Page 56 of After Darkness Falls

"Any time, girl."

Those huntsmen really were a nice bunch. Even if they had decimated Cat's ancestors.

"All right, listen up,” Jack said. "Outside, we're not supposed to draw attention to ourselves. Fourteen people stand out. We'll walk in groups of three to four at all times. I, Tris, Bash, and Reiss know all of the London safe houses, so make sure you're always close to one of us. Writing the address anywhere isn't an option. No weapons in the street if we can avoid it—the last thing we need is bad press." He marked a pause. "We have a target on our backs at all times. Most sups can't stand us because they know if they step out of line, we're the ones who'll come calling. They can feel us, smell us, and they might cause trouble. We have two witches and one regular with us." He now gestured to Gwen, Blair, and Chloe. "No trouble permitted on this trip, got it?"

The huntsmen nodded their agreement before setting out into the cool air.

It was warmer than it had been in January, according to the temperature displayed on her phone, but a cold sixty-mile-per-hour wind negated that, chilling her to the bone although she was wearing her coat. Chloe wished she had gloves, a scarf, thermals under her jeans, earmuffs, a hat, and…

She stopped at the sight of a perfectly manicured hand outstretched in front of her.

Cat was handing her what looked like expensive leather gloves.

Chloe looked up to the stunning creature. Cat shrugged. "I don't get cold," she said. Realizing it wasn't much of an explanation, she added, "Your clacking teeth are irritating."

She gratefully took the gloves. They were lined with wool.

"Oh, Cat, they're wonderful."

The vampire was already storming forward, ten paces away.

Social, she was not. But Cat was obviously very thoughtful.

"Don't trust her."

Chloe turned, finding Mikar right behind her.

"Why?"

He was glaring at the woman.

"She's a Stormhale, for one. Your friend wasn't wrong. They're known to be unstable. They were a clan of powerful witches before they were turned by Ariadne. That's too much strength in one family. The vamp folks out in the world don't quite understand—they see the seven as their betters, their nobility. No one gets that there's a clear hierarchy. For a long time, our kind deferred to the seven in one specific order—Eirikrsons, De Villiers, Drakes, Stormhales, then the rest, quibbling over the base of the pyramid. The De Villiers are spread throughout the world. The Drakes are low in numbers, relying on their own strength. It was the Stormhales who started the coup that dethroned the Eirikrsons. Now she turns up, trying to get her claws in Levi…it's not good news. She may obey Levi's orders for now, but she only answers to the head of her family."

Chloe's head was going to spin. She looked down at her hands. The gloves had been cold inside a moment ago, but now they were starting to warm up.

"It sounds like vampire problems. Vampire politics. If she's nice to me, I'll be nice back."

She was generally cool with everyone, whether or not they proved to be kind first.

"It isyourproblem," Mikar retorted. "Levi has ordered her to watch you. She's already questioned why. If Catherine thinks you're Levi's plaything, and that having you is the reason why he isn't interested in her—well." Mikar looked up to the city sky. Barely any stars were visible here; the lights of London clouded them. "It looks like a storm is coming. And accidents happen. A bolt of lightning conveniently hitting a tree right next to you…"

Chloe glared at Mikar. "You know, I have a very low tolerance for bullshit. Since the beginning of time, men have encouraged women to mistrust each other, see each other as rivals. Guess what? If she wants that control freak, she can have him. I'm certainly not calling dibs."

Mikar laughed. "All right. Just be careful."

Chloe decided to ignore every single thing she just heard. Her hands were warm. That was the only fact worth remembering.

They turned off Oxford Circus, and then turned again a few times into identical white square rows of houses that made Chloe understand why Jack had warned them to stay with those who knew the way. She noted a Victoria's Secret, Louis Vuitton, and a charming little park. At least if she got lost, she could return to the general area.

Her group, led by Bash, arrived in front of a house so very similar to Rose's Coven that Chloe's heart skipped a beat.

But there was no body, no smell of blood. As Bash walked up the steps to the door, Jack opened it from the inside.

"Come on in. I've made tea."

Chloe practically ran up the stairs.

She’d never liked coffee. Tea was better, although she still didn't quite get why the Brits were so obsessed with it. But right now, she would have drunk just about anything, provided it was served warm.

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