“There are six that we know of. The fey do it in every major city. It’s a huge source of income for them.”
Anger tightened her features. “Those baby stealing bastards!” she shouted suddenly, making me jump.
Whoa.Go, Mom.
“But don’t worry,” I told her. “We’re going to free the women and close them all down.”
How? I had no idea, but I wouldn’t stop until it was done.
She nodded. “I will help if I can. I know how the Munai think, how the encampments are laid out, how the transactions work. All of it.”
I grinned. “I was hoping you would say that.”
A smile lit up her face. “Oh, Aspen, this would give me such a purpose. To help others. I’d be honored.”
I nodded, glad that she was on board, but my mind was still playing out something she’d said. “Transactions?”
My mom bobbed her head. “They used to do them at the encampment, but after Olivia’s mom … well, now they don’t make a scene. They take the baby the night before and meet up at a handoff place.”
I raised one eyebrow. My mom had no idea what a wealth of information this was. “And where is that?”
My mom shrugged. “Changes. But they take someone with them, a breeder, so that we don’t cause attention with the baby. Most of the fey have no idea where their government gets their money.”
“Did they ever take you?” This was a gold mine of info I could relay to Demi and Sawyer if they were going to be looking further into the two women that got taken.
My mom nodded, a painful look crossing her face. “I was forced to pretend to be a baby’s mother or they would hurt Maple.”
My heart dropped at the sound of that. We definitely needed a therapist in Vampire City. “I’m so sorry.” I reached out and grasped her hand, careful not to break it with my superhuman strength.
“Cold,” she muttered, and I realized she meant my skin.
I gave a nervous laugh. “I am dead, you know.”
She winced. “Don’t say that.”
It was true. “If I’m going to be a vampire, and the next vampire queen at that, I might as well use my power for good.”
She nodded in agreement.
“I’m going to take the entire breeder program down across all six cities if it’s the last thing I do.”
My mom beamed up at me. “I would be so proud.”
Leaning forward, she pulled me into a hug, and I left feeling lighter than I came. Moms were good at that. We dumped our stuff at their feet and they took it away.
* * *
I spentthe rest of the afternoon feeling groggy and trying to get used to the new circadian rhythm of being a vampire. Luka had sent his demands to Maz through a messenger and also to the leader of the Dark Fey. The hours ticked by, him sitting in his office chair behind his desk reading papers, while I stared at my chest and freaked out that I wasn’t breathing.
The knock came at the door and I bolted upright.
“Come in!” Luka said, and stood as his new assistant, Austin, entered. This wasn’t the type of negotiation you did over a cell phone apparently.
Austin bowed slightly, before standing to his full six-foot-four-inch height. “My King, I have your reply from Maz of the House of Rose.”
Luka waved him on as if indicating he hurry up.
Austin cleared his throat, reaching up to rub the back of his neck nervously, and my heart plummeted.
