by Lucy Lyons
“We have received the word of the council that we have been anticipating, and there has been a challenge issued,” Nick began. “I would read it to you, but it just so happened to spontaneously combust a few minutes ago.” There were scattered snickers as several pairs of eyes went straight to my quickly reddening face.
“She can blow up a letter, but can Caroline’s power stop the council from coming in and killing us all?” came a voice from the back of the room.
“There is no ‘us’, Lady Borgia,” I called out over the vampires. A hole formed in the bodies as the vampires moved away from the sorceress. “I don’t know where you got the idea that you’re welcome here, but this is clan business, and you aren’t clan.”
“What do I have to do to be a part of your clan, Caroline?” She stepped forward so she was leaning against the foot of the table and staring me down.
“Get a boyfriend,” I muttered to myself, and Nick pinched my thigh. “I’ve proven myself to my people, Dominique. They know I would lay down my life for them. When have you ever served any interests but your own?” There were murmurs of agreement among the rats and a few of the vampires that had come up with Nick from California.
“Never, until I took you into my care,” came the reply. “I don’t expect a place of honor at your table, my lord,” she added, looking at Nick. “But I know your servant. If there isn’t enough power on the table before we go into battle, she will sacrifice herself to save you all.” There were more murmurs among the crowd, and suddenly, I realized there were far too many people in the room for my comfort.
“The thought had occurred to me, yes,” I interjected. “But again, that is not your business, Hunter.” I spat the last word at her like a curse, and instantly, the power leaking from all the preternatural creatures amped up.
“Clay and Parker of the wolves, King Jeremy, Fin, and Suzette of the rats, and my guard stay. Everyone else, out.” Nick commanded, and without hesitation, half the vampires filed out of the room. The rats were slower to obey, but Jeremy gestured and all but his officers left as well.
“Colette, you may stay. My guard, and anyone strong enough to help upstairs while the sun is still up, please help the humans to secure the club, and find them somewhere to stay. If necessary, my quarters can be made available, but please, take out my weapons first.”
Nick nodded, but a vampire hesitated. “I thought Fin said we were given two days?” she asked, her fingers twisting together nervously.
“What’s your name, and how old are you?” I asked. There was no power emanating from her, no age resounding to my power. It was as though she’d just climbed out of her grave and was newborn as a vamp.
“I’m Skye. Glory made me the night you and your guard attacked us,” she said, swallowing quickly. She was young, but not so young that she should have seemed so human and vulnerable.
“You aren’t strong enough to fight with us, you can stay with the humans,” I ordered, and she nodded.
“But, what about our two days?” she complained again.
“If you were going to attack, would you give your enemy two days to prepare for it?” I sighed, and she shook her head.
“Neither will they. Now, please go and find food, then report to Rachel when we’re finished here and she’ll give you somewhere to be.” I stood and motioned for those remaining to take the seats closest to us as she left the room with the few stragglers. Dominique, the wolves, and the rats were all that remained aside from Nick’s guard, Rachel, and Colette.
“Rachel, Colette, please take your seats at the table as our generals,” Nick offered, and Colette took the seat next to me, with Rachel mirroring her across the table. I licked my lips as I felt the weight of over a dozen pairs of eyes still on us, but Nick was utterly unflappable.
“You all know the gist of the message,” he began without preamble, “Caroline made us powerful. If we want to survive as a clan, we need to turn her over to the council to be forced to provide the grandmasters with the same ability.”
“And if we don’t?” Clay asked, his body and voice tense.
“Which we won’t,” Colette added, placing her hand over his. The gesture was so unlike her, both Clay and I flinched in surprise. She jerked her hand back and looked at me, and I grinned. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not completely heartless,” she griped, and the tension in the room dropped to a livable level as a few chuckles broke out among the vampires who had known Colette long enough to remember when she was less sane and much more violent.
“We know you aren’t, Colette. I’m still proud of you, for caring about the feelings of a human.” I sighed.
“He’s not really human though, is he?” she quipped, and Clay made a rude noise.
“Back to business, please?” he snapped. “I know you’re avoiding, Caroline. What do you need from the wolves?”
“I wanted to keep you out of it, but the messenger could see the wolf in me last night. It was when you all would have been in the middle of your ceremonies, shifting and doing who knows what kind of neat power-stuff. I felt it, and apparently so did everyone else within the city limits,” I confessed. I hated feeling like I’d just dragged them into things, but more and more, it seemed that the path we were on was one I couldn’t fight. “I’ve upped my shielding to the point where I can’t even read Nick, and he can’t read me, but I think my measures fall under the ‘too little, too late’ category.”
I sighed and drummed my fingers on the table, trying to suppress my irritation with myself, and Nick took my hand.
“It was no one’s fault that they learned what we shouldn’t have to hide in the first place. I’m proud of our alliances, and the power of our clan. However, that doesn’t prevent the danger, or make it any less real.” He glanced at me and I smiled back at him, squeezing his fingers gently.
