The Vasi advanced on dinner. The food never had a chance. He grinned at the carnage as the shifters devoured the meal. Fascinated, Pallas watched as well from across the table. A primal aura always surrounded the shifters when meat was involved.
Clementine sat next to Daedalus. She hadn’t seen the older photos before, and she pointed at the screen of the tablet. “That’s Marcus. He’s one of the new hires I told you about.” She scrolled to the next picture. “This is Phillip. He still secretly supports you.”
“How do you know?” He examined the face and recalled the vampire working a few minor missions for Pal Robi Inc.
“He helped me gain the information you asked me for.” She continued to scroll through the older photos naming the vampires she recognized and their allegiances.
“Stop.” He held up his hand. “They’re all blurring. What I do see are the five who started this trouble. That’s all that matters.” Those vampires had overthrown the ones he’d left in control of Pal Robi Inc. He shook his head. They had killed his generals before coming after him by hiring Esther. The cowards.
A few months ago Clementine had risked her life to discover who was behind his assassination attempt. She’d brought him the list of names connected to the e-mail offering a substantial reward for his death, then some of the Vasi had accompanied him on a mission to gather the information needed to take Pal Robi Inc. back. Robert and Esther had been among them.
His plans to regain control of Pal Robi Inc. were placed on hold when the traitors had tried to kill Sugar. They had almost succeeded, if not for Sam and Clementine. He could have lost everything dear to him that night.
Now he’d get a chance to exact his revenge.
Unlike Pallas, Daedalus didn’t flaunt his mental powers, so his vampires didn’t know the extent of what a Nosferatu could do or how easy it was for him to rifle through their thoughts and discover the proof of their guilt. The vampire council didn’t give a shit about concrete evidence like human courts. His word was enough.
He was Prime of this territory by their decree. He was judge, jury, and executioner.
“What are your thoughts?” Daedalus glanced at the two shifters who’d been with him.
“I don’t think they know you’re here.” Esther showed him today’s pictures. “See, no signs of preparing for an attack or of fleeing. The human security detail is just going about their routine.”
“Hmm…” He needed to maintain the element of surprise. “We’ll strike tonight, or they might learn of my presence and run.”
“That’s a risky move.” Pallas leaned across the table. “You’re racing against the sunrise. It’s already past sunset, and you haven’t even left the house.”
He sighed. “I know, and I don’t have the resources for anything grand scale. Not until I have Pal Robi Inc. back in my control.”
“About that.” Sam settled a possessive arm around Clementine. “How are we going to kill five powerful vampires and their armies with only the seven of us?”
“Vampires always flock to the strongest. It’s instinct,” Clementine answered. “Daedalus has to prove he’s the strongest, and the weaker ones will fall into place.”
“I have to kill the leaders then their followers will concede to me. Those who don’t will die. Those who survive will never have a trusted position again. Which brings me to another question.” He faced Clementine. “How do I have supporters in these homes?”
“They infiltrated after the five tried to have you slayed.” She rubbed her chin. “I assume more were hired after the open attack on Sugar when I ran to Chicago. Sam killed many of their foot soldiers when they attacked us.” She stroked her mate’s back.
“True…but what are they waiting for?” If they looked to him as their leader, why allow these traitors to stay in power?
Clementine cocked her head to the side, her mouth flat with displeasure. “They’re waiting for you, Master.” She said his title with the same inflection as dummy. “Many didn’t believe you’d come back.”
A familiar weight settled on his shoulders. Responsibility. He wished he could shrug it off, but he’d had his short time of fun. His people needed him. “You’ll need to come with me. I can’t memorize all these faces. There’s a good chance I’ll kill a supporter.”
Pallas snorted. “Your supporters should be the ones not attacking you.”
“Good point, but it’s a risk I’m not willing to take.” Traitors could pretend just as well as those who followed him. He didn’t want to absorb any into his fold if he didn’t have to.
“Clementine will get in the way. Kill them all.”
Daedalus glared at his brother. “Stop being an ass. It’s distracting.”
Sam leaned around Clementine to catch his attention. “You’re not taking my mate into battle without me.”
“Who will stay with Sugar then?” The Sigma took his role as Sugar’s protector seriously, but being mated conflicted him. Daedalus rubbed his temples and mentally counted off who was left. “I need Robert to get past the security systems. That leaves either Esther or Pallas.”
His brother raised an eyebrow. “I’m the better warrior.”
Daedalus nodded. They’d trained together for decades. Pallas had even beaten Daedalus a few times. Not many could boast that. “Very well, you stay with Sugar.” He turned toward the shifters. “Get what rest you can. I want to leave at midnight.” That should give the shifters time for a quick nap while he gathered and prepared weapons.
A few groaned at his declaration, but they were half-hearted noises that he ignored as he strode from the room toward his weapons store.
Pallas followed on his heels. “You truly mean to leave me behind?”
Daedalus tossed him an annoyed look over his shoulder. “Yes.”
“That’s insane. You’ll be slaughtered with just those pups guarding your back. Using shifters to gain control is a mistake.”
“I’ve trained them myself. They’ll do fine and stay out of sight. I need Robert and Esther to gain access to the houses, Clementine to point out the good guys, and Sam to keep her alive. My main concern is keeping Sugar safe.”
“She's a weakness.”
Daedalus spun to face his brother, fingers itching to be around his throat. “Which is why I need my best warrior here. Think about it.”
“They don’t know she’s here. They don’t know you’ve returned.”
“Maybe,” he whispered, since his throat had gone dry. “But Chicago is a large city with many eyes and ears. If they’ve been watching me, then they know about Sugar.”
“And that she’d come with you.” Pallas shook his head. “You should have left her in Chicago.”
“Don't you think I know that? If anyone here is weak, it's me.” He couldn’t stand the accusation in Pallas's eyes. “Let an old vampire have his Achilles' heel. Either way she would have been in danger. At least here I have more control.” He gripped Pallas’s upper arm. “You’ll keep her safe?”
Pallas’s hard stare softened. “My life for hers.” The old oath of protection given to a brother’s Prima. He hadn’t heard it in centuries. Not many of his clan ever married. That Pallas would give it without Sugar truly being his wife was an honor.
Daedalus bowed his head and tightened his grip. “Thank you.”
“Strike them without mercy. You can’t afford to leave any enemies alive. She’ll be the first thing they’ll hunt.”
Their gazes locked. “I'll make them burn before they lay a finger on her.” The thought left his mind faster than his lips would move.
Pallas grinned and slapped him on the cheek. “Good, some of the Daedalus I knew still remains in there.”