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"Not wrong," said Father Marius. "Uninformed. I wish to see the extinction of the Graystone pack as surely as you do, whether you choose to believe that or not."
"I want to. Sometimes you make it difficult."
He frowned, and I expected him to chastise me, but instead, he merely sighed. Somehow, that was worse. "You are wise for your age, Castor, but you’re still young, and there is much you don't understand. I have to think about the future of the Church, as well as all those who would be affected by the war. And make no mistake, a declaration of war against every pack in the region is exactly what it would be, even if we have the manpower to wipe them out."
"Not every pack," I corrected. "They have plenty of enemies among their own kind."
"Are you suggesting we cooperate with the wolves?" he asked doubtfully.
I wasn’t willing to answer that. The truth was, as distasteful as I found their kind to be in general, I probably wouldn't have been entirely opposed to the tactic, given the right circumstances. And with the number of "animal attacks" growing each day, it seemed we were rapidly approaching them.
"One day, when you find yourself in my position, I can only hope you understand where I'm coming from," he said quietly.
"I understand," I muttered. "I simply disagree."
"Your dissent is noted," he said in a tone that made it clear the conversation was over, whether I wanted it to be or not. "On another note, how is your pupil coming along?"
I grimaced at the mention of Eddie. "Well enough, for someone who's completely human half the time and an unpredictable beast the other half."
"Aren't we all," Father Marius said dryly. “I take it he is not progressing as quickly as you would like."
"I'm just not sure I see the strategic benefit in keeping my focus on him when we're already stretched thin as it is."
"I disagree," he said. "And if your training goes well, he may yet prove to be one of the greatest weapons we have in the war."
"Or our greatest liability," I countered. "In any case, right now, he's of little use to anyone."
"That is a surprise," said Father Marius. "I had hoped the vampire blood infusions would prove particularly effective on him, considering that his lupine nature isn't currently manifesting itself."
I fell silent, well aware he wasn't going to like my answer. I had hoped we wouldn't have to have the discussion at all, since he had clearly presumed I was already arranging for infusions.
"Castor?" Father Marius pressed, lifting his eyebrows. "Is there something you wish to tell me?"
Not at all, I thought.
I cleared my throat. "He hasn't been taking infusions, sir."
"At all?" he asked, sounding genuinely surprised.
"I thought it inadvisable, given the unpredictability of his nature.”
"And yet, I thought I had made it quite clear that I expect you to give him the proper training, same as any other hunter," he said pointedly. "As you well know, that includes infusion."
I held my tongue, standing in silence since I knew defending myself wasn't going to do me any favors. I really didn't feel like I should have to.
Father Marius sighed, shaking his head. "I'm disappointed in you, Castor. I would expect you to be capable of putting aside your personal grievances for the good of the Church."
I was clenching my jaw so hard, it felt like it would snap off. "Yes, sir," I said, my throat so tight I could barely speak.
"The boy will begin treatment tomorrow," he said firmly. "Are my instructions clear enough now?"
"Crystal," I said through my teeth.
Yet again, the wolf had won. The most infuriating part was, he wasn't even trying.
ChapterThirteen
EDDIE
