line.
“Damien, you of all people know it’s bad form to wake a vampire
before the sun sets.”
“True, but where is the fun in waiting?” Damien chuckled. “I
trust you are holding up fair enough out there, old friend? I have heard from
the Tribunal and thought it best to not wait until you arose.”
Marcus’s grip on the cell phone tightened, but his voice held
no emotion.
“I take it there has been a decision made on Miss Ellis’s
Rising?”
“This is a very sticky situation. If she were not a police
officer it would be less… complicated. We must also take into account that it
has been over one hundred and fifty years since a Lycan has successfully turned
a human. Her Rising will be watched closely by all Breeds.”
“Tambra is not a lab experiment to be dissected by the
Tribunal,” Marcus growled, unable to hide his irritation at the thought of how
cavalier the Tribunal was about holding Tambra’s life in their hands. That
thought made him pause. Since when did he care about what happened to a rising
Lycan? It was his job to see to the safety of all Breeds. He enforced
the Tribunal’s laws. His name was legendary among the Enforcers for his
impartiality. How could one small human undo him so thoroughly?
“Marcus? Did you hear what I said?” Damien’s voice snapped him
back from his musings. He heard his friend sigh on the other end. “Look, the
Tribunal wants you to bring Tambra back in so she can be monitored. If she
shows the signs of Rising and not just shifting like a run-of-the-mill Were,
she could prove that Pure Bloods can propagate their kind more readily.”
Marcus knew how close the Lycans were to extinction. Their
conception rates were too low, and only their longevity had saved them for this
long. If Tambra successfully made it through the Rising, she would belong to
another world, a world that had no room for a vampire in it.
“Alright. So we monitor her.” Marcus agreed with that at least.
“Temple Fox must have complete access to her. As leader he has
first choice to become her Mate.”
Those words made the blood pound in his ears as a rush of
protective rage washed over him.
“No,” he spat. “He’s an inferior choice. Choose another.”
“There is no other, Marcus. Temple has the purest lineage of
all Lycans. As such, he is the only choice for her. The Tribunal is backing
this all the way.”
“Fine. Tell the Tribunal he can have supervised access
to her,” Marcus snapped. “I will not budge on this point, Damien.”
“Very well, old friend. I am curious though, what is this woman
to you? I have never heard you this way.” Concern dripped from his voice,
causing Marcus to flinch. He was unprepared to discuss this with Damien. What
he felt for Tambra was only sexual attraction. He had gone too long without a
woman and he was going to remedy that.
“What news from the Tribunal regarding the spike in ferals
amongst the Breeds?” Damien asked, clearly interpreting Marcus’s silence as a
reason to change the subject.
Marcus had contacted the Tribunal as soon as Zeke had made his
disquieting discovery about other Breeds being affected. The idea that this
may not be a disease, but a carefully orchestrated revolt, made Marcus’s
stomach churn with dread.
“According to my reports, it is escalating at an alarming rate
all over the world, and more than the Lycans are involved. So far, no feral
has been captured alive for interrogation. We are working in the dark at the
moment. As are you,” Damien related grimly. A hint of frustration bled
through.
It was going from bad to worse, Marcus thought as he ended the
call, promising to report any news he might uncover. He had a strong suspicion
that by the time any of them uncovered the truth, it would be too late.
****
“You’re a what ?” Cody nearly choked on his steak.
Tambra shushed him,
“Damien, you of all people know it’s bad form to wake a vampire
before the sun sets.”
“True, but where is the fun in waiting?” Damien chuckled. “I
trust you are holding up fair enough out there, old friend? I have heard from
the Tribunal and thought it best to not wait until you arose.”
Marcus’s grip on the cell phone tightened, but his voice held
no emotion.
“I take it there has been a decision made on Miss Ellis’s
Rising?”
“This is a very sticky situation. If she were not a police
officer it would be less… complicated. We must also take into account that it
has been over one hundred and fifty years since a Lycan has successfully turned
a human. Her Rising will be watched closely by all Breeds.”
“Tambra is not a lab experiment to be dissected by the
Tribunal,” Marcus growled, unable to hide his irritation at the thought of how
cavalier the Tribunal was about holding Tambra’s life in their hands. That
thought made him pause. Since when did he care about what happened to a rising
Lycan? It was his job to see to the safety of all Breeds. He enforced
the Tribunal’s laws. His name was legendary among the Enforcers for his
impartiality. How could one small human undo him so thoroughly?
“Marcus? Did you hear what I said?” Damien’s voice snapped him
back from his musings. He heard his friend sigh on the other end. “Look, the
Tribunal wants you to bring Tambra back in so she can be monitored. If she
shows the signs of Rising and not just shifting like a run-of-the-mill Were,
she could prove that Pure Bloods can propagate their kind more readily.”
Marcus knew how close the Lycans were to extinction. Their
conception rates were too low, and only their longevity had saved them for this
long. If Tambra successfully made it through the Rising, she would belong to
another world, a world that had no room for a vampire in it.
“Alright. So we monitor her.” Marcus agreed with that at least.
“Temple Fox must have complete access to her. As leader he has
first choice to become her Mate.”
Those words made the blood pound in his ears as a rush of
protective rage washed over him.
“No,” he spat. “He’s an inferior choice. Choose another.”
“There is no other, Marcus. Temple has the purest lineage of
all Lycans. As such, he is the only choice for her. The Tribunal is backing
this all the way.”
“Fine. Tell the Tribunal he can have supervised access
to her,” Marcus snapped. “I will not budge on this point, Damien.”
“Very well, old friend. I am curious though, what is this woman
to you? I have never heard you this way.” Concern dripped from his voice,
causing Marcus to flinch. He was unprepared to discuss this with Damien. What
he felt for Tambra was only sexual attraction. He had gone too long without a
woman and he was going to remedy that.
“What news from the Tribunal regarding the spike in ferals
amongst the Breeds?” Damien asked, clearly interpreting Marcus’s silence as a
reason to change the subject.
Marcus had contacted the Tribunal as soon as Zeke had made his
disquieting discovery about other Breeds being affected. The idea that this
may not be a disease, but a carefully orchestrated revolt, made Marcus’s
stomach churn with dread.
“According to my reports, it is escalating at an alarming rate
all over the world, and more than the Lycans are involved. So far, no feral
has been captured alive for interrogation. We are working in the dark at the
moment. As are you,” Damien related grimly. A hint of frustration bled
through.
It was going from bad to worse, Marcus thought as he ended the
call, promising to report any news he might uncover. He had a strong suspicion
that by the time any of them uncovered the truth, it would be too late.
****
“You’re a what ?” Cody nearly choked on his steak.
Tambra shushed him,
Similar Books
