“Nathan wanted a heads up when Joseph was done with Deborah,” Drake explained with a sunny smile.
It was a plausible explanation but didn’t make me any less suspicious.
“You should head back to the main area,” I advised with a hint of side eye as I paid careful attention to signs that might indicate deception. “I’ll pass your message along.”
Drake’s heartbeat and breathing remained steady and constant. His expression relaxed and open. I caught no markers that might signal he was here for any reason but what he’d stated.
Drake gave me a friendly nod before continuing down the hall at a sedate pace. I watched him go, waiting until he’d turned the corner before moving toward the door of the war room.
The temptation to follow and see if there was anything in his behavior that might indicate we had a spy in our midst was hard to resist. Only the knowledge that Thomas and Liam were expecting my presence kept me from doing exactly that.
In the meantime, I made a mental note to let Liam know about the encounter. Since he was in charge of security, he could be the one to decide the proper course of action.
“If their side issues the challenge, we have the right to set the location and time,” Makoto was saying as I opened the door. “There’s no way they’ll be able to ambush us.”
“I wouldn’t bet on that,” Anton responded.
Nathan stretched out in his seat, folding his arms behind his head. “I don’t know why we haven’t hit them already. Since they’re planning to rip out our throats, it only makes sense to go on the offensive. Why wait for a challenge we all know is coming?”
A few of the enforcers looked my way as I entered the room. I nodded at them before moving along the wall to find an inconspicuous place to watch the proceedings.
“That is why they refer to this as diplomacy,” Thomas explained from the head of the conference table the enforcers were seated around. “While they play their games, we play ours.”
Liam braced his hands against the table. “You’re aware this will probably backfire?”
“Whydeartháir, I never thought I’d see the day when your nerve failed you.”
“Nor have you yet,” Liam responded. “Advising you of potential risks is my duty as your enforcer.”
“Is that so?” Thomas asked, looking amused.
For a man who’d suffered silver poisoning last night and then fucked most of the day away, Liam was looking in remarkably good health. There was a flush of life to his skin. Probably because of the excessive amount of blood he’d consumed.
I checked him with my other sight to find his power burning brighter and hotter than normal.
“You worry too much. This is no different than that time in London.”
Nathan dropped his arms. “Isn’t that where you nearly died?”
“That’s an exaggeration,” Thomas answered at the same time as Liam’s flat, “Yes.”
I lifted my eyebrows in interest. What happened in London?
“Report,” Liam ordered.
Nathan looked down, hiding his smile as the conversation returned to business matters. Makoto took over, the rest of the enforcers listening attentively.
“In addition to the three houses last night, two more were hit during the day.” Makoto tapped on his tablet, sending an email to those around the table. They sat forward, reading over his notes. “There are no deaths at this time from today’s attacks, but there are a number of injuries, including two companions and a vampire from Clan Glaise. A vampire from Clan Davinish was also attacked but ultimately unhurt.”
“Who was the victim?” Daniel asked.
“Samara.”
Anton raised his eyebrows. “Were the hunters who attacked her left alive?”
“From all accounts, no. She ripped off their limbs and then used them to beat the hunters. Whether they died of blood loss or blunt force trauma is still to be determined.”
The visual Makoto painted was both brutal and comical. It was also in line with the vampire I’d come to know. Samara was a high-ranking member of her clan, and often acted as her matriarch’s bodyguard. She was an exceptional fighter, every bit as good as Liam’s enforcers. The hunters had to be idiots to go after her without an army at their back. They got what they deserved as a result.
