by Robin Roseau
“And calling Carissa?”
“Didn’t she once ask your pack for help?”
“She didn’t exactly ask, but yes.”
“If you were the New Orleans pack alpha, you would also belong to Carissa. Atlanta, London, Paris. Those packs all offer their throats to a vampire king. There are others, but as I said, I don’t pay much attention. The Madison pack has one of the most powerful vampire queens as a friend, but you aren’t subjugated to her.”
Lara opened her eyes, barely a slit, but enough to look at me. “That would change if she decided she wanted a change of scenery. Or if Kristian did, or anyone like him.”
“It could,” I replied. “But Carissa likes New Orleans.”
“And Kristian?”
“Being at the top is hard. Carissa relies on Kristian. If he leaves her, he wouldn’t have anyone. He could make new offspring, but it would be a thousand years before they’d be as powerful as he is today.”
“Carissa’s other vampires...”
“Are hers,” I explained. “Not Kristian’s. They couldn’t side against her. They aren’t powerful enough to defy her.” I smiled. “Besides, they all adore her, just like the humans you met. And just like me, for that matter.”
“And my wife,” Lara added. “I feel weak. Do you know how relieved I was when she climbed from that car?”
“It’s good to have friends, Lara,” I said. “Are you afraid you’ve used up your marker with her?”
“Among other things, yes.”
“Carissa doesn’t work that way. You’re friends, Lara. Do you keep count with your friends?”
“No,” Lara said easily.
“She doesn’t either. Besides, this is a lot easier than what you did for her. She’s not risking herself the way you did for her. What else?”
“Feeding them.”
“Ah. That won’t be an issue for a few days, and frankly, the warm bodies out in the sheds could take care of them for weeks. She’d ask Deirdre and me first.”
“The two of you can’t feed seven vampires.”
“No, but if there’s an emergency, we’re still covered. If this drags out, we’ll need to make arrangements, and that probably means your pack. She might offer to import humans, but if it gets that far, she’s going to hope you offer.”
“I’ll have to go first,” Lara said. “I don’t know what message that sends.”
I pursed my lips for a moment then said, “You know, for that, you should talk privately to Carissa. I think she may actually suggest you look for donors who aren’t part of the pack leadership. As we discussed, your pack is not in thrall to her.” Then I smiled. “Besides, whoever feeds her is going to be very, very happy.”
“Iris and Lindsey seemed awfully pleased,” Lara said. She shook her head. “Does she seduce all her meals?”
“Not all. She has particular tastes. I believe she was very pleased with them.”
“Do I need to talk to them and ask if they’ll offer themselves again?”
“Not yet.”
“What about the others?”
“Carissa is the only vampire I have fed directly. I donate blood quarterly to help feed the others, but it’s at a blood bank. I do not know what Carissa will expect. Would you like my suggestion?”
“Of course.”
“Get through today. By tomorrow, we’ll know more. Then perhaps ask Michaela’s lovely assistants to handle this. It doesn’t need to rise to your level, Lara.”
“They can’t do it themselves.”
“They can coordinate. Sharing blood can be very symbolic. Or it can just be food, or a simple arrangement between private individuals.”
Lara closed her eyes and grew still. I wasn’t sure if I had helped or not, but I thought she was considering the right things.
I gave her a minute then said, “I don’t think I could have held back like you did.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She didn’t even open her eyes.
“You didn’t kill him,” I said. “How did you avoid killing him?”
“I don’t know.”
Just then, Lara’s pocket rang. She smiled broadly and fished her phone out. “Michaela.” She paused then sat up and began to smile. “We’ll be waiting for you. Please hurry home, little fox.”
She clicked off.
“Good news.”
“She’s going to be impossible,” Lara said.
“She wants you to buy one.”
“She didn’t flat out ask, but I could hear her practically vibrating.” Lara shook her head. “She’ll be back down to Earth by the time they get back.”
