“I’m guessing the Midnight Raiders know about Layla and my children,” I said.
If he even mentioned that this tactical team was planning on removing my wife and children in some way, I would blow the roof off this building.
“They do,” Webb continued. “The supernatural military is a small community, and word spread quickly after Layla gave birth. The Midnight Raiders have been training a second team ever since they got wind of the prophecy about the Mystic when it surfaced six years ago.”
“For what?” I held my emotions in check.
“Toprotectthe Mystic,” Webb said. “Apparently, this powerful witch will lead her kind into a brighter and better world.” He held up his hand. “Those were the captain’s words.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
Tripp grabbed the back of his neck. “You heard Agnes, Sam. Some Mystics are healers. What if the message Layla’s mother gave her was right? What if Layla is the Mystic, and that’s the way she’ll keep the natural order in balance? Or maybe she already has by preventing Maeve from becoming the all-powerful witch.”
I cracked my knuckles. “You mean from dark magic?” Zoey Thornton feared that if Maeve was successful, the world would be a much darker place. Maybe Tripp had a point.
“Whatever,” Tripp added. “Think about it. If Maeve had succeeded, you know we would be fighting many more wars than we could imagine.”
Maybe so. “Did the captain say anything about the other prophecy?” That was my main concern. “Does she think that a child of mine can turn them into vampires?”
Webb picked up a pen off his pad. “No.” His tone was emphatic. “She claims her scientist can prove it. They’ve been testing vampire DNA together with a witch’s for years.”
“Okay.” I shrugged. “But the DNA is not my children’s. So how can this scientist come to that conclusion?”
“I can’t answer that,” Webb said. “But I’ve put the captain in touch with Dr. Vieira. In fact, I just sent her Doc’s info thirty minutes ago. I’m confident Doc will figure out if any of your kids can turn a witch into a vampire. Right now, the Raiders aren’t our enemy. They assured me they’re on our side. In the meantime, our immediate concerns are Adam Emery, Draven Murphy, and assigning new roles as we reorganize the vampire government.” His phone vibrated on the table.
That was my cue for a quick break. I needed to sate my hunger, but I also wanted a moment to clear my head.
The Midnight Raiders might be on our side, but if by chance they were wrong about a vampire turning witches, I had no doubt they had a protocol in place to eradicate anyone who threatened their existence.
“I’ll be right back,” I said as I left the room.
Once in the hall, I released a heavy sigh as the electricity blinked on and off. I was sure the storm had something to do with the flicker of power, but a fleeting pain in my gut said maybe not.
16
SAM
After taking a short bathroom break and grabbing a six-pack of blood, I returned to the conference room, but there was no sign of my father.
I popped the top on a bottle as Tripp and Webb did the same. No sooner than we’d toasted like three old friends kicking back at a bar, I heard my father’s voice then Dane’s.
My dad strode in, jaw tight, body tense, and with a very familiar-looking box.
“That isn’t what I think it is,” I remarked, raising an eyebrow.
The white-haired alpha snarled, “It’s a head.”
“I know,” I replied. “I’ve seen that same style of box with Matthew’s head in it.”
My father’s green eyes transformed in an instant, flashing like quicksilver and glittering with a fierce intensity that cut through the air like a sharp-edged blade.
Webb was on his feet with his drink in hand. “Please tell me the victim isn’t anyone on our team.”
My father set the box down on the long conference table, muttering swear words like the sailor he was.
Dane’s wolf was showing signs—glowing red eyes and long canines—that he wanted to come out to play. Or rather, gut Emery and eat him for dinner.
My father marched over to the six-pack, yanked a bottle out, and knocked back half of it. After he swallowed his last mouthful, he said, “Victor Costner.”
