I didn't sleep well again, tossing and turning through the night. Knowingly leaving Etienne in the clutches of people who yelled at him and hurt him just to further their own political agenda left an extremely sour taste in my mouth. 

I knew Etienne was tough and would survive a day more after living with the other vampires for years. 

But I still couldn't stop a sigh in relief when I saw Etienne standing in the meeting room along with the other vampires. He was in one piece, at least. Not that I had expected him not to be... but part of me thought Clarence would purposely leave Etienne at home so I wouldn't have a chance to see him one more time. 

Today, Etienne didn't avoid my eyes. He looked at me when I took a seat beside Ivana and Nathan, on the opposite side of the table as where he, Clarence, and the other vampires were sitting. 

To my surprise, even the winter fey had returned today despite already having cast his vote. He looked dour as ever, but I couldn't complain about the presence of someone who already spoke in our favour. I doubted many of the others would be so lenient. 

"Thank you for gathering again here today," Ivana said as she closed the door. "I trust you've all been able to reach a judgement already?" 

"We have," a mermaid who spoke for the group yesterday as well said. "We have reached a consensus. The vampire Etienne broke the rules and can no longer be welcome in Pinewood," she said. "Since he was unable to follow the werewolf laws in their territory. Regardless of circumstances, a bite did happen. We cannot allow that to stand." 

"That's not—" Clarence started protesting, but winter fey held up his hand, silencing him.

"However," the mermaid continued, "the werewolves were also in the wrong by antagonising the vampire on purpose, leading him to this behaviour. We would strongly urge Ivana to reconsider having Boris as the town's protector. He's proven he's unable to stay objective."

I repressed a growl. Unable to stay objective?  It was easy for them to talk! They would've reacted the exact same way I had if a vampire came knocking on their door. I doubted the sweet water merfolk would even let him stay near any of their lakes. 

"You are right, of course. But don't stop there," Clarence spoke up. "We need to rethink more than only Boris' role as Pinewood's official protector. It's clear Ivana doesn't control her pack. If Boris is supposed to be the most qualified person to handle humans, we have to wonder what that says about the rest of them, huh? We must rethink the werewolves living with humans at all, and Boris must be tried in court for what he did to our ambassador!" 

Etienne stared at me with wide eyes. He opened his mouth like he was going to speak, but then, after a warning look from another vampire, he changed his mind and shut his mouth again. 

"Again, everyone, we want to assure you our intention was never our intention to antagonise the vampire ambassador," Ivana said calmly. "We wanted to make sure he was fit to run around among humans, and he has proven that he's not. That shouldn't be a surprise to you, given your choice of food and the fact that Clarence here turned Mr. Etienne here at the tender age of twenty. Before he was even of legal drinking age in the human world, and, in a way, not even an adult to them yet."

"We are not on trial here, Ivana," Clarence sharply retorted. "Besides, Etienne asked to be turned. Didn't you, Etienne?" 

Etienne released a shaky breath through his mouth. "I asked for it at the time," he admitted. 

This time, I didn't get the feeling that Clarence was forcing Etienne to talk. 

Was that what Etienne meant yesterday night? That it was his own fault? 

"Now that Etienne's origin is cleared up for the werewolves," Clarence said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Let's get back to the matter at hand. And that's the werewolves and their poor behaviour that lead to many problems in these woods." 

Clarence was in his element, on the attack. If I let him go on, we were going back to being accused of everything he could think of. The council or Ivana would grow tired of it, cut in, and end the meeting. 

I had to step in now, or I would lose my chance. My heart was in my throat, my skin prickling as I was hit with a sudden rush of nerves.

What I planned to do wasn't a small thing. I'd risk my bond with my community and possibly for nothing if Etienne didn't respond to me. But I wasn't the type to let myself be stopped by fear, and I always told others to not be stopped by it. This wasn't the moment to get hypocritical.

