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“You let everyone think you moved for Queenie.”
“I started looking because she detested Alaska and was miserable, that’s true, but it’s possible I’d have done no more than make inquiries. By the time I was solidifying the possibility, I had two reasons to make a move, and that gave me enough impetus to see it through.”
“Why do you have mostly men in the coterie mansion? Vampires and shapeshifters, flock — there aren’t many women?”
“The women vampires I attracted, for the most part, live in the vampire quarters in the new theater.”
Lauren met his gaze. “I hope you haven’t allowed your territory to be unbalanced because of some misconception that I’d be jealous of the women blood oathed to you.”
“I chose mostly male flock members for exactly that reason, but I assure you, the makeup of the vampires who chose to follow me here happened naturally.”
“I don’t mean to rush this conversation,” Ambrose said, “But we should check in at the theater.” He looked to Lauren. “You seem balanced, to me. Are you ready to face chaos again?”
Chapter 20
Lauren walked onto the stage and faced the ‘audience’ of performers, stage hands, and other theater workers. These chairs were the most comfortable in the building, so most everyone had congregated to them.
“Gavin is in the workout room with the still-injured. If there’s anyone in here who’s struggling, you should report to him.”
When no one moved, she asked, “So, everyone in this room is fully recovered?”
The house lights were on, so she could see a few shifters in their bear form sitting on the steps, and a male lion in animal form at the top, looking down at her from above. She had to use her senses to be certain it wasn’t Nick. She hadn’t seen him yet.
Lots of people shook their head, and she sent her senses out.
“Okay, so some of you are waiting for your food to digest before youchangeagain. I was told everyone in here is past the need of medical help. If there’s anyone who needs a doctor or paramedic, things aren’t quite so hectic now and you should head that way. Any vampires who need blood, or shapeshifters who need food, things are set up to get these things to you without a wait, now.”
“When can we go home?” someone asked from the right. Lauren looked to that side of the theater, trying to place the voice, and realized it was one of the female hawks who worked the silks as well as the trapeze. She hadn’t been at the battle. Not everyone in the territory knew how to fight, but it surprised her that this woman didn’t. Hawk society usually required everyone learn self-defense.
“An excellent question. This building is well defended, so those of you who aren’t capable of fighting shouldwantto stay here until we’re certain the threat is mitigated. Daywalkers, assume you’ll be here through tomorrow afternoon, at the earliest. Those who don’t work in a coterie-owned business who will miss outside work, please check in with me when I finish up here. Vampires higher up in the hierarchy already know where they will be tomorrow for their rest. If you don’t know, you’ll likely be in one of the basements or hidey-holes in this building. Until Gavin goes through everyone’s head to be certain there are no traitors, no further information will be given to the group as a whole.”
Fifteen trusted vampires were staged throughout the audience and just outside the room, observing minds and scenting the room. Most likely, any traitor would know how to keep from exhibiting any kind of fear spike, but Gavin had ordered them to scan when Lauren made that statement, just in case.
Every person in the building would be given an exit interview before being allowed to leave, with Gavin taking a few sips of blood and then looking through their memories. Still, it was better to find any traitors now, before they could do further damage.
Lauren hadn’t wanted to believe any of her theater people could turn on the coterie, but Ambrose assured her when another vampire made this kind of attempt, they almost always had spies placed inside.
A flurry of energy and movement erupted near the stage, front and center, and then a blur of movement rocketed towards her. Instincts had her sending the bear forward, and Cally unfolded from her forearm as a force struck her shoulders and took her to the ground. She tried to roll so her head wouldn’t hit, but a body was on top of her and it wasn’t possible. Her head slammed to the floor and the lights went out.
Pain. Agony.
Then nothing.
* * * *
Gavin was working with Nick, the two of them transferring energy to one of his badly injured lionesses, when he sensed a disturbance that was immediately followed by a dozen people telepathing him at once.
He blocked all but the stream from Link.
Basil has Lauren in his grasp, and she’s been knocked unconscious. Her bear is off her and is pissed, but seems to understand Lauren will die if she charges. Basil wants a clear exit from the building. It’s a standoff, at the moment. What are your orders?
Keep her alive. I’m on my way.
Gavin took two seconds to pull away without further injuring the lioness, and then leapt into the air and took flight. He swept up two flights of stairs, but had to land in order to open the door out of the stairwell. Fifteen steps, and he was on stage.
Basil was strong, but Gavin was stronger, and in less than a second, he had enough control of the vampire to assure he didn’t break Lauren’s neck.
Three seconds later, Gavin took total control of Basil, and he only needed a handful of seconds to look into his captive’s mind, see the treason, and decide on the other vampire’s fate. In front of six hundred people, Basil gently settled Lauren on the floor, stood, and took two lumbering steps away that made it clear he was nothing but a marionette. He ripped his pants and underwear away from his body enough to bare his genitals, grabbed his own balls, and tore them from his body while screaming, “No! Don’t make me!”
