Declan elbowed me, sending my body swaying, but I righted myself before I could fall. I glared at him, but he was looking elsewhere, pointing his finger toward the river. I peered through the hedge, my gaze snagging on the male dressed in black Blood Court leathers on the other side of the bank.
Declan dipped his chin before standing from his crouch, not making his figure seen until he was several paces away from the bush Lennox and I hid in as the male crossed the river using the small bridge made up of slats of wood.
“Captain Hale.”
“Reggie.” Declan dipped his chin toward the male. “Thank you for meeting me. I know the circumstances are not ideal…”
“Not ideal?” Reggie laughed. “We’re on opposing sides of a war, Captain.”
“I’m aware, which is why I asked you to meet me.” Reggie raised a brow. “And why I’ll cut to the chase. I know you, and many others, were not fans of Lorenzo.”
The male, Reggie, let out a rough laugh. “Now that’s an even bigger understatement. I was happy to hear the bastard got his head lobbed off.”
One side of Declan’s mouth lifted. “Me too. But with him dead, you all follow Adreona now?”
“It’s not like we have a choice.”
“She’s not the queen consort anymore without Lorenzo alive.”
“I know, but she threatened us all. She has this witch who works with her, she’s always at her side.”
“I’m familiar with Keziq.”
“Then you understand why we all followed her directions to leave the city with her.”
Declan was quiet for a minute before speaking again. “How many of you are only following her out of fear?”
“About three-fourths of our original squadron.”
“What if we were able to kill Keziq? What would you do?”
Reggie was silent. “I—I don’t know.’
“If we were able to kill Keziq, would you turn on Adreona?”
“You’re fucking crazy, Captain. First asking me to come here and meet you and then asking me to turn on my leader—”Fuck fuck fuck.
Reggie scrubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “Fuck it. I’m in.”
Declan’s shoulders straightened. “Really?”
He nodded. “If I’m going to die in this fucking war, I’d rather it be for someone I support. I’ve always liked Luka.”
“Do you think others will follow you?”
He shrugged. “It’s hard to tell, their fear might overrule their thoughts.”
“Do they know Adreona is trying to kill all vampires?”
“What?”
“The spell Adreona is trying to reverse? If she’s successful, all vampires will cease to exist.”
“You’re shitting me. And Adreona knows this?”
“Lennox told her herself, I was there. And the Goddess told us that’s the end result. You go and tell your people that—tell them Adreona doesn’t care if vampires die. Tell them if she wins this war, vampires will cease to exist, see if they’ll side with her then.”
He nodded curtly. “I think they’ll be convinced if they hear that. Anything else?” Reggie looked around.
