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“How many seats do you have?” the wolf Alpha asked.
“My jet carries sixteen plus the pilots, and that’s the one on standby.” He had access to rent a larger jet, but he reserved it in advance, when needed. He looked to the female wolf. “I believe we’ll be loading up with warriors who can help us rescue the civet, but I have your horse’s essence now, and I will certainly look for him when we arrive.”
Gavin’s phone rang with the Amakhosi’s tone, and he stood from the conversation chair and told his guests, “I apologize.”
“Your Highness. We’ll be wheels up in about two hours. I sensed desert to the west of us. I’ll do another location search once we’re closer, so the destination could change enroute, but I believe the search should begin in the general Vegas vicinity.”
“You don’t need to be on the ground to zero in?”
“It certainly helps, but this is a strong connection, so it’s possible I can zero in from the air. It’s also possible we’ll need to land, taxi in and come to a stop, and then take off without bothering to exit the plane.”
“How well do you know Huxley?”
And there was the rub. The Master of Vegas was not one of Gavin’s fans.
“We won’t be flying into the Vegas airport. We’ll fly into the Bullhead City Airport, just over the line in Arizona. I’ll have reservations at the resort there, so it’ll look like the group went to gamble in Laughlin. I can send Queenie across the river if I need boots on the ground in Nevada, but I should be able to confirm a general location from Arizona. If we need to cross the state line, I’ll contact Huxley at that time and use the tourist excuse for an evening in Vegas.” He sighed. “I’ll offer to provide a member of my flock for a week, in exchange for two days in Vegas. Unless his tastes have drastically changed, he’ll probably accept.”
Gavin telepathed a quick text for Queenie to send to the Master of Arizona, who was thankfully someone who owed Gavin many favors, so passage into her state wouldn’t be a problem. He focused back on Nathan, and told him, “These are my people.Myfight.”
“I’ll go in place of Lauren,” Nathan said. “She stays either in your mansion or at Homewood.”
Gavin grimaced, and was glad this wasn’t a video call. “In a perfect world, that might be true. If you can convince her to stay behind I will be indebted to you. I don’t intend to even suggest she not come with us.”
Nathan sighed. “Kirsten and I will be in Bullhead City, awaiting you.” A pause and then, “Mordecai as well. Cora needs to make some phone calls, since she’ll be entering another wolf’s territory.”
“Cora and Marco should remain at Homewood,” Gavin said. “This is a scouting expedition at this time. We don’t want it to look like an invasion.”
“I’ll discuss logistics with them, and I’ll text or call you again before you’re wheels up. We’ll handle the reservations. Will twelve rooms do it?”
“It’s a start. Once I know our numbers for certain, I’ll have Queenie let you know.”
Gavin would have his lightproof box, so if they needed to spend the day, he’d be safe from the sun, but he hoped it didn’t come to it. He’d rather go out into the forest and bury himself in the earth for the day than be in a box where his enemies could attack.
But the desert didn’t afford the same protections as the forest.
He telepathed Queenie to ask her to wake Lauren and Nick in thirty minutes, so they’d have an hour to eat and get dressed, and he finally sat across a small table from the Alpha and met his gaze.
“We want this to appear to be a fun trip, political in nature. This means you’ll be expected to bring a date and two guards. I would ask that the woman and extra man you bring be warriors.”
“The woman I’m dating happens to be my third, so that works. I’ll leave my second to run things, and will bring my fifth, an ex-marine who might be Alpha if wolves could challenge with firearms.”
“Excellent. Please pack clothing for a social visit, and only one outfit each in all black. No body armor a guard wouldn’t ordinarily wear. Nothing that points to an invasion. Should we need to do so, we’ll acquire the necessary garments and weapons at that time.” He blew out a breath. “I assume you, your third, and your fifth can all keep your minds protected, but I’ll need to test that on the plane. You’ll need to give me authority to protect the mind of your dancer-wolf.”
“Authority given. Should you find the rest of our minds lacking, we’ll address the best way to handle it at that time.”
“Master?”
Queenie wouldn’t speak aloud to interrupt unless it was important. He looked at her with a nod, and she said, “I believe having Nick and the Alpha’s fifth in the same plane might be a problem.”
Gavin looked to the Alpha, who shrugged. “I can contain my man if you can contain your lion.”
“He is as much my lion as you are my wolf. Oathed to me, but as a vassal and not property. I can request he behave, but I cannot order him to do so. Perhaps you should choose another guard.”
“He’s the best person for me to bring.” He sighed. “I’ll give Nick a call and get his input.”
“The two of you work it out. I’ll expect there to be no disruptions.”
Chapter 34