“That’s a horrible pun, Lara.”
She cocked her head and paused for a moment. “Oh. I didn’t even think of that.” She took an especially deep breath of air, held it for a moment, then let it out slowly.
“You should try to get a little sleep. Even a few minutes would do you some good.”
She nodded, lay back, and closed her eyes.
* * * *
Judging by her breathing, Lara got a half hour of sleep. And then over my headset, Karen said, “We’re just turning off the highway. Report.” The various enforcers checked in. At the end, Karen asked, “Anna?”
“All is quiet,” I responded as softly as I thought could be heard. “Lara is resting. Michaela phoned earlier. They’re down and safe.”
“We know,” she said. “They’re in front of us.”
I slipped from the chair and moved carefully to Lara. I brushed a finger along the back of her hand. “Lara. Alpha.”
Her eyes opened. “Anna.”
“Everyone is back.”
She sat up, and I moved away. Then we heard car doors outside.
Lara didn’t wait. She practically flew from the sofa and out the door. By the time I got outside, Michaela’s feet were eighteen inches from the ground as Lara hugged her deeply, the little fox’s arms around her mate’s neck.
As I watched, more and more people climbed from cars. We had half the pack enforcers taking positions around the alpha pair. Carissa and Pearce stood to the side, watching. And when I looked for Karen and Elisabeth, I saw them greeting the newcomers, presumably from Lima Consulting. There were strange werewolves and a variety of humans.
What was interesting was that the Madison enforcers seemed relaxed. In the last eight hours they had been invaded by now three distinct forces: the humans late last night, then Carissa and her vampires a few hours later, and now these humans and werewolves from Lima.
But they were as relaxed as I’d seen them, although everyone was clearly tired.
And that thought made me yawn.
I saw one of the humans directing the wolves to the back of the SUVs, and a moment later, the wolves were unloading cases of equipment. Then, with the last slamming door, everyone’s attention turned to Lara and Michaela.
Elisabeth stepped up to them and whispered something. Slowly, Lara set Michaela back on her feet, but then the two whispered for a minute while the rest of us waited.
Then there was one final pause. Michaela straightened her back, and somehow in doing so, attention shifted from her and Lara to just her. She was a tiny woman, a tiny, tiny woman, with the most delicate features I’d seen coupled with wild red hair, currently entirely untamed, but somehow she was gorgeous.
Was that grease on her cheek? Where did she get that?
Then she turned around, smiled, and stepped forward, holding out her hand. “Greg,” she said. She shook hands with a human male, and I decided that must be Greg Freund. I’d never met him. “Wendy.” That was directed to a large werewolf.
Of course, they’d all met before.
“Thank you for coming,” Lara said from behind her mate. She also offered a handshake and then gestured to Carissa. “Do you know our other guests?”
“I know Carissa,” Greg said. “It’s good to see you here, Your Majesty.”
“Mr. Freund, I really don’t care for that title. I only use it to
intimidate humans.”
“If you offer another, I will be sure to use it,” he said. He looked around, his gaze settling on me. “I don’t know her.” He cocked his head, and then Wendy, the werewolf, leaned down and whispered into his head. “Ah. Annabelle Delacroix.”
I moved forward and offered my own hand. “Greg Freund.”
They didn’t introduce everyone else. Greg turned his attention back to Lara. “What is most pressing?”
“May I?” Carissa asked.
“Of course,” Lara said.
“The compound is secure, but the local pack has been up all night,” she said. “I have six of my vampires here, but I believe your wolves could help to relieve the pack enforcers.”
“How are things in Madison?”
“Quiet,” Elisabeth said. “I talked to Gia ten minutes ago. They’re worried, but so far, that’s all.”
“What else?” Greg asked.
“We secured the helicopters,” Lara said. “And we have prisoners.” Elisabeth offered a few more details, and then Greg nodded.
