Allegiance(75)

He smiled softly. “I’ll watch for him.” That’s all the reassurance I needed. I burrowed my face into the ridges of Caden’s chest and inhaled his heavenly scent wishing everything else in the world away but this moment.

“See? I told you … rage!” Amelie said. “She went all crazy on the guy at the store before too. Pulled a knife on him. I was sure—”

I spun around to throw fiery daggers at Amelie, my cheeks blazing. Of all times to expose my earlier psychotic behavior, this was not that time. Amelie immediately clamped her mouth shut, having the decency to look away.

“Continue, please … Kait,” Mortimer spoke then. He sounded unimpressed that my entrance had thrown such a wrench into their conversation.

“They’ve infiltrated the army, the government, the police …” Kait went on. “We believe their army is in the tens of thousands. We have yet to locate their main stations. I don’t know how many of them I’ve coerced to talk. We get bits and pieces of info but nothing terribly useful. We know they operate in sleeper cells. We’ve found a larger presence in certain areas—Rome, Israel, England …” Veronique had mentioned England. “They’re so tightly connected, their reach so close to deadly force. We can’t just storm them, Mortimer. Attacking one contingent is setting a chain reaction that you want to avoid.”

“And it would trigger that chain reaction, without a doubt,” Mage interjected.

“Well, that scene today didn’t help matters,” Mortimer scoffed, adding, “seeing a child rip seven full grown men out of a van and snap their necks has people asking questions.”

“Bishop and I went out to compel the reporters and witnesses. We confiscated their phones as well. Everything we could think of. It’s hard in a viral world,” Mage acknowledged. “Someone’s personal pictures or video will surface in the next few days.”

“What else would you suggest I do?” Lilly asked with indignation. “Had I not acted quickly, I assure you that you’d never have seen her again.” I felt Caden’s fists tighten their grip on my sweater.

A brief moment of silence. “And what about that witch? Did you get anything from her?” Mortimer asked Kait.

“Nothing but moans and a mess. We won’t be getting any more from her.”

I shuddered, visions of Kait in a full leather outfit standing over a table with sharp, scary tools and a sadistic grin too scary to focus long on.

Mortimer took a seat on one of the couches. “Today’s attack, coupled with the events from New York, is leading right into this war whether we like it or not. The blood bank and that debacle at the night club is old news. These new gruesome attacks, though, care of your friend Jonah …” Mortimer’s head shook with disgust.

Mage’s mouth twisted as if she had bitten into a lemon. “Yes, he’s certainly leading it, but … there’s too much going on to be just him.”

“So he’s made others,” Sofie acknowledged.

“Yes, he’s building his army. Against me,” Mage answered smoothly. Her next words sent a cold shiver down my spine, solidifying in my memory that as nice as she may seem, she was still the most lethal of killers. “He knows I’m coming for him soon.”

“When will that be exactly? He needs to be dealt with, and quickly,” Viggo piped in from his corner, outside of the conversation. “I’d be happy to do that.”

“That means you’ll be leaving for home immediately?” Lilly chirped without missing a beat.

Viggo answered with another of his evil grins. “What a grudge you hold, little Leelee.”

I never thought I’d see a vampire’s face burn red hot, but there it was—Lilly, as crimson as a fire engine, her claws clenching and unclenching as she glared murderously at her father figure. I couldn’t lie. I’d be happy if Viggo stood and waved goodbye right this instant. The further away he was from us, the safer we all were.

“We don’t have a home anymore,” Mortimer reminded everyone.

Someone singing at the top of their lungs disrupted the group again. Caden’s arms dropped from my body and he took a step back. Sure enough, a tall, lean body rounded the corner with a relaxed gait and a bottle in his fist. Stopping to take in the atmosphere, he grimaced.

“Well, this looks like loads of fun … it’s Christmas Eve!” he yelled.

“I see you’ve found the wine cellar,” Sofie said as he took a long, sloppy swig from his bottle. “I believe that’s port. It’s meant to be a digestif, not for guzzling.”