A conspiracy emerged within the coalition—certain factions working to undermine Adrian's leadership, to return to species-separated governance.
The conspirators weren't violent, just political. They spread rumors, manipulated votes, created divisions designed to fracture the coalition.
"Who's behind this?" Adrian asked Marcus's replacement, a vampire named Isabella who'd taken over coordination duties.
"We're still investigating. But it's sophisticated, well-funded, coordinated across multiple species."
"Someone wants the coalition to fail."
"Multiple someones, probably. Old prejudices die hard."
Adrian spent months investigating, following leads, identifying conspirators. It was tedious work, requiring political maneuvering rather than combat.
Finally, they identified the leaders—a consortium of old-guard supernaturals from various species, all believing their own kind should rule separately.
Rather than dramatic confrontation, Adrian invited them to discussion.
"I understand your concerns," Adrian said at the meeting. "You believe species-specific governance protects your interests better than coalition structure."
"Exactly," one conspirator said. "Humans govern humans. Why shouldn't vampires govern vampires?"
"Because we face threats no single species can handle alone. The entity, demon incursions, reality breaches—these require cooperation. Species-specific governance leaves everyone vulnerable."
The discussion continued for hours. Adrian didn't convince everyone, but he planted seeds of doubt in the conspiracy. Some conspirators withdrew their support, recognizing the logic in cooperation.
The conspiracy didn't dissolve completely, but it weakened enough to no longer threaten coalition stability.