“Gentlemen, let’s get back on the subject at hand,” Noela said. “Livi, how many tribes of Hunters are coming?”
Livi’s hands fisted as she breathed deeply. “We know of two: the one not too far from Alston and another. We also know they were trying to call in back-up. All they know is Mari’s here and she’s mated with a Vampire. At this time intel tells us they have no idea Alston is inhabited with Other Kin or that different Other Kin thrive, except for Vampires. And they’re not even sure about Vamps as they’ve never captured one to study. Dragon Hunters as a whole are unaware to everything around them except for finding, capturing, and killing anyone with Dragon blood. If they can take a Dragon shifter alive, they will, in all essence, torture them to gain weapons from their victims. They have no weapons for anything but Dragons.” Taking a deep breath, Livi started turning in Tommy’s direction. “Yesterday we had a Dragon Hunter spy sneak his way onto Alston.” She met Tommy’s gaze as his eyes narrowed. “A young man came into Pappy’s store saying he lost his wallet and he needed a job to secure funds to leave. The name he gave is Barrett Jameson, and he’s a Hunter.” When Tommy’s eyes widened and his jaw tensed, she faced the council again. “He’s not very easily read. That’s why the telepaths didn’t pick up on him at the borders. He has charms to protect him from Dragons but that’s all. He thinks Alston is a small tourist town for people to come see the leaves changing.”
“So your human grandfather’s gifts have shown themselves to you as well?” Eva of the Fae asked.
“Yes, I’ve had the gift since I can remember.” Turning her head when Tommy stepped next to her, she met his gaze briefly before he spoke.
“We need to bring the Hunter in and interrogate him before the others arrive,” Tommy said.
“No,” Livi said, meeting his gaze again. “We need to let him think Mari is by herself here. We need to find out what he knows.”
“How, Livi?” Tommy asked as he turned to her fully. “By flirting with him and putting yourself in danger?”
“If need be,” she said coming toe to toe with him.
“The hell you will,” he growled.
Her eyes narrowed, head tilted. “Really?”
“Really.”
“Alright you two, enough,” Drake said.
Livi lifted her lip, snarling at Tommy before turning to her father. When his brow lifted, she just stood there.
“Posture, Olivia,” Pappy chuckled.
Livi lowered her hand from her hip and stood there silently as Tommy stepped back. “I know what I’m doing. If I for one moment think I’m in danger I will send up an alert. I’m not a baby anymore. I’m a warrior and a Guardian of Alston. I know what’s expected of me and I’ve trained with the best. Do not take this away from me.”
“Why don’t you wait out in chambers while we convene,” Gavril Beven of the Vampires announced.
Livi lowered her head, bowing to show him respect, before she took a step back and then turned, meeting Tommy’s gaze on the way out.
“You know you’re a piece of work,” Tommy exclaimed once the council doors shut.
Livi turned as Peter stepped away. “Excuse me?”
“Why in the hell would you want to cozy up to a Dragon Hunter to gather intel when we could bring him in? Do you get off on it, Livi? Does it excite you to seduce a man and then rip him apart?”
“You’re so full of shit,” she snapped.
“Really? I’m not the one who volunteered to stay flirty and kiss on the enemy.”
Livi growled as she stepped toward him, her balled fists by her side. “I’m not kissing on anyone damn it, and why in the hell would you care?”
“The Hunter should be brought in for questioning instead of playing your games!”
“That’s not your decision to make.”
“You are playing with fire!”
“He won’t break as easily as you think, Tommy. The one you have down in interrogation hasn’t said a damn word, has he? No, because they’ve been trained to withstand interrogation techniques. He’ll die before he gives up his tribe and what he knows.”
“How in the hell would you know?”
“Because I’ve spent the last six months infiltrating one of their tribes. Damn you! I know what I’m doing!”
“Why in the hell would you do something so stupid, without back-up, without anyone knowing where you are in case you needed help?” His nostrils flared with anger as he stepped back, running a hand over the top of his head.
“I had back up. Triton was there along with others. There are Other Kin within their folds so we know what they’re doing and why. I haven’t spent my time away twiddling my thumbs, Tommy. I’ve been learning how to best defend Alston with the help of friends out there.” Her voice lowered as he turned to meet her gaze. “We have a lot of enemies and I can’t let any of them think they can hurt us.”