Page 65 of Death Game: Supernatural Battle

This was going to be a fun week.

12

The video recording of Sandra Hoyt came to an end. I surveyed the shocked faces around the table.

“Fucking monsters,” Mr Hothen spat. “Why didn’t she come to me for help?”

The desperate weren’t known for 20/20 vision.

I placed my phone on the table. “I consulted a rule book. Proof must be examined by an impartial, uh, group. I fear that presenting it to…S… will result in Sandra being caged.” I hadn’t just consulted the rule book, I’d also clarified the point in vague terms with Deana.

Sandra would be dragged in for questioning and compelled to silence afterward. That was the absolute verdict.

“I want to find another angle. I won’t involve her unless there’s a way to do it safely,” I told them.

She’d been through so much already.

Lady Treena set her champagne flute down. “Julia Dinh.”

“Possibly. S is aware that she’s playing both sides. Or at least is being controlled by F somehow. They’re pouring resources into an investigation in that area. It’s likely we’d be noticed trying to do the same. The same with Mr R. He’ll be under close surveillance by both sides.”

I was getting pretty good at talking around the compulsion while calm like this, but it was still a frustrating process.

Sir Olythieu hummed, stroking his short white beard.

“I could put through a request for a site inspection via one of the council workers,” Lady Treena said. “If there’s a planning breach, then development will be delayed while a retrospective application is put through. Or ideally, there’ll be something there to warrant an enforcement notice.”

I shook my head. “S has done that stuff already. I’m more worried that Sandra is our only bet to restore order.”

Mr Hothen placed both hands on the table. “Then we’re best to set our sights on how to achieve that without her being hurt. Human lives will not be sacrificed for this endeavour.”

“Agreed,” I murmured with the others.

“I wish I could kill every one of them,” Mr Dithis cursed, standing and whirling away to pace the room.

Dame Burke leaned back. “I used to dream of dropping bombs on their homes.”

Mrs Syrre. “Animals, the lot of them.”

My stomach twisted at the hatred etched on the six faces around me. I hesitated, wondering if I should say something. It wouldn’t do any good though. They’d hatedVissimofor decades—longer than I’d been alive. Not all vampires were cruel, but I only knew that because of my unusual position. If I wasn’t Kyros’s mate, I’d hate their kind just as much. My position as his true mate granted me a lot of leeway with his minions and even the sane members of the other clan.

I picked up my buzzing phone and studied the name.

“Be very quiet,” I announced, cutting off Mr Hothen.

Fixing them with a warning look that they immediately understood, I answered the phone.

“Kyros. I’m in a meeting.”

“What meeting?”

Standing, I turned away from the table. “A boring one, but a necessary one. What do you need?”

“The agricultural lot you secured for us,” he said. “That was from a family friend, correct?”

I paced, setting my mind on my grumbling stomach. “My grandmother’s friend. I didn’t ever meet him. Barnaby Dwelt.”

“I was mulling over Angelica’s report last night.Live Rightstaff are trying to locate the previous owners of offshore-owned properties this week, but you’ve had contact with one already.”

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