Page 110 of The Vampire's Thirst
The only sound in the room was shuffling feet until Sig spoke. “I don’t get it, Commander. Our job is to keep peace on Scath and Darque. To prevent Aeternals from harming humans. Am I wrong?”
Thorn jacked a worn cowboy boot against the wall. “That’s always been the mission. What’s changed?”
Kole’s lip curled with disgust. “The government wants us to adopt a wait-and-see. Maybe Arisen Dawn will soften up the Earthers, make them amenable to peace talks. If that plan goes to shit and we have a full-out war with humans, they want the renegades alive to help us fight. Some of them even support Arisen Dawn’s goal to conquer Earth.”
Ram shifted his legs farther apart, his hands clasped behind his back. “That’s whacked. We should negotiate with the humans now. Show them we mean no harm. Convince them Arisen Dawn’s the bad guys and we’re taking them out.”
Ram jumped up a few notches in Kole’s eyes. After all, the guy had just been tortured by humans.
Sabine, who put her hand on Nico’s shoulder, possibly before he could lip off, asked, “What would you have us do, Commander?”
“That will be each male and female’s decision. I speak only for myself.”
“Then speak,” said Sig. “What’s your path?”
“I will not follow the order. I choose to follow my conscience, to do what Firebrands have done for over a thousand years.”
“What about your mate and kid?” asked a succubus recruit. Kole wished he could remember her name. She deserved that much.
“I hope to get her and Kae to safety. Wherever the hell that is nowadays or in the future. We’re discussing the issue. Unfortunately, our talks are sounding more like a domestic dispute. My Frisca packs a mean wallop.”
A few chuckles traveled through the crowd.
Rein clasped Kole’s shoulder, the same concern about protecting loved ones icing his blue eyes. He shared his decision with hisfrerons. “Darius, Mix, and I will fight beside our commanders. I will not follow the Temple or the lawgivers. I follow my conscience.”
Ram locked eyes with his mate Denim who was standing beside her Amazon friend in the crowd. She nodded. “My mate and I choose the same path.”
Galena stepped forward, her spear banging her shield. “There is no honor in obeying an unjust order.”
“You’ve chewed my ass so many times, Comm, it belongs to you,” said Chay, shifting from foot to foot. “I’m in all the way.”
Nico grabbed Sabine, planting a kiss on her lips while cheers went up. He gave the room his middle finger when he came up for air. “We’re with you, Commander. When I commit, it’s forever.”
Kole ran his fire-gold eyes over every Firebrand in the gym. “Be aware, you are advocating treason.”
“By who the fuck’s definition?” Thorn growled. “My conscience is clean. If I did as they commanded, my wolf would be pissed. Nobody wants my beast in a lather.” He took an unlit cigar from his pocket, scrunching it between his teeth.
Sig punched Bade’s arm. “We didn’t join up to let the bad guys win. Did we, vampire?”
“Hell, no.”
Bounty sneaked into the room but leaned against the doorway, her skin-tight red skirt showing leg. Her eyes searched the crowd for Ram. When she found him, he shook his head.
“Bounty, as my secretary, you can walk away. No shame. No blame. Not your fight.”
She straightened, folding her arms under ample breasts which had most Firebrands panting. “What the fuck makes you think I’d walk? And I’m not your damn secretary. I’m your fucking executive assistant.”
One side of Kole’s mouth quirked into a smile but quickly faded.
The room erupted in the Firebrands’ war cry, echoing off the walls.For duty. For honor.Then a new shout.Kole. Kole. Kole.
Rein clasped the animus demon’s arm. “You have your answer, Commander. Yourfreronsfollow you, not some misguided order from assholes rotting in the stench of power.”
“I hope I’m not leading them into Angor.”
“If you are,” Ram brushed dust off his black tactical pants, “it’ll be a fucking fun ride because we’ll own Angor. It’ll be our bitch.”
Kole raised a hand. “Our first mission is to locate Daxton, scion from the Bludclan Mortus, beloved brother of my executive assistant.”
