The Proposition:
The agony of the change back to human form causes me to cry out in pain. Down on all fours, I collapse panting for air. Waiting for my heart rate to return to normal, my thoughts stray to my encounter with the leech and my mate. She's become one of them.
The right to introduce her into our world was taken from me. I hope that she hasn't become addicted to the blood lust, and isn't too far gone to accept me. I still want her even in her new form, the form of the enemy.
Perhaps there is hope, she showed courage protecting him, even though she was saturated with fear. I suspect that he didnt give chase because of her, as I withdrew out of respect for my mate.
"Is the offending vampire dead?" Inquires Wesley, my valet. Helping me to my feet, he places a blanket around my shoulders. "The sponger's still at large." I say, proceeding to my rooms to dress. "Soon then, you have a guest waiting for you in the parlor." Taking the stairs two at a time, he stops me in my tracks with his report.
Sniffing the air, I know who it is. "Send her away." I say gruffly, resuming my ascent up the stairs. "Is that any way to treat a lady." Her voice stops me cold. These bottom feeders no not their place. "Its rude to go exploring around another's home uninvited." Turning, i'm greeted by Semira's lovely dark features. An ex-lover from a time long ago, I'm not to happy to see her at the moment.
"As much as I miss our little trysts, i'm here to talk business." Looking to Wesley, he gives a small bow and makes a quick exit. "What business?" I ask. "Marius". His name causes my blood to boil, and I shift uncomfortably. I renounced my right as alpha wolf over the London pack, and as my beta he quickly led the pack astray.
Taking up my late father's campaign to completely eliminate the vampiric species, he's rekindled an age old war between vampires and lycans. We didn't coexist peacefully under my reign, but we had an understanding. "What of him?" I say.
"He's taken up a campaign for him, and his pack to become superwolves."
"Something that has been tried and failed, he'll be unsuccessful also." I state, weary of the discussion.
"I regret to tell you that you're wrong. Hybrids are a rarity, but he is somehow locating them and consuming their blood. He's stonger, and faster than any lycan that we've ever seen. Marius and his army have already taken out two of our major covens."
"And you're here because his interest has turned to the budapest coven."
"He's attacked us once, and we've suffered considerable losses. I'm afraid that we won't be able to withstand another attack from him."
"How is this any concern of mine?" I ask, flippantly.
"Since you're in the business of mating vampirics, specifically a newly turned dark vampiric of great beauty, your concern should be for your future hybrid offspring". Word sure does travel fast in our world. "I suggest that you reclaim the London pack, and steer them away from this disastrous crusade."
Considering her proposal, I think of Dhalia and our future. A life on the run is not something that I wish for her or our children. "There's to be a council meeting in a few days, and I can assure you that the judgement won't be in the lycans favor."
"Unless?" I ask, knowing her all too well.
"Unless you can guarantee that Marius will be dealt with quickly and properly."
Which is code for quickly dispose of him.