by Cat Miller
“I agree that keeping the girls underground for a time is for the best. As much as she hates it, I’ve been keeping Koren at home as well,” Gage agreed. “She wants to go be of use at the Enclave, but I haven’t allowed it since David’s disappearance.”
Kayden didn’t know if his father had confided in Griffin about his mother’s pregnancy, so he didn’t mention that Koren would make a prime target.
Hawk approached them with Samantha and Lindsay in tow. “Stay there.” Hawk pointed to a spot on the floor.
“Bossy ass-hat,” Samantha grumbled, but she stopped with Lindsay where they were directed, just out of sight of the body in the cell, but they could see all the splattered blood on the outer walls and floor.
“Gentleman, I believe it’s time to circle wagons in some areas and split up in others. Sheena will be after persons of interest. People who she can either use to get what she wants from the council or people she has a vendetta against. Now that David is gone, Lindsay is at the top of the list. Then Samantha, due to her involvement in Sarah’s scheme that got Sheena caught. Then she’d want Brandi for her power as well as her involvement in ending the conflict at the Enclave. I would also keep some men on Mrs. Paris. Taking her would give Sheena power over Gage.”
“I have my mate taken care of,” Gage practically growled.
Hawk and Gage rubbed each other wrong, and Kayden still hadn’t figured out why. Koren avoided Hawk completely. It was strange, but Kayden hadn’t had the time or inclination to work it out.
“In my opinion, we should separate and hide the females first,” Hawk said, ignoring Gage’s glare. “We can tighten protocol around the Horde, no problem, but I don’t think Sheena has any interest in us. It’s the Enclave security that will need a revamp.”
Gage growled again, but Hawk took no notice. Griffin gave Kayden a questioning cock of his eyebrows. Kayden could only shrug.
“She’s broken down the walls of the Enclave too many times. The simple truth is Sheena’s coming at us from the inside, and she has a lot of help. I know you don’t like to hear it, but you have moles. There are enemies in your ranks,” Hawk expounded.
“Sadly, I can’t disagree with that.” Griffin was nodding his head. “That’s why I agreed to your offer to protect Samantha. I’ve almost lost every one of my children to Sheena and Sarah’s machinations. I have Tessa waiting for me nearby under guard—not that having guards is a guarantee of safety—and J.R is being brought to me now. I finally got Tessa back in my life. I refuse to lose her again. Danielle and Chase are already leaving town. Sheena is free, so they’re all at risk. I won’t have it again.” Griffin looked over to where Samantha was talking quietly to Lindsay. “Someone walked right into this building with the council down the hall and strolled out with the Vampire Nation’s greatest enemy. We’ll have a look at the video footage, of course, but it’s too late now. She’s gone.”
“She’s free, and she’s gunning for us. I agree that my mate is currently wearing the largest bullseye for no other reason than that lunatic is obsessed with vengeance. I’m taking Lindsay away from this place now. Outside of the males standing here, Chase, and Abel, I don’t trust anyone. I’ll be in touch.” Kayden stared at the words written in the blood of the fallen warrior on the back wall of the cell. He took the threat as it was meant. Seriously.
“Did you think it would be that easy? I’m coming for you,” said the gruesome taunt.
“Who will oversee the Horde if both of us are out of touch?” Kayden asked Hawk.
“They are safe on my land. They’re an orderly bunch who hasn’t made any trouble. There’s no time like the present for the Horde to begin accepting their place in our world. Maybe they’ll be a little less resistant to everything we can offer if they get to know me and some of the other leaders.” Gage suggested.
Hawk nodded his agreement unhappily. They had no other choice if Hawk was going to protect Samantha out of the public eye.
“It’s settled then.” Kayden hugged his father and shook Griffin’s hand. It was time to protect his little clan above all others. His clan now consisted of one golden beauty and one tiny warrior who lived under her heart. Kayden had no doubt his father would protect his mother.
Kayden took Lindsay’s hand, and she followed him without question back to the truck. He lifted her into the truck and hooked her seatbelt. She seemed to understand his need to coddle her, so she didn’t remind him that she didn’t need help with her safety restraints. He gave her a smacking kiss before running around the truck to hop behind the wheel. Who knew where Sheena was now. She could be watching them that very moment. They would need to change vehicles.
“Do you like surprises, Lindsay?” he asked as he turned over the engine.
“If it’s a good surprise, sure. What are you up to?” Lindsay asked curiously.
“We’re going on a trip. Call it a honeymoon. The destination will be a surprise for both of us.”
“Where we go doesn’t matter, as long as we’re together.” Lindsay laced her fingers through Kayden’s on the console between them. Kayden pulled to a stop at a red light and kissed his mate long and hard until the light changed and the driver of the car behind them beeped their horn.
“We’re true mates, Hellion, remember? We will always be together. Today, tomorrow, in this lifetime and the next, I will be your shield, and you will be my heart. Now, let’s go let’s get lost … together.”
And that’s exactly what they did.
Epilogue
ONE WEEK LATER
Griffin and the rest of the council were called together in a private session to watch the video footage from the holding cells recorded during Sheena’s escape. The room was still and silent, but shock and anger were thick in the air. The recording ended, and Gage replayed it with commentary the second time.