“Since they know I’ve got the power to call the wolves, and that they’re connected to Nick, we need to get the pack down here to fight, or out of the territory altogether.”
“Have we warned the southern California cities?” Fin asked, obviously worried about the rest of his own pack who lived among the LA vampires. Jeremy nodded at him, and I saw Fin visibly relax. It made me wonder who he had waiting for him back home, but I put the thought away and turned to listen to Nick as he continued.
“They will attack here, because they are too arrogant to care about our clan or worry that they might strike back,” Nick explained. “They aren’t exactly into democracy. I will do whatever is necessary to protect you, but I can’t fight alone and win.”
“I don’t think anything they’ve lived or seen can prepare them for a clan that is mixed with humans, wolves, rats, vampires, and any other creature who wishes to be here, can that be a strength for us?” I asked, and Nick nodded.
“They have nothing but speculation and bits of history so ancient, even those who were living then won’t have a clear memory of what such a clan was like. The original clan and still the most powerful that ever existed,” Nick explained to us. “The whole rest of the council had to work together to bring the Queen of the vampires down, and even then, they could not kill her. Caius was among them. He arrives with that memory and that fear, and we might be able to use it. I know we aren’t as powerful as the first clan yet, but he doesn’t.”
“So, we need to make him believe that we are a united force?” I asked, and he concurred. “Well, that brings me back to my initial question to you, Dominique,” I said, turning my attention back to her. “You were not asked to stay, yet here you are, assuming you have the authority to help us plan and make decisions.” I tilted my head and scowled at her. “Or are you just gathering as much information as you can, so you can go back and lick your cousin’s designer heels to be let back in?”
The room went deathly quiet, and all eyes turned from me, to Dominique.
“No amount of information would have me reinstated in the Venatores,” Dominique admitted quietly, tears slipping down her cheeks. “For
hundreds of years I served faithfully, unwilling to see that the world I loved was being poisoned against everything we had once stood for.” She sniffed and glared at me. “You were my last, best hope to break out of the hold that the Venatores slowly put on all witches.”
“My apologies,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Why? I was more successful with you than I ever dreamed. You forced the Venatores to speed up their plans and drop the façade. Because of you, Rome is on the verge of disavowing our old sector, and Professor Eldritch left for Italy the moment he left here.” She dabbed at her cheeks with the sleeve of her silk jacket and pasted on a smile. “I only wanted witches to be as powerful as I was before I was forced to give up so much of my power to make other hunters feel safe. You are more powerful than any witch I remember, including Sophia, now that you and Nicholas have become one.”
If Nick heard the hint of sadness in her voice, he didn’t show it, and I tried to ignore it too. I looked down the table at her, and tried to really see her, with all my power and psychic ability and our history together.
“You would never have been the servant, Dom, so why are you sad that I am, and how are you going to help us, when you don’t really want to be here?” I asked. It was a question I would normally have reserved for a private conversation, but I had learned from my time with the clan, that there really was no such thing when it came to admitting a new member. Nick gave everyone with authority a voice, so if there were reservations about a new member, it was expected that they be aired in front of the deciding committee. Conveniently, anyone with that rank was already in the room.
“We’re running low on time, Caroline,’ Nick admonished quietly. “Perhaps you and Lady Borgia can speed up your pissing contest.”
“Fine,” I grumbled. “Are you going to hurt my family?”
“I thought I was your family, Caroline,” she replied, and Clay shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
“You were my hero, my teacher, and the manipulator of my destiny. When we aren’t both in a room with the master of my clan, I can even make myself believe we’re friends. We will be family when I see you put the safety of those humans and shifters, and even vampires, above your own. That’s what it means to be family, Dom.”
She nodded, but didn’t speak, and I crossed my arms under my breasts. Nick looked at us in turn, then around the table.
“Does anyone have any other reservations at letting Dominique de Borgia stay with us until she proves herself?” There were no dissenters, and Nick held his arms open to her. “Welcome, Lady de Borgia. As one of the few resident nobility, you’ll be assigned to Jeremy. You can help his rats prepare, and our laboratory is open to you, with supervision, to prepare spells to protect them however he wishes.”
She blanched at being assigned to the shifters, but nodded, her lips drawn in a thin line. I made a mental note to kiss Nick soundly for not making her his personal guard. She was the most powerful witch I’d ever known until I met Amitolane in Arizona. The rats deserved someone as strong and knowledgeable of magic and spells as she was, and they just happened to be positioned at the far end of the compound, to keep them safe.
I don’t love the idea of her being at the back door, Nick, I sent to him through our telepathic connection. Just make sure Jeremy doesn’t give her too much leash, please? We don’t need the enemy at our back right now.
He squeezed my hand under the table and I felt his reassurance settle my stomach a little. He cleared his throat and assigned the rest in attendance, the vampires to aid those already upstairs, putting away the alcohol and flammables, and urging the humans to either leave town, or join the shifters at the back of the compound. Once everyone had their assignments, the room emptied quickly, leaving only the wolves, Colette and Rachel, and Nick and I to fill it up.
