by Erin R Flynn
I turned to Virgil. “Thanks for coming. I know you guys have been having a hard time, and I’m sorry I bugged you.”
“I hate the reason, but honestly, I could use the break,” he admitted. I could see that. He couldn’t really get away from losing Ross, but there had been almost constant media coverage on the mess in Memphis since I’d gone down there. There was always something new discovered about those churches or someone else that just blew up the whole thing again. Plus, they were expanding and busy with our orders and supplying Vegas.
Not to mention the cotton farms for their deals with Laila to make fairy material. It had to be a lot.
And I knew that from experience. I didn’t push, instead just kissing his cheek before jumping right back into the planning and logistics.
Brutus actually brought the boys by so I could talk to them and make sure they understood I was coming back, that everything would be fine. I thanked him, glad they had a chance to see me before things got worse, and they were staying at my apartment, as a lot of everyone was coming with me and that meant less protection for them.
“I won’t let anyone so much as fucking touch them,” Virgil swore to me as people started heading out to leave before I had to. “The pack is safe with me. I got this. You just go handle the international incident in Iran.”
“Yeah, just that,” I drawled and then burst out laughing. It was fucking insane, all of it. And for some even crazier reason, I was at the center of it.
Fuck, fuck, fucking ducks.
6
“Stay here until you get the signal,” I said under my breath as Orson opened the plane’s door for me.
“And that would be?”
“I have no idea.” I shrugged when he shot me an incredulous look. “Let’s see how it goes, but they’re close. I can feel them.”
“Thank fuck,” he breathed and went stiff.
I looked around him and sighed, vampires and more vampires coming out all over the place to “greet” us. I slung my bag over my shoulder and brushed past him to make my way down the stairs. Heading over to the fancy tent setup, I wondered if they realized they looked like some cheesy remake scene of Indiana Jones where the baddie has the fancy tent in the desert with the whole seduction scene laid out.
“You really came,” Omid Ahmadi greeted in Farsi before throwing his head back and bursting out laughing. I bristled at that and swallowed it down, setting down my bag and stretching while he kept laughing. It wasn’t just his voice that matched, but he acted like the guy in charge. “You truly came and as demanded. For all the rumors you are so smart, you were quite stupid this time, Seraphine Thomas.”
“Not even going to hide you were setting a trap?” I asked as I stretched. Several people gave me strange looks, and I adjusted my neck. “I have a thing where I sleep and sleep hard on planes, so it was a long sleep in not a bed. I’ve got some kinks I didn’t fully work out when we stopped to refuel.”
“We don’t care,” Omid said firmly.
“They looked like they did,” I defended, kicking my foot up to my butt and holding it there. “So what’s the real plan? We went over why you can’t keep me.”
He clucked his tongue at me. “Such American arrogance. You truly believe you are the greatest country in the world, the very best, but you are the only ones who think that way of you.”
I just blinked at him a moment, knowing that but thinking mine and my country’s arrogance shouldn’t really be judged by such an obvious douchebag.
“Your warnings of the Dorcuses were nothing. What will they do when I have their precious daughter? The council will not make a move for one shifter after approving this plan. They cannot admit it did not happen as they agreed. Your pack is nothing compared to all the vampires in Iran, many as old as your ancients. You have no move, no play. You are mine now, Seraphine.”
“Sorry, I’m not into being property, so we’re going to have to work something out,” I drawled.
Anger filled his eyes as his fangs came out. “You would speak to the ruler of a vast country like Iran in such a manner? Yes, you are mine. You will give me all the power I want, all my people the power we need to be the most powerful so we may take out the council and more. Your blood will fuel us.” He looked me over and licked his fangs. “And your body will become my personal playground. You will enjoy it, I promise.”
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose as I felt rage seething in me. “You’re like a bad Bond villain, just blurting out the plan. This is why I get so pissed when movies and TV make criminals sound so fucking smart. The vast majority of times they’re not. It’s why our prisons are overflowing and most people get caught. And all the assholes in the paranormal community are the same.
“The vampires especially. It’s all about blood and power and rape and—fuck, it’s so absurd, and I’m just done with it.” I held up my hand to silence him when he went to talk. “Your offer sucks. I blew off three dates to come here. I’ve never been wooed before. Never had Valentine’s Day fun, even when young. I’ve never had a man put that much effort into being with me. And now I have several.
“And I wanted that. Fuck, I so wanted it. I want to hurry and get back to it. I’ve already gotten scented soap roses that are so awesome I just want to live in my bathtub. I was supposed to have three more dates like that, but I rescheduled.
“I promised I’d be back for them. I have a ton of plans for this weekend, and I want that. I’m worth so much more than this bullshit of sirens are whores everyone can just bleed and fuck because of their egos. I’m done. It’s not happening, asshole. I can’t even pretend to get information or whatever. I can’t even pretend I’d ever touch some limp dick piece of shit like you.”
He lost his cool at my taunting, which had been the point. He moved in a flash to grab for me, but I’d expected that. So while he was busy on what to do with me, I knew what I was going to do with him.
