Authors: Kassanna
A quick check of her pocket for money assured her that she didn’t need to run to her room. The deep voices drifting from the conference room caught her attention. One smooth baritone held her interest. She sidled up to the entrance and leaned against the open door. Myka’s nose twitched and he briefly lifted his head in her direction, but the other men in the room never noticed her.
“Jamison assures me Gertrudis is the one we need to do this. He says she has contacts other clans would kill for. Something about family, and boys, we need all the allies we can get.” Colin’s uneasiness came through loud and clear over the conference call apparatus.
She crossed her arms and moved closer to the group.
“So why doesn’t he just order her on a mission?” Myka spoke up and the others concurred with low murmurs and nods.
“Seems Gertrudis has a mind of her own. She’d deliberately misconstrue the directives to fit her version of the commands. He says it’s better to ask and hope she’ll see things your way. Now I know at least two of you know how to deal with hardheaded women. From what I can understand, some of the clans she knows aren’t even on the Council, but could be based on their sheer numbers. In other words, there are a lot of shifters that don’t like the Council, and Gertrudis has access to some of them. No one can tell me exactly how many factions have seceded but I’m assured it’s enough that if they rejoined the fold it would change the face of the board. With pacts of allegiance between them and our clan, we could shut down the commission, making Roman and Seri’s accusations moot points,” Colin responded.
The burst of laughter that erupted through Boris’s lips made her jump. All eyes turned on him. He scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “We got this in the bag then. There are some serious vibes going on between her and Myka. He’ll just have to be the one to ask her.”
Tee tilted her head and watched Myka’s response.
His eyes widened, and she thought she saw his Adam’s apple bob up and down quickly. The brief look of panic that crossed Myka’s features was gone when he leaned over the speaker. “There are other ways. We still have Boris’s option of killing board members in their sleep.”
Disappointment rushed through her and she straightened. She knocked on the thin wood barrier and the men turned toward the doorway. Tee smiled at them and stalked into the room. She spoke clearly so Colin could hear her on the other side of the line. “My friends don’t like the Council and hate shifter politics. They prefer to stay on the fringes. What would you offer them in exchange for an alliance?”
Lines formed on Rhys’s forehead, then smoothed when he spoke. “Our protection.”
Tee snorted. “They don’t need your protection. Hell, they could probably teach you a thing or two. If you want them to play, you have to make it worth their while. When you have a proposal I’ll be happy to accompany your ambassador to their dens. Until then, I’d say your shit out of luck and make other plans.” She turned on her heel and stopped, never once glancing back. “Don’t worry about that ride to town, Myka. I’d say you got bigger problems to see about.” She headed for the kitchen.
Chapter Two
Heinrich leaned back in his chair and swirled the cognac in his glass. Matos had dared to nominate Jamison as a replacement for Lorez at the council meeting. Heinrich tossed the alcohol in his mouth and embraced the burn of the aged liquor as it traveled down his throat. He knew what that arrogant-ass director was doing, trying to litter the board with damn liberals who would vote his way. But it wouldn’t work. Of course he had a problem with that shit town and no matter how hard Matos tried to interfere, he would handle Colin and his boys. Now that he knew where the head of the Council stood, he’d take care of Matos too.
First thing first though, Volkshire was a cesspool of human-loving shifters and somebody needed to shut that place down. Humans had their uses but watering down his kindred’s bloodlines shouldn’t be one of them, and he was just the beast to end the bullshit. If the Blaidd pack went down with the town, then he could simply regard them as collateral damage. Colin could stand to be knocked off his high horse anyway. That bastard strutted around as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
All that was needed was time. His objective to keep shifters pure was gaining momentum. Soon he’d be bigger than the commission, and Matos with his cohorts wouldn’t be able to stop him. No, if he bid his time, he’d become the head of the Council and that bastard Matos would answer to him. He swiveled his chair around to glance at the view through the window. The brightly lit cityscape glowed under the night sky and brought a smile to his face.
