Page 29 of Henri's Little One
“Sadly, Alpha, especially after what I’ve heard here tonight, no, I don’t.”
Armand gazed back at Vitas.
“She’s telling the truth, Alpha. She doesn’t know. But it must be someone who is close to the council, she does know that.”
“What do we do with her? She planned to kidnap Alpha Mate Vitas.”
“She’s a housemaid, right?” Julio walked around the cell.
“That’s what she said,” Vitas translated.
Sean looked puzzled and cocked his head. “What difference does that make?”
“She wants to stay here. We put her on parole in Katya’s kitchen. Katya will ride herd on her and keep her busy enough that she won’t get into any mischief until Chernof contacts her,” Julio suggested.
Sean nodded. “Katya’s fierce. She’ll keep Kristina so busy that she’ll have no time to tell tales to Chernof. But we still need to find out who’s up in the council’s business and broadcasting it to Alpha Chernof and company.”
“What does this buy us?” Henri raised a brow.
“Information. She tells Alpha Chernof that she’s infiltrated the council by working for Alpha Davidoff. We feed her the information we want Chief Alpha Chernof to get. That’s how we get him to come to Manhattan. She tells him she can arrange to have Alpha Mate Vitas kidnapped. He tries and since you’ve already mated, it’s off with his head.”
The Alpha seemed thoughtful, his lips pressed together. “I’d have to get Alpha Davidoff’s permission. She’d still have to be watched, and Alpha Mate Donal is human and is, therefore, in more danger than Sean or Vitas if she turns her coat again.”
Julio’s face slackened. “I didn’t think of that. We can’t put Alpha Mate Donal in danger. He’s fragile as it is.”
“Ahem…” Vitas cleared his throat to gain the attention of the Alphas. “Since I’m the cause of this mess, it should be Alpha Giraud’s and my household that cleans it up. Kristina can tell Chief Alpha Chernof where I am and ask for his source so they can coordinate their efforts to kidnap me. If I’m not mistaken, once I’ve mated, my gift is there for me to use.”
“No, that’s not true. Your Mate or your Alpha must agree to its use. Basically, Alpha Chernof has to murder Alpha Giraud to use your gift and he wouldn’t have it for long because you’d soon follow Alpha Giraud back to the gods.” The Alpha rubbed his chin. “You would be putting Henri’s life in danger.” The Alpha let go of the formality. “Let’s go to the library and have an informal council meeting. She needs to be in one of our households so she can be watched. We’ll discuss where.”
On his way back upstairs, Henri turned to Vitas, “My Mate, you have my blanket permission to use your gift as you see fit until The Alpha or me say otherwise.”
“I won’t abuse your permission,” Vitas said gravely.
“I know you won’t.” Henri followed Armand and Etienne upstairs to join the other Alphas who waited for them in the library.
§ § §
Media Room and Library
Julio, Sean, and Vitas retired to the media room in animated discussion.
“Spill, what’s going on?” Ian munched on a piece of chocolate cake.
“…so the she-wolf has to go somewhere, they need to decide where that is.” Julio plopped down on a seat next to Donal.
Donal objected. “They say I’m fragile. I am not fragile. Dr. Artis says that I am now arespectableweight, even though I don’t weigh what he thinks I should. I always ran lean as a kid. I’m not going to suddenly become hefty. Psychologically, Eugene thinks I’m ready for school. There are dangers at school. With Grigory and Vasily, I’m well-guarded. Katya isn’t going to let a housemaid anywhere near me, even without the Betas. She always takes care of Alexei and me, herself.”
“There is that. Plus, the fact that the household speaks Russian.” Ian took a beer.
Vitas tapped a rat tat on the arm of the chair with his fingers. “Henri speaks five languages including Russian. He has two Russian Enforcers, Pylyp and Demyan. We have quite a number of Russian émigrés in our packs. We can bring two more Russian Betas home with us to keep an eye on Kristina as well as guard me. I’ll suggest that to Henri.”
“We might as well go to our beds,” Ian said. “The Alphas will decide the issue. Vitas has already given his input, and Alexei knows that Donal will want to help. My personal belief is that Kristina should be in Henri’s household. That is the logical place for her to try to infiltrate. She can’t help Chernof and his spy kidnap Vitas from Donal’s.” Ian finished his beer in one gulp.
“I don’t know how you do that.” Sean shook his head.
“It’s a blue-collar boy trick.” Ian grinned at Sean.
“Will you stop that. I come from a blue-collar background, too.” Sean scowled at Ian.
