We turned to find Friedrich, the residence’s butler peeking into the room, his eyes filled with both grief and urgency when they uneasily bypassed Natasha, as though he wasn’t worthy of looking at her in that form. He glanced at Isis before his gaze finally settled on me.
“The ReinheitWölfe Queen and the Iron King are on a video call,” he added, the statement needing no other explanation.
After I discovered the new RavenWolf packs hidden across the U.S., my parents took over trying to hunt down their locations so I could come here to protect Natasha. Now that we knew they were working side by side with evil Vampires—the atrocious deal surely benefiting Vampires more than the RavenWolves realized—we’d shared the new intel with theReinheitWölfe Knight Forcein Chicago, who joined the quest as of last night.
Swiftly wiping the tears off her cheeks, Isis stood. “I’ll take the call, Friedrich.”
“Thank you, Isis…”I sent to her through my family’s pack bond, one she’d been inducted into after Dresden found her and presented her to my parents, vouching for her.
If only any of us knew then how important she would become to our family… Perhaps the Viscountess had already seen it.
“Of course, take care of her for me.”
“With my life.”
Offering me a small smile, she left the room, Bjørn following on her heels. With Dresden going after the bastards who kidnapped his wife/Natasha's mom, Isis was next in command as it pertained to theReinheitWölfepack in the U.S.
When I turned to the door, I found Friedrich still standing by it, his eyes begging me for an update on the Viscountess’s daughter while keeping his gaze away from her.
My gut constricted for him. Everyone who had been truthful in their vow to the Viscountess and her family was hurting right now.
Walking to his side, I placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“Natasha is doing well. She’s sleeping, and hopefully, we’ll hear from the Alpha regarding the Viscountess’s location soon. My parents also have knights looking for the shifters who took her. Anastasia and Dresdenwillcome back,” I assured him,risking the use of their first names with him just to emphasize my point.
“Thank you, Iron Prince.” With a nod, he retired, carefully closing the door so as not to wake Natasha from her sleep.
Sighing, I returned to my spot by the other wall.
“How is she doing?” Countess Dariah asked, flying through the balcony at that moment.
She marched toward us, stopping next to Dante while her attention focused on Natasha. Her large, previously burgundy wings were now covered in deceivingly beautiful black feathers. A gift born from her own transformation in the Vampire cocoon twenty years ago,andthe ultimate sign of danger.
When the Countess wore her feathers, someone was sure to die in the most excruciating way they could possibly experience.
“She’s stable, but still in the cocoon,” D answered from his perch next to our mate, his palm resting over her wing—where her hand would lay. He couldn’t bring himself not to touch her. Fortunately for him, his venom shield had him covered.
My chest fucking stung with the sight, and I plunged my hands into the front pockets of my jeans, forcing my back against the wall to keep myself from going to her side.
“Thank you,” Countess Dariah graciously replied, accepting Dante’s handkerchief, and proceeding to pat clean the droplets of blood that tainted her otherwise alabaster skin. “It shouldn’t be much longer before she awakes.”
A heavy sigh followed her statement, canceling the reassurance she’d wanted to give us.
“Torture, really? D challenged, looking at her wipe the remainder of the blood splatters from the cuffs of her leather suit. “You have a Vampir who can literally pull anything you want from their minds.”
He was referring to Georgette, the same Vampire who searched the minds of Friedrich, Lucia, and Archie, as well asevery other loyal servant who willingly offered their memories to prove their love and resolute commitment to the Rosu family.
Not to mention, the Dracul Dynasty.
Unfaced by his reproach, she gave him a one-shoulder shrug, planting her hand on her hip when she returned the soiled handkerchief to Dante. “I considered it wise to remind them of why I am to be feared. Besides, Georgette is not a tool to be used whenever I please. She’s my friend, and I respect her, yah?”
Sarcasm made her lips twitch, confirming the mercy of memory reading had never even been an option for the filthy traitors who got caught.
“In any case, interrogations are over. Antoine and Constantin left, following a lead we retrieved. They’ll contact us as soon as they have something tangible.”
“Junior is still here?” D asked, only for her to shake her head.
“Your brother left to meet his father. They have an important mission to complete. I will go shower now. Do let me know as soon as she awakes, yah?” Sending one last, concerned glance to our mate, she exhaled. “She might not be the same Natasha you remember, and I’d like to be here to help her adjust.”
