Page 111 of Death and Donuts

Effora glanced at Shepard. “If you care for my company, you know where to find me.”

Shepard stood abruptly. “Effora, I appreciate your help with the scry, but your people need to take an active role in this search as well. The vampires are killing humans.”

She arched a delicate brow. “That’s why my ancestors made your kind, darling. To keep the vampires in check because we were unable to. Nothing has changed during the centuries that followed.”

“Then your ancestors shouldn’t have made vampires in the first place,” I said. “Stop passing the responsibility for your people’s mistakes onto others. Fix the problem you made, or that problem will turn around and bite you in the ass.”

“Are you encouraging my appetite or my assistance?” Effora asked with a smirk. “It’s difficult to tell with the promises you’re making.”

Anchor set a hand on Vena’s shoulder to stop her from saying or doing whatever was brewing behind her stormy gaze.

“So the pictures Orphia showed us don’t bother you?” I asked. “When it comes to light that you’ve been buying humans from vampires, that’s going to turn public opinion big time. Everything Orphia said about how humans will react is true.”

I looked at the liaison. “How many body piles do you think it’ll take before it can’t be hidden anymore?”

Hugh considered me then looked at Effora. “Youractiveparticipation is required. If you refuse, you are breaking the oath you made to live peacefully with all the races.”

Effora’s expression completely shut down as her gaze shifted between the liaison, me, and Shepard, who rubbed his forehead.

“I’m not asking you to send your people to fight with vampires directly,” Shepard said. “We’ve been cleaning out nests for weeks. I think what we’re looking for, based on the number of bodies we found, isn’t here. So, I need the fae and dwarves to agree to cover the city while we go to wherever the scrying stone says the vampire clusters are.” He looked from Effora to Curran. “Today.”

Curran nodded right away. Effora’s cold expression turned calculating, and I didn’t like the way she glanced at me. “I suppose you’ll need to leave your mated women behind at your pack house, won’t you? It would be our honor to guard what’s most precious to you and your people.”

“Does she think they’re dumb?” Vena asked, not so under her breath.

“Everly and Vena will be with my pack,” Shepard said. “Curran and Effora, I will let you both work out how to protect the city in our absence. I’ll need you to relay your plan to both me and Hugh before the end of the day. And remember to stay in contact.”

When all had agreed, Hugh ended the meeting.

“I’ll be in touch within the hour,” Effora said to Curran before she swept from the room.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

When we returnedto the complex, the yard swarmed with men I didn’t recognize.

“What’s going on?” I asked. “Who are all these people?”

“Help from other packs,” Shepard said as he parked. “I sent a message to Doc to have everyone meet here. Orphia gave us twenty-four hours, not that I believe she’ll keep her word. So, we don’t have any time to spare. We need to find and exterminate the big nests so Orphia doesn’t have the numbers to do whatever she has planned. We must stop the situation before this escalates any further.

“Everyone, stay here.”

He opened the door, and I saw he already had everyone’s attention in the yard.

“Open the window so I can hear,” Vena said from behind me. She was sandwiched in the back seat with Anchor and Cross.

Rolling down the window, we heard Shepard greet the masses. “Thank you all for gathering quickly. We have a serious vampire infestation on our hands. Give me a few minutes to coordinate our search efforts and put together groups. I’ll get you out of here and hunting in a bit.

“Also, the rumors about me working with a vampire are true.”

A collective growl rose, and I glanced back at Cross who winked at me before resuming his study of the men outside.

“He has been an invaluable resource, gaining information we couldn’t have found on our own,” Shepard continued. “Although it goes against everything we were made to do, I’m humbly asking you to refrain from attacking him as he helps us hunt down his own kind.”

I glanced back at Cross again. “Refrain?”

He grinned at me, and Vena waved for me to hush, which was very unlike her. However, I saw that every eye in the yard was now on me. At least, Shepard’s gaze was amused in the sea of distaste-filled stares. He motioned for us to join him.

The low rumble of growls increased at Cross' appearance, but no one made any move to attack him as we joined the group.

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