The Burning Claw
Page 106

“I realize that it seems that we are facing yet another threat not just to our own survival but to all of mankind as well. We do not know how deep the tentacles of the Burning Claw reach into the supernatural world.
“Tentacles,” Jen snorted. “Good one, V.”
Vasile shook his head at her. “I aim to please.”
“I think I just threw up in my mouth,” Peri gagged. “Could we refrain from using Jen’s quotes for our own benefit? All it does is grow that already large head of hers, and she can’t manage the thing as it is.”
Vasile rubbed his forehead and then his chin before ignoring Peri and continuing. “The organization is shrouded in secrecy, but make no mistake, they are very real and they are very dangerous. But despite that looming threat, let us rejoice today. One who was lost to us has been returned—a gypsy healer no less. And that is no small thing. Further, we have removed four members of the Order. And that is a start. We will continue to search for and destroy vampire covens where we can find them. We know that they are mixed up with the Order somehow.
“And now, let us turn our attention to another happy union. Cyn and Thalion,” he said, turning to the elf and the fae who were standing together holding hands, “congratulations on your mating. You have done something historic, and I hope that your union will be the beginning of a period of peace and cooperation between elves and fae. We will need the combined strength of your races if we are to face the threat that the Order presents. We wolves will assist you in whatever way we can as you take back the throne from your father. I have no doubt that you will be victorious.” Thalion bowed his head in appreciation and acknowledgment.
 
“Peri,” he turned to her. “We must find Alston quickly. He needs to be tried for his crimes. He purposely endangered the life of another supernatural being. He kidnapped a gypsy healer. He’s conspiring with traitors, and who knows what else. We need to bring him down but we need him alive.”
Peri nodded. “That won’t be easy, because as I’m sure you know, he’s one of the few supernaturals in existence whose power rivals my own.”
“You will have the aid of the wolves. And I’m sure that I’m not speaking out of turn here when I say that you will also have help from the elves and the warlocks.”
“That means he will get the ass kicking of a lifetime,” Peri responded as a wolfish grin crept across her face.
“Oh, oh, can I help? Pick me, pick me,” Jen said bouncing up and down in Decebel’s lap.
Jacque shook her head at her best friend. “Jen, sometimes I’m just not sure about your sanity.”
“What’s not to be sure about? I am surely insane. Boom. End of story. Now can we talk about me helping Peri castrate Alston.” All of the males in the room flinched, which only made Jen laugh.
“I never said I was going to castrate him,” Peri pointed out.
Jen threw her arms in the air. “Oh come on! When a thousand-year-old fae kidnaps a barely adult girl, especially one as sweet as Sally, he deserves to be castrated and then fed his own boy parts.”
Wadim whistled. “You are simply diabolical.”
“Can I get a t-shirt that says that,” she asked him with a smile, which made her mate smack her thigh.
“Behave,” Decebel growled.
“Okay, final order of business.” Vasile spoke up to cut off all conversation. “I didn’t want to read this today, but unfortunately the world can’t wait on us to take a respite. Our attack on Jericho and his rogue pack did not go unnoticed. We received a letter from the Order.”
“What?” was the general consensus around the room.
“Dearest wolves, fae, elves, and warlocks,” he read. “You are being watched. Don’t consider your recent acquisition as a victory. We will get what we want. If you don’t comply, then we will start attacking humans openly. Entire towns will be wiped out. The vampires are hungry. You, have after all, kicked them out of their homes. We want the healer, and we will get her or innocent people will die. Hope this finds you well, Sincerely, TOBC.”
“Well, I wish they’d been a little clearer on what they wanted exactly,” Jen said dryly.
“They want me,” Sally’s small voice broke Peri’s heart.
“They can’t have you,” Costin, Vasile, Decebel and Fane all spoke at the same time.
“What’s the plan, V?” Jen asked.
Vasile motioned to everyone in the room. “That’s why we’re here: to come up with a way to take the Order down. As you now know, time is of the essence.”
“Crap, why didn’t you just say so,” Jacque blurted.
“Thank you, Red, for saying what we were all thinking.”
“We must be smart, we must be resourceful, and we must not be careless,” Vasile said as he looked at each person around the room. “I do not believe that the Great Luna brought all of us together for her entertainment. She brought us together because we work well with each other. We are able to complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses. We cannot do this without a united front.” He looked over to Cypher. “What about you?”
“The warlocks are with you.”
“And you,” he said to Thalion.
“The elves will stand with you.”
“No worries, Alpha, the Jens will stand with you as well,” Jen said deadpan.
“Who are the Jens?” Sally asked.
“The few, the proud, the Jacque, Sally, and Jen,” she answered. “We’re kind of like Charlie’s Angels.”
“Only we don’t have awesome martial arts skills or a millionaire at our disposal providing us amazing toys,” Jacque pointed out.
“Details, Watson, details,” Jen sighed dramatically.
“The Great Luna help us,” Vasile muttered as he once again drew the attention back to himself. “We need ideas on how to root out the Order. I’m asking you to send out whatever spies you have at your disposal. Alston is our number one priority. Hopefully, continued destruction of the vampire covens will draw him out. Be on the lookout for any strange killings among the humans. Like it or not, we are their only hope now.”
Vasile scanned the room. Every face was set with a determined look.
“We will overcome. Thank you, all. I’ll be in touch with battle plans as necessary.”