I shifted my hand into a claw, and like I’d done with other assholes before, I thrust it up into his chest and ripped out his heart. The shock on his face was almost amusing as he fell to the ground.
Very dead.
“Told you I wouldn’t be yours, asshole,” I sighed and then pegged him in the head with his own heart. “God, you fucking douchebag. I have enough on my plate! My big bullshit right now is New York. I did not have time for this. Fuck, all this way to deal with this. Yeah, I’m the idiot.”
His people finally reacted to what just happened, and I flooded the area with power, letting it out and then cranking it up and up, making those who were coming for me stumble… And giving my side the chance to take them out as they knew who wasn’t on our side now.
I smiled as I pulled out the thing from Nina while about twenty vampires instantly dropped, either from heart loss or I saw several lose their heads.
“Reveal!” I yelled, throwing the charm tied to the potion on the ground. Instantly everyone on my side was visible. A lot of them weren’t even needed, as it was only those guys who came for me. I glanced around at the other hundred or so vampires. “So who’s next in charge?” It took a moment for them to catch up again and take stock of who was dead, but then one by one they turned to look at a guy near me.
“Mistress, I am Bijan Nuri, part of the original coup leadership, not this radical faction,” he greeted in English, dipping his head to me. “Thank you for what you have done and helping us with this detestable situation.”
“Did we get them all?” I checked, glancing around the group.
“No, but you handled the strongest and problematic ones, all of them here. We can handle the rest.”
“You’re sure? We’ll have a very serious international problem if humans are treated as blood cows.”
He nodded. “There will be none of that, I assure you. That was never the plan.”
“What was the plan or now is the plan?” one of the noble fairies I didn’t know asked. He dipped his head to me when I shot him a pissed look. “This affects more than
you and the wolves, Lady Seraphine.”
“It does, but you are a guest at this party, not anyone of note, so shut your face, and I will discuss what I learned with your queen as I promised her I would,” I snapped, making sure I shook out my still bloody hand as if reminding him of the last asshole I’d just dealt with. He swallowed down what he probably wanted to say and nodded, apologizing for real. I glanced back at the vampire. “I do want to know that though.”
“Of course, and the plan was always to contact you, but for the reasons your media said, not Omid’s twisted and horrid idea of enslaving you.” He gestured to the building behind the tent. “Might I offer a restroom for you to clean up in and use after such a long flight? I would beg your indulgence to start this meeting over, as it is not how I wanted things to come about, but you did travel all this way.”
“Anyone disbelieve what he’s said?” I checked.
“No, he’s truthful and very relieved,” Dain promised. “Astoundingly relieved. I would advise taking him up on his offer while we bring the planes and start making calls.”
“No, no calls yet,” I muttered. “I have very specific instructions as to when to call and who to call first.”
Dain gave me a look he couldn’t believe I’d hidden that from them. “You were given certain orders if you were coming in.”
“Yes, and how to deescalate this,” I said more for Bijan. I nodded when I saw understanding fill his eyes. “Yeah, the US was pretty ready to react and fast before a crazy fucking regime who wanted to have human blood cows got their footing.”
“I understand. Let me call trusted people and give orders so I can confidently tell you those with the faction are gone.”
“Then I’ll get cleaned up and we can enjoy whatever we were having with the tent.”
“No, that is all laced with heavy sedatives, as he wanted to trick you worse, but his giddiness at having you here won out. I will have new refreshments brought.”
“Thank you,” I accepted before following after one of his guys, several of my people flanking me. When I reached the bathroom, I washed my hands, got most of the blood off, and then leaned heavily on the counter, taking a moment to let it sink in that we’d really done it and without anyone getting hurt on our side. Granted, I hadn’t done what I’d thought, but apparently I still had some serious issues stemming from Igor and even Vegas.
Lyon coming to invade and make me his bitch hadn’t helped that either. Fuck, part of it stemmed from Engle and the way he’d immediately treated me as nothing but a bitch to have pups with. Some fucking men I just wanted to… Well, rip their hearts out. I was getting good at it.
I shook my head and splashed some water on my face. I did not want to have that as a skill I added to my resume, but I’d done what I had to. What we needed me to.
And I was glad Omid was gone.
I used the bathroom after such a long flight, washed my hands twice more as I needed to get all the blood off—and maybe off my conscious—before heading back out with my game face on. Bijan offered me a chair and we sat, someone finding tea and some local fruits to serve on a small platter. It was nice, warm of them, but I hadn’t come for the food.
“We do have nuclear weapons,” he said, starting with a bang. “And we will keep them. We are no threat to the US or anyone else, but many will threaten us. I know this will be one of the greatest concerns to your country, but until we know for sure countries that have the same weapons and more of them don’t target us, it is not a topic we will discuss.”
“They’re stable ones?” I checked after a moment. “No dirty bombs or unstable nukes in the area?”
“They are stable. None dirty, but beyond that, I will not answer. Forgive me, but you do work for your government.”
