MY SUGAR MUMMY IS A BEAUTIFUL VAMPIRE

Chapter 177: Outsiders

Dravena reveling in how she had caught Damien's attention decided to push it further a little more.

"And what of your little Shelly runaway bride, Damien?" she taunted, her tone laced with an icy edge. "Or have you abandoned her too, just as you've abandoned all the others?"

Damien's jaw clenched involuntarily, a flicker of irritation flashing across his features before he masked it with a practiced facade of indifference. "Ah, Rose," he replied, his voice deceptively casual. "Such a delicate flower, left to wither in the shadows of her own making."

Dravena's lips curled into a contemptuous sneer, her gaze boring into Damien with unbridled malice. "Do not feign indifference, Damien," she retorted, her words laced with venom. "We both know the truth of your intentions, or lack thereof."

Damien's facade remained unyielding, his expression a mask of cool detachment as he met Dravena's gaze head-on. "Intentions, Dravena? I assure you, I have none," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of mockery. "Merely a passing interest in the affairs of a wayward bride and her misguided endeavors."

Dravena's eyes flashed with barely contained fury, her nostrils flaring with suppressed rage. "You may try to hide behind your lies, Damien," she spat, her tone seething with indignation. "But I see through your facade, just as I always have."

Damien's lips quirked into a sardonic smile, a glimmer of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Ah, Dravena," he mused, his voice tinged with mock sincerity. "Ever the vigilant guardian of virtue and honor, even in the face of such blatant deceit."

Dravena's expression hardened, her gaze narrowing into a steely glare. "Mock me all you like, Damien," she replied, her voice cold and measured. "But mark my words: your reckoning will come, and when it does, you will find no refuge in the shadows you so eagerly embrace."

Dravena's words cut through the tension like a blade, each syllable a calculated strike aimed at Damien's vulnerabilities. Yet, he refused to let her see the wounds she inflicted, maintaining his mask of indifference even as her barbs found their mark.

With a smirk playing at the corners of his lips, Damien met Dravena's gaze head-on, his eyes gleaming with a glint of amusement. "Ah, Dravena," he began, his voice dripping with mock sincerity. "It's been quite some time. I almost forgot how edgy you can be."

Dravena's lips curled into a sneer, her gaze darkening with a glimmer of malice. "Save your false pleasantries, Damien," she retorted, her tone laced with disdain. "You know as well as I do that our history cannot be erased so easily."

Damien's smirk widened, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Ah, but what a history it was," he mused, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "Mates turned adversaries, bound by blood yet torn apart by ambition and pride."

Dravena's expression hardened, her jaw tightening with barely contained fury. "Do not presume to reminisce about a past you willingly abandoned," she spat, her words laced with venom. "You may have forsaken our bond, but I have not forgotten the debt you owe."

Damien's smirk faltered slightly, a shadow of regret flickering across his features before he masked it with a veneer of indifference. "Debts, Dravena? I assure you, I owe you nothing," he replied, his tone cool and composed. "Our paths diverged long ago, and I have no intention of revisiting the ghosts of our shared past."

Dravena's eyes narrowed, a glimmer of suspicion flickering in their depths. "Is that so, Damien?" she queried, her voice edged with skepticism. "Or is it simply that you lack the courage to confront the consequences of your actions?"

Damien's facade wavered for a moment, a flash of vulnerability betraying the steely resolve beneath. Yet, in the next instant, he regained his composure, his mask of indifference slipping back into place like a suit of armor.

"You mistake my reluctance for cowardice, Dravena," he replied, his voice low and measured. "But rest assured, I fear no consequences, least of all those wrought by you."

Damien's tone shifted from casual to serious as he addressed Dravena. "I didn't come here to revisit our shared history, Dravena," he stated firmly. "I came for business."

Dravena's lips curled into a subtle smirk, a glint of amusement flickering in her eyes. "Business, you say?" she replied, her tone dripping with condescension. "How intriguing."

Straightening his posture, Damien continued, undeterred by Dravena's mocking tone. "I've been offered a seat among the vampire elders on the council," he informed her, his voice carrying a hint of pride.

Dravena's smirk widened slightly, a smug expression crossing her features. "An offer, you say?" she remarked, her tone oozing superiority. "How quaint."

Damien's jaw tensed slightly, a flicker of annoyance flashing in his eyes. "Yes, an offer," he confirmed, his voice tinged with irritation. "And one that I intend to take seriously."

Dravena's smirk deepened slightly as she listened to Damien's announcement. "How fascinating," she remarked with a hint of amusement. "But forgive me if I'm not as impressed as you seem to be."

Damien raised an eyebrow, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features at her dismissive tone. "And why is that?" he inquired, his voice laced with a touch of sarcasm.

"Because, dear Damien," Dravena replied smoothly, "your invitation to the council comes rather belatedly. I, on the other hand, have been extended the honor long ago." She emphasized the word "long," a subtle reminder of her seniority in the eyes of the council.

Damien's jaw tightened imperceptibly, but he maintained his composure. "I see," he said evenly, though his tone betrayed a hint of frustration.

Dravena continued, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "Under normal circumstances, the council would not entertain the notion of your induction," she explained. "But given the current state of affairs and our pressing needs, they've been forced to reconsider." She paused, her gaze piercing as she met Damien's eyes. "Even if it means welcoming hands that are... less than desirable."

Damien's expression remained neutral, but inwardly, he bristled at Dravena's veiled insult. "I assure you, Lady Dravena," he replied coolly, "I am more than capable of rising to the occasion and fulfilling whatever duties are required of me."

Dravena's smirk returned, a glint of amusement dancing in her eyes. "Of that, I have no doubt," she said smoothly. "But whether you can truly match the caliber of those already seated on the council remains to be seen."

With that parting shot, Dravena turned away, leaving Damien to ponder her words as he considered his next move in the intricate dance of vampire politics.

Damien took a moment to compose himself before responding to Dravena's question. "I seek your backing because I know the power and influence you wield," he explained calmly. "With your support, our shared goals could be achieved more swiftly and effectively."

Dravena raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "And why should I lend you my support?" she countered, her voice tinged with skepticism.

"Because you know the value I bring to the table," Damien replied confidently. "Together, we could accomplish great things."

A smirk played at the corners of Dravena's lips as she considered his words. "Under normal circumstances, I would disagree," she conceded. "But given the current situation and my concern for our people, I am willing to entertain your proposal."

Damien's eyes widened slightly in surprise at her unexpected agreement. "You are?" he asked, his tone incredulous.

Dravena nodded, her gaze steady. "Indeed. However, you should know that the council shares similar reservations about you," she added, her tone turning serious. "But with the recent troubles caused by the outsiders, our hands are tied."

"The outsiders?" Damien repeated.

Dravena struggled to contain her smile, a glint of satisfaction dancing in her eyes. Finally, she could see it—the crack in Damien's confident facade. But she knew better than to mock him openly about it. After all, they were all wary of the outsiders and the threats they posed to their way of life.

"Yes, the outsiders," Dravena confirmed, her tone grave.