Read Online DeLeina, Maya - Veil of Seduction [Ambrose Heights Vampires 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Maya DeLeina - Free Book Online Page B

but he’s never proven to be manipulative or to harbor deceit to even question this! I mean, his eyes were never black! You know I don’t recall much of my life, but I remember how it was before Steffan and his family moved here. It was unruly, and it was every man for himself. In fact, I don’t ever remember coming out during daylight. I was a slave to the darkness. He knew we were endangering our very existence by living this way. He could’ve easily looked somewhere else to take up residence, but instead he chose to stay, to help us build a family unit. Now, we abide by rules, have structure, and protect our identity all while living together in this town. We’re one of the largest lairs in existence. I don’t know about you, but I certainly like some of the normalcy in our life now. It makes me feel a…little human again. Because of all he’s done, he was chosen as the leader.”
    Anger washed over Madeline’s face. “But look at Steffan! He built Ambrose Heights up there just to throw it in our faces. He’s like a king in his castle looking down at us, his subjects. Is that the mentality we want leading us? Steffan is always coming up with new rules that we have to abide by, constantly checking up on us. Who’s checking up on him? And don’t get me started on the inventory logs we have to keep for Defender and Consumption.”
    “Be realistic. Steffan’s trying to make sure the serums don’t go straight on the black market! Look, he’s allowed us to go undetected, even with so many of us taking up permanent residence in this town. Yes, he is controlling, but he wants to assure that we all follow the rules, that no one spoils what we managed to build for ourselves here. I don’t really see your argument. Are you sure this has nothing of a personal nature behind it?”
    Madeline’s tone softened, her statement wielding an amount of reservation. “Of course there is some of our personal history behind it. You didn’t know him like I knew him. There were things he said, made mention of, privately, in passing…in his sleep. Alex, I can’t explain it, but I am not so trusting of Steffan anymore. It’s been something nagging in my gut for some time now. You realize none of our creeds or doctrines ever addresses the manner in which the leader is to be evaluated or scrutinized?”
    Alex shook his head. “Honestly, it was never been an issue for me. Besides, you have telling powers. Can’t you stir him, get truth out of him?”
    “Don’t you think I tried? Steffan is too strong. My powers don’t work on Steffan. I’m being honest here, something is not sitting right with me.”
    “Why haven’t you said something to me about this earlier?”
    “I don’t know…I guess it’s because I wanted to be absolutely sure about everything I was feeling.”
    “Did you address any of this formally, with the council?”
    “And how was I going to do that? Steffan is the council.”
    Alex nodded.
    “Alex, help me edit the report on this case. This is the only way we can test our leader, make sure he isn’t harboring deceit…assure that this family remains safe and that we’re being lead by a virtuous leader. I can’t openly question Steffan, nor am I even in a position to suggest a change to our creeds that would put him on review. He’s too embedded in all of the processes. Steffan will find a way around it.”
    “Well, you do have a point. So what exactly were you thinking about altering in the transgression report?” Alex inquired.
    “Ryan and Anya didn’t live in our town, so Steffan has no background on them. He will rely on us for some basic information. We’ll report that Ryan and Anise were engaged, that she was killed in a fiery car accident. We won’t even mention she was one of us. And most importantly, we must leave Anya completely out of this.”
    Alex fired back. “But Anya is his mate!”
    “ Exactly . Since he probably touched something’s of Ryan’s to gain his mate connection to