Page 126 of Shrouded in the Dark
“Well, with that logic, it’ll be easy sailing.” My lips twitched. “Let’s do this.”
Chapter 29
Cody
Iknew why Seth sent me with Becca. I thought I’d recognized Gary when we met him, I just couldn’t place where. I’d tried to block everything out from that night, but hearing the story, I had relived the memories.
My pack had surrounded me, chasing away the demons. Becca’s touch had grounded me. I’d made a promise to myself then that I would be stronger, that I’d protect my mates. The demons inside of me were never going away. The Venandi had assured that, but I would not let them take away my life again.
Seth sent me to guard Becca and Jasper. They were both strong, but I was stronger physically, even with how mentally damaged I was, and that’s what made me dangerous. I would become rabid to protect my mates. He also didn’t want me anywhere near the hunter’s headquarters. My wolf might have snapped if I did. So, sending me to protect these two was the most logical choice.
Becca was hiding it, but she was excited to meet the different species. I had to hide my smile when she looked at me inquisitively. She was pretty much vibrating as we walked.
The meeting room that was reserved was in the middle of the hotel on the first floor. My wolf’s senses stood on end as we got closer. There were several nonhumans in the room. A handsome middle aged man stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him as he noticed us.
“Ah.” He offered a nod to Gary. “There you are. I assume this is your daughter?”
Gary stopped us a few feet from the man. I tilted my nose slightly, taking a deep breath. The man didn’t have a scent. I focused my hearing, looking for a heartbeat. Nothing. This must be the vampire.
“I am Lario.” The man crossed his right arm across his chest and bowed before looking at Becca.
My wolf bared his teeth but kept silent as I stepped closer to Becca.
“Lario, this is Jasper.” Gary gestured to Jasper and me. “And this is Cody. Two of my daughter’s mates.” He actually relaxed for the first time since entering the hotel. Interesting.
Jasper stepped forward and offered his hand to the vampire. “Lario, Gary said you wanted to speak with me.”
My wolf lowered his lips, only slightly relaxing as Jasper brought the vampires attention to him and not on Becca.
“Yes.” Lario clasped hands with Jasper. “If you’ll follow me? Don’t worry, we’re not going to be out of your sight, wolf.” He moved his head to look at me. “I mean your mates no harm.” His eyes were black, which was interesting. I hadn’t known that was a characteristic of a vampire. “Gary, if you’ll head inside?” He waited until Gary squeezed Becca’s shoulder and went inside the room, closing the door behind him.
Jasper gestured with his arm. “Lead on. I’ll be right back.” He offered Becca and I a comforting smile. They moved down the way we’d walked from, stopping about twenty feet away. I could easily hear the conversation, I’m sure the vampire was aware of that. I wondered why he bothered moving down the hallway when we could easily eavesdrop.
“The Fae, Tarragon, has informed us that they’ve decided on a course of action against the Venandi. He seems particularly interested in speaking with you and your mates that have come.” Lario glanced back over at us. “I’m not sure what they have planned, but I get a feeling that they want to use the shifters in their attack. I thought to forewarn you ahead of time.”
“That makes sense and doesn’t surprise me.” Jasper ran his hand through his hair with an annoyed sigh. “Shifters were originally created to guard our creator. They may want to make us be cannon fodder.”
Becca’s sudden snarl echoed through the hall. I reached out to hold her hand, threading our fingers together. It did what I wanted. It distracted her enough that she quieted herself.
“That was a long time ago. Shifters are not some puppets to be used.” I brought her hand to my lips and pressed a soft kiss to her inner wrist. “The vampire is just giving us a heads up before we go back in.”
“Just so,” Lario spoke from beside me and I fought myself not to jump in the air.
I’d been so distracted with Becca that I’d forgotten to pay attention to where Jasper and Lario were. Jasper hid a snicker behind a cough.
“Let’s go in.” The vampire held open the door. “You’re prepared. Let’s get this meeting on the roll.” He bowed his head to Becca as we walked by him.
I didn’t think that was how that saying went, but I wasn’t going to say anything. My shoulders tensed as he closed the door, ending up behind me, but he moved swiftly across the room to where a large table sat with many people sitting around it. He stopped next to an older man and a woman who looked like she’d stepped off a Vogue magazine cover. Gary was sitting next to the older man. A lone man whose aura pushed against my senses, sat at the end of the table alone. He was breathtakingly beautiful. Had to be the Fae. There was an aura of menacing power that he suppressed but I could easily see it.
I’d have to talk to Jasper about this. It might be something shifter related being able to see that kind of power when it didn’t seem to bother anyone in the room.
“Please, have a seat.” Lario gestured to three chairs that were across from the other people at the table.
I waited until Becca sat in the middle seat. Jasper and I sat on either side of her. My eyes roamed over the people. Most of them were humans. There was a witch next to the necromancer, the Vogue woman. There was the Fae and there was another vampire somewhere amongst the others.
“Everyone, this is Jasper, Cody, and Becca.” Lario looked around the table. “They are under my protection while here. Please, be respectful.” When he said this, he looked at the Fae.
“I assume you’ve been caught up?” The man next to Gary spoke to us. He had a large scar from the top of his forehead that slashed across where his right eye used to be and down to his cheek. “I am Abram. I’m ex-Venandi and one of the leaders of this group.”