I breathed in and out deeply, and then I got to my feet. "If what I did is called poor behaviour, then what do you call the way you act towards Etienne?" I asked Clarence. 

Everyone in the room looked at me.

"All the accusations you made towards me about hurting Etienne and beating him up in the factory are false," I continued. "And I'll tell you why."

Clarence smirked in that arrogant 'I've already won' way. "Really? You're going to tell us why."

I wanted to punch his pointy, smug face and made that smirk disappear. But then I caught a glimpse of Etienne's face. He gripped the table, so tense and fearful I almost lost my courage. 

"Well? Out with it then," Clarence taunted me. "Or are you ready to admit that you are responsible for what happened?" 

Here went nothing. I steeled myself and then opened my mouth to speak. "I would never attack Etienne because I fell in love with him." 

Clarence gaped at me, no quick retort of accusation ready. I had finally shut him up. The rest of the room also went quiet. I had stunned everyone into silence. 

I didn't dare to look at my fellow werewolves or the other occupants. Instead, I turned my attention to Etienne. Frankly, the only one whose opinion I cared about right now.

Etienne looked back at me and I saw tears welling up for a moment before he blinked them away. Again, he looked like he was going to speak but Clarence beat him to it. 

Clarence burst out laughing. "Wow, and you believe this yourself? A werewolf loves a vampire? Etienne has better taste than that. Maybe we can add unwanted advances and sexual assault to the list then."

The winter fey cleared his throat. "I don't think so, considering the judgement of our woods." 

"What about your woods?" the mermaid asked. 

The winter fey dipped his head. "I respected their privacy as it is a private matter. But considering Boris just brought it out in the open: our living forest believed this werewolf and vampires lovers."

"Lovers?" Clarence repeated, the disgust clear in his narrowed eyes. "Hardly! Ivana even removed Boris from his case! Surely it wasn't because they got along so well." 

"It was," Ivana replied tersely, crossing her arms. "Because I could see he was developing feelings and that would interfere with his ability to stay objective"

Clarence scoffed. "This is ridiculous! Why are we still listening to this? The werewolves are just grasping at straws now. It's getting embarrassing to see them trying to wriggle and lie their way out of your responsibilities. Etienne, tell them. There was no such tension between you and the werewolf, was there?" 

All eyes travelled from me to Etienne. 

Etienne's cheeks grew red, which was extremely visible on his pale face. His eyes darted around the room. For a moment, I was absolutely certain he would bolt and there would be an Etienne-shaped hole in the door. But then his wild eyes landed on me. 

"Enough! Boris never tried to hurt me," he suddenly blurted. His hands trembled and he seemed as surprised by his own outburst as everyone else. 

If looks could kill, Etienne would be dead from the death glare Clarence shot him. But Etienne didn't pay him any mind. He only looked at me. 

"My goal in Pinewood was to stop Boris and the other werewolves from extending their contact with the humans. When I spent a few days with Boris, I realised he liked me which was convenient to my leaders. Because that made it that much easier to frame him for an attack that was planned from the start. An attack Clarence ordered on me himself. He knew Boris would try to protect me, which is exactly what he's been doing. But given the tension between the vampires and werewolves it would only make him look more guilty if he happened to be there after I was attacked." 

Etienne paused, swallowing thickly. "To be frank, Boris is the only one who has shown me any semblance of compassion and consideration. And I fell in love with him as well."

The room could be on fire right now, and I had a feeling neither Etienne and I would notice. We just stared at each other. Vaguely, I heard Clarence's shrill protests—something along the lines of that I had scared Etienne so much that he was afraid to tell the truth. 

Nobody really responded to the vampire's pathetic sputtering anymore. There was only silence. The stoic winter fey looked satisfied for the first time since I met him. 

Ivana stood beside me, placed a hand on my shoulder, and cleared her throat. "Well, that was certainly enlightening. Thank you, Etienne," she spoke dryly. "I believe we're done here?"