“And that’s how I know you have no idea what you are doing.” Hannes’s voice pulled me back to their back and forth.
Françoys’s lips twisted with the insult, telling me playtime was over. “I am the Punisher?—”
“You may call yourself that, but to me, you look like a follower, not a leader,” André shrugged, casually pushing his hands into his pockets. “You probably only know how to torture people and such. Thug work.”
“First rule of war,” Hannes interjected, calling Françoys’s ire-filled eyes toward him. “Know who your enemy is… You said you didn’t expect so many of us. Your “target” has three mates, dude, and I’m the motherfucking ReinheitWölfe Prince, next in line for the throne of theoriginalWolf Shifter race.”
Ryker growled at that, and my gaze snapped toward his tattered face. Hate burst from his eyes as he bared his canines at me. Beside him, two hunters stood but I only recognized one of them—Boden.
Ryker had truly scraped the bottom of the barrel after all of the other Hunters were killed for coming after me. Boden had been the worst, unable to even hunt a rabbit.
Hannes laughed when surprise cut through Françoys’s face. “Did you really think she would come alone? Only a quarter of my army is out there right now, obliterating those roaches you use as soldiers.”
“You are probably the same idiot who sent those three men to our New York apartment to kill us.” André did air quotes on the last part, giving me more time. “I’m Prince of the Dracul Dynasty, able to wield the sun, and her last mate is literally a reincarnated Greek God.”
Every single one of the Martell Cult’s followers stiffened, glancing at each other as if taken aback. I found it odd that a certain unrest entered their gazes.
A loud boom reverberated outside, making the entire mountain shake, more rocks cracking and falling around us.
“Sorry, that’s actually him killing your Witch right now,” André confirmed.
Undiluted rage spread over Françoys’s face, his temper flaring so easily. Except, that didn’t help my plan. I needed everyone to remain where they stood.
“I’m tired of this chitchat.” Exaggerating my limping, I took a few steps forward—so I was closer to accessing the center of the cave when needed. “I want to see my mom.”
Forced laughter left Françoys, trying to recover control of the situation, though his haze lit up when he noticed I was hurt. “You are in no position to demand anything.”
He lifted a finger, and the crowd of Vampiri moved closer to us, the Martell cult followers asserting Françoys’s power.
“I’m not demanding. I’m surrendering.”
Hannes and André went rigid behind me, their shock and dread slipping through our link.
“The hell you are!” André hissed, but I ignored him.
“What the hell are you doing?!” A dangerously low growl began in the back of Hannes’s throat at the same time, echoing throughout the cave and reminding us how closed up this space really was.
All attention flew to them, the uncontrolled reactions of my mates helping me.
The Vampiri all around us tensed in response, becoming visibly on edge. Their eyes jumped from Hannes to André nervously, probably expecting them to pounce.
Their reaction told me two things—although they outnumbered us, they didn’t seem prepared to fight the kind of powers André and Hannes had. It also told me they’d no idea what those powers were until now.
Wait. Did they think they were just going against a regular Vampir and a shifter?
The current fear they were trying to repress because of my mates, actually helped me—if it kept their attention on André and Hannes instead of me.
This was so going to work.
Not that I was overconfident or anything. I wouldn’t dare to underestimate the Ancient Vampiri they were fighting to awaken. I just needed to stop them from doing it… but one thing at a time.
Noticing their unrest like I had, Françoys hissed loudly. The sound echoed all through the cave, reaching the hallow in the back and reminding his cult followers of his power over them. The men and women straightened, baring their fangs at me and my mates.
“You wanted my blood, I’m here to give it in exchange for my mom’s life,” I declared, bringing everyone’s eyes back to me. “I don’t care about kingdoms, Vampiri clans, or Shifter packs. I just want her to be safe. Please let me see her.”
“Surrendering?” Françoys scoffed. “Do you expect me to believe that your mates?—?”
“I lied to them. Tricked them so they would get me here, in front of you,” I interrupted him. “Hannes and André are only here to take my mother home with them. Then, I’m all yours.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I casually shifted my weight to my other side to ease the pain off my leg. “If you don’t believe me just look at them.”