“Then this is what I think,” Greg said. “We need a full debrief. My technicians need to set up. We need to examine the helicopters and continue to question the prisoners. And, of course, we need to relieve your wolves, Alpha. Carissa, how are your vampires doing?”
“They’re all fine,” she replied. “I brought my best. We’re good for a few days.”
“All right. Alpha, will you allow my wolves to relief your enforcers?”
“Gladly,” Lara said. “Coordinate with Elisabeth.” But then she paused. “I don’t know where to house everyone. We were already at full capacity.”
“If Anna and Deirdre do not mind, me and my vampires can make use of their rooms,” Carissa said.
Lara looked around, her eyes settling on Zoe, Iris, and Lindsey, standing to the side. “You three,” she said. “I need you again.”
They stepped forward, somewhat hesitatingly, I thought. “Yes, Alpha?” Zoe asked.
“I know you’re tired, but I need you to organize space. Clear the bunkhouses. Move everyone into the lodge.”
“We could camp out,” Iris said. “We have tents.”
“No,” Elisabeth said. “Not while we’re dealing with threats.”
“Right. Sorry.”
“Iris,” Lara said. “You aren’t Michaela’s assistant because we want you to shut your mouth. If you have ideas, share them. Make whatever adjustments you need. We can all double and triple up. That includes my mate. Conscript anyone you need to get the bunkhouses ready. Do I need to iterate what that means?”
“No, Alpha,” Zoe said. “We’ll handle it.”
“The three of you have full authority over housing,” Lara said. “The only thing I want to know is where I should sleep, and that you’re handling it. That’s all I need to know.”
“We’ve got it, Alpha.”
“Find Francesca. Tell her our guests have arrived. She’ll know what to do.”
“We’ve got it.”
“Zoe,” said Elisabeth. “The enforcers will need places soon.”
“Right,” Zoe replied. “Give us a half hour.” She turned to the two girls. “Iris. Find Francesca and deliver that message. Then find me. I’ll be somewhere in the lodge.”
“Right,” said Iris, turning and running.
“Lindsey, the barracks.”
“Got it.”
“Orderly evacuation,” Zoe said. “And recruit anyone you want to change the bedding and clean up. Make sure they take time to do it all right.”
“Got it,” Lindsey said. She turned and ran off.
Without another word, Zoe turned to the house and hurried away, several of us watching after her. Well, well. The human knew how to take charge.
“Greg, will that work for setting up?” Lara asked.
“Yes. I’d like to send Halo and MacIntyre to examine the helicopters. Carissa, can you spare an escort?”
“Yes.” She gestured to Pearce. Elisabeth stepped over and held out a card key to him. We watched the vampire climb into one of the SUVs along with a human man and woman. Before they could even drive off, Greg’s technicians, with help from two of his wolves, began lugging equipment towards the barracks. Elisabeth stepped to Wendy, and the two communicated quietly, and then the remaining Lima wolves began to disperse, off to help patrol the compound.
“Well,” Greg said. “Shall we head somewhere and talk this through, and then I’d like to meet the prisoners.”
Enthralling
We headed back to the control room deep below the lodge. It was crowded. Lara, Michaela, Elisabeth, and Karen represented the Madison pack. Eric was still down there, but Elisabeth talked to him on arrival, and he disappeared a minute later, although Portia would rejoin us shortly.
Carissa came, of course, after putting two of her vampires watching the prisoners, freeing Kristian to join us.
Greg came with Wendy and two more humans.
It was cozy.
No one said a thing to me. I just went with everyone else, assuming I was welcome. As they didn’t kick me out, I decided no one minded.
“All right,” said Greg. “I’m behind. Help me catch up.”
It took nearly an hour to explain everything that had happened since late last night. Greg listened to everything anyone had to say, and then asked questions, very good questions. Along the way, we reviewed the recordings taken of the event, fast-forwarding through much of it. But finally the recap wound down, and we all sat at the table, thinking for a minute or two.
