Inhaling deep breaths, reaching for a calm that evades me, I look over the thirteen men lined up against the wall of the dining hall, all of whom watch me with expectation, though none of them meet my eyes.
Wyatt is still seated at the table, twirling a steak knife in his hands and silently seething, while I stand in front of the line-up of people, flexing and relaxing my fists.
“You’re all likely wondering why you were summoned,” I say, unable to keep the sheer fury out of my voice.
The warriors cast nervous glances at each other but remain silent. As of now, the only people who know of the vampire appearing are Wyatt, Sierra, Leisel, and me.
“Fifteen minutes ago, a vampire teleported onto the premises. Into the very room we are standing in. He threatened the lives of both the Princess and the Queen.”
That sends a stir through the gathered men, all of them bristling, preparing to launch into action. Unfortunately, at this moment, no actioncanbe taken. The one person who could’ve given information—though likely only after an extended bout of torture—was killed by my mate.
The sight was enthralling. Sierra’s irises began to swirl with gold, brightening until they were impossible not to stare at. The unnerving calm she displayed while in a critical situation, as well as how she got herself free, was stunning beyond compare. The way her fire roared, raged, and consumed Kyron confirmed that the ledgers were not misrepresenting the danger and sheer power that a black flame offers. It was both worrisome because Sierra could destroy the whole castle without blinking, and encouraging because she’s more than capable of protecting herself and others.
Unknowingly, she also displayed all of the most important qualities of an Alpha female. I could see that she was willing to sacrifice her life for Leisel, as true leaders are driven to do for their people. She also stayed collected in the face of a serious threat and proved that she is more than strong enough to be a queen. It wouldn’t surprise me if Sierra will turn out to be the strongest queen this realm has seen yet. Perhaps even stronger than my mother, whose life was taken by a vampire.
Claude, face pale and concern etched into every line of his face, asks, “What happened?”
I know there’s pride in my voice when I say, “Sierra neutralized the threat using her fire, killing Kyron faster than I could blink.”
“Kyron?” Claude repeats. “Of the royal family?”
I nod, knowing that his death will bring a whole slew of new problems, though it was inevitable considering he had the gall to invade my home.
Similarly to how shifters have a royal family that presides over all packs within the mythic species of shifters, vampires also have a royal family that presides over all clans that make up the vampire species. Kyron was the youngest member of the royal bloodline, with three older brothers—one of whom currently sits on the throne. Kyron’s death will prompt the royal family to speed up their plans of attack. They’ll take this as a declaration of war, using it to rile all vampires to fight against shifters.
Vampires don’t need much riling in the first place, as they’re natural enemies of shifters, but I’m now looking at mere weeks before battles begin, rather than the months I previously might’ve had.
“First of all, I’d be interested to know how Kyron managed to get into the castle,” I snap. Turning to Claude, I demand, “Don’t we have security to protect from magical intrusions?”
“We do,” Claude responds. “Or, at least, we did. The boundary of the castle grounds is protected with magic that keeps out anyone not explicitly brought or invited in. About twenty minutes ago, I felt the magic fading and went out to investigate. It would appear that Kyron had an accomplice with him, a young vampire who also has magic—a hybrid of some sort, I’d wager, which is a rare specimen amongst their kind. I attempted to detain him, but he fought, and I was ultimately forced to kill him.”
I clench my jaw. I should have been told the moment it happened so I could’ve had some forewarning. I could’ve donesomethingrather than stand numbly in place like an idiot while Sierra and Leisel’s lives were threatened.
Claude must read my thoughts in my expression because he says, “There was no time to tell you. As soon as I disposed of the young vampire, I received your summons here—I was already on my way to speak with you.”
I glance at the dozen warriors. “Where were all of you when this happened? Ignoring your duties?”
Claude interjects calmly, “They were all at their posts. The vampire was a mile off property beyond their reach. The only reason I found him was I could sense his magic.”
Frustrated that there’s not anyone left for me to interrogate, I ask Claude, “Was the other vamp of any importance?”
Claude shakes his head. “Not that I could tell. His clothes were plain, and he didn’t wear any royal or noble seals.”
“What are you planning to do to prevent something like this from happening again?” I demand.
Claude shifts his weight slightly, eyes drifting behind me as he thinks. Finally, he offers, “I can reinforce the barrier, but it will inevitably fall if someone whose magic is stronger than mine attacks it,like the vampire hybrid. I barely managed to kill him in the fight, and mostly by luck.”
Hit with a thought, I ask, “Would Sierra’s magic hold against others?”
A small smile spreads on the witch doctor’s lips. “Oh, yes,” he drawls. “I’ve never met anyone with magic as powerful as hers. I could feel it radiating from her, even when she was unconscious. She’s singular, and it’s safe to assume her blood carries great magic with it.”
That doesn’t entirely surprise me. Though it takes someone who has magic to sense magic in another, it isn’t difficult to discern how powerful Sierra is merely from her presence—the force of which is never anything less than overwhelming.
If a barrier means protecting herself and her sister, I’m confident Sierra would agree to help. However, I also suspect she’ll assume that I’m using her for her power—that she only has value to me because of her magic. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I desire Sierra for far more than her magic; I desire her for her nature and soul, which is where her true beauty lies.
Her body is stunning, without a doubt, but some of the most beautiful people I’ve known were also the cruelest. She is far from cruel—at her very core, Sierra isgood. That’s what truly attracts someone like me to her, a man who has many sins staining him. That, her fiery personality, and the fact that she’s a natural protector.
“I’ll speak with her about that,” I tell Claude. Then to the warriors, “Schedules will be changing. I want two dozen pack warriors on shift at a time, and you will be expected to patrol areas outside of the boundary. Two miles to start with, including the forest. For now, return to your posts; expect further orders within the hour.”
