"So, why wasn't I offered his seat on the Council?"

"Because ... you're a Third. No Third has ever been strong enough to defeat a Council member, so we deemed it an accidental killing, which allowed for Johan's Second to take his place. I'm so sorry."

I waved away his apology. "So what am I if not a Council member? I mean, what will be my role in this … Vampire nation?"

Tony's eyes hooded. "The lowest ranked on the totem pole."

I frowned feeling slightly ...