Chapter 23

Darius’s POV

An old saying goes: If you want all the purebloods to crawl out of their caves, host a party, especially one with a power agenda behind it.

A ball to mark the official stepping down of a clan elder was certainly one way to go about that. Especially when not many clan elders had survived as long as Ajax Salvatore.

To me, occasions like this were unnecessary and boring. The only reason I bothered to attend was none other than the little gift the assassin was preparing on my behalf.

After all, who attends a party without a gift?

“You smile like a bastard,” Nickolas said as he crept onto my side.

The despicable boredom of hearing words twice.

“Isn’t that what I am?” I asked, my eyes watching the crowd of elites and picking out thoughts.

“I’ve got to give it to you, Darius. You’ve never shied away from your identity. Many would be ashamed, but not you.”

I let out a cold laugh. “Centuries-old you are, and yet you se