"Yep."
"Just checking," Trajan grunted as the second shoe went on.
"We’ll special order the next ones," Winkler promised as two pairs of shoes were boxed up and added to the waiting pile.
"When's the wedding?" Ashe asked.
"Not for another two years—it’ll be a long engagement," Trace murmured as he and Ashe watched Winkler pay nearly six thousand dollars for what they'd purchased. "This will give Trajan enough time to get to know his intended. And vice-versa."
"An arranged marriage."
"Yeah. Seconds are good marriage material. As are Packmasters, but most of those are married already. There are three hundred twelve Packs, so that means over three hundred Packmasters and more than three hundred Seconds. That's leaving room for the female Packmasters, who don't have any trouble finding a male. Females aren't common among the werewolves. Not anymore."
"What happened?" Ashe asked, his curiosity forcing the question.
"The race war," Trace said softly as he ushered Ashe through the door, following Winkler and Trajan who were loaded down with bags and boxes. The suit would be ready in two days, or so the clerk promised. "The vamps targeted the weakest among us, and those were often the females. Fewer females mean fewer births. The vamps regulate how many of them get turned, so when the wolves took down a vamp, it decimated their numbers as well."
"Trace, decimate by definition means one in ten. I think those numbers would have to be elevated to account for actual losses," Ashe pointed out as he climbed inside the van.
"Okay, on both sides, the deaths accounted for around two-thirds of both races."
"Holy cow," Ashe hissed.
"That's the bigger picture," Winkler had listened to both sides of the conversation. "We don't know how many shifters died—the vamps, some of them anyway, didn't like them either."
"Have they stopped killing shifters?"
"That was the agreement when they married some of them to the vamps. Shifters aren't organized, but a few are powerful enough and have enough connections throughout the race that they can bargain at times with Wlodek. Wlodek wanted shifters to marry vamps and see if they could have kids, substituting DNA into the egg. In exchange for the vampires leaving shifters alone. You're a result of that, Ashe."
"But Mom and Dad met in a bar in London. That wasn't arranged."
"You don't know that, Ashe. What if somebody knew your mother was going to be where she was? And conveniently sent in a vampire?"
"Trace, I have a headache." Ashe didn't want to continue the discussion. Too many ugly possibilities crowded his brain.
"Trace, enough." Winkler nodded to Trace, who settled into the driver's seat and started the van. "Ashe, we only speculate. We don't know truth. It won't ever change who your parents are. Remember that. And if things were normal, you wouldn't be having this conversation or worrying about it. Trace, drive." Trace put the van in gear and drove.
Chapter 13
"You're kidding?" Dawn sat at Denise's table on the deck, while she and Randy sipped iced tea in the Texas summer heat. "He just up and left her behind?" Denise had explained Aedan's recall by the Council.
"Unfortunately, yes. Now we have three new vampires guarding at night. Marcus met them, I haven't."
"How dangerous do you think they are? Will they come after wolves again?"
"The Council sent them, so I assume they're safe enough."
"How did Adele and Ashe react to the whole thing?"
"Adele barely remembers she had a vampire husband, or a child with him. Compulsion, more than likely. I thought he loved her more than anything, so this has me completely confused." Denise poured more iced tea and pushed a plate of finger sandwiches toward Randy, who was eating and content to listen. He wasn't about to tell anyone that Ashe appeared and disappeared from his tiny Chicago apartment not long ago. Randy had made the move, too, and gone out on a date with veterinarian Sara Dillon shortly before his move to Texas. Sara knew about the move and promised to keep in touch. He hadn't told his mother yet, but Sara and he—well, Randy wanted to marry Sara, after only one date.
* * *
"My King, my spies report that our encampment may be attacked soon." Beldris informed his brother. He'd made the trek from Canada to speak with Baltis regarding the impending attack.
"Friesianna thinks to do this when I am not present to help protect our own," Baltis paced restlessly. The painting that hung on his brick wall was getting old. Perhaps he would ask his guards to change it.
"I believe that as well," Beldris agreed.
"Then we will exchange places. You know of the plan for London. Execute that for me, brother, and we will give the Bright Queen a surprise she will not soon forget."
"That is the brother I admire," Beldris smiled.
* * *
"Gather as many as we can send, and station them here," Friesianna tapped appropriate locations on a map laid out atop a makeshift table.
"My Queen, I counsel against this," Rabis said softly as Friesianna spoke with Parlethis, who was now captain of her guards.
"You will not interfere with this. We have not had such an opportunity in many years. This is our chance to take our Dark cousins by surprise and eliminate many of them, including the Prince. We will cripple them in one blow and they will be forced to admit defeat. Perhaps I will allow Baltis to live, after he offers his crown to me."
"My Queen, you may not wield the Dark Crown," Rabis interjected. "It is forbidden."
"You think that Baltis will hesitate to take mine and use it?" Friesianna snapped. "Go. I do not have any questions for you concerning this."
"As you will it, my Queen."
"Yes, I will it. Take yourself from my sight." Rabis was more than happy to do as the Queen dictated.
* * *
"Ashe, we're going to a movie." Ashe looked up from his study guide to find Cori and Marco standing before him. It was Sunday afternoon and he'd taken (and passed) three sample tests since breakfast.
"So the reconciliation is complete and you want my blessing?" Ashe asked, setting his book aside. Cori's hand was firmly held in Marco's. Her expression was hopeful as she smiled at Ashe.
"No, we're asking you to come with us."
"Dude, that's just—I'd be an extra," Ashe admitted lamely.
"Sali and Dori are coming," Cori said, trying to coax Ashe.