Page 125 of Those That Are Lost
“How? They’ve worked to kill us for nearly sixty years.” I snap, addressing Ash.
“I know you’re going to take some time to trust this, all of you are, but my parents have been working with the authorities here on Froan Island for a while. It’s why we were able to travel here to help you.”
“A deal has been signed,” the chief says. “Yesterday the government in Scotia allowed the Froan council to pursue independence. Our island is going to be emancipated from the continent in the same way that the Northern Isles are.”
“It’s true,” Ash presses. “My parents have been involved for a long time because the council wishes to set up a haven of sorts. They’re using the treaty we have as a guideline to get Froan to a place where vampires, and shifters, won’t be prosecuted.”
Before I can react, Chief Morris speaks again. “It’ll be going to press later that Froan has gained political independence. Our Prime Minister is still in West Scotia, however, as today he is pushing for a protection act for Froan citizens, so we don’t have to follow the federal penal laws. In other words, we want the power to remove the death sentence for shifters and vampires here, but we’re doing it covertly.”
“This is… monumental.” Henry gently rubs the healing skin on his arm. “But surely if you expose any vampires, the continent will intervene.”
“You’re right. Discretion is still paramount.” It’s another agent that speaks this time, the one Mitch addressed initially. “We are the only unit in the police force who know that vampires still exist, and it will remain so. We run directly under the council and only select members of that know too. We are not trying to expose that vampires are still in the world. We are well aware that it would restart the war on the continent and endanger the packs left there. The laws being passed allow us to have control over our citizens. That means if any vampires were to have Froancitizenship, then we are under no obligation to execute them.”
“And outsiders?” Henry asks.
“If found on Froan land, we would not be required to report them to the authorities on the mainland.”
“Incredible.”
“It’s partially due to your research. Henry Knox, right?”
Henry hesitates in admitting his identity but nods in slow confirmation.
“We’d been using your research for a while and trying to track you down. Imagine our surprise when Mitchell contacted us last week to say he was staying with you. We’d love to have your input into some of the further work still to be done.”
“Mitchell?” Antares tilts his head and glares at the male we all know as Mitch.
“Keme Mitchell is my real name,” Mitch informs him, shifting his weight a little on his good leg. He looks from Antares to me and I feel the guilt radiating off him.
“This whole time?” I ask.
“Yeah, I joined the force ten years ago. This unit seven years ago. They wanted someone to go undercover but we didn’t have a vampire we could bring into the fold, so I infiltrated Adicious’s circle and convinced him to turn me. We weren’t aware of how he ran the pack, and it nearly unravelled our plans when I found out, but then you told me who you were. The team dug deeper into your parents’ pack and saw how they ran it. I could never figure out why you’d settled into just being Adicious’s lap dog.”
“It was my parents who convinced the council to pursue the treaty, it’s how we found out that you were still alive. My mum was convinced you’d died somehow with the bender you went on after the war,” Ash continues. “Names and evidence have been passed back and forth for a while now.”
A bark of a laugh escapes my lips at that. I thought Theodora had been secretive about how she knew so much. I did not have working with the authorities on my list of theories.
“You were going to bring Adicious into this? Allow him to lead the only place where vampires are legal?” Red sounds disgusted by the notion.
“Not at all. We’ve been building a case against several of the males that reside here for years. We have evidence of several serious crimes, including the murder of your father. It was planned to push the laws through and then we could arrest and press charges against those responsible.”
“You’ve sat on evidence for years?” Red’s anger rises. She’s been so quiet but flares to life now.
“If we’d pursued them before the law was signed, we’d have had to hand the entire pack over to the extermination force on the continent. We recognised that there were some victims inside it and hoped that if we removed Adicious quietly after we gained control of the judiciary, it would give a better leader the opportunity to take leadership.” Agent Morris steps forward as she speaks, closing the distance between us. The other fae, I’m guessing her personal bodyguard, moves with her. The rest of the group remain back but some hands now rest on their weapons. “Only, you both interfered with that plan and resolved the issue for us.” She breaks into a smile.
I look around at the bodies. Even if being a vampire won’t give us a death sentence anymore—which I still can’t comprehend—we have been found red handed for several counts of murder.
“Killing is still a crime.” I chose my words carefully, not implicating us verbally despite the fact we’re all covered in blood.
“I think we can let it go this time.” Agent Morris’s smilegets wider. “After all, the new law wasn’t in effect until after midnight.” She raises her wrist to read her watch. “And by my calculations, all these bodies look at least a few hours old.”
“You’re not pressing charges?” I feel Red take a breath and hold it as she waits for confirmation.
“No.” Agent Morris shakes her head. “I’m going to offer you to come on board instead. From what I hear, you two were hoping to take over this pack anyway. So, what do you say? Want to lead the only legal pack of vampires in the northern hemisphere and provide a safe space for your kind to thrive?”
CHAPTER 51
AURORA
