Myanin knew that the word was used both to describe a female dog and as an insult. It was one of the things Thadrick had shared with her about human language and their ability to turn a word used for an innocent purpose into something sinister. She supposed the woman was using it in this context as an insult and not as a female dog. After all, it didn’t seem very confident to say “I’m going to make the elf king my female dog” … or maybe it did, actually.
Eventually, Myanin nodded to the woman. “I like that. I’m going to make the elf king my bitch.”
The woman’s eyes once again widened, and her lips formed anO.
“You may go.” She waived the human away. “I don’t need to kill you.”
The human female bolted, which made the djinn laugh.
Myanin started walking again, purpose filling her steps, and she smiled. “I’m going to make the elf king my bitch … and anyone else who gets in my way. They will all be my bitches,” she said with an echoing laugh.
Chapter 5
“We might have had a victory today, but I am not a fool. The leaders we face are cunning. They have each maintained their roles over the centuries because they are strong in might and mind. I will not let my guard down, though I’m sure that is what they will expect.” ~Alston
“Where the hell did you get a draheim?” Alston barked as he glared at Ludcarab. He’d been just as surprised as Vasile’s people when he’d seen the elf king riding on the back of one of the bloody beasts that humans would call a dragon.
“It’s not your concern,” Ludcarab said, his voice smug and his chin held a little higher than Alston cared for. The elf king had been the leader of the Order since its beginning, but Alston believed it was time for a change in management. Acquiring and bringing a beast like the draheim to the human realm was a prime example that the elf king was not behaving like a rational leader.
“Itismy concern,” Alston bit out through clenched teeth. “Draheim are not pets. They don't do what they’re told. They are temperamental, and that one” —he motioned to a wall that blocked their view of the creature— “is young, which means he’s going to be even more unpredictable.And they have their own magic. You can’t rely on yours to keep them concealed.”
“He isn’t going to be a problem,” Ludcarab sighed as he straightened his non-wrinkled sleeves and then adjusted the sword at his side. “Need I remind you who is in charge of this operation?”
“Times have changed, king,” Alston said. “The Order has been in hiding for a very long time, not operating as anything more than an idea. We live in a modern era now, and the Order needs leadership that understands the world as it is, not as it was.”
“And you think you’re the one to lead?” Sincaro, the king of the vampires, said as he entered the large, dusty warehouse that had become their headquarters. There were other warehouses clustered nearby that had been remodeled into apartments for the other members of the Order.
“Surely you aren’t thinking of simply placing yourself in that role,” Cain, the leader of a large group of vampires that had lived in Canada, said as he strolled in.
Both vampires were dressed in slacks, button-up shirts, and suit jackets, appearing as wealthy men. Wealthy they were, but men they were not. It was so cliché that Alston nearly laughed.
“I think the strong should rise to the top. It's the natural order of things.”
“I am not weak,” Ludcarab growled. “Should we do this as my people did in the old days? A fight to the death. The one still breathing rules. I’m ready to go when you are.”
“I would be willing to agree to that,” Sincaro said. “I haven’t ruled thousands of vampires for centuries because of my good looks.”
Alston had known that eventually the tension between them would come to a head. There was too much at stake and they each knew it. Whoever ended up on top would rule completely, not just their own race, but other supernaturals and humans as well.
“I don’t think it would be wise for us to begin fighting amongst ourselves when we have enemies who are still a threat,” Alston said, keeping his tone reasonable, despite the fact that he really wanted to end the three males in front of him. He’d never liked Ludcarab. The elf king had always been a pompous ass, bloated on power. Sincaro had, for the most part, kept to himself. After all, he had charge over a herd of vampires across the world that kept him busy. Granted, he had men like Cain who helped govern the covens and kept them in check. But now, as Sincaro stood before him like a puffed-up peacock attempting to intimidate Alston, he saw that the vampire king was every bit as power hungry as Ludcarab and himself.
“He’s right,” Cain spoke up. “If we begin to divide our ranks because of our own ambitions, we won’t have a chance against the other supernaturals. Vasile Lupei is no one to be trifled with. He is powerful, and he is able to gain the loyalty of not onlyCanis lupusbut other supernaturals as well. This is not going to be an easy fight.”
“We have their pups,” Ludcarab said.
“And you honestly think we will be able to hold onto them?” Cain smirked.
“Why wouldn’t we?” Sincaro asked.
“They have Perizada, and she’s probably recruited the other high fae.”
Alston shook his head. “Peri abandoned them on the battlefield. I’ll bet she’s in the faerie realm cursing the fact that she ever involved herself with the human realm.”
“As a high fae, you of all people should not be so quick to dismiss her,” Sincaro warned.
Alston could feel his face getting red as his anger rose. His hatred for Perizada had grown like a rumbling volcano, and he was very close to erupting. “I’m not just a high fae. I happen to be the leader of the high fae in case you’ve forgotten. My power is beyond Perizada’s.”
Sincaro shook his head. “Youwerethe leader. You left that life, and now you’re a traitor to them. Isn’t the fae power linked to their realm? And can’t it be linked to other fae if they allow it?”
