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“Thank you all for staying,” Gavin told the crowd. “I believe I had an opportunity to speak with most of you before our little incident, and we’ll be circulating and hobnobbing again, once I get some wine into my beautiful lady.”
* * * *
Gavin most often held the majority of his power in, containing it rather than flaunting it, but he took a moment to breathe inallthe power of his office, Master Vampire of an entire state, and let everyone in the room feel it for a count of twelve. Gavin was a big fan of the number twelve and its multiples. When he whipped people, most knew the least number of lashes they could expect was a dozen, and most likely, he’d sentence them to twelve-squared lashes.
Once, he’d been afraid of being able to wield so much power, but now that he held it, he knew he was safe with it. He’d use it to protect his people and punish anyone who hurt them. He no longer worried about abusing the authority given a Master Vampire.
A waiter stood at the bottom of the steps holding a tray with three glasses of wine, and Gavin gave a tiny nod to Queenie, standing off to the side. He also noted Panda was in the room, standing in the shadows.
One of the downstairs guards telepathed him to say,Master, the wolves’ beta just drove onto the property.
Gavin hadn’t yet broken the Alpha’s ties to his pack. When he did, the Pack’s second, the beta, would receive all the power of the Alpha, and he’d assume Jason was dead. For now, he was likely here to defend his Alpha and try to get him released.
Please take him into custody the moment he exits his vehicle. Have Dax help. Is he alone?
Negative, Master. He has three wolves with him.
I expect them all to be subdued and walked into a jail cell on the lower level without incident.
Of course, Master.
The former wolf Alpha had brought his third and fifth to the party, along with one other guard. All had been taken into custody along with Jason. The beta would become Alpha in a few hours, when Gavin officially gave Jason to Dax and made the wolf a legal slave. Queenie had notified the Concilio of their intentions, and Gavin didn’t foresee the vampire council trying to take Jason into their custody. Gavin had a proven record of being more than capable of containing even the most powerful supernaturals who posed a threat to the Great Secret. Jason was a strong wolf, but he was perhaps a two or three on a scale of one to ten when it came to true power.
I should go to mom, Lauren telepathed.Better optics than her rushing to me.
The mayor first, Nick reminded her.Then your mom, and then whichever commissioner happens to be close. Human politics over supernatural politics while people are keeping count.
Ambrose approached them while they were aimed towards the mayor, and Gavin telepathed him to hold back. He ignored Gavin and stepped to Lauren, hugged her, kissed both her cheeks, and stepped back with both his arms on Lauren’s shoulders. “You are one of the strongest women I know. I’m glad you’re okay.”
Gavin realized Ambrose was giving energy to Lauren, and he felt the difference immediately. Lauren hadn’t been flagging, but she’d beenoffin a way Gavin hadn’t known how to fix, and Ambrose had.
Lauren put her hands on Ambrose’s forearms and told him, “Thank you. I value your friendship.”
She hugged him, kissed his cheek, and then used the opportunity to step away from the group and towards the mayor.
“Thank you so much for sticking around, kind sir. I hope you’re enjoying yourself?”
Gavin half-focused on their conversation while he scanned the room for threats. He joined the conversation when pulled into it, and tried not to be too annoyed at all the people ogling all of Lauren’s naked flesh. He’d been the one to suggest this dress over others, after all.
The police had taken over the roof as a crime scene, so they circulated through the main floor and finally ended up in a seating area with Kirsten and Nathan sitting together while Mordecai stood off to the side, watching for trouble.
Gavin gave a polite telepathic knock, and Mordecai looked to him with a tiny nod.
You feel I failed her?
I trusted your security to keep her safe, and it did not.
Drake security had been brought in to ensure only those on the list made it into the building, but Gavin had wanted his own security inside the suite and on the roof.
I could make excuses and say Lauren promised to be with either me, Nick, her mother, Nathan, you, Ambrose, or Ellania at all times, but the truth is, the buck indeed stops with me. What can I do to make things right between us?
Mordecai had scanned the room while they talked, with only two glances towards Gavin.
He looked at Lauren now, then to Gavin, and went back to scanning the room.We’ll talk about it later, with Nathan and Kirsten in the conversation as well.
Chapter 47
Hours later, Lauren had no idea what was happening, but everyone seemed somber. The party was over, the last guest had left, and now she was sitting with her two men while her mom sat withhertwo men, and it felt as if they were squaring off.