“This is where the suspects first come into view. One male and one female pulled right up to the side door closest to the holding area and parked. When the guard on duty approaches, he’s shot with a dart gun.” Gage used a laser pointer to bring everyone’s attention to the gun in the male’s hand on the projector screen.
“They walk in like they belong here and they do, considering they’re both members of the nation. We had a limited session that day, so people were coming and going. Once inside, Dr. Fitz was able to bypass the two warriors who questioned her by saying the council called her as an expert witness. She explains that she was directed to report to the private council chamber for that duty. She tells them the male with her is a resident interning with her. They see Dr. Fitz at the Enclave regularly, so they didn’t suspect her story was false. They let the duo pass.
“See here?” Gage points to the male’s side. “He’s concealing the gun against his leg and standing behind Dr. Fitz so it can’t be seen.” The video switched to a different camera angle. “The male is walking with his head down the entire time. They make their way to the holding cells. Once there, Dr. Fitz gives the three guards outside of Sheena’s cell nearly the same story about being there to consult; only this time she tells them she’s supposed to examine the prisoner. The guards didn’t buy it. They wouldn’t open the cell. That’s when things got ugly,” Gage said. “Here we see the male’s face for the first time as he fires the dart gun at two of the guards.”
“The infamous Nick strikes again,” Griffin snarled.
“Now watch Dr. Fitz.” Gage pointed to Dr. Fitz’s hand.
He let the video tell the story for a minute. The doctor the council had trusted to get sensitive information from Lindsay was a traitor to the Vampire Nation. On the screen, they watched as the doctor stabbed Nick in the neck with something and quickly backed away. Nick spun around in anger, but the third guard was bearing down on him. Before their eyes, Nick was transformed into a vampire berserker. His eyes changed, his fangs dropped, and he attacked the guard who didn’t stand a chance. Nick was injected with Hypervamp.
Griffin was horrified by the senseless and violent killin
g of the young warrior. It was difficult to watch, and most of the council averted their eyes.
“Dr. Fitz reappears armed with two Tasers,” Gage began again. “Nick is out of control, beating the dead guard when she shoots him with both stun guns, and it works. Nick is convulsing on the floor while Dr. Fitz fetches the key to Sheena’s cell from one of the still living but unconscious guards.”
Gage let the video play to the end without commentary. Sheena was freed from her cell. She laughed hysterically when she looked right at the camera and flipped them off. Then she dragged the dead warrior into the cell where she used his blood to leave them a message on the wall. Dr. Fitz hauled a still twitching Nick up off the floor and carried him away. Sheena followed. The video ends.
Everyone in the chamber was still staring at the now blank screen a minute later. They were all enraged, but there was nothing they could do.
“We brought a viper into the nest. Us! The Ruling Council of the Americas! How the fuck did this happen?” Griffin was beyond furious. “I want to know who hired that doctor. Where did she come from and who was she reporting to? Sheena has infiltrated every level of our society. All the way to the top. And I, for one, will not stand by and let it continue.”
“I’m already investigating the good doctor’s assignment to the Enclave. I will report to the council as soon as I have completed the probe,” Gage said.
“This council has become too secure in its own power. We think we’re invincible, but we aren’t. Changes need to be made if we’re going to be effective rulers to our nation. Times have changed, but the council has not,” Mason spoke up. He seemed tired and out of sorts.
The house of Deidrick was still mourning the loss of David for the second time. If Mason hadn’t already been on Griffin’s side when it came to the bomb he was about to drop, that would have changed after David’s death. Mason was in total agreement with Griffin that the council had become blind to the world outside of the chamber doors.
“What are you suggesting, Mason?” Kane Stafford scoffed. “The council has ruled successfully since the birth of this nation in the Americas. If you ask me, you’re too young to have an opinion. Griffin is as well. You came upon your seats too early in life. You know nothing.” Kane rose from his seat and started for the door. As usual, his elders, Alexander and Ayden, followed silently.
“Whether you think we’re too young or not, we have seats on the council and our opinions carry as much weight as yours does,” Mason fired back.
“We aren’t done here, Councilor Stafford. Please have a seat. There’s one more item on the agenda,” Griffin growled. Kane glared at Griffin. He didn’t like being given orders. “You’re going to want to hear this. I promise to make it worth your time.”
Griffin stood and looked around at the eight other vampires who decided the fate of the nation with him. The current serving members were Lloyd, Adele, and Griffin Vaughn, Seleste, Seth, and Mason Deidrick, and Alexander, Ayden, and Kane Stafford. They were the most powerful vampires in the Americas. Most of the council was stuck in the past. They were prejudice and closed-minded, thinking they were above reproach. They looked down their noses at the entire nation. Born vampires were all below the council, no matter how wealthy. Made vampires were barely tolerated. Humans were below notice except for a necessary food source. The existence of hybrids or half-breed human-vampires was a topic they still couldn’t get their heads around.
