Page 7 of Undying
If his minions don’t conform to his rules, they disappear. He’s like a king, where his rules are law, and his people are under his complete control. For those who defy him, he finds ways to lay ownership to their souls, then systematically destroys them so thoroughly that nothing remains.
And there is nothing we can do to stop him.
Charles Dafoe is smart and enjoys playing games with his enemies. A blood war has been brewing for decades between the different houses. It’s only a matter of time before the bastard steps over the line and pisses someone off.
I wonder if it finally happened.
Though most masters insist on policing their own houses, we get called in on extreme cases.
“I don’t like this situation any more than you, but we have no choice in the matter. We uphold the laws, not make them.” I narrow my gaze at the rest of the men, gauging their reactions carefully. Tobias clenches his fists but maintains control over his beast. A muscle ticks in Castle’s jaw, his green eyes blazing, but he doesn’t otherwise give any outside reaction. Milo looks away, unable to hide the way his fangs drop—a clear indication of emotions for a young vampire not even a hundred years old yet.
When they don’t protest, I get back to the task at hand. “The house fell silent a full week before anyone reported it, but I suspect it’s been quiet much longer. It’s our job to investigate. I expect you to be on your best behavior.” I give each of them a pointed look. “If you can’t curb your impulse to kill Dafoe on sight, then remain in the vehicle.”
The men stare at me blankly, and I grit my teeth in annoyance. We each accepted this case for one reason and one reason only—it gets our foot in the door. If we find something we don’t like, we might have a reason to finally move against Dafoe.
If the guys don’t fuck it up first.
Headquarters is relatively new, coming into existence a decade ago, a few years after vampires came out to the world.
We’re an experiment.
While most expect us to fail, I’m determined to prove that vampires and shifters can work together. We collect rogue vampires not claimed or raised by a house, ones that haven’t fallen totally into darkness, and reform them. We train them to be guardians, warriors to police the vampire world.
In most cases, their loyalty switches completely to us and our duty.
Those who don’t pass the training are never seen again.
They can’t be allowed free to wreak havoc on the world.
We, as guardians, are tasked with stopping the crimes between the supernatural races and punish the wrongdoers. We are both revered and despised in equal measure.
Tobias snorts at my edict, the smile he flashes more of a bearing of fangs. “If you think I’m staying in the vehicle when it looks like Dafoe finally got what he deserved, then you’re more of a fool than I thought.”
I turn, shooting him a warning look, but he merely shrugs off my ire.
“What? Like you haven’t dreamed of taking him down for centuries.” Tobias gives a cheery whistle, completely unperturbed by the fact that, if Dafoe is dead, his entire house was slaughtered to accomplish it.
But he’s not wrong.
It’s only after decades of practice that I’m able to keep my rage in check when I think of Dafoe.
My blood stirs in my veins, my fangs sharpening, and my heart beats once, then fades as I force my anger away.
I curse myself for the slip and waiting so long between feedings. I can live off a single bag of blood once a week if I don’t exert myself, but the longer I wait, the sharper my hunger builds and the more my control over myself wavers.
Shaking off the distraction, I focus on the job at hand—Dafoe.
After centuries of ruling his very own house, Dafoe hasn’t changed a bit. He’s still a power hungry leech, always reaching beyond his grasp for more and more. Vampire wars are vicious, usually decimating all families, but the lure of being the best is often too much to resist for some.
While there have been a few skirmishes between the thirteen families, wars have been virtually eradicated for the last millennium.
Until now.
The tension between the houses is a powder keg ready to blow.
Killing vampires from rival houses has severe consequences. To keep the ranks from swelling, turning humans is strictly regulated. Thousands of humans sign up for the privilege every week, but less than twenty are actually turned in a year.
Legally, anyway.
