A Fang in the Sass

5

Aria hadn’t realized the southern clan had grown so much. Vamps kept coming through the community center’s front door. Most looked healthy and happy. At least Filip wasn’t starving them or treating them badly, on the outside, anyway.

When Damon stood at the podium to start the meeting, the room packed in around two hundred vamps from young to old. That was way too many to stay under the radar. Since all had a diet of animal blood, the species in the area must’ve declined drastically. When s**t like that happens, national park people start investigating and setting up cameras and a whole shitload of other things that could out the clan.

Fuck. She didn’t have time to deal with something that involved. She had her own s**t going on, like the High Council indicting her on murder charges, finding two, maybe three new advisors to take the place of Chantal and Anton, and a missing Claude. Not to mention a no-show doggy mate.

The last time she’d seen him was the night of the Wolfe alpha challenge. He was as gorgeous a wolf as he was a man. Without him knowing, she kept an eye on him, and anyone who got close to him, she ripped their heads off. Maybe she did have a bit of pent up aggression.

What did she care, anyway? He was out of her life and moved on to wherever wolves like him go. He was a nomad, couldn’t keep his feet too long in one place. But, oh, those beautiful blue eyes. The color of deep Caribbean waters. He was powerful. More so than any other wolf she’d met. And she wanted him. f**k!

There was something about him. It felt like he would be the answer to everything that troubled her. With him, utopia was possible. But that was all horse hockey. Had to be. Vamps and wolves didn’t mix. Ever. What kind of kids would they have? Wolfe shifters that drank blood? A shudder of disgust rolled through her. Not happening. Not that her ovaries seemed to care. They were more than happy to create some hybrid babies with hot-as-hell wolfie.

The applause of the audience snapped her out of her inward contemplation. Damon gestured for her to come on stage. s**t. She’d missed his entire introduction. Hopefully he hadn’t asked her to answer some question she didn’t hear.

She stood behind the podium, then took the mic from the stand and stepped to the side. She couldn’t stand still and talk. She had to be moving.

Looking over the crowd, she began, “Thank you, everybody, for coming on such short notice. I know how hard it is to drop everything to attend some meeting. But I hope to make this more than just ‘some meeting.’

“As most of you know, your leader, Filip Ataturk, has been killed. And yes, by me. And that’s why I’m here. I want you to hear the truth firsthand. I want you to know what happened so the current rumors stop. Some are pretty wild, by the way. I especially like the one about aliens abducting Filip and submitting him to numerous anal probes.” The crowd rumbled with light laughter.

“But the truth is that Filip and two of my advisors had been running a human trafficking scheme for blood slaves.” The audience gasped as one. Almost comical, in a way. Like a comic strip with one dialog bubble for everyone in the box.

“He broke the biggest rule next to don’t show your fangs on TV.” The light humor she wanted wasn’t happening. Okay then.

“So after I made the discovery, I had to put an end to the behavior. Not only was he jeopardizing the clan’s unknown status by bringing humans into our world, but he agreed to fight a wolf pack.” A mumble rolled through the crowd.

“So you see, I had reasons to do what I did. And for those of you who don’t know, Embraced has been burned down. When my parents built it forever ago, it was contemporary and cool. So they tell me, anyway.” She tried to smile but failed. Damn, she hated this. Hated telling people about decisions she’d had to make for their own safety. For their wellbeing.

“But over time, it got worn and beaten up. But don’t worry. I will build a new and improved Embraced to once again be contemporary and cool. There will be different rooms with different music and events. And contests and stuff to keep it fun. There will also be rooms to rent for those needing to stay over. For a price, of course.” She raised a brow and made sure to glance around the audience, making eye contact with the ones giving her angry looks. “I’m not your mother’s home.”

She thought about exposing the truth behind the reason for why human blood directly from the human was forbidden. What harm could it possibly cause? None she saw. She squared herself with the crowd. This was her time. She knew what was best for her people.

“I’m going to tell you something only a handful of old vamps know.” The room fell to a perfect silence. “One of our scholarly vamp elders discovered an enzyme in human blood that basically keeps the vampire aging and helpless from the sun.” By the confused looks, many didn’t get what she said.

“Let me try this a different way. I think everyone here has heard of Julian the Elder, yes?” Heads nodded. “Good. Do you know how old he is?” Heads shook. Here it was. “Three thousand years old.” Once again, gasps came from the audience along with disbelieving mumbles and “impossible” declarations.

Aria raised her hands. “It is the truth. Ask him. Send him an email. He might get it when he remembers to log in and check them.” Julian had the habit of ignoring the real world. He said in his own world, everyone there knew him. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at his comment.

“And he’s a daywalker like I am.” An eruption of voices bombarded the stage. People came out of their chairs. How can that be, she heard. She replied, “I’ll tell you how that can be. He didn’t drink directly from a human. That enzyme never entered his body.”