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“It will, but you can always count on me to put you back together when you fall apart.”
“I know, and that keeps me going. No matter how bad it gets, you’re always there.” She gave him a sad smile. “I’m trying to focus on the good parts. We have a place for the vampires who joined us, they all got to talk to their families, and they gave us a solid lead for our next step. Plans are in motion, and we are making progress.”
“But…”
“None of that blunts the razor-sharp reality that I’m about to kill dozens of people.”
Luca wrapped his arms around Ash. “I know, sweetheart. I’m sorry you have to go through this.”
She stepped back to look into his eyes. “I can be strong out there because you let me be weak in here. This is gonna be a shitty day, but as I was recently informed, I don’t have to do anything alone anymore.”
“We’re all here for whatever you need.” He grinned. “Wherever you need it.”
She turned toward the door, taking a deep breath to fortify her nerves. “Once more into the shitstorm!”
The courtyard was bustling when they arrived. The execution had drawn more spectators than Ash had expected, but she wouldn’t deny them the right to see their attackers face justice. Luca had been correct when he’d said the vampires who chose to follow Ash would be warily welcomed, but those who refused her offer were looked upon as the invaders they were.
Ash’s new forces had also shown up to stand with their queen. They hated anything associated with Nadya and thought those who continued to support her cause deserved their fate.
Five of the fifty-seven captives chose to join the new vampire regime rather than face true death, and Ash accepted those on probationary terms. The others remained loyal to their fallen queen. Ash didn’t relish their deaths and ended their lives with the efficient slash of a blade she forged from light. When she finished the grisly task, she ordered the bodies burned and assembled her people in their new barracks.
Overnight, the witches and skilled Therian stonesmiths had dug into the mountain, creating four large barracks that each housed thirty people in rooms separated by stone walls. Each of Ash’s people had a bed and only shared their space with one other vampire. Their lightproof embassy was buried deep within the mountain, protected from almost everything.
In addition to the barracks, they’d also carved meeting rooms and common spaces. Ash thought what they’d managed to accomplish was nothing short of miraculous as she walked around the new war room. The meeting didn’t start for half an hour, so Ash was surprised when Euan walked in bearing an insulated cup.
“Ah’ve brought ye a wee bit o’ breakfast, Yer Highness.” The Scottish wolf offered her the cup with a mischievous grin.
Ash took it and laughed out loud when she read the words on the tumbler. The cup was sparkling blood-red enamel, but there was a large photo of Count von Count from Sesame Street and text that alternated in blue and white?—
Who’s your favorite vampire?
The one from Sesame Street.
He doesn’t count.
I can assure you that he does.
Ash laughed for a solid minute before she calmed enough to open the cup and drink the warmed blood he’d brought for her. It sustained her, but nothing could compare to feeding from Luca. Still chuckling, she glanced at Euan. “This is now my favorite cup ever, seriously. Thank you. When did you even have time to do something like this? It’s brilliant, I love it!”
He scoffed and grinned like a little boy who’d pulled off something clever. “Ah dinnae make it myself, but Ah paid a lot o’ money for a rush order from someone on Etsy. Ah dinnae ken why it tickled my funny bone, but Ah roared with laughter when Ah saw it.”
Ash took another sip, getting used to the taste of reheated donated human blood. It eased the burning ache in her throat, even if it wasn’t very appetizing, and she was grateful for the relief. “I appreciate both the gesture and the sustenance. Hopefully, you have good news for me, too?”
Euan nodded and took a seat. “Indeed Ah do, Yer Highness. We had a swarm o’ volunteers, far more than we can take on this mission. Ah know most o’ ‘em personally, and Ah selected fifty with formidable fightin’ skills or other abilities that will be useful in yer endeavors. They await yer orders.
“Ah am confident that everyone Ah picked for ye is genuinely interested in helpin’ ye establish yer position o’ power in the vampire world so that, and Ah quote, ‘She can come home where she belongs and let the king make it official.’ You dinnae have to worry about any o’ ‘em turnin’ on ye. They’re as loyal as Ah am.”
Ash smiled in delight. “That’s wonderful news, Euan. I couldn’t have asked for better results. Please tell me that you’re sticking around to run the joint task force. I rely on your help.” She paused and sighed in relief when he nodded. “Oh, thank God. It will be nice to have a buffer with Viktorija. I love the woman, but we don’t always see eye to eye.”
Euan grinned, affection radiating from him. “Och, she’s a fiery lass, that one. Dinnae tell her Ah said so, but Ah’m gonna marry that woman.”
“You might have a tough time getting her to agree to that,” Ash teased.
Euan laughed. “Ah hope so.”
Vampires started filing into the room, and Ash let the conversation end. They couldn’t take all her new forces on this mission, so she was accepting volunteers for the away team so she could assign tasks to those who remained at the palace. The meeting was brief, and Ash ended it with the opportunity for them to ask questions.
“When do we head over yonder?” Bill asked toward the end of the meeting. “As far as everything else goes, you and your people have done a great job keeping us informed. You’re a damned good leader, ma’am.”
