Picking the phone back up, Maverick dialed Christian. “We need to gather the Ultionem.”
“Done.” The line went dead.
Maverick had protested the super-secret club, and still did to anyone listening. But in the back of his mind he saw the intelligence behind the decision to make the leaders of the paranormal world one strong head. They were still working out all the details as far as the new laws that would govern the paranormal world, though. He had no clue all the things that had to be taken into account. Customs, beliefs, eating and hunting habits, those were just a few they had to consider.
If the decision was solely up to Maverick, he would make one rule that fit every species and breed. Don’t be a fucking idiot. That summed it up.
Unfortunately, things needed to be spelled out for most.
Driving his Softail into the city, Maverick smiled to himself. It had been a long while since he had gotten out and just ridden. The sun had already set, and the city was well lit and alive. Although he loved the small town he had established over two hundred years ago, the city offered a racier time, a thrum through the veins that Maverick welcomed on occasion.
The streets were filled with life as he navigated toward The Manacle. He could have easily had Carter pop him into Christian’s office, but Maverick liked feeling the adrenaline rushing through him, the pulsing of nightlife washing over him, and it didn’t hurt his ego when a few ladies of the night called out to him, telling Maverick what a hot-looking man he was.
Yeah, they were just trying to get into his wallet, but a man’s ego was so easily rubbed. Cecil did one hell of a job letting Maverick know he still had it, but it still felt good when a stranger backed that claim up.
Front tire bumping the curb as he turned into the parking lot, Maverick saw the crowd standing outside the nightclub, the line almost wrapping around to the alley. Christian had given Maverick a key to get in the back way, but the front would do just fine tonight. The loud, electro-funk music spilled from the doorway as Harley waved a couple past him.
Passing the vampire bouncer, Harley gave Maverick a nod as he walked right on by. Sweat, perfume, cologne, and pot wafting off of clothing from people passing by assailed his senses, the neon lights that slashed over the crowd bright. It helped that Maverick towered over the throng of partiers. He could see where he was going without having to strain his neck.
He glanced toward the stage to see the new DJ Christian had hired. It seemed the crowd loved having a DJ because the swarm of partiers had doubled since Christian had hired the guy. He had also hired a live band, but it was the DJ who was here tonight.
Christo appeared at Maverick’s side, his dark hair fanning over his shoulders as he waved toward the hallway leading to Christian’s office. “Everyone is here and waiting on you.”
“How’d Zeus get here so quickly?” Maverick lifted his arms when a female around the age of twenty bumped into him, her laughter more like a giggle as she stared up at him with glazed eyes.
“Sorry.” She screamed the word to be heard over the noisy crowd and ear-shattering music. He wasn’t sure how Christian dealt with this noise on a nightly basis. It was surprising his coven wasn’t deaf.
He gave her an easy smile and then walked behind Christo, entering the hallway and looking forward to the soundproof office. When Christian’s second closed the door behind Maverick, he sighed in relief.
“Now that you have us all here,” Christian said from the head of the table where the Ultionem was seated, “care to tell us why?”
Instead of taking a seat at the highly polished table, Maverick dropped down on the couch, setting his helmet beside him. “A cop in my town is after a coyote shifter.”
Everyone glanced at each other and then Christian turned back toward Maverick, his eyebrows pulled down. “What does that have to do with us?”
“He’s working for Kenyon,” Dante surmised correctly. “The head Vampire Hunter now knows shifters exist.”
Talking erupted around the table, everyone asking questions as Maverick watched them, waiting for them to quiet down.
“We don’t know that for sure,” Zeus argued.
“He could just have an ax to grind with the shifter,” Nazaryth interjected.
“Maybe the cop doesn’t even know this guy is a shifter,” Panahasi pointed out.
“Wait,” Ahm said loudly, cutting over the chatter. “I have a feeling there is more to this story.”
All six heads turned toward Maverick.
About damn time.
“There is,” he admitted. “The cop has been following Reno and his mate Baker. Officer Johnson tried to take Reno from his home at gunpoint and Baker is now missing.”