“Because he’s here on Council business,” Liam said with a sigh.
“So, he claims.”
Liam nodded. “So, he claims.”
A picture was coming into focus and it wasn’t a very nice one.
What did I want to bet that this sire of Dominick’s was on the council? Even if we drove Dominick away this time, his sire could just issue another order leading him back into our territory.
In a sense, Thomas’s hands were bound.
Politics—I really hated them.
It didn’t help that for vampires, being on the losing side usually resulted in loss of blood, death or dismemberment.
This information also put a new spin on the sudden increase of hunter presence in the city. I couldn’t help but think there was a connection there.
“What are we going to do?”
Liam’s expression warmed as he took my hand in his and squeezed. “We’re going to watch and wait and not give him any chance to hurt us.”
“Sounds reasonable.”
“I’m so glad you agree,” he drawled, giving a slight tug on my hand to bring me closer.
I let myself fall against his side. “Now that we have that cleared up, why don’t you tell me why my new stalker had you so upset?”
Liam’s body went still against mine. “You were still awake.”
I nodded.
Liam’s arms loosened around me. “Sometimes I hate how perceptive you are.”
I was going to take that as a compliment even though it didn’t sound like one right now.
“There’s a chance—a small one—that Dominick isn’t here for any of the reasons we suspect.” Liam’s playfulness faded as his gaze met mine.
“And this has to do with my mysterious stalker who may or may not be an ancient vampire suffering from some form of devolution?”
“There is someone Dominick and his master wants dead more than Thomas and me,” Liam said with a meaningful look in his eyes.
Their sire. A man I’d only heard snippets about. Someone who’d been a father figure to Thomas and a brother to Liam.
“If your stalker is who I think he is, it would be a very bad thing for everyone involved.” Liam’s face was grave as he stared up at the ceiling.
“Why is that?”
“A devolved ancient is a terrifying thing. They can’t be trusted to know foe from ally. The body count would be—” Liam trailed off and shook his head.
It’d be unimaginable.
I’d done research after I’d come close to devolvement myself. Vampires who suffered from the affliction became mad, raving things that left a trail of bodies behind them. The last one the council put down killed a hundred and two people before an enforcer ended their life.
An ancient on the level of Liam’s sire would be much more difficult to control.
We were looking at a possible blood bath in my city, my home, if we were right.
“Don’t look like that,mo chuisle.” Liam drew me against his chest to press his lips against mine. “I checked before I came over to see if there have been any recent swaths of murder leading to our doorstep. I found none.”
