Page 111 of Alpha Power

"She's not going."

Zamorra tensed and glared at the ancient vampire sitting at the head of the table. He really needed to learn that telling hernotto do something only made her want to do it more.

Thaddeus frowned. "Why aren't they going?"

"I don't care what he does," Luther said, pointing to the scowling shifter sitting next to her. "I said, she's not going." And then he pinned that dark, terrifying gaze on her, daring her to contradict him. Well, in the words of Barney Stintson: challenge accepted.

"Actuallyyyyy," Zamorra began, stretching out the word as she straightened her spine. "I'm dying to go. I've never been to a Regent Meeting before."

Luther narrowed his eyes and Thaddeus gasped dramatically, like what she said was completely outrageous.

"You've never been to a Regent Meeting?" Thaddeus looked her up and down suspiciously. "Tell me,mia signora, who are your parents?"

Zamorra frowned. "What? Why?"

"Because I want to meet the people who sent their child out into the world so woefully unprepared. Attending your first Regent Meeting is a significant moment for any supernatural. It's a glimpse into the way we run and operate our world. I've seen children as young as four at these meetings and the fact you're in your 20s and have yet to attend one is just blasphemy. It's downright neglectful. How are you meant to understand the system if you've never seen it in action?" Thaddeus was working himself up into a frenzy, his behaviour confusing the fuck out of her.

What did he care if her parents did a shitty job of introducing her to the supernatural world? They did, but they made up for it in other ways. Teaching her how to survive being the main one.

"So? What are their names?" Thaddeus demanded when she didn't answer.

"It doesn't matter. They're dead," she replied bluntly and Thaddeus blinked, momentarily taken back by her abrasive tone.

Awkward glances were exchanged around the table and Zamorra cringed. Maybe blurting that out wasn't such a good idea.

"I apologize,mia signora. I didn't know." Thaddeus bowed his head slightly and she gave him a small smile.

She could tell he felt bad about it and she wanted to reassure him. "It's all good."

"How about you accompany me tomorrow? I'd be honoured to take you to your first meeting."

"I already told you, Thaddeus. She isn't going," Luther growled.

"Why?" The mage frowned. "You can't deny this poor girl the chance to better educate herself on the world we live in."

"Yeah, Luthy. You can't do that," Zamorra sang, enjoying the fire that lit in his eyes.

Thaddeus winked.

"Well, if she's going I wanna go too," Void cut in, raising his hand.

"How many times do I have to say it? She's not going. She can't go. She's a wanted woman."

Oh. Right. She forgot about that stupid bounty on her head.

"And?" Thaddeus rose to his feet, buttoning his dark, trench coat. "All it takes is one little spell and she'll look like a completely different person."

"You'd do that for me?" She asked, surprised. Considering the fact Luther was adamant she not go, she couldn't believe the mage was offering to help her.

"Of course. And you don't even have to pay me. That is, unless you want to," he winked.

Luther slammed his palms down on the table and shot to his feet, knocking his chair to the ground. A pulse of pure power burst from within him, smothering the air and forcing everyone to hunch back into their seats. Those beautiful, dark eyes blazed red as he stared down the table and glared right at her. "This is the last time I'm going to say this. You're. Not. Going."

"But I-"

Luther cursed in Italian and stalked towards her, passing a frozen Maddox and Darius on the floor and stopping right next to her. Her brand mark burned, and the letters etched into her skin began to glow. He arched an eyebrow, daring her to continue.

She held his stare but kept quiet. Clearly, he wasn't going to change his mind, but that was okay. She had another idea.

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