The Sigma Menace Collection

by Marie Johnston

  “Which is where?” Damon countered.

  The room went silent. Lily could stay with them and be protected by Rhys, Alex, and the twins. They were already guarding and protecting the other three, although Damon and William could fight if needed. Mostly, the three former prisoners needed to be watched and prevented from doing something stupid that would put them all at risk.

  “I have an idea, but you might not like it.” Even though Alex was talking to the entire room, she looked directly at him. “Demetrius Devereux.”

  She was right. He hated the idea. Biting back a “fuck no,” Rhys forced himself to consider her suggestion. “Is he solidly established as the leader for the vampires?” Please say no.

  “As much as he can be while some of the old timers fight against the change in regime. It was a long time coming, though, and he has solid support in most of the population.”

  William shifted in his seat, sensing unease from his son. “We can’t trust Lily with her own kind any more than we can trust her safety to shifters.”

  “You can trust her with D.” Alex was right. Rhys grudgingly respected the male. If it hadn’t been for him, Rhys wouldn’t have gotten Alex out, and she wouldn’t be here today. The male orchestrated the revolt against his own council and was intent on leading his people in the right direction.

  “What if this Demetrius Devereux keeps Lily away from me?” Damon still held hostility in his gaze. “Or what if we have kids, then what about them? They would be hybrids, targets.”

  “He said he’d expect the same out of hybrids that he expects out of his vampires.” Alex’s fingers tapped rhythmically on her arm.

  Rhys watched her fidget. Her nervous energy offset his calm demeanor.

  “That’s great for hybrids under his command.” Damon was shaking his head. “We know what the current Lycan Council’s view on hybrids is. What will the new council’s view be?”

  Alex tensed next to him. That question had been weighing heavily on her mind, too. Demetrius may have promised her amnesty, but it would do her no good if the shifters didn’t do the same. Both species would want her to pick one to side to obey.

  William filled in where his son left off. “Will either side be truly content with an individual, much less an entire family, choosing sides?”

  Rhys’ mind started formulating a plan. A tentative plan, one that might meet with great resistance. From both sides. Or as Alex was proof of, there were now more than two sides.

  “We’re planning too small scale. We need to think bigger.” Rhys got the attention of everyone in the room. “We won’t need Lily, but we need to get Demetrius here.”

  Chapter 15

  “Holy shit!” Bennett hissed and sat upright at Alex’s sudden appearance in his office. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Before she could speak, he held up a hand and turned on a white noise machine. “Fuckers think they’re clever.”

  Alex smirked at the male’s scowl. “Thought I’d drop in for a visit since it’s been a few days.”

  “The council’s pissed. Fucking Seether has been breathing down my damn neck.” Bennett kept his voice low, but Alex’s sensitive ears easily picked out his words. “Did you get Fitzsimmons out?”

  “We did. Along with some witnesses we can use to prove the council is hunting my kind. I can explain more, but first you need to come with me.”

  Bennett’s handsome face blanched. “You mean like that flashing shit?”

  “Mmm-hmm.” She kind of enjoyed his discomfort. Yes, he could be called her nephew since he was mated to Sarah, but that didn’t mean it was any less fun to mess with him. “I’m almost sure I can get you back okay.”

  He gave a curt shake of his head. “Almost sure? What would happen if you couldn’t?”

  She casually shrugged and lied. “Dunno.” Too bad she couldn’t stop her wicked grin. “Nah, we’d just get dumped somewhere between here and the lake house.”

  “That’s like five hundred miles away.”

  “Chill. I just fed from Rhys, so I’ve got the power.”

  Bennett held his hand up again. “TMI, dude.”

  Alex couldn’t help but grin again, feeling the surge of Rhys’ blood coursing through her veins. “C’mon, Benji. Let Auntie take you on a trip.”

  The blond scowled hard at her, but finally stood up to come around his desk and grab her hand. “We’ll be back soon, right? If Sarah finds out I left without telling her, she’s going to not-cuss up a storm at me.”

