Page 64 of Eternally Bound
“Understood.”
The light shifted again and Killean’s resin scent drifted to him. Ronan’s fangs lengthened in anticipation of one of Killean’s remarks, but the vampire only walked by him to the bar before moving a chair to sit on Ronan’s other side. Saxon joined minutes later, and when Ronan heard the click of the front door shutting, he knew Lucien had also arrived.
He’d forgotten Lucien was supposed to be coming today to discuss the moving of the training facility.Ah well, the more the merrier,hethought as he lifted the bottle to his lips and drank half of it down.
Ronan closed his eyes and took another pull on the bottle. The bloodlust slithered through his veins like an insidious snake waiting to strike. Every beat of his heart caused his temples to pulse with it. Yet there was still so much to deal with, so many still counting on him.
If he gave in and gorged himself on the blood, he wouldn’t have to deal with it ever again. He’d only have to deal with himself, and Kadence’s hatred of him should she return.
Mate or not, she was gone and he had to accept that she may never return. He had to continue with what he’d been born to do. Rising to his feet, he drank the rest of the bottle as he made his way toward the bar.
He waited until Lucien walked in and settled into another chair before speaking. “We have to take out Joseph before he continues to organize.”
Declan passed his bottle to Lucien and opened the one he’d set on the floor. “We’ve had no new leads on him, even Brian is coming up blank,” Lucien said.
“How is that possible?” Declan inquired.
Lucien shrugged. “Brian said he’s not a GPS. Sometimes whatever he does just doesn’t work. He also said Joseph is most likely staying in a large crowd or city if he can’t pinpoint him.”
“A large crowd of Savages?” Saxon asked.
“Perhaps,” Lucien replied.
“Not good,” Declan muttered.
“The trainees, do they know what is going on? Why the facility is being closed and moved?” Saxon asked.
“I saw no reason to keep it from them,” Lucien replied and tee-peed his hands before his face. “If they decide to bail instead of fight, then good riddance. I hope they get butchered by a Savage.”
“Nice,” Declan muttered and took another drink.
Lucien scowled at him. “You’d wish them well?”
“I wouldn’t wish them death.”
“We have to discuss if we will bring the turned vamps in to work with us,” Ronan said. Some of the glass still embedded in his hand clattered against the bar when it succeeded in working its way out of his flesh. He glanced at the blood splattered piece before focusing on the others.
“It goes against tradition,” Saxon said.
“It does,” Ronan agreed. “And the turned vamps aren’t as strong as we are, but they can take on a Savage. I lived through an attack from the Savages before. If Joseph comes at us with numbers like what they had back then, it will be a war the likes of which none of you have ever experienced.”
They stared stonily back at him. He understood their reluctance to add turned vampires to their ranks and their pride. There were so few purebred vamps left, even fewer who had made it through the extreme training that elevated them to the status of Defender. The turned vamps went through a lot of training, but they didn’t go through the same kind of training they had all endured and survived.
“They still don’t have to be one of us,” Lucien said. “We can call them something else if we want to use them for this battle.”
“I vote we call them pissants,” Killean said.
“I like it,” Lucien agreed. “They many not even be willing to fight.”
“I’m sure you’ve inspired no loyalty,” Declan replied.
Lucien gave him the finger. “I’m not there to inspire them. I’m there to make sure they don’t get killed by a Savage, and as soon as we find a replacement for me, I’m done with training them. Joseph boned me the most when he went Savage on us, and I got stuck with all the idiot newbies.”
Thankfully, Joseph had given into the demon part of him outside of the training facility. Most likely because there had been enough recruits there to possibly take him down when they realized he’d become a Savage. Joseph had known that. Despite their endless thirst for blood, Savages were far from stupid. Before Joseph, they’d had no one to organize them, to lead them, but Joseph was a purebred, something different and stronger than they were, and the Savages were falling into line with him.
“Bring the turned vamps in training, who agree to fight with us, here,” Ronan said to Lucien. “There will be enough room for them to stay here between the carriage house and the guest house, but make sure they have no idea where this place is located.” His teeth ground together at the idea of having to be so close to the recruits, but there was little else that could be done about it. As long as they stayed out of his way, they’d survive. “Cut the ones who aren’t willing to fight loose.”
“What about Aiden, the purebred in training?” Lucien inquired. “His sisters and Brian are still at the training facility too.”
