Page 164 of Vampire's Choice

Grollner’s gaze narrowed. “I’m happy to have you go first. You can put your fucking arrogant neck in the guillotine right now.”

“I personally enjoy diabolical scheme speeches,” Gideon spoke up. “So if you’re in a sharing mood, we’re all listening.”

Grollner shot him another look of contempt. “You will be dead in a few moments, human.”

“It’s not a long speech, then?”

Daegan shoved Gideon out of the way as one of the vampires released an arrow. It would have punched the former vampire hunter in the chest, but Daegan deflected it with a turn of his body, Gideon rolling to his feet on the other side of him, knife and stake out and ready.

“Hold,” Grollner snarled. “Unless you want your children to die.”

That had been directed to Mason and Lyssa, who had sought to take advantage of the distraction, but the Trad and his company had vampire speed as well. Even if not a match for Mason and Lyssa, it was enough. The crossbow holders had closed ranks in a solid line between the vampire parents and their children. Mason or Lyssa might get through them, but the delay would cost them precious time.

“If they die, you lose your leverage to control us,” Mason said.

“If they die, it is regrettable, because we have plans for them. But if they must be sacrificed to protect ourselves for our overall objective, it will be done.” Grollner’s lip curled. “My allies are far more powerful than you, Lady Lyssa. Make no mistake, you will not be able to cut me down, no matter how fast you are.”

“So your overall objective is to destroy vampires like us.” Lyssa gave him a disdainful look. “Same shit, different day.”

“With some more clever twists than my past Trad brethren. Without its two most powerful advocates for the changes that turn vampires away from what they should be, the Council majority remaining will likely revert to more traditional, less human-centric ways. There are those on your Council who have entertained having a Trad representative. We will make that happen.”

“I think you underestimate their intelligence,” Lyssa said. “Which is what happens when you isolate yourself, create your own echo chamber and feed it only with the information that supports your view of the world.”

As she engaged with the Trad, Merc was scanning the area, his senses wide open. If their allies were watching from close by, they were damn powerful Fae, their cloaking making them impossible to locate.

“Your son will live, Lady Lyssa.” Grollner’s eyes flashed at Lyssa’s words, but he had the bit in his teeth. “He’ll be raised properly, learning how vampires are supposed to live. Your daughter,” his gaze moved to Mason, “has a promising lineage. She might spawn a child to expand our ranks, if enough of us try to plant the seed.”

Lyssa’s hand tightened on Mason’s arm once again, but this time the male vampire only grew more still. Like a snake getting ready to strike at the rat obliviously walking over his coils.

“As they grow and adhere to our culture,” Grollner continued, “our way of doing things, they will teach others, bring a different way of thinking to the ‘civilized’ vampire world.”

“I will fucking die first.”

Despite the quivering that spoke of the agony of his physical state, Kane glared at his captors. And Farida wasn’t going to be outdone. She hissed and spat on her handler, punctuating Kane’s declaration.

When the vampire backhanded her, the force of the blow snapped her head to the left, and blood spurted from her nose and lip. It made her cry out, but when she sent him another look of murderous fury, it was an echo of what was on her father’s face.

“No matter what else happens today, you will die.”

Even though the Trads seemed to have the tactical advantage, Mason’s menace was so palpable, Merc saw uncertainty flicker in the face of the vampire who had struck Farida. A reaction that could be contagious, at least among Grollner’s backup. Lyssa and her group weren’t acting like the outmatched force they were supposed to be.

“They do not have the advantage here,” Grollner said sharply. “Remember our allies.” He looked at Kane. “Allies powerful enough to wash everything out of your mind, except the memory of this place as your home, your world. And me, your father."

“My father stands over there,” Kane told him.

“No. He is the human sperm donor.” Grollner sent Jacob a contemptuous look. “Who never should have been involved in your raising. The scant few times our human cattle have borne us children, the females are killed shortly thereafter to remove their weakening influence.”

His unpleasant smile moved to Lady Lyssa, then to Mason. “You were spared until now because the fresh blood of the parent is necessary for the memory wipe spellwork.”

“I find it interesting these allies are here, even if hidden from sight.” Lyssa’s gaze moved over the forest. “As if they don’t trust you to get the job done. They know you are not strong enough to stand against us on your own.”

“You think I can be baited into doing something foolish, Lady Lyssa?”

“No.” Her frank honesty caught Grollner’s attention. “It’s a question I think you should be asking yourself. They helped you kidnap the children to get us here. You need us for the blood, because the children, keeping them, is your prize. But also the bait.”

“Yes,” he said. “And you are here.”

“Not for us. For you.” Her half laugh was a blade being drawn. “As distasteful as you find your alliance, I can promise you it is ten times more so to a powerful Fae. If I do not finish you off here, they will. I guarantee it.”

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