“No, I get that, I do. I can’t even argue with you,” I muttered, scrubbing my hand over my head. “The humans?”
“We will clean out the radicals, the extremists, and terrorists, but the rest are free to leave or stay. They are citizens of Iran, just as we are, and are welcome in our country. There will be no bleeding of them or any other such deplorable behavior. There were a few ideas of a blood donation program that would decrease a citizen’s taxes, as getting blood from outside the country will now be dangerous.”
“Again, I understand that.” I bobbed my head and reached for my tea. “And other paranormals? How does it work with vampires in charge?”
“We would like them to join us,” he answered, smiling when I didn’t hide my shock well. “We would like a truly represented government here, Mistress. The humans will be allowed to hold certain offices, a sort of senate as your country has. Same with witches and shifters and fae in our borders. We took over because we could, had been planning it. It will not become a vampire country.
“Our ultimate goal is to not only stabilize Iran, but the region. Make agreements with the countries around us that if they dislike paranormals, then let them leave, not this burning of them. Life is sacred, no matter the species or race. We may be vampires, but in many ways we are less monstrous than the humans of this region. The oppression of females will end. It disgusts us who have taken over.”
“Sounds good, so why did you plan to speak with me?” I asked, not hiding my suspicion.
“You can convey our wishes and ideals to your government. We would like peace and their help to…” He looked at the guy who seemed to now be his right hand.
“Have a seat at the table,” he filled in.
“Yes, for NATO and the UN,” Bijan agreed. “This is bigger than Iran, and we want to make the world see we are not the monstrous ones but maybe the help they have wanted for problems they cannot solve.”
I read between the lines, nodding. “You want to hand over terrorists and others we want to show you’ll get shit done and are on our side.”
“Yes, that is part of what we wish to accomplish. We would like a friendship with your country and Greece that your family basically leads. The Greek president might be the one in power, but we both know Alena and Eva Dorcus are the Queen and Queen Mother of that country.”
“Alena would be open to the conversation, I know that, as the plane that is about to land is Eva,” I told him, hearing the plane in the distance. “I had the scariest fucker ever come in at my back in case I couldn’t handle it.”
“Very wise, and we will welcome her,” he promised, turning and telling his guys to get on the radio and invite them to land. “What else do you wish to take to your government? To make this call that they can back down? The last thing we truly want is hostilities. We both know the world is watching, and this is a chance for progress, not more bloodshed.”
“I agree.” I studied him and thought of the last one I knew the higher ups would want to know. “What of any Americans or friendlies you find in your country?”
“If they were here to spy on the last government, once we clear them of not being radical, we will put them on a plane to go home. I would advise against any spies going forward, as we will know and will not be happy.”
“I doubt I could make that promise,” I drawled. “My government likes to spy on everyone.”
“Yes, but we have the means to make sure they cannot. We prefer to have open and honest dialogues. You know we answer to our council whereas your government has no such oversight.” I opened my mouth to argue, and he chuckled. “Yes, yes, the multiple branches that your people cannot even control to vote as they want, their elected officials serving their own agendas.”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t recommend a republic as the form of democracy if I’m being honest.”
“Yes, it is like communism, good in theory maybe, the practice never pans out. I can promise as long as none of their spies harm citizens of Iran, we will simply keep kicking them out, but that would take our attention from the good we would like to do. Terrorists against your country will undoubtedly become threats to us and the progress we will bring. We wish you would convey that to your people and that we can help.”
/> I swallowed my shock as he basically and right away asked for us to share intel. I didn’t see that happening, but I told him I’d pass along the message.
As Eva landed, I made the call, warning Bijan that a few US military helicopters would be coming in to pick me and some of mine up to take us to the warships waiting for us and to be close to the situation… To which he assured me he knew of them and wasn’t worried.
Well, okay then.
I kissed Eva and filled her in, shocked when the helicopters arrived much faster than I would have thought if coming from the Persian Gulf or Arabian Sea. Obviously they hadn’t waited there and had gone around to come in where the others had. That was a change in the plan, but I couldn’t even get upset by that since we’d been radio silent most of the long flight and a lot could change over half a day.
“You don’t fall asleep in helicopters?” Hagan asked, blinking at me after we strapped in and took back off.
“Nope, only commercial or cargo planes,” I said into the headset as I stared out the window. “I can and have slept on a chopper, but no plane narcolepsy.” I reached over and tapped the co-pilot. “Can we check we have communication with the tower there? I left someone on the radio so we stayed in touch.”
He nodded and called into the tower, relief filling me when Alok confirmed they were good and Eva was already making friends and being treated like a queen. Awesome. Seriously awesome.
I thought over what I was going to say and who I was willing to say it to. If I had to guess, I didn’t think I’d get right to the president, but maybe I could insist on it being Galvin at least. I thought about it in the hour plus flight to the carrier group we were heading to.
And moments after we landed, I had my answer why the plan had changed. There stood Lt. Commander Jason Roberson on the deck waiting for me. I got out, thanked the pilot, and headed over to Jason… Slapping him across the face, much to the shock of everyone else there.