  Sarah’s aversion to swearing was well known around the lodge. It didn’t mean anyone watched their mouth, just that she preferred not to swear herself. Alex figured Bennett did enough for both of them.

  “You’ll get the pleasure of telling her you left and came back, all without her knowing.”

  A frown marred Bennett’s handsome face. “Damn. I’m not going to win either way.”

  Alex latched onto the newest member of her family and flashed them back to the lake cabin.

  Whoa. As Bennett staggered next to her, her heart beat like a jackhammer. Long distance flashing was only for the powerful vampires. Alex might only be half, but her mother had been a fierce creature in her day. That, combined with Rhys’ blood, gave her enough of a boost to transport with a passenger. She’d need to feed again before she brought Bennett back and got stuck at the lodge.

  “That sucked,” Bennett wheezed.

  She slapped him on the back. “You took it like a man. Like a two-hundred and thirty pound shifter male who can’t flash worth a damn.”

  He shot her a dirty look, but a faint smile touched his lips. They might not be besties, but they were getting there.

  “Let’s go join the party.”

  He followed her out of the room Alex fondly began to think of as “the flashing chamber.” Conversation drifted from the dining room. Mainly from Demetrius, who must have arrived right as she left to get Bennett. The vampire was interrogating Damon about the night his mate, Lily, had been attacked. Damon and his father sat at the table, flanking Sylva. Malcolm and Harrison stood at one end of the dining room, while Rhys stood on the other. Demetrius remained standing, across from the three shifters he was questioning.

  Demetrius paused as Alex and Bennett walked into the room. His nostrils flared and his eyes warmed in her direction. “Ah. I thought I smelled your mark on the brooding shifter in the corner. I see you only need to make it official now, love.”

  Malcolm’s eyebrows shot up when he heard Demetrius’ endearment. Harrison scowled at the vampire. Both males were extremely loyal to her mate.

  “It’s official enough,” Rhys smoothly replied.

  The vampire broke out in a grin, his fangs flashing, and Alex was relieved to see that Rhys no longer seemed to despise the male. They weren’t drinking buddies or anything, but the two males were very similar. She thought of Demetrius as a friend and would be glad if Rhys could more than tolerate his presence.

  “Don’t babysit your mailbox waiting for an invitation to our mating ceremony,” she teased.

  Demetrius put his hands over his heart. “You wound me.” The smile dropped from his face and he was back to business. “Other than helping with this Lily that Damon’s been telling me about, what did you drag me here for?”

  She had called Demetrius the previous day to persuade him he needed to drive out to the cabin. Flashing would’ve been faster, but since Demetrius had never been there before, Alex would have to flash with him. If they could convince Demetrius to come to them, she could save her strength to flash to Bennett and bring him to the cabin.

  Rhys was the first to speak. “Tell us what your mission is in leading your people.”

  “Like shifters, vampires need a more modern government. One less concerned about hiding and keeping secrets, and one more concerned about protecting and guiding their people into the future. We’re integrating, like it or not.” Demetrius nodded toward Damon, his pale-green eyes grim. “The species are mixing. I aim to see that my people sur
vive and incorporate themselves into the human world without spilling our secrets, or getting themselves killed keeping them.”

  “What about hybrids?”

  Demetrius shrugged his powerful shoulders. “Don’t care. They’ll need to follow the same rules.”

  “That sounds amazing,” William spoke, his tone sounding like he had just heard a fairy tale. “Shifters need the same out of their government. But I fail to see how either council can adequately protect any of my future grandchildren, which will be hybrids.”

  “If they follow me, I’ll protect them,” Demetrius said, arrogantly.

  “Why do they need to choose sides?” Rhys stepped forward, he had everyone’s attention. “Our species are at the point where our paths are converging. Our governments should converge with it.”

