of the ballroom. Lucanis could feelin the buzz of the air. Soon, he heard a voice carry through even the thickness of the closed, ornate doors.

It was Illario, addressing the numerous members of the Crows assembled: "Caterina's death was a tragedy. But to get Lucanis back from the dead, only to lose him to a demon? For me, that's a deep, personal loss. And so, I take the mantle of First Talon with a heavy heart. But the Crows will rise from the ashes. With our new allies, the Venatori, we could redeem Antiva!"

Lucanis had heard more than enough. That Illario thought the Venatori could be trusted? No, he needed to be stop. Rage and frustration of loosing his life, of thinking he lost Caterina.

Yes… yes…

Lucanis lifted his leg and kicked open the door. His cape swirled around him as he entered, holding his hate filled gaze to his cousin, who was on stage, surrounded by the other Talons.

"Over my dead body," he proclaimed.

Illario drew a weapon, "that can be arranged." His eyes shifted from Lucanis to Rook, "you picked the wrong Dellamorte, Rook."

"Doubtful," Rook sneered back, her hands starting to glow with the purple crackles of her magic. Lucanis felt Spite take over, his ethereal dark purple and black wings emerging from his back, his vision growing purple.

Spite rolled his shoulders.

Suddenly, chaos. Bodies moving, silver blades flying. Confusion. Who was fighting who? Spite and Rook carved their way through Crows, the waves of purple demonic aura and crackling of purple electricity weaving through bodies toward the ultimate target.

Illario reached for the pendent on his shirt, yelling a command, "yield!"

Lucanis's voice broke through, "you cannot overpower us both." The purple aura intensified.

"Now you fall!"

Spite could feel the anger, feel the betrayal, feel the hurt course through Lucanis's mind. He embraced it, harnessed it, used it as a weapon. Using it to power and fuel Lucanis's body and movement. After all, what was more spiteful to make sure somebody else's thought out plans would utterly fail?

With a final roar and swipe of a dagger from Lucanis, Illario fell to the ground.

Illario pushed himself onto his knees, looking at Lucanis with scorn, mockingly asked, "what are you waiting for, cousin? Finish what you start."

Lucanis spread his arms, "I already did. What am I ever going to do that is worse than this? On your knees? In front of every house?"

The clicking of a cane came from the shadows, "get up, Illario."

The figure of the First Talon emerged, steadily making her way to them, her head held high as she regarded her grandsons.

"Caterina? Thank the Maker!"

Caterina stopped and looked down upon Illario, commanding in a clear, steady voice, "no one from House Dellamorte kneels."

Lucanis looked down at his once beloved cousin, who was returning his look with a hateful glare.

"Mierda," he muttered, before looking over towards Rook, "What am I supposed to do with this idiot?"

Rook moved beside him. Lucanis silently watched at Rook studied Illario, before she looked at him. He held her gaze.

"Didn't you tell me he was basically your brother and your closest childhood friend?"

"My only friend, besides you." He reached for her hand, entwining her fingers with his. Lucanis sighed and looked at her, pleading, "He's family."

Illario sneered, "you think you can show me mercy? That's not up to you, is it? Caterina is still First Talon."

Caterina slammed her cane against the ground with an audible clang.

"Enough, Illario," she demanded. "Lucanis is the new First Talon. His decision stands."

Lucanis looked from Caterina to Illario. He looked around him, the sea of Crow faces. Teia. Viago. The other Talons. His eyes settled on Rook. She gave him an encouraging smile and a small nod of her head.

"Viago… keep him out of trouble."

Viago nodded, grabbing Illario's arm and yanking him up to stand before shoving him towards a few of his men, "I'm no miracle worker, but I'll see what I can do."

Illario mockingly pouted, "Lucanis…"

"No. Not now." His voice held a twinge of pain. He felt Rook squeeze his hand and wrap her free arm around his arm, giving a quick hug.

Caterina walked to a table filled with goblets filled with wine. She grabbed on and turned, facing the assembled Crows. She gave what would be an affectionate smile towards him, "welcome home, my boy."

