“Shesaid Murphy has been able to fly across the border and get more information. Isay we take some of our guys, some of the militia, and go back to the border.Team up with Kat’s pack and see if we can’t stir up trouble and coax Layla out.If we stop her drugs, they will take notice.”
Alekhad been listening quietly the entire time. “You have no idea how deep thequeen’s pockets are,” he commented.
Whydidn’t he say her name?
“So,she’s rich. Big deal,” Earl said.
Alekgrinned. “Kai’s rich. Hollywood actresses are rich. Layla is beyond rich. Herwealth can buy anything. She is worth billions. She has her hand in politics,cosmetics, drugs, land development, prostitution, you name it. She can buyhumans, she can buy favors, she can buy anything you can’t.”
Forthe first time, doubt crept into my mind. I liked thinking of Layla when shewas just some vampire bitch bent on making babies for a little power.
Alekseemed to be in a sharing mood so I decided to ask him the one question thathad been bothering me. “Why. Why does she even want to make a baby? She wouldbe a horrible mother.”
Aleklaughed and folded his hands, giving me a look. “Aurora, when you become avampire there are a few things that you are told that will never change. Youwill need to survive off of blood. You do not age. You will live forever unlesskilled a certain way and …”
Iheld his gaze. “You can’t have children.”
Hepointed at me. “Yes! So imagine what the millions of vampires around the worldwill think when the North American vampire queen falls pregnant with a healthychild. When she bottles the cure for infertility and offers to ship itovernight.”
Kaigrowled. “She will be the most powerful and the richest vampire in the world.”
Aleknodded. “Yes, and she will reign queen over all of them. She will control allof the vampire assets in every country. She will be given favors and powerbeyond her wildest dreams.”
Furbegan to ripple on my arms as I slammed my fist down on the table. “No!” Ishouted and Kai looked at me with shock.
Kaifrowned. “Your eyes are green.”
‘Good.Let the Devi come forward and kill her,’I told Kai and realized that slowly the Devi was taking control.
‘Thenwhen the Devi is done. What happens?’Kai asked me with yellow eyes.
Ifrowned. I had agreed to help balance Earth. This Devi spirit attached to minecame with an exit clause. When she leaves, I might die.
‘Idon’t know,’I told himhonestly.
Hegrowled.
Everyonecleared their throat and Kai took his attention back to the room. “So, I wantto take a team to the Arizona-Mexico border and take down Layla’s drug supply.If that doesn’t coax her out, then we can go forward with the plan to useAurora as bait.”
Earlnodded. “It’s better than standing around. I will gather a hundred of my best.”
Kainodded. “That should do.”
Everyonecleared out except for Kai, Jeremy, Alek, and I.
Kailooked at Alek and Jeremy. “Jeremy, you may stay here with Alek as a guest inmy home.”
Jeremyshrugged. “Can you get a TV and some video games in the basement, at least?”
Kailet out a genuine laugh and it shocked me how long it had been seen I had heardhim laugh like that. My favorite thing was to hear his deep rumbling laugh. Thisdrama with Layla and Devon’s death had taken the happiness out of all of us.
“Yes,I will get you a gaming set up,” Kai told him.
“Yes!”Jeremy put a fist in the air and left to go down to the basement.
“Heseems better,” I told Alek. It was just the three of us now.
Aleknodded slowly. “You’re good people to take in two vampires,” he said honestly.