  Malcolm’s eyes went wide. “Are you talking about blending the councils?” Alex knew the twins had grown up with their councilman father. This train of thought was way outside of the box for them.

  Demetrius’ gaze was speculative. “Do you think any seats on your current council would be willing to work with me?”

  “Hybrids still wouldn’t have representation,” Damon pointed out. “But it sounds better than two separate entities trying to govern populations that exists side-by-side.”

  “A hybrid would sit on the council,” Demetrius suggested, his eyes lifting to her. “Are you up for the job?”

  “Fuck no.” Alex didn’t even have to think about that. “I’m not a politician.” She smiled. “But maybe I know someone who would be good for the job.”

  Rhys didn’t ask who she was thinking of. The population of hybrids was small. He would figure it out. “We need to sit and figure out how a new government would work, then show up tomorrow before the council convenes.”

  “Then why am I here?” Bennett was still standing with Alex in the doorway. He’d been so still she almost forgot he was there.

  Rhys’ eyes gleamed. “As commander of one of the Guardian packs, only you can launch a formal complaint against the council itself. One severe enough, it calls for the immediate execution of all members involved.”

  Bennett’s dark-blue eyes brightened with mirth. “I’ll bet those old bastards forgot that little tidbit when they ordered the murders of their own people.” He looked at the twins. “How are you two doing with this?”

  Harrison dropped his eyes, while Malcolm met Bennett’s gaze unflinchingly. “Our father isn’t involved.”

  “What if he is?” Bennett pushed.

  “He isn’t. But if he admits to ordering the murders of women, children, and innocent shifters, then he needs to face his punishment.”

  Sylva cleared her throat. “That’s all well and good. You can lead your people into the future. Does the future include making laws that clan leaders can’t force their daughters to mate? Does the future include making colonies that keep themselves isolated in order to preserve their own internal power face the light? Will the shifters born into isolation be able not to just grow up hearing rumors of a world where we’re free to make our own decisions, but actually experience it?”

  It was the most any of them had heard her speak. The female’s violet eyes lit with more fire, the more she talked. Demetrius cocked his head at her, as if waiting to hear more.

  Emboldened, she continued. “If we can overthrow our own government, we need to dive into the issues that enabled the leaders to gain so much power in the first place. Isolated colonies need education, they need a form of leadership that isn’t just by birthright or might.” Her tone dripped with bitterness. “All of our people need this change.” Her voice caught and her gaze flicked up to Alex. “Not just hybrids.”

  Alex could see the enormity of what Sylva said sink in with the rest of the Guardians. They all knew how many colonies were squirreled away, deep in the woods and forests. They barely blended when forced to, but some clans were very selective on who they let mingle with humans. Even when Alex had to go deal with Madame G’s shifter spies, she saw the toll it took on some inhabitants. Stuck in unhappy matings, not allowed to roam the world and meet their destined love, or even just live freely. Eventually, the lack of a solid mating bond drives a shifter to go feral, crazy. The lack of outside contact, or expression of themselves, was making them go rogue and break away from their own society. Alex had dealt with enough of both of those in her short time.

  It occurred to her that she was probably considered a rogue. A shifter who didn’t follow the rules. The irony that a Guardian was her mate wasn’t lost on her. If overthrowing the council didn’t work, could she live without Rhys and stay sane? She knew what it was like in his arms. Could she walk away from him so he could do his job?

  Bennett ran a hand through his always messed-up hair and blew out a gusty breath. “Y’all, we’d better get started planning before Sarah goes looking for me.”

  Things didn’t move as quickly as projected. Getting plans made, getting people in place, even getting hold of some of the individuals, took time. Especially when half of those involved couldn’t flash, but had to drive. Bennett was driving from West Creek to the council’s hearing, and the twins were bringing the three former prisoners.

  Rhys was waiting at the cabin with Alex, who was sipping her coffee and checking the time.

  “Bennett’s appointment with the council begins in fifteen minutes,” she said.

