Page 61 of Of Flame and Fury
A few witches excuse themselves, as do more than a couple of weres who seem to have misplaced their packs. I don’t fault them in the least. There’s a whole lot of ugly about to go down.
There are all sorts of rules in the supernatural world. Nice ones, that keep those who are part of it from being beheaded without a trial or having their arms ripped off just so the offended can slap you across the face with your own severed limbs. Hierarchy is deeply respected. It goes forweresand witches, and especially vampires.
No matter how much money Aric possesses from belonging to a family with generations of purebloodweres, or the royal lineage and funds Genevieve can brag about, they will never match the amount master vampires have accumulated.
Witches can live a couple of centuries. I believe the oldest hag is somewhere around five hundred.Weres, if not killed in battle, usually die on the first full moon following their hundredth birthday. The exception is the loss of a mate. The vast majority of matedweresdie soon after their mate does. The bond they share is so sacred, they die of a broken heart. It’s why Celia, and Aric, too, are guarded so fiercely. In losing Celia, Aric will go. There’s absolutely no doubt, and everyone here damn well knows it.
Vampires don’t die. The young ones can be beheaded or have their hearts destroyed with cursed gold and die, just like,weres. You can even set a young vamp on fire and watch the fire eat them up like paper. The older ones, not so much.
Master vampires like Misha, Uri, and Ileana, need both beheading and their hearts destroyed. Good luck with that.
These superbeings of sorts basically live forever, giving them plenty of time to accumulate wealth, buy and sell favors, overtake foreign governments, you know, little things like that.
They also count on each other to maintain their status. Don’t get me wrong, friends turn to foes quick. All it takes is the right opportunity or insult.
Uri’s voice gathers that timbre mob bosses get right before they stab you in front of your family and force-feed you your liver. “Are you certain of that, my son?”
I almost laugh, except even I’m not that nuts. Misha tends to be Uri’s son, especially when it suits him. UrimadeMisha. The circumstances weren’t ideal, yet they allowed Misha to enact a frightening level of revenge against his tormentors and become who he is.
“I am, Master. To guard and protect Celia Wird is to protect our future and that of our legacy.”
I don’t miss how Misha addresses Celia by her maiden name. Neither does Aric, who stalks in, his arm curled around Celia’s waist. As per vamp protocol, Misha should fall to one knee and plead his case. At best, he tilts his head, another no-no according to vamp etiquette, and very much a demonstration of dominance by Misha.
“Misha, don’t do this,” Celia whispers. “Not for me. You don’t owe me anything.”
“No,” Uri agrees. “His debt to you is paid tenfold.”
“There was never a debt to be paid, Uri,” Celia hisses.
Celia was never one to kiss ass. But the way she speaks to Uri scares me and spreads a thick coat of tension around the room.
Uri quirks a brow. He’s not afraid of Celia or theweres. Even the witches can go to hell as far as he’s concerned. But regardless of his frigid stance, he is afraid Misha will turn on him.
Uri chuckles. “You show a great deal of strength with your mate so close, Celia,” he says.
Celia’s stony features make it clear she’d show that and more to him with or without Aric growling beside her. “Keep telling yourself that, Uri,” she tells him. “And we’ll pretend I didn’t help save your dynasty.”
Uri stops smiling. We’re all afraid of Uri to some extent. Doesn’t mean we’ll be bullied.
Celia’s features soften when she addresses Misha. “I don’t want you to stay because of me. You don’t owe me anything, Misha. You never have.”
“Mm, true,” I agree. Sure, we helped save Misha’s ass when we first met him. And yeah, yeah, Celia returned his soul and all that. But we steer away from all the manipulative bull and do the right things because it’s right, not just to bind someone in blood to return the favor.
Misha meets Celia’s gaze. Her heart and loyalty are why Misha fell as hard for her as he did. She’s a kind person and likely his first real friend. And regardless of all the wrong Misha is a part of, he recognizes Celia’s goodness.
Uri glares at Celia. Celia and Aric meet his glare with equal force. Genevieve eases away, joining the witches andwereswho take point by Celia.
“No one is keeping you here, Uri,” Aric replies in a low growl. “You want to go, get the fuck out.”
Gemini edges in front of Aric, his twin at his side snarling. “The point of this reunion was to determine who would stand by us.” He trains his lethal gaze on Uri. “And who will choose to save themselves. This is your moment to decide.”
Uri turns to leave. Gemini’s voice keeps him in place. “The pack will remember this when evil strikes its blow.”
Uri motions to the remains of his lovers. “The blow was already struck.”
“Maybe,” I say.
I don’t snap at Uri and am seriously impressed with how well I keep my composure. I motion to the window where another leech Nyte, this one with suckers covering its underbelly, slithers along the wards, testing them out. “Except that blow was just the beginning.”