“This makes no sense,” Wendy said to break the silence. “None at all.”
“We don’t know everything,” Greg said. “I know Chasen. Well, knew him.”
“Was he a friend?”
“Not hardly. He was the sort to take, well, this sort of job.”
We went around and around, trying to make sense of it. What I thought was interesting was simple: neither Carissa nor Kristian chimed in, at least not until Lara declared, “We’re not getting anywhere.”
And that was when Kristian said, “You’re all too young.”
He suddenly had the attention of everyone in the room. “Excuse me?” Lara asked.
“You’re young. You live in modern times. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened.”
“Something like this, what? A human raid on a werewolf compound?”
“No.” He looked at Carissa. “You know.”
“We don’t know,” she said. “But it’s a good guess.”
“How about sharing this guess?” Lara suggested.
“They were sent on a suicide mission,” Kristian said. “Everyone agrees. Anyone who knows nearly everyone here is a werewolf would know this was a suicide mission.”
“But they didn’t know that.”
“The helicopter pilots did. They don’t work for Chasen. They work for someone else, but I bet that’s not who ordered this, either.” He turned his attention. “Mr. Freund, has Chasen made many enemies?”
“Oh, yes,” Greg said. “Oh, shit.”
“In times past,” Kristian said, “if a king wished to rid himself of someone with too many ambitions, he would place that man on the front lines in a dangerous battle. At times, that could backfire, as the individual could come back decorated in glory. But most often, the man would be killed.”
“Oh hell,” Elisabeth said.
“This is just a theory, but I believe Chasen was hired to get him out of the way. Mr. Freund probably has more theories than I do as to the exact reason, and probably a better idea of who it could have been.”
“Revenge,” Greg said. “Eliminate a business competitor. Eliminate an impediment.”
“Whoever did it had money,” Karen said. “Serious money. And they did have the helicopters waiting. They had planned for possible success.”
“So it’s no friend to this pack,” Carissa said. “They were willing to let you die, and they were willing to engage in kidnapping. But th
e only way this wasn’t an intentional suicide mission was if someone drastically underestimated the capabilities of a werewolf pack or greatly overestimated the element of surprise.”
“Then they should have actually aimed for surprise,” Wendy said. “If they wanted surprise. You don’t send two teams traipsing through the woods if you want shock and surprise. You come from four directions in four helicopters, land your troops, and be inside the house ten seconds after the first sound of rotors.”
“That’s not what werewolves would do,” Lara said.
“No, but you wouldn’t have come creeping,” she replied. “Michaela would, and perhaps Ms. Delacroix, but not werewolves.”
“Suicide mission,” Kristian said, “with the most likely result quite simple: eliminate a competitor. Even if they were successful, losses would undoubtedly be high.” He paused. “And if they failed to capture Michaela, well. She has a well-deserved reputation.”
Everyone looked around the room, and then Lara said, “It’s a good theory, Kristian. How do we prove it, and how do we figure out who?” And with that, all eyes turned to Greg, but he was watching Carissa.
“Your Majesty-“
“Mr. Freund, I do not know how many times I asked you to stop calling me that.”
“I need a title, Carissa,” he said. “I can’t just call you by your name. I don’t even know your last name.”
“What is wrong with my name?”
“It does not convey my respect.”
Carissa’s lips tightened just a moment and then she asked, “What did you want to ask?”
“Is it your intention to enthrall all the prisoners?”
“It is expedient,” Carissa said. “No one has called for executions, and I can’t imagine we want to simply let them go, nor involve law enforcement.”
“I am unfamiliar with the process. How long will it take you, and can we trust the answers to our questions afterwards?”
“The only reason it’s not done is my people are patrolling the grounds. I will need them. I cannot take this many myself, not all at once.” She made a face. “And frankly, I don’t want them, but some of my children might.” She turned to Kristian. “And you may still have as many as you like.”