  “Good. We should get going.” He snagged her mug and took a drink, wrinkling his nose as he set it on the counter. He’d never get used to the stuff.

  Alex made to grab his hand and flash.

  “Wait.”

  She stopped, her hand hovering above his arm, and waited for him to continue.

  “Whatever happens, we stay together.”

  A fleeting look of regret crossed her face. “Rhys, your pack will need you.”

  He firmly shook his head. “They’ve been doing just fine without me for six months. You are my life. Where you go, I go.”

  She had that look. The one where she was deciding whether she would takeoff, or whether she’d tell him first and find a way to leave without him.

  “Where you go, I go,” he stressed.

  “If Councilman Seether and Hargrath remain in power, I can’t stay.”

  “Honey,” he grabbed her and pulled her in close, “if they stay in power, my entire pack will be in trouble anyway. It’d be best if we all disappeared. If this does work, though, and I go back to being Commander Fitzsimmons? You and me. Together.”

  Her hands skated up his chest and snaked them around his neck. “I’ll have to decide what I’m going to be when I grow up.”

  That one caught Rhys off guard. “I thought you’d want to become a Guardian?”

  “And work for you?” she teased, then her vibrant eyes turned serious. “I never wanted to be a fighter.” Her tone was solemn. “It became a part of who I am, but it’s not what I want to do forever. I’ve been too busy surviving to think there was anything else for me. I’d been certain that I couldn’t stay with you and would have to go on the run.”

  “Then we need to make sure you have time to decide what you want to do with your life. Just know that I can’t do my job and let you go. If I go back to being Commander Fitzsimmons, it will only be because we have new leadership that allows me to have a hybrid mate. Let’s go.” He gave her a chaste kiss on the forehead. Anything more and he’d delay them too long.

  Everything went black in a blink as Alex flashed him to the storage closet next to the room he had his beatings. It was close to the chambers the council held their sessions in, where Bennett should be at that moment.

  We’re in place, he informed Bennett, after his head quit spinning. Alex stepped away to listen at the door.

  I haven’t been called in yet. Mercury told the guards he was coming in with me, in less nice terms. I had Jace and Kaitlyn hang back at the lodge, just in case.

  Good. If things went south, their loved ones would be protected until they put Plan
B into motion, which was to get the hell out of there.

  Our ETA is two minutes. Malcolm’s voice floated through Rhys’ head.

  Perfect. It was Bennett this time. They just gave me the signal to go in front of the council. Malcolm, there’s one guard to take your car, and another right inside the door.

  We’ll take care of ’em, Malcolm replied.

  Alex and I are heading your way, Bennett.

  Two guards flank the chamber’s doors, Bennett informed him.

  Got it.

  Alex pulled open the door. “Clear.”

  He followed her out. Between the two of them, they should have no problem getting to the council’s main chambers. He had faced his own tribunal there after they had taken him into custody all those months ago. Alex still had the schematics of the facility committed in her brain.

  Timing would be a huge key to their success, otherwise the council’s pack of Guardians might be able to detain them.

  From Malcolm’s report, and Rhys’ own observation, the Guardian pack protecting the facility and council members numbered at twenty. When he and Alex were breaking out Damon, his father, and Sylva, he had encountered two of them, other than Mastiff. They were good. But thanks to Master Bellamy, his pack was better. And they had Alex.

  She walked confidently next to him. Her black hair was slicked down and tucked behind her ear. “To better fight Guardians with, my pretty,” she had told him earlier that morning. They each had a dart gun in hand. They’d win no trust from their people slaughtering indiscriminately. They’d give the council’s pack of Guardians a fair hearing before condemning them.

  Five guards in the chamber itself, Mercury informed them. Bennett must be busy talking.

  “Hey!” a voice shouted behind them.

  Alex snapped her fingers. “You know what, sweetheart. I think we went the wrong way. Perhaps we should ask for directions.”

  “Identify yourselves,” a female voice demanded from back down the hallway.