Page 40 of Siege of Blood and Betrayal

“Strong is an understatement. He was slinging turned mutts against the walls like they were tennis balls. I had no idea he was Jack’s son—no idea Jack even had a son.”

“Neither did he.”

“That makes me feel better, though. I’m sure he went back to check on Jack. I just wish I knew if he was all right.”

I pull out my phone and call up Huntley’s contact. “Huntley is at the residence now. I’ll ask him to see if Jack’s in the clinic and, if not, he can ask around.”

Her gaze narrows. “Huntley finds out there’s a breach and he goes to the compound? Does that seem odd to you?”

This again?“No. I sent him the images I tracked on the security feed and asked him to infiltrate and find out the state of things.”

“And what is the state of things?”

“The female vampire that led the attack force is named Daeva. When her force invaded, they split up to hit two points of the compound simultaneously.”

“Which were?”

“The youth wing and the royal residence.”

Scottie’s fingers ball into fists as magic sparks off them. “They targeted the kids? That’s disgusting.”

“But an effective way to neuter our people from fighting back. It also explains how they took down my father. Knowing I was safe, and the Diamond Dagger secured, he wouldn’t think twice about sacrificing himself to save the children.”

She sinks down to sit on the arm of the sofa. “How many kids are there now?”

“Seven.”

Her gaze lights up. “Really? That’s amazing.”

It is. For all the time I was growing up, there was only me and Scottie… and later Huntley joined us in our teens.

“What are we doing to get them back?”

“Huntley, Link, Dante, and Jaxon are working on a plan to get them into the passageways below the dining hall. Dante and Link will cause a diversion and Huntley and Jaxon—who aren’t officially there—are hopefully going to whisk them through the floor trap door to their mothers.”

“And if it doesn’t work?”

“We’ve got an assault force eager to act waiting below. If stealth doesn’t work, they’ll launch into the dining room and make sure the kids get below. Then it’s a matter of them getting free of the compound and to the fallback location in the subway tunnels here.”

Something about the plan doesn’t sit well with her. I can tell by her expression and the tightness in her frame.

“What?”

She exhales, shaking her hands out. “I want to help. I want to rip that bitch apart and kick my foot so far up her ass my toe tickles her tonsils.”

“Vivid. I like the way you think. Unfortunately, our days of lighting the fuses and leading the charge are over. You’re my Sacred Squire now. Your place is at my side and my place is no longer in the front lines when unknown threats are circling. That’s the truth of our existence now.”

I see how my words ignite a flare of anger in her and hold up a finger. “I understand you aren’t ready to take on the full responsibility of being my sole guardian. I’m not expecting anything more from you than what you’re ready to give.”

She shakes her head. “What the hell does that mean?”

“It means that I’ll arrange for a team. My father had guards other than your father and I’ll do what is necessary to secure the Toronto seat of power.”

It’s obvious she doesn’t like my opinion on that, but I don’t see why. It’s the truth.

She unplugs her phone from the charging cord and slides it into her hip pocket. “And Huntley will head up that team of protectors?”

“He will.”

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