Page 165 of Vampire's Choice
“Your children will still be dead,” he said tightly. “If what you say is true, they will not allow any of us to live.”
“Correct,” she said quietly. “So why don’t they want us to see them? What is their objective? Their agenda? When you join forces with another, it’s the most important question to ask yourself. If—son of a bitch.”
A flash of insight crossed her face. Ignoring Grollner’s puzzled look, Lyssa turned toward Mason. “Pallas,” she said. “He was present at the Council dinner two years ago, when we talked about Kane and Farida’s desire to visit the island again. From there, he only needed to know where to put spies and listeners, and be patient enough to wait for the opportunity.”
At Mason’s look, she lifted a shoulder. “It’s been bothering me,” she told him. “I’ve been working on the question. It just came to me. I thought now might be the optimal time to share.
“He and Belizar drank together, spoke of Russia. Pallas spent time there, centuries ago, before the Industrial Revolution. They spoke of the things they wished were still the same. Innocuous conversation, but Belizar told me at one point Pallas said, ‘If you could go back to those times, when vampires and Fae did not mix, and there was no confusion about who is servant and who is Master, it would be better, simpler times, would it not?’”
She turned back to Grollner. “It’s one of the dangers of mingling with other races. We recognize our commonalities, but we also forget our differences. Like how good the Fae are at trickery and deception. Pallas is connected to a group of High Fae who resent Tabor’s tolerance, and challenge it routinely in his advisory meetings. They were unsettled when Queen Rhoswen and my family alliance turned in a similar direction. They’d felt like they could always count on her animosity toward the vampire world.”
She gave Grollner a derisive look. “It pays to do your research before getting into bed with a venomous foe.”
Her voice raised. “So we know it’s you, Pallas. Do you care to show yourself, or would you prefer to keep skulking in the woods like a coward who won’t face his enemies?”
As she spoke, she turned in a broad circle, except for a brief pause when she met Merc’s gaze. With purpose. Then she’d completed the circle, and things changed.
The cloaking dropped, and energy flooded the clearing. Overpowering, High Fae energy.
Everyone had to brace against it, foe and ally alike. Kane and Farida’s captors hadn’t expected it, and Farida’s captor was wiping her spit off his face. He stumbled back against the lever. Already at the halfway mark, and well-oiled, the pressure finished the job. The frame dropped.
“No.”
With a howl of rage, Mason bowled through the crossbow holders before they expected him. They were knocked aside, even Mason’s murderous intentions set aside as he tried to get to his daughter in time.
He was too late. The frame slammed down on the stakes.
Only Farida wasn’t there. The restraint was empty. And not just hers. The only thing proving Kane’s had held an occupant were four dangling and torn cuffs.
The two vampires who’d been guarding them were on the ground. Dead. Stakes had been ripped from the beds and used to dispatch them.
The startled archers regained their feet and tried to reform ranks. Their weapons’ aim was pointed in two directions, one set toward Mason, the second toward Lyssa and the others. Their wild eyes said they’d been well and truly spooked. Only Grollner’s roar, reminding them of the presence of their formidable allies, helped steady them.
Lyssa raised a hand, telling Daegan, Gideon and Maddock to hold. To wait. Mason had turned toward her, but even his feral fury banked at her look, his own flickering with calculation. Though it took effort to restrain themselves, not to take advantage of the moment, they obeyed the queen.
“Why do you take my prizes from me?” Grollner snarled at that formless Fae energy.
As the power increased in response, he braced his feet and slashed his hand through the air. “She’s right. Don’t play these games. She knows it's you. It’s too late. You must come forth and help us finish it now.”
Slowly the energy gathered into one spot, the northern side of the clearing, behind the guillotine and empty frames. As the power morphed into shapes, it brought Pallas into view of all the assembled.
Pallas, and the army of Fae backing him up.
Twelve High Fae. Fucking hell.
Jacob was sure his brother was having the same thought. They were outgunned.
Do not be so sure of that, Jacob.
His lady had dismissed Grollner and was focused on the Fae male a step in front of the others. He had gold hair and silver eyes, and wore the garb of a water Fae. Blue with silver trimmings, a sword and dagger on his belt. She inclined her head. “Pallas.”
“Lady Lyssa.” The Fae cast an indifferent glance at Grollner. “We took nothing from you, vampire. Pay better attention. The incubus is gone.”
As Grollner spun to confirm it, Mason’s attention went to the vampire who had a crossbow aimed at this chest. Mason’s lips curled back from his fangs. “Without the element of surprise, you can’t fire that fast enough to hit me. Take a few lessons from human hunters.” His gaze flicked to Gideon.
“A compliment.” Gideon raised a brow. “I may faint.”
“An indirect one. And faint later,” Mason said shortly.