"What I do know, I think, is that Ashe would defend us with his last breath." Randy nodded at his conviction. "Come on, let's wade in the water before I have to let you go."
* * *
"Thomas, are you, well, engaged or anything?" Wynter had gone shy for a moment as she hooked her arm in Thomas'. He'd asked her to walk down the beach with him.
"No—not at all," Thomas replied, offering a genuine smile. Both wore dark glasses to keep the glare of the afternoon sun away. Werewolf eyes were sensitive the day after a full-moon run.
"Thomas, I really like you," Wynter admitted, hooking long, black hair behind her ear—it insisted on blowing in her face while she attempted to voice her thoughts to the Sacramento Packmaster. "Maybe more than a little," she added. "I don't know what Dad has planned for me, but if I can convince him to maybe change his mind or something, would you be interested—well," Wynter felt uncomfortable at being so forward with Thomas, "what I mean, is, would you consider a possible relationship? Maybe date a few times and see if we might," Wynter floundered and stopped, blinking hesitantly at the tall, dark-haired werewolf.
"I'd love to," Thomas leaned in and kissed Wynter nicely, stealing her breath and making her heart thump faster.
* * *
"Wynn, are you all right?" Ace kneaded Wynn's shoulders gently, searching for any bruises or other harm that might have befallen during the full moon.
"Ace, I'm fine, stop worrying," Wynn patted the white werewolf's cheek and smiled at him. She'd pulled her white hair back and tied it with a blue ribbon. Ace found himself wanting to pull the ribbon away, allowing Wynn's hair to fall loosely about her shoulders.
"Baby, I don't know if I can last two years," Ace muttered, giving Wynn a quick peck instead.
"Ace, I know it'll be tough, but we promised Mom and Dad," Wynn pointed out, pulling away from him.
"Yeah. But I have to tell you, I worry about you most of the time."
"I know. We're pretty safe here inside the community. I don't go out much anymore unless you're with me."
"True. We just need to keep it that way."
* * *
"My resources have decreased," Wildrif whined to Baltis. "But I was still able to select a target." He held out a paper map to the Dark Elemaiyan King.
"Fort Arland, in the state of Georgia?" Baltis lifted an eyebrow at Wildrif's suggestion.
"Yes, my King. I was able to locate sources of explosives not far away, so it should be simple for your warriors to relocate inside the base, leave these explosives behind and then relocate far enough away as to be beyond suspicion."
"Very nice, Wildrif. What may I give you as a reward?" Baltis smiled at the quarter-blood seer.
"New shoes, my King?" Wildrif nodded hopefully to Baltis. "These are worn through the soles." Wildrif moaned pitifully, staring down at the offending boots.
"Very well. Raze," Baltis called out to one of his newly appointed Destroyers, "Get the seer shoes and clothing." Baltis waved both away with a flick of his wrist and went back to studying the map Wildrif had given him, the army base circled in red upon it.
* * *
"I dislike the heat in Texas this time of year." Gavin seldom complained about anything, but he didn't like this assignment. Nevertheless, the Honored One had instructed him and Anthony to go. Gavin also had a list of rogue vampires, with their last known location in the U.S. on his tablet. He used to take a laptop on his travels, but the tablet replaced it and was much easier to carry.
"Anthony, are you ready?" Gavin called out. They were to fly to New York first, spend the day sleeping there in a safe house and go on to Texas the following evening.
"I'm ready." Tony peered around Gavin Montegue's bedroom door. Both lived in a manor house decorated in Louis XIV style. Many of the furnishings were antiques from that era. It wasn't Gavin's favorite era by any means, but his cousin René, who was Anthony's sire, had loved the period. René had died not long after Tony's turning, leaving the manor to his cousin and his only remaining vampire child.
"Who should we go after first?" Tony walked in and lifted Gavin's tablet, scrolling through the information.
"I thought Rydley Huntington," Gavin muttered. Rydley was a mere three hundred years old and had always been reckless, in Gavin's opinion. Rydley was now bilking humans out of millions, posing as a wealthy investor. He'd killed a few humans, too, who'd attempted to pull away from his schemes. "He's currently in Georgia, if those records are correct."
"How recent is this information?" Tony asked.
"Last sighting two days ago, according to Charles. Charles also says that there is a rumor that Rydley may be dealing arms and ammunition—to the right buyers, of course."
"That's frightening. Do you think he has contacts with terrorists?" Tony tossed the tablet onto Gavin's bed with a sigh. Before his turning, Tony had been Director of the Joint NSA and Homeland Security Department. He was well aware of the implications, should vampires become involved in terrorist activities. "I don't know what to think about working with that kid." Tony voiced one of his concerns aloud.
"Anthony, we have been instructed to do so. Therefore, we will work with him. Should he refuse to obey, compulsion will be placed. It will be a simple remedy." Gavin's dark eyes narrowed as he stowed the tablet in an outside pocket of his leather carry-on.
"We'll have to place compulsion for daylight hours anyway."
"Very true. I have no desire to have him turn to mist or get away in some other fashion. I had hopes that Wlodek would send Aedan with us, but that was not to be. I have no desire to work with a young one, Anthony," Gavin's whisper was almost a growl. "I have no patience for this."
* * *
"Hey, Ashe. What's shakin'?" Marco pulled up a deck chair and sat beside Ashe on Winkler's deck.
"Last-minute studying for the GED." Ashe held up the large, paperback study guide. "Test is Tuesday. Just in time for the vampires to arrive."
"The two the Council is sending?"
"Yeah."
"Know who they are?"
"Tony Hancock and his surrogate sire, Gavin Montegue."
"Did Winkler tell you who they were?"
"Nope. He knows both of 'em, though."
"What do you think they'll be doing—besides hauling you around on weekends and telling you what to do?" Marco blinked dark eyes at Ashe, who'd gone back to reading the study guide.