The chamber went silence.
Konstantin inclined his head, his expression shifted into something resembling amusement. "You are correct. The Council does not approve personal bonds. We acknowledge them for political record. The distinction should remain clear, and it is important."
His hand moved subtly, and a vampire Lilian hadn't noticed before stepped forward from the side of the dais. He carried a massive book, the kind of record that had been maintained for centuries, documenting vampire bond across Europe.
The recorder opened it to a marked page, dipping an actual quill into ink that looked darker than it should be. The scent reached Lilian, and she realized it was blood-based ink.
They recorded bonds in blood.
"State your names and territories for the record," the recorder said flatly as someone who had done this countless times for centuries.
