“You brought a shifter into my house.”
“You have my full confidence that it wouldn’t be a problem.”
“-and you decided to omit this from me?”
“Would she have been given a chance, if I had spoken of it?”
“You will mind your tongue.”
“I should have spoken. I’m sorry... She has my trust, I swear to you.”
“I had a visit from Abram the previous night. I have it in the right mind that he was looking for you.”
“Then he would have told you that we crossed paths in the Barbican Centre?”
“He did.”
“Do you think that Luciene would come back here after all these years, to London of all places?”
“I have reason to believe she has. Abram now suspects something of you.”
“...”
“Did you see her that night?”
“No. I only saw Abram… and when he catches her, what do you think he will do?”
“Time will tell, but this is no time nor place to discuss it, mind you.”
“You came to my house this evening in withdrawal. Why is this?”
“I fully intended to hunt that night before the orchestra’s disturbance.”
“Why did you not still after?”
“Frankly I knew he might go searching for me afterward. If that was the case I didn’t want to be outside the city. I didn’t want to leave Agnes alone.”
“-And what of Agnes?”
“What do you m-”
“Don’t insult me.”
“I haven’t forgotten… and it won’t happen.”
“You are treading down a path we have been down before, I should not need to forewarn you.”
“I won’t let it be.”
“What is she to you?”
“.......”
“...”
“......”
“If you truly love something, you let it take on the form that it needs to be. No matter if that is the form you want.”
"...I understand."
“We haven’t yet come to the reason I called on you this evening.”
“...what is it then?”
"Our newer arrival is nearing his time."
"From what I heard he is quite young... younger than Luciene, isn't he?"
"He is. Vittoria has projected that he will join us in the house in the coming years."
"And his mentor..?"
"..."
"....."
"..."
"...No."
"...I am afraid so."
"No... so soon? I can't possibly be the next-" Dominic had risen out of his seat.
"Yes. Lucienne has been absent for years now. She couldn’t be trusted with a pupil even if the Headmistress lets her walk. I needn't remind you of Nikolaj's passing."