That bastard mountain lion had outlived his usefulness. Why didn’t shifters realize they were at the top of the food chain? With a thought, they could break and realign bone. They became animals. Bears, mountain lions, and coyotes, just to name a few, could easily use the human counterpart’s bones for toothpicks. Heinrich snorted. As a nation they should be corralling mortals for servitude, not mating with them. He twisted around in his chair, picked up the bottle of cognac, and poured himself another glass of the amber liquid. All his puppets were in place. It was a matter of pulling a few strings.
Half turning, he leaned over his desk to press his Intercom button. “Get my sister on the phone and patch her through to me.”
He glanced around his office, it was only slightly smaller than Matos’s, but that wouldn’t do. As his mama liked to say, if second best was good enough, there wouldn’t be a first place. He’d spent more than enough time in the dark, wood-encased area and now he wanted to see the view from his boss’s space. The phone beeped and he stabbed the button.
“You haven’t called in your report.” Heinrich ran his finger around the beveled edge of the snifter.
“There’s nothing to tell. They are preparing for war. I don’t think the Blaidds will back down, Heinrich,” his sister calmly said in response to his accusation.
“Then I’ll apply pressure. I expect information as soon as you have it. Is that clear?”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way, dear brother.” A dial tone droned in his ear.
He placed the handset down and pulled his cell phone from inside the breast pocket of his jacket. Heinrich scrolled through his contacts and pressed the little green icon to connect him to his mistress.
“Hello.” Seri’s smooth tones filled the airwaves.
“Seri, darling, how are you?”
“Good and yourself, Heinrich?”
“No complaints. I was thinking, there is something I need you to do for me.”
“What’s that?” she cooed.
“Can you talk Roman into handpicking a group of shifters known for their stealth and have them monitor Volkshire?” A plan was coalescing in his head. “Better yet, tell the men to allow themselves to be seen every now and then.”
“Of course. Tell me, Heinrich…what are you thinking?”
“I’m
thinking
that one way or another there will be a war.”
“So let me tell you what I’m thinking?” Her voice dropped an octave.
Heinrich leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. “I’m listening.”
Her throaty chuckle gave him an instant erection. “I’m thinking I married the wrong beast.”
* * * *
Myka paced the length of his office. There was no way he could spend a week in Tee’s presence and not do something stupid. His temple throbbed in time with the
thud
of his boots on the wooden floor. He was already having a hard time staying away from her. Myka stopped his erratic prowling and took several deep breaths, choosing to focus on the painting of a turbulent seascape hung on the wall parallel to his desk. He rubbed his forehead and threw himself on the couch beneath the picture. Dropping his head back on the supple leather, he closed his eyes.
His office door opened and he took a quick sniff. Certain it was his assistant, he continued to brood about his predicament. Amelia bumped his arm and he lifted an eyelid. She stood over him with her palm open and two white tablets on it. He looked up at her, and she beamed, showing all her teeth.
She stared at him and the corners of her lips turned down. “I thought you could use these.”
He took the aspirin from her, tossed them to the back of his throat, and dry-swallowed the pills.
“Why don’t you tell your brothers you’re not going with her?” Amelia sat on the sofa’s edge and eased closer to him. “They are your brothers. I mean, what could they do to you?”
“Next to my father, I’m the only other diplomat in Volkshire. It’s my duty to go. Trust me, sending Rhys or Boris would be a monumentally bad idea. If these negotiations are successful, they could end the war before it even starts. We’d probably end up fighting on two fronts if one of them went. As for doing something to me…” Myka snorted. “They wouldn’t. But as a Blaidd, it is my duty to go.”
“I didn’t say don’t go. I
said
don’t go with her. I mean if being in her presence evokes this type of emotional upheaval, tell your family that you’re going to have someone else accompany you. I’m sure we could find someone to handle this office if necessary. I’d be happy to go with you.”
Myka studied his assistant. She never called Tee by name and he found himself annoyed by that fact.
Amelia reached up and brushed a lock of his hair off his forehead. “I’m sure someone else from that Snake clan could take us to the place Jamison is talking about.” She closed the space between them until her breasts pressed against his upper arm.
