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“What the fuck have you done to my people?” Cash asked when the shifters were revealed again, pale and sickly and thin.
“Obviously nothing,” Connor said. “They’ve done this all on their own.”
But Cash had made his decision, picked his path, and wasn’t going to be swayed from it. He strode toward Connor, fury in his eyes.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Connor said and, when Cash reached him, pounded his fist into Cash’s face.
“Good show,” Alexei said as Cash hit the ground. “That was a nice one.”
Everett tried to step forward in Cash’s stead and make his own run at Connor, but Gibson held his arms back.
“No, thanks, old man. You’ve had your chance.”
Connor nodded with approval. “This is the hell you have wrought in this clan. The destruction, all because you were so goddamned determined to hold on to power you hadn’t earned. Those days are over.”
“Over,” Georgia agreed, stepping beside them. “This has gone on too long,” she said to the growing crowd, over gasps and shock as they surveyed the damage.
“You have no power—,” Everett began, but Georgia just held up a hand.
“Save it. Given that you’ve been faced with indisputable evidence the hybrids exist, they’re deadly, and they’re members of your clan, I think we can safely say that Elisa’s actions were reasonable and she acted in order to save Carlie’s life in the best way available to her. The only person she needs absolution from is Carlie.” She looked at me. “You have our apologies.” She shifted her gaze to Connor. “As do you.”
“I appreciate the gesture,” Connor said. “And, Georgia, you’re family. But you all wrought this. None of you are innocent. You knew Loren was a predator of the worst kind, and you ignoredthe victims. You knew something was hurting your people, but you ignored the evidence. That’s unacceptable. The North American Central Pack hereby names Georgia McAllister as leader of this clan. She’s in charge unless or until the clan votes otherwise.”
“You can’t fucking do that,” Cash said, climbing to his feet. “We don’t release you from the Obsideo. You’re still obliged to us.”
But Connor’s eyes stayed bright. “Cash, you are an idiot. When you claim Obsideo, you have to specify the problem. Otherwise, you leave the choice up to the person who’s obligated, which would be me. The problem in this clan is its leadership. And I’ve just solved that problem.”
As if the magic somehow agreed with him, it released its hold, power spilling through the crowd like water through a broken dam, swirling around our feet.
Connor turned to me, his smile satisfied and smug.
“Connor Keene,” I said. “That little bit of strategy was positively vampiric.”
“I’m going to assume that’s a compliment.”
“Oh,” I said with silvered eyes, “it absolutely was.”
“Good,” he said, then pulled me toward him. “Let’s try a little more vampire drama.”
He kissed me with abandon, let his magic mingle with the eddies of power at our feet, let the others feel the power, the attraction, the emotion. And when he pulled back, his breathing was hard, and there was a mix of amusement and desire and alpha confidence in his eyes.
“Aw, keep going,” Alexei shouted. “I’m recording this.”
We turned to look his way, found him holding up his screen.
“Why would you do that?” Connor asked.
“Because it was a good kiss, and someone will pay good money for the footage.”
“Alexei.” Connor’s voice was flat.
They watched each other for a second, and Alexei smiled first.“Because the Pack will want to know who she is and who you are. She may not be a shifter. But I think they’ll like what they see.”
I arched a brow. “That’s the best compliment I’m likely to ever get from you, isn’t it?”
“Probably,” Alexei said.
“Then I’ll take it. And thank you.”