She then turned towards to assembled Crows, holding her cup high, she proclaimed, "A toast. To the new First Talon."

"To Lucanis!" Rook happily yelled beside him. Lucanis looked around, feeling overwhelmed by the sounds, of the dozens of voices cheering… for him. He wasn't sure how to process all of this. He didn't know how to feel. He drew in a breath and looked down at Rook, who was beaming at him with pride.

This… this he could at least focus on. He pulled her into an embrace, pressing a kiss against the side of her head. He saw Teia and Viago approaching. Viago scowling, Teia smiling. Which wasn't anything new, but he could tell why he gained the looks, this time.

"This…" Viago motioned at the duo with a wine glass, "we will discuss this later, Allona."

"Yes, you must tell me everything, Rook!" Teia looked at Viago, sipping the wine, "you owe me a gold coin."

"What… wait… you bet on us?" Rook asked, incredulous. "Wait… I bet you, dearest cousin, bet against us, didn't you."

"No. The two of you together was inevitable, no matter what my opinion on the matter was. My bet was the this one," Viago motioned towards the new First Talon with his goblet, "would have the decency to discuss his intentions with me first."

Teia shrugged, "I bet on Rook. I knew she would eventually knock some sense into you, Lucanis."

Lucanis felt Rook shift awkwardly in his arms. He cleared his throat, "I assume this means that I have the support of you two?"

"As First Talon or… this relationship."

"Yes."

"Vi," Teia chastised, "be nice. Of course you have our support on both matters, isn't that right, Viago."

"You hurt her, Lucanis, and I will slip Emil in your sheets while you sleep."

"I'm fairly certain Teia will beat you to it."

Teia laughed, "it's true. Now go! It is an evening to celebrate!" With that, she hooked her arm through Viago's, and guided him away,

After too many interactions with people pledging loyalty and giving congratulations, Lucanis found Rook and himself in a quiet corner of the Dellamorte ball room. He murmured in her ear, "shall we make a discreet exit?"

"I'm ready, but are you sure? They're celebrating you."

Lucanis looked at her, and said in a low voice, "I have other plans for the evening"

Lucanis looked up at Rook from his cot, who had her arms crossed and tapping her foot on the floor of the larder.

"Really?" She asked, "You came all the way back here for coffee? The stuff in your villa wasn't good enough?"

Lucanis shrugged, swirling the mug in his hand briefly, before taking a long drink, "it's better if I make it myself. And I wanted some quiet. To think…" he held out his hand towards her, beckoning her towards him. When she placed her and in his, he tugged, pulling her into his lap.

Rook draped an arm across the back of his shoulders, "so… First Talon of the Crows, huh?" She pause, biting her lower lip. Taking a breath, she asked, "Does that mean you'll be leaving us?"

"No, of course not. We have a contract. Besides, she may have stepped down, but we both know there's no stopping Caterina from giving all the orders." Lucanis let out a breath, "I still can't believe she did that. I figured she would make me First Talon one day, but not until her deathbed."

"Well, that's a relief." Rook paused, putting her hand against his cheek. Lucanis turned his head, placing a gentle kiss on her palm. "Because I don't want to do this without you," she whispered.

Lucanis studied Rook's face. Around the others, she put on a mask of confidence and unwavering strength. But here, alone, with him, her face was painted with vulnerability.

Lucanis shook his head, "I couldn't leave this place. Not with you here. You'll have me for as long as I can put off the Crows. Fucking Illario."

Rook quietly asked, "do you regret it?"

Lucanis shook his head, "no. You were right. He's family. I didn't suspect him. When the Venatori caught me on the boat in Tevinter, it never even crossed my mind. He's better than I thought. Maybe there's hope for him after all. But this? Being watched by all the Crows with their knives out? This wasn't mercy. He'll never live this down. There's nowhere he could go to outrun from being the Traitor Crow brought down I front of everyone."

"Honestly, I'm surprised you spared him at all."

"So was I. But… I don't have a lot to lose. What there is… Illario. Caterina… you. This team. I'm not giving that up."