Particularly, the house of Stafford was the biggest throwback. Their three members were the oldest and most set in their ways. Alexander and Ayden Stafford were the most ancient members, and they rarely interjected during a proceeding, preferring to listen and gather information to be carefully picked apart before voting. For the most part, Kane was their mouthpiece. The Deidricks had a similar dynamic. Seleste was Mason’s mother and Seth his grandfather. Mason did all of the talking for the Deidricks, but his elders didn’t bow to him the way the elder Staffords did to Kane. Griffin’s own house had been just as stuck in the past until recent times. Griffin’s parents both served on the council with him, and he had to give it to them since Danielle arrived in their lives, his parents had really begun to accept humans as more than just cattle. It was rough at first, but they loved Danielle now and they slowly began to admit Tessa into the fold.
“I don’t see anything else on the docket for the next session.” Kane peered down at the schedule.
“This is a personal matter,” Griffin stated and shuffled the papers on the table before him.
There was a quick knock on door before Donovan Stafford strolled in carrying a briefcase.
“What do you wish to discuss?” asked Seth Deidrick. “I know you don’t think we should push the Horde to be registered, but we need to know what kind of abilities they have. I understand that they think we’re invasive, but it’s not about taking away their freedom. This is a fascinating time in our history. I believe we’re evolving as a species. We need to document everything with as much detail as possible.” Mason’s grandfather was adamant about the registration of the Horde and any other independent half-breeds found.
“I’m not going to argue the need to document our history or take security precautions for our people. It’s the Horde who will fight you. I’m just saying that we need to approach them carefully and with respect for their fears,” Griffin replied. “Their experience with vampires up to this point hasn’t been a positive one. Their vampire parents have either hidden their existence or abandoned them.”
“I’d be interested in DNA testing to see if we can identify the parents,” Seth said.
“That would require DNA samples from the entire nation,” Kane countered. “I believe that is overreaching our authority. If it isn’t the Horde, what is it you want to debate?”
“It’s funny that you assume I’m here to argue about something.” Raising an eyebrow, Griffin smirked at Kane. “There will be no debating my decision, but I do believe there will be a knockdown, drag-out argument, a fight even. So I suppose you’re correct.”
Donovan opened his briefcase and began passing out his findings, along with Griffin’s formal notification of his chosen heir.
“What is this?” Adele asked as she began to page through the packet.
“I respectfully inform the council that I have no intention of spending the rest of my days in service to the nation. I want a different life. Now that I have Tessa back, I’m looking forward to being the mate I should have been all along. I am abdicating my seat on the council within the next five years,” Griffin said, and it felt good to finally voice his intentions. He’d been planning and researching for months.
A collective gasp greeted Griffin’s announcement. He could have warned his parents that this day was coming, but it was better that they not be held culpable for his decision, and he didn’t want to give them a chance to argue his choice. Mason was, of course, aware of Griffin’s plan and supported whatever Griffin had to do to be happy. Mason’s son and Danielle’s mate, Chase, was being groomed for his eventual position on the council. Only Chase would be replacing one of the elder Deidricks.
“Griffin, what are you talking about? You can’t abdicate. You’ve only served for twenty years, and you’re far too young to step away from your duty,” Adele argued.
“I can and will, Mother. This isn’t the life for me. I realize this is highly irregular, but frankly, I don’t care. As is the tradition, I will pass my seat down to my eldest child since she is not already serving on the council. Danielle would be here today if it weren’t for the clear and present danger to herself and her siblings. She will address the council at a later date.”
“Griffin, this cannot be!” Seth got to his feet. “She is but a child! She was not even raised as one of us!”
“I don’t see why her age matters. In five years she will be the same age Griffin and I were when we took our seats,” Mason interrupted his grandfather.
“You were raised for the position, as your son has been,” Seth argu
ed.
“I don’t mean to be indelicate, Griffin, but she is not an appropriate choice,” Seleste agreed.
“She wasn’t born legitimately, and she is not full-blooded,” Kane spoke through gritted teeth. “The house of Stafford rejects your choice of heir. You must at least wait for your son to come of age.” Kane was ready to explode. His face was an alarming shade of red.
“I will do no such thing. One of my parents will leave their seat to J.R. when the time comes. He will serve with his sister. You have no say whatsoever in which of our line is next to serve. I was mated to Danielle’s mother when she was conceived and born, so she is legitimate. Even if she weren’t, there is nothing in the laws stating it matters either way.” Griffin sat back in his chair, looking relaxed. He expected this reaction. “As far as not being full-blooded, I disagree. Danielle was born to a vampire and a human and then changed. She’s the ultimate advocate for the minorities in our nation. The council should defend every member of the nation. Danielle will be the voice of change needed for the future.”
Donovan stepped forward to speak on Griffin’s behalf. “The council cannot deny a councilor’s child her right to a seat. Most councilors step down when they’re much older, but there are no bylaws on the subject. There are also no laws regarding the species or legitimacy of the heir. There are traditions, but no requirements. You will find reference to all laws and history regarding the council in your packets. I encourage you all to do your own research,” Donovan finished.
“Griffin, have you considered Brandi or Samantha?” Lloyd asked, hopefully. “They’re also too young, but at least they understand our people.