Chapter 9
As the last order of business before Nick and I went topside to make the business look presentable to our soon-to-arrive ‘guests’ from the council, Clay and Parker were asked to report to their alpha.
“Ashlynn has my number. But she needs to hurry. If you can get out to the woods where they can’t find you, great. However, I fully expect a hunting party to be sent after you, so please urge her to send your weakest members to be protected here.” I added to Clay.
“We’re stronger than you think, and we aren’t servants to a master,” Parker drawled.
“You are strong, Parker. I remember how close you came to catching the alpha at the last mating run,” I mentioned, casually making the point that he’d failed, with my voice full of saccharine. “Do you think she would let you run again, once I force you into wolf form and return you to her?” He blanched and fell silent.
“Caroline is right. This isn’t the time for posturing. We didn’t wish to reveal you to the council, but the moon upended our plans to keep your secret for you.”
“Your pack needs to choose, Parker, I added. “Fight, run, or let us protect you as best we can. None of the options are certain to keep you safe, but we will do what we can to prevent casualties, no matter what you choose.” I paused and Nick continued.
“If you were mine, I would force you to fight. Caroline is, in some ways, too gentle with those she commands, and wolf, she does have power over you. Rest assured, if we lose a battle we could have won with your aid, you will find my command much less kind.”
I wanted to argue with him, but his hand tightened on my knee and I knew there was no point in it. Clayton and I exchanged a look, and for a moment, it felt like we were back at the library of the Venatores lamiae, getting an earful from the hunters who were about to send us out with a warrant. The message was certainly familiar.
“Do what you’re told, or die.” It was the rule of the preternatural order. In a way, we were closer to our base animal instincts and laws than mundane humans. Kill or be killed wasn’t a part of healthy human society, but it was for us. Which was one reason we had to ensure that our clan won in our territory. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t just lose a fight. Our clan and any associated with us would be exterminated without mercy.
“We’ll take the message back, and you’ll know what we’ve decided shortly,” Clay promised. Parker was silent and pale, so pissed off or afraid of Nick’s threat that he wouldn’t even look at either of us.
“Thanks, Clay. If we can keep your people safe, we will.” My assurance felt hollow, considering the only reason the council knew the wolf pack existed was because Louis had some form of psychic sight, and I’d refused to stay with the pack for the lunar rites. Still, he nodded as they both stood to go.
“Take care, everyone,” Clay said at the door. No matter what Ashlynn chooses, I’ll be back.” I cringed and shot Nick an apologetic glance.
“One more thing, Clay,” I called out. He looked back over his shoulder at me. “Take the oath. You’ll gain power from it, and your pack needs you at full strength. They’re your people now. You don’t owe me anything, Clay. I want you to be safe and happy.”
He frowned, but nodded. I watched him go with a sinking feeling that I might not see him again, but if it kept him alive and well, I was willing to let him go.
“He’ll always be your friend, Caroline,” Nick said aloud, guessing my thoughts.
“I hope so. But, we put his pack in a tight spot. I don’t want him without a clan because of us, so if he has to renounce us, I can live with that.” I stood up and shook out my hands. “It’s time to go kick some ass, right? Because I’ve had just about enough of my own feelings for one day, and I would sure like to shoot something.”
Nick laughed and put his arms around me, somehow managing to cuddle me around my small arsenal.
“I have the terrible feeling that you are about to have more targets than you know what to do with, my love.” My bravado disappeared at his words and I sighed, pulling his arms around me tighter.
Isn’t that how it goes, though? I thought to myself. Never enough to vent my frustration, without being overwhelmed by the e
nemy.
“We got this, right Nick?” I asked.
“Yup. But, you need to control your mouth, Caroline. You can’t speak out of turn with the council. There are ancient vampire abilities you’ve never seen before and don’t know how to counter. If you show any sign of impudence or disrespect, they will literally strike you down and there will be no coming back from where they send you.”
I shuddered at the mental image he showed me and forced myself to take a deep breath. The council wasn’t about keeping the peace with humans, but maintaining the balance of power so that it was always tipped in their favor. Nick and I had blatantly defied that directive at every turn. They had no intention of letting us survive it.
“Then what stops them from just coming in and doing that?” I asked.
“We have laws too, Caroline. Even their hunger for power doesn’t allow them carte blanche on us. Not even the council wants to chance a full-on rebellion over a servant. Remember, we haven’t challenged them or any other vampire. Glory attacked us first,” he reassured me.
He led me out by the hand and we walked the corridors that had become our home just a few months prior. The high arching ceilings had come from whoever came before Glory and her clan. Humans did not make them, but I had been hoping for time to research who had lived here before vampires. There were carvings in the walls of Nordic and Celtic origin, and I’d even found some Latin in a large stone room that had become our armory.
