Page 17 of Fangs with Benefits

"I thought you believed in the plan," I say, looking over at his fixed expression as the clan vampires gather round.

"I didn't want to admit my doubts because I knew they would scare you. But now that it's over, I think it's fair to be honest."

He's not wrong. The planwascrazy, and a part of me still can't believe that we pulled it off. We couldn't have done it without the help of the werewolves and the Fae. But even so, it was an impressive feat.

"Where is Arman?" I ask as Lucian joins us.

"Gone," he answers. "Permanentlygone."

"Why aretheyhere?" one of the vampires asks as she glances between the remaining Fae and werewolves.

"I've called a meeting with some of the faction leaders and the coven," Treyton answers without hesitation. "Do you dare question me?"

Instantly, the woman recoils and blends back into the group like she's ashamed of herself for opening her mouth. It's an assertation that Treyton holds all the power over this faction now. None of the vampires in the clan will dare to question him. Isla's potion is entirely successful.

"Can you guys go and wait for me in the other room?" Treyton asks. "I have a few things to take care of. Starting with demoting the two vampires that beat me up."

I nod and we leave the vampires to their business.

When Treyton returns to us, he thanks Lucian and Caspian for helping him gain control over the clan, and then tells the coven that we are safe to return to our homes now. Everyone else leaves,exceptfor me. I stay and sit with him for a few minutes to hear how things went with the other vampires.

"It's all a bit unsettling," he says with a dismayed look on his face.

I haven't seen his eyes glow again. Perhaps that was only a one-time thing.

"The clan is simply going about their lives as usual. No one is even asking where Arman went," he says as he rubs his forehead with his finger and thumb.

"Isn't that a good thing?" I ask.

"Yeah, I guess so. But still,it's weird. All of the vampires that I've known fordecadesare acting like I'm the rightful clan leader, like I have been this entire time. What happens if they wake up one day and realize they've all been lied to and mentally manipulated?"

"Everything is going to be fine," I reassure him. "Isla's spell will hold; Arman is dead and gone. I don't know where Lucian and the werewolves took his body, but I can assure you that it will never be found." I shudder to think of that. "You will be a great clan leader,temporarily.You don't need to stay here. The witches and I will search further away from the city to find another vampire to take over this position. And maybe you can do a few good things while you're the acting clan leader."

"So I don't have to stay doing this for long?"

"No, I've already told the other witches you're only a placeholder. You're just filling in the hole that we need plugged and giving us a little time to find a permanent replacement. Sybil and the others have already started reaching out to find another vampire that would be willing to come to Boston and takeover the clan," I answer. "And Elspeth is making sure we vet the potential new leader well enough that we won't need to worry about encountering this problem again."

"That's good to know."

"For a few days, can you just stay here and the den and oversee things like a clan leader would do? Then, as soon as the coven finds a replacement, you can go back to life as usual."

"And the other vampires are just going to embrace another leadership change with open arms?" he asks.

"Isla still has some of the potion left. She can do the same thing again and no one will question it."

He seems relieved to know that it won't be long before he can abandon this façade. And I'm confident that with some time and perseverance, the coven will be able to find a vampire who will jump at the chance to be a clan leader in a beautiful city like Boston. From what I understand, the leader can come from anywhere in the world, as long as he has the right bloodline. I don't expect it will take too long to find someone. Especially now that we aren't in any eminent danger and can relax and think clearly while we search.

For the next few days, Treyton stays at the den and restructures the clan. He tries to get acclimated to being clan leader and running things. None of the vampires question the change in leadership; the entire clan just go about their lives as usual. But I notice that something isn't right.

I come to see Treyton every day, pretending that I need to speak with him about matters between the factions, but really I just go to check up on things and make sure he's okay. But it becomes clear he isn't okay at all.

"This isstifling," he complains as he paces the room. The door is closed, and it's just Treyton and me inside. Arman's old black leather chair sits in the middle of the room. "Everything feelswrong.Ifeel wrong. I'm beginning to feel unstable and even reckless. And I haven't been able to see you as much."

"What do you mean? I've been coming here every day," I say.

"Yeah, I know. But I can't reallytalkto you. It's like I'm burdened with tedious responsibilities, and when you come here to meet with me, all we have time to talk about are how things are going in the clan, and how the coven's search for a new leader is coming along."

"That's because those things are important," I remind him.