anyway and we canna eliminate humans for being rash. They seek justice for a wrong done them. How many of us wouldna do the same thing? We need to learn who is involved and include their territories on our nightly patrols. I willna have more innocent humans killed on my watch.” Zander needed a reprieve from his ruminations about Elsie. He wasn’t thinking straight and developing a more effective plan at the moment seemed like an impossible task.
Thankfully, his sister began plotting for him. “Why don’t we erase their memories of their encounters with skirm? That would take care of it.”
“That isn’t going to work, Bre. We have no idea how widespread this group is. We can’t assume the group is restricted to this area. If this is global there would be no way to get to every member. It would be easier to put an ad in the paper,” Santiago replied sardonically.
Breslin’s face fell. “Oh, I hadna considered that. What can we do then?”
Kyran had been eyeing him intently. “I say we follow this group. They may have uncovered the skirm lair. Skirm canna sense humans like they do us, and won’t take as many precautions around them. I volunteer to follow Elsie,” his brother said with a sly smile.
Zander’s objection was immediate and vehement. “Nay, you willna follow her. I will be the one to do it.”
Kyran’s smile spread. “This is the female you got sprung for the other day, is it no’?”
Zander scowled. He fell into his brother’s trap. All he thought about was Kyran seducing her and introducing her to his dark desires. That thought made him so angry he reacted without pause. “I did not get sprung over her,” he gritted out.
“Aye, brathair , you did. Everyone in the restaurant heard you groan.”
Everyone laughed which did nothing to diminish Zander’s desire to punch his brother.
“Our Liege attracted to a human?” Orlando teased. “No wonder you wanted Santi and I to take her case. You wanted an excuse to see her again—” Orlando’s reply was cut off as he ducked out of the reach of Zander’s punch.
“Enough,” Zander barked. He wanted to deny their claims, but the words would be a lie and he refused to lie to his warriors. “The only information I was able to learn from Elsie is that she works with someone named Mack.” He had no idea if it was a male or female. He didn’t care for how much she seemed to rely on this Mack. “I will ask Killian to do his magic on the computer and see if he can discover who this Mack is as well as anyone else involved with SOVA. I suspect it may take some time. In the meantime, no one will follow Elsie without my direct order. Now, get some rest.”
He stalked from the room, ignoring their ribbing. He was more unnerved than they could ever make him by his undeniable desire for the female. The Vampire King should never consort with humans.
CHAPTER FIVE
Elsie finished texting Mack and placed her cheap cell phone on the table. She hated canceling another patrol, but her sister was still visiting and there was no way Cailyn would understand or allow her to do something so dangerous. She loved her sister, but part of her was itching to be out there with Mack. Her phone chirped indicating she had a message. She picked it up expecting to see a reply from Mack and was shocked to see it was Orlando.
It had been a few days since they had taken her case and she had yet to calm down. It wasn’t Orlando or even his partner that had her on edge, but their friend Zander. She cursed and sent a reply.
“What it is?” Cailyn asked from where she stood gazing into the empty fridge.
“It was Orlando. He said they have some news and will be here in a couple minutes.” She wrung her hands as a thousand different things ran through her head at once. At the top was that there was no way they found the vampire responsible. They didn’t know they existed.
“I’m sure it’s good news,” her sister reassured.
“That would be nice. I have wanted