#theres literally never any rush for replies dude both of us get randomly busy and dip its all good

[wcrstarter]

How she loathed to part from her mate. The time they were ever granted to spend together was always too brief, she grew tired of it and knew well enough how Lucian chafed under the restraints it placed upon him. Too often she considered a entire rebellion to simply be free, but it was always the potential ramifications and dangers of such an act that made her cease.

"Just let me do the talking, do not speak unless he addresses you first and avoid looking him in the eye if he is not conversing directly with you. Do nothing to draw his curiosity to your origin, if you have anything or anyone to protect." She stressed in a hushed tone moments before she came to show her father the respect demanded by station. She might not often involve herself in politics and act as if she did not know them, merely because she did not like to have to manipulate people as her father did. But if she chose to, she could be just as sly and ruthless, and knew how to play Viktor right into her hands.....if everything went according to plan.

"Thank you, Father." Sonja murmured as she rose gracefully, meeting her father's gaze calmly.She was one of the few that would hold his stare if challenged, as she had no cause to fear him as the rest of the coven did. Or so she'd led them all to believe. "This is Michael, the deathdealers I was assisting in rescuing from the wolves' jaws are only alive due to his medical training. It has been an age since I have seen a healer of his skill Father, it would be a disservice to our men if we did not enlist his help in the arts of healing."

Sonja knew she had to be careful here, Viktor held the final decision in who stayed or went. Word spread fast within the fortress, it would have reached his ear already that he'd treated a rather minor wound of her own, saved the life of one of her men, and spared another of a slow and painful death from his wounds. They had not lost one of their best deathdealers thanks to his skill, and their rescue mission had been successful with his help.

She could only hope it would be enough to sway him, strange as Michael might seem or smell. Perhaps she could play it off as he was an Outlander, taught their tongue and ways but unfamiliar of their lands and had gotten lost on his way North.

"I noticed." He thought back to the wolves that had accosted him as soon as he arrived, and the ones he fought so long ago when he had been revived for the first time. They were ruthless fighters, unpredictable in their anger, and it was by sheer luck that he had survived his first encounter with them. Now that he was far more skilled, he stood more of a chance, but he couldn't turn. He had to fight with weapons he wasn't skilled with.

He would learn though, if for no reason to eventually get home to his mate.

"I will do my best work as always, my lady." Lucian bowed his head, feeling a twinge of heartbreak at Sonja's departure once again, but it wouldn't be too long until he saw her again. And he had a feeling he could trust this... Michael. He seemed like a reliable sort of person, and he would have the best Lucian would make if it added to the protections that his mate would have, even if she didn't need people to protect her. He swung his hammer down on the metal, ideas filling his mind on what to make.

Michael felt anxiety swirl in his gut. Her words did nothing to soothe his fears of what it was going to be like seeing Viktor when he was truly at his most powerful. This wasn't like before. He would have no idea what or who Michael was. This Viktor still had his daughter, his slaves, and didn't even know of Selene outside of her being a daughter of the blacksmith he commissioned William's prison from. He wouldn't even know her name.

"I hope you're right," Michael managed to keep the fear from his voice. He hadn't even met Viktor yet in her mind. He had no real reason to fully fear the man. "I'll do as you say, don't worry."

As they approached Viktor, Michael bowed before the vampire lord, fighting to keep his breathing steady. The anxiety was starting to cause his hands to shake, and he worked to keep it dampened.

"Rise, my daughter," Viktor appreciated the show of loyalty from his daughter in front of the rest of his court. "Tell me of this doctor, and if he can be trusted." There was something odd about the man beside Sonja, but all Viktor could smell on him was fear. Good.