Page 112 of What Fools These Immortals Be
Njáll lets him take the lead, which I think is mostly in deference to the fact that Asher so clearly knows where to go and arguing about it will only slow us down. Asher hangs back when we reach the doors to what must be a hall, and I hear the voices from within.
“Augustine Halbrook, you—”
Njáll shoves the doors open and stalks inside.
The room goes silent. I don’t know many of the faces in here, though I recognise Sam and Kieran, as well as Afsaneh, who takes one involuntary step forward before she pauses, eyes suspiciously bright.
“Crai,” Deacon says, recovering the fastest. He’s standing between Augustine and a young, trembling wolf who must be Quinn. I’m not surprised, all of a sudden, by Njáll’s warnings to Augustine—an old vampire he might be, but Quinn is big and broad even in this form, though he does look vaguely terrified. “You made it.”
It’s a silly thing to say, but considering how stunned everyone still looks, I can’t blame him. Vasile is at the front of the crowd near the wolves and looks for a moment as though he might come closer, but he catches himself quickly, remaining in place.
Augustine sneers and, next to him, Hunter Alwynn shakes her head. “You cannot interfere, crai. Alpha Deacon has agreed to the challenge, as has Mr Murphy.”
Njáll looks at Quinn, I think for the first time. Quinn shakes harder under his gaze, then more when he realises he’s facing other vampires, but his eyes catch on Asher and remain for a few beats too long.
“This isn’t happening,” Njáll says.
There’s no question. No room to manoeuvre. Alwynn opens her mouth again, and Njáll shakes his head firmly.
“It’s not up to you,” Deacon says, and he sounds almost apologetic.
Njáll looks at me once, and I know what he’s asking. I nod. Asher and Vlad will understand. They need to know this.
Theyallneed to know this.
“Maurice and I were held for the past two nights by a high fae who has escaped into this realm and plans to take control of it. Augustine assisted him in this endeavour, presumably because when he kills Quinn during this challenge, which he will certainly attempt, we will all eventually go to war. Regardless of all that, I think you will find that itisup to me. Either Augustine is part of my clan, making me his crai and giving me the power to say that he cannot fight against our allies, or he is a clanless vampire in our territory, which gives me the full authority to run him out.” Njáll’s voice never falters, and his eyes blaze when they land on Augustine. “Or kill him.”
Alwynn shakes her head again. “You cannot simply—”
“I can and I will,” Njáll interrupts. “Augustine has committed a crime in allowing Maurice and me to be kidnapped. He wascomplicit in his silence, if nothing else. He knew where we were the entire time.” He has never looked away from Augustine, not for a moment, and he might look a little worn, but I know that no one in this room doubts his strength right now. “Which is it, Augustine? Are you part of our clan, or are you not?”
Vlad gently tugs Grant back, but other than that, he and Asher do not move, silently ready to fight right along with us. I chance a look over at Afsaneh and the vampires with her. They wear expressions just as fierce, as do the members of Kieran’s pack.
We will not be alone in this fight. Meilyr thought to use Augustine to divide this city even further, but there is a chance he may unite them.
“Fuck you,” Augustine hisses, with all the venom he can drag up. “Youknowwhat I want.”
He lunges for Quinn. Deacon sees the movement and leaps forward, but Njáll is—unbelievably—even faster. He grabs Augustine around the middle, using his bulk to haul him back and then shoves him, sending him sprawling on the floor.
Augustine pushes up onto his elbows, but he does not stand a chance. Afsaneh and the other vampires—and all the chieftains are here, I realise—surround him, keeping him in place.
He snarls and gnashes his fangs, but it does not take him long to realise there is no way out.
Njáll looks at me. I want him to know that I’ll support him no matter the choice he makes next. How could I not? I’ve killed far more than my fair share, and Augustine hardly registers as someone I would lose sleep over.
But I did not lie to Reijo. Njáll is the best of us. I reach over and skim my fingers across his wrist. He has this situation under control. It ishissituation to control.
He nods and lets out a breath, then approaches Augustine. The vampires draw back, but they are still close, all tense and readyto tear Augustine to pieces. Quinn has been folded back into his pack, who seems just as ready to attack should that be necessary.
“Are you going to kill me, Njáll?” Augustine asks, tone mocking. “You told me the wolf would. You won’t even play fair.”
“This is not a game.”
“You think I don’t know that? Kill me then. Get it over with.”
Njáll stands over him, and no one moves. He could do it. They would not judge him for it; I can see that. This is justice within the clan, and there is little theycando.
“No,” Njáll says. “But youarea danger to our city. You’ve proven that by willingly working with Meilyr, and that is a matter beyond any of our scope.” I grin when I realise where he’s going because I think Augustine is going to like this even less than not getting his revenge. “I am surrendering you to the Wild Hunt. You are the accomplice of a powerful fae and need to be dealt with accordingly.”
