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“Drastically,” he murmured as his jaw moved. “More than twenty of these creatures.”

I couldn’t argue with that and just nodded.

“All Transformed?” Dimitrio asked, still addressing me.

I nodded again.

Transformed smelled different from Legacy Ruisangors. Not worse, just different...

The Russian Alpha shook his head.

“Nicolaj DeLoughrey is planning something,” Father remarked tensely and knocked over one of Dimitrio's chess pieces. The latter stared intently at the chessboard.

“And your brother is allowing it,” the old Russian growled. “You have to finally do something about these pestilential offshoots or they’ll spread like the plague.”

So that was why Alarik wasn’t present.

Just a moment ago, Father had had a meeting with him and the other men, without me for once. I had been grateful for that. But then Alarik had driven back to Vanderwood, where he would probably spend the night in his office.

Dimitrio leaned back without taking his eyes off the chessboard.

Father, on the other hand, looked at me, and I checked to make sure I was standing up straight. He wanted me to make a good impression on our guests, even though he didn't usually bother with such trivialities.

“I want you to keep an eye on your sister.”

He sounded concerned, which threw me off a bit.

Was he putting on an act for our guests?

“At the winter ball, the Ruisangors sent a clear message.”

He was referring to the dance.

Mikhail spoke up. “Emely isn’t saying anything, but I know that bastard wants her dead. He stares at her all the time.”

The vein on his forehead stood out, and his lips were pressed tightly together.

He was actually worried about Emely.

I took a deep breath without making a sound.

How could they all be so blind? Emy would be fine. Without help. As she always was. Sometimes perhaps even too often.

“You should keep an eye on your future bride. Not that...” Dimitrio turned to Father. “...she forgets how easy it is for a Ruisangor to slaughter one of our kind.”

I laughed softly, and immediately the two Russians looked at me.

“What are you thinking about, boy?” the Russian Alpha growled suspiciously.

“About Miles DeLoughrey being harmless.” I remembered how Emely had gotten her revenge on him. “Emely is far too strong. Stronger than my men.”

Maybe Kieran could take her on, or Hunter if he tried hard enough. But being a female Senseque gave her a considerable advantage.

“Stronger than any man I know.” “

I looked at Mikhail. The last words had been for him.

He would probably never see my sister's potential. That was what bothered me the most. In Russia, she would wither away like a flower that no one watered.