I was going to be sick.

"I find nothing as satisfactory as Angulas. Such a rare delicacy, expensive, but well worth it, wouldn't you agree?" Castiel said as he gestured pompously at the spread before us.

We were all gathered at the table in his grand dinning room, where Castiel herded us soon after Rhys reunited with our group. We barely sat our butts in the seats when his servants set out plates of food on the table.

I recognized none of the food.

Castiel relished naming them off—bluefin tuna, lobster, caviar, goat stomach—until he settled on boasting about his personal favorite, Angulas.

A fancy word which I learned just meant baby eels.

The best—eh, em worst—part of all this? Vampires didn't eat human food. That left me to mukbang all these awful-sounding dishes to an audience of vampires watching my every bite.

"A rare luxury for you," Castiel continued. "The filth you humans routinely ingests is heathenish. Such rudimentary palettes, I do not understand."

I'd rather eat said filth then this any day.

"It's really something," I supplied, death-eyeing Eskil who calmly sipped on his glass of blood across from me. Before dinner Eskil had once again drilled into me the importance of rubbing elbows with Castiel. He didn't warn me that playing nice met eating fucking baby eel.

"Come, come, have a taste now," Castiel insisted, leaning towards me in uncontainable excitement.

"Oh, I don't know." I was stalling, sue me. There wasn't one scenario flashing through my mind where me eating that ended in any other outcome then vomit. I'm sure me barfing all over Castiel's fine china wouldn't have the same outcome as the brown-nosing I was told to do.

"Piffle," he scoffed. "Bon Appetite."

Eskil and Rhys didn't try to save me. Traitors.

One bite—quick, barely chewing it before swallowing it down. I fought to keep my face impassive. Luck for me, the dish itself didn't have much flavor. It was the knowledge of what it was that really messed with me. Still, not sure I'd recommend it to someone and probably wouldn't eat it again if given the choice.

"Uh—wow. Yum." I gave Castiel a tight lipped smile.

He beamed leaning closure. "Delicious, no? The escargot next?"

Kill me now.

"We should discuss the situation." I was never so happy to hear Eskil speak up.

Castiel pouted and settled back into his seat. "Yes, I suppose we should. Such a pity, for I do love to observe humans reaction to new dishes. That is one joy they have, to taste something unexpectedly new." He picked up his own blood glass and swirled it around. "Blood—although it has its own differing notes—overall isn't as varied."

"A disappointment."

"How true," Castiel agreed taking a large gulp and placing the glass down. "From our last discussion I assume, 'Mors et vita conflixere' is what you seek? The likes of which has not occurred between prime vampires of differing houses since the establishment of the Council?"

Eskil nodded. "It is."

"It will not be an easy feat. Seven council members would have to approve such a notion, to openly oppose Lord Kirill and face his wrath if you lose."

"I do not plan losing."

"I would not bet you would. Still, your skills have not directly been matched together and that leaves a doubt in the minds of the outcome. Lord Kirill and you are among the top houses, the winner of such a duel would be all but a king, creating a imbalance of power in the Council. It would also allow leeway for others to challenge. Those members would be risking their station as well as their lives for your sake. You do not have that kind of friendship among the Council."

"I do not," Eskil agreed, "but you do."

Castiel laughed. "You jest. No one has such friendships."

"Not a friendship, but sway. If you agree to sponsor this proposal, more would be willing to follow your example."

"I should be a martyr then, and do this gratis?"

"You would have my gratitude and my favor. The favor of the future king." The last part was said light, quietly mocking what Castiel said earlier.

"You try to make me the fool but I know the truth. I cannot turn down a favor owed by a future king and I suppose Lord Kirill would forgive me if he is the victor, for he would finally have the satisfaction of killing you."

"You're faith in me is reassuring."

"Realism is how one stays alive, my dear Eskil. I have not lived this long through naive faith." He pursed his lips, contemplating. "I will do this favor. Between you and me, only five more votes are needed. It will be challenging. You did not depart on good terms."

"Godfrey, Elias, and Saer will agree," Eskil said.

"Would agree," Castiel corrected. "You have been gone long. Loyalties change."

"Not all."

Castiel sighed. "Very well. That would leave two remaining. Lord Quintin may be convinced, although it will be for a costly price. He should be number six. The last...the last I can think of one who may be convinced, but it would be a costlier price. Lord Marcelo."

The room silenced at that thought. Rhys, for the first time at the table, moved, sitting up straighter as he worriedly watched Eskil. And Eskil, his eyes flickered to me then his cup as he frowned, grip tightening on the glass.

"I can think of no other who could be convinced," Castiel added. "You know this to be true."

"I know." A pause. "I'll allow it."

"Excellent." Castiel clapped his hands. "Starting tomorrow, I will seek them out and convince them to support the challenge. The upcoming council meeting is in a few weeks. The challenge will be brought up and voted on then. You should plan to attend."

"Yes, thank you."

"Now," Castiel beamed as he turned back to me. "How about you taste the Beluga Caviar next?"

Author's Note: Finally a new update! Can I get an amen?! A little boring of a chapter, but it is what it is. Also sorry for any spelling errors I typed this on my phone and it has a autocorrect mind of its own. The next chapter I plan to have out by (or on because that's how I roll) next Monday so stay tuned. As always, thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed this even in the ittsiest of bittsity of ways. My dog is currently whining for a walk, so that's all until next week!