Page 17 of Vampire Visions

“So there’s only a few species that haven’t been hit yet?” Jack asked while I continued to add everything together. All the pieces were piling up like a complex math problem, but I was missing so many variables that I couldn’t solve it.

“Wait,” I breathed when it hit me. “Mages and winter fae haven’t been targeted that we know of, right?” Sarge nodded his head, but I was still talking. “So that only leaves one major player on the field.”

“Yeah, and who is that, Sloane?” Sarge pushed me to finish my thoughts.

“Angels.” I swallowed hard. I’d only met one. Well, two now, but Levi might not remember what he was. Lucy had told me several times that they walked the realms in perfect disguises, blending in with each population to keep tabs on everyone. He said they were control freaks, determined to make sure that all the different species stayed in the invisible boxes that the angels made for them. They didn’t want any of us to mingle, much less breed with each other, but it was happening everywhere, with all the supernatural species.

While I was lost in my thoughts, Sarge had been talking. I had no idea what about, but I surged to my feet fast enough to make my head spin. “We have to stop this.”

“Stop what, Lo?” Jack jumped up and grabbed my shoulders, shaking me gently. “You don’t even know what’s going on! No one does.”

“Then we’ll figure it out. That’s what my father wanted me to do! Jack, that’s what the letter he sent last week was about. He said I needed to build an army. I didn’t know what he was talking about. Now, I think I kinda do. I mean, I don’t know the endgame, but I’m starting to understand all the pieces that are on the board.”

Jack groaned. “I fucking hate it when you talk like that. We’re not pieces of a chess game, Sloane! You’re being irrational. You aren’t thinking about all the innocent people in the middle of this. You aren’t thinking about yourself or your mates or your fucking friends and family. You see a problem and you just jump.”

“It’s not irrational of me to want to protect all the people I care about. I don’t care how much time and energy it takes from me to put a stop to it. I can’t just sit and watch all this shit happen while I stay safe in my ebony tower, Jack. That’s not me. If I’m the only one that’s strong enough to end it, then that’s what I’m going to do.”

“That right there. That’s my point, Lo,” Jack said with exasperation. “You will act irrationally if you think someone you care about is in danger. I know you.” He looked pointedly at me. “Before you jump into this, you need to be prepared to let your mates handle shit themselves. You can’t save everyone. And even with all the extra hands, we can’t save everyone.”

“It’s not like I’m not,” I argued and threw my hands out. “I get that they’re all powerful. Everyone inside this house is. But, Jack, Nate said to build an army. How many times has father told us something like that and his advice not been exactly what we needed to do?” I sighed. “I’ve seen all my mates fight at least once. I know they can all handle themselves. My main focus, right now, is Kadence.”

With a whisper-soft voice I told him, “She has to be stopped, Jack.” I shrugged my shoulders with an apologetic look on my face. “Since I’m the only one that can do that as of right now… Everyone needs to let me take that risk. I don’t want to have her in my grasp, just to let go because someone I care about has been, or is going to be, hurt or worse. I have to take her out before she outs vampires to the whole world and it becomes another witch hunt.”

I reached up and placed my hands on his shoulders. “Just like you’re telling me now, I need everyone that stands with me to understand that I am strong enough to do this on my own. I don’t need anyone to jump in on my account. Wounded or not. She has to be stopped. She’s the next step. Then, we’ll follow the path as quick as we can to the end of this bullshit. It doesn’t matter who started it or who’s behind it. We’re going to end it. Just like our parents always taught us.”

“That’s all I’m saying, babe.” He patted my cheek in affection. “Someone is going to get hurt, eventually. It may be one of your mates or one of your friends. It may even be me. You can’t let that stop you from doing what must be done. You cannot deviate.”

“I won’t,” I assured him, but I had a feeling he was talking about more.

“Promise me, bitch.” He grew stern and raised his eyebrow at me. “Promise me that, no matter what, you finish the task at hand. It’s only going to get harder from here. I can feel it in my bones, Lo. This is just the beginning.”

“Then we better get some allies on our side.” I grinned up at him. “Don’t you know a few Mer? Maybe now’s a good time to reach out to them. Would be nice to know what they’re dealing with.”

“Yeah, I know a few Summer queens too. Not the royalty kind.” He smirked.

I laughed at his attempt to lighten the mood. “Yeah, I gathered that with the plural part.”

Sarge eyed us as he stood. “Are you really ready to take on whole armies with barely a dozen people on your side?” I couldn’t tell if he was vexed or intrigued by my determination.

“I’m ready to try,” I admitted. “I’m ready to build a backup plan in case I fail, and I’m really ready to start building my own army.” That determination settled heavily against my uneasy heart. I needed to make sure everything was taken care of in case something happened to me that I couldn’t walk away from. I’d have Franklin make all those arrangements, and then I’d tell my mates what I had planned.

“You won’t fail, Lo, but this won’t be an easy war to win.” Jack spoke from behind me as I started climbing the stairs.

Sarge grunted his agreement and whispered to himself. “It will be nice to have someone lead the masses, though.”

When we stepped through the pantry door, Vaughn and Novak were sitting at the small kitchen table, drinking beers and laughing. I stopped dead in my tracks, causing Jack to bump into me, as I viewed the scene in front of me. Vaughn had his bare feet pressed against Helios’ back, and they were covered in ice. I’d never seen the hellhound sleep so soundly or let anyone other than me touch him like that. It was weird and oddly sweet. I was both happy and concerned. Today must have taken a bigger toll on him than I originally thought.

Novak looked up and caught me watching them. With a small smile on his face he gestured to his beer. “Do you want a drink? You look like someone kicked your puppy, Trouble.” Helios huffed smoke in the vampire’s direction. “It’s just an expression, and you’re not even a real dog.” He rolled his eyes at my hellhound.

“Sloane?” Vaughn questioned me softly. “Is everything okay?”

“I, uhm…” I was kind of lost for words. I closed my eyes. “It’s just a lot to digest. We can talk about it later, though.” I waved my hand toward him. “What have you done to my ferocious hellhound?” I grinned at him as Helios huffed once more. He hated being the center of attention.

Vaughn ignored my question, though. He and Novak traded glances that I couldn’t quite read. “Do you want a shot?”

I sighed and dismissed that. “I’m not really up for shots or drinking with company right now,” I confessed and moved toward the large freezer. “But I do want a whole fucking bottle. I’ll be on the roof if anyone needs me,” I told them as I snatched two bottles of Silver Patrón and disappeared into the shadows. This tequila would work. It wasn’t like I was going to actually taste it while I guzzled.

Sloane