He pulled away from her touch and clasped her hands. People misunderstood his motives. It wasn’t just Tee he didn’t want. He wasn’t interested in a relationship period. His career was his focus at the moment. “Amelia, you’re a fantastic aide but right now I’m not interested in a relationship with
anyone
.”
She scooted back and gave him a smile, which didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Of course, excuse me. I’ll go shut everything down for the night. If you don’t mind, I’ll take the morning off.”
“Thank you and feel free to take the rest of the day off. I leave tomorrow so there won’t be much to do for a few days.”
The door wasn’t closed five minutes before his brothers rushed in.
“What the hell did you do to Amelia? She practically ran me over trying to get out of the room.” Boris rested his butt on Myka’s desk.
Myka raised his head. “I explained I wasn’t interested in her on a personal level.”
Boris whistled.
Rhys plopped down next to him. “Myka, this is important. I want you to know I am totally okay with it if you are, but Fre is driving me crazy with her questions so I have to ask. Are you gay?” Rhys widened his eyes in mock innocence.
Boris raised a brow. “Oh shit, can I be the one to out you to Dad?”
“Fuck you both, sideways.” Myka dropped his head back against the couch.
“Seriously, Tee is a hot little number and she has turned down every shifter who’s asked her out so, umm, what are you waiting for?” Rhys kicked his leg.
Myka spoke without opening his eyes. “Does Fre know you’ve been checking out Tee?”
“Ohhh, you two keep talking. I swear this is some sweet blackmail material y’all are shoveling.” Boris rounded the desk and dropped down in the office chair. He started rifling through Myka’s desk drawers
“Dad is right. You guys do act like you’re ten. Boris, what the hell are you looking for?”
“Found it.” Boris lifted the vodka bottle from the bottom drawer and placed it on the desk.
“Got any glasses?” The leather crackled as Rhys shuffled forward in his seat.
“Other side.” Myka waved his hand.
Boris lifted the tumblers from the other drawer and poured double shots in each glass.
“This alliance is vital, Myka.” Rhys picked up the tumblers from the edge of the desk where Boris pushed them. He handed one to him.
Myka accepted the offering. “I realize that and I will come back with a treaty.”
“And probably a mate.” Boris raised his glass in the air before chucking the clear liquid back.
Myka’s grip tightened on the glass and he pressed his lips together.
“No need to look so glum. It’s just an observation.” Boris snickered.
* * * *
Tee stuffed a few things in her duffel bag. She wouldn’t need much where she was going. In Betaille, she could always borrow something to wear from one of her cousins. Poor Myka, he had no clue what he was getting into. She bit the inside of her lip. Maybe she should warn him. She shoved that idea aside and dug out her cell phone from her pocket. Her Aunt Sint would take care of things for her in Betaille.
“Yes.” Her aunt’s gregarious voice was loud in her ear.
“
Bonjour,
Aunt Sint”
“Ahh, Tee. How are you?”
“Great, I’m coming for a visit.”
“Oh.”
“
Qui
. I am bringing someone that wants to do business with Uncle Percel.”
The line went silent.
“Aunt Sint?”
“What kind of business?”
“An alliance.”
“
Non
. We don’t need no treaty wit nobody.”
“I know, but they need your help. At least hear him out. Please.”
“Why this so important to you, Gertrudis? You never got mixed up in a clan’s business before.”
Tee cringed at the sound of her full name. “Myka’s pack needs our help. What the Council is doing to them is wrong.”
“Uh-huh, and what be the true reason?” Aunt Sint whispered.
“I don’t like seeing any shifter get railroaded, Aunty, you know that.”
Her Aunt Sint was quiet a few minutes before speaking. “Your Uncle Percel will listen but I make no promises.”
“
Merci,
Aunty. We will be there within a few days.”
“We will be lookin’ for ya.”
Tee pressed the End button and hung head counting
one…two…three…four
. Her cell phone buzzed. She slid her fingers across the screen. “Hello, Mama.”
“Now I know you’s Aunt Sint can be a tad creative when relaying a story, so I’m calling you direct.”
Tee sighed. “Yes, ma’am”