Page 14 of The Vampire's Thirst
Lipton swiped a hand across his head before slapping his beret into place. They marched to the multi-storied building next door, Mars following the officers like a good pet.Snake. Rattler.Crowded into the tactical operation center were four primary officers, all highly capable, all handpicked. A red-headed lieutenant colonel commanded one of Matty’s Ranger battalions. A woman officer led the second. A gray-templed colonel was in charge of Task Force Green while a Seal commander steered Task Force Blue. Staffers rounded out the assemblage.
When Lipton and Matty entered, chatter ceased, silence falling across the room like dominoes. Bristling with curiosity, bodies turned in chairs to face the front. The audience sensed something big underway. Of course, it was doubtful, even if given twenty-one questions, they would guess this mission.
Hell.Despite what he had seen, Matty struggled with belief. As a kid, he’d fought mock battles against invading aliens with a blaster strapped to his hip. But he never dreamed Earth contained another realm brimming with non-humans.
Intriguing news really.
When approached by a soldier gripping a microphone, Lipton waved him off. “Thanks, son. I don’t need that.”
With Matty at his back, the general stepped forward, cleared his throat, and paused for a moment to hold each officer’s gaze. Using what Matty thought of as his Patton voice, he said, “I see the best of the best sitting in front of me. You are here to train, to take other men and women into battle against an enemy we have never faced. Damn, most of you haven’t even imagined this opponent.”
Drawn brows, frowns, and squints met his puzzling words.
“No way to hold your hand and lead you into a gentle waltz. So I’m just going to throw it at you in a big ball.” He paused, spreading his legs and clasping hands behind him. “We are not alone. Beings other than humans walk among us. Vampires, demons, satyrs, witches. Fuck! Anything from your nightmares. It will be our job to send them to hell.”
First silence. Followed by disbelief. Then a few snickers. Whispers. Finally, full-on jabbering.
Lipton leaned forward, raising a hand for quiet. “Welcome to Operation Frankenstein, West Bank SMO.”
Yeah.Hang onto your Flash Gordon blasters, boys and girls. We’re in for a bumpy ride.
Chapter Four
Thenew office on the bottom floor of the Covenkirk stronghold still smelled like fresh paint. Rein slouched in a chair, propping his shitkickers on his commander’s desk. “Who was that?”
“Tyr.” Kole scrubbed a rough, meaty hand across his buzz-cut hair as he disconnected from the warlock Firebrand.
After hooking his sunglasses onto the neckline of his black T-shirt and swiping fingers across his icy blue eyes, Rein, the vampire-warlock-incubus mix, waited for his commander to break down the conversation.
“Tyr is at the med center with the human female he and Dax found on the road. Says she’s Jace de Vries.”
“That’s a name Miller Nash got from a tracker. She’s one ofCustodes Templii’smissing Blood Coven descendants.”
“I relayed the intel to Tyr. One more to add to our growing collection. The warlock says she’s messed up but on the mend. She’s also going on about some female who was with her. Celene. I told him to get more news. Maybe this Jace is the key to finding other descendants.”
“We should be so lucky. I expect Miller to contact my mate with additional names soon. Maybe this Celene will be one of them, or maybe she’s just a sex slave left over from Silas’s ring.”
“Is Miller coming in from the cold? I don’t feel tight having a fucking Blood Coven guy running around Earth with no backup.”
“He’s some hotshot ex-British Special Forces asshole. Thinks he’s smarter and faster than Cerberus. Personally, I think he’s arrogant enough to make it.”
Rein kept his gaze on Kole’s tented fingers, sparks leaping from them onto the male’s desk. Par for an animus demon, especially one with an extra dose of aggression.
Kole fisted his hands. “I wonder how many descendants Cerberus has stashed somewhere. More good news. Dax is still off the grid.”
“A time may come when we need to put him down, Kole. How’s that sit?”
“Not well. We’re chosen by the damn Phoenix because of some ancestor Firebrand who served. When the scorching tat burns onto our arm, we have a choice. Turn down the offer or accept. If we accept, we’re given a jolt of extra power along with more muscle and a shitload of aggression. But here’s the kicker as I see it. While we save the world, who saves us? Dax may turn feral, but he’s ours to protect as long as possible.”
“We aren’t all salvageable, Kole, especially vampires with bludfrenzy. Look at Silas. He crossed over. Once it happens, no coming back.”
“We’re not putting down Dax. Not in the middle of this fucking war. Maybe never. Besides, he’s too good at what he does. Sometimes a killer is what we need. Even one with a slippery conscience.”
“Good or not, he spends way too much time sucking on O blud whores. It will catch up with him, if it hasn’t already.”
“You had your bouts with darkness, Rein. Who hasn’t?”
“Yeah, but the love of a good woman saved me.” Rein chuckled, propping one boot on top of the other.
