Both vampires were dressed in slacks, button-up shirts, and suit jackets, appearing as wealthy men. Wealthy they were, but men they were not. It was so cliché that Alston nearly laughed.
“I think the strong should rise to the top. It's the natural order of things.”
“I am not weak,” Ludcarab growled. “Should we do this as my people did in the old days? A fight to the death. The one still breathing rules. I’m ready to go when you are.”
“I would be willing to agree to that,” Sincaro said. “I haven’t ruled thousands of vampires for centuries because of my good looks.”
Alston had known that eventually the tension between them would come to a head. There was too much at stake and they each knew it. Whoever ended up on top would rule completely, not just their own race, but other supernaturals and humans as well.
“I don’t think it would be wise for us to begin fighting amongst ourselves when we have enemies who are still a threat,” Alston said, keeping his tone reasonable, despite the fact that he really wanted to end the three males in front of him. He’d never liked Ludcarab. The elf king had always been a pompous ass, bloated on power. Sincaro had, for the most part, kept to himself. After all, he had charge over a herd of vampires across the world that kept him busy. Granted, he had men like Cain who helped govern the covens and kept them in check. But now, as Sincaro stood before him like a puffed-up peacock attempting to intimidate Alston, he saw that the vampire king was every bit as power hungry as Ludcarab and himself.
“He’s right,” Cain spoke up. “If we begin to divide our ranks because of our own ambitions, we won’t have a chance against the other supernaturals. Vasile Lupei is no one to be trifled with. He is powerful, and he is able to gain the loyalty of not only Canis lupus but other supernaturals as well. This is not going to be an easy fight.”
“We have their pups,” Ludcarab said.
“And you honestly think we will be able to hold onto them?” Cain smirked.
“Why wouldn’t we?” Sincaro asked.
“They have Perizada, and she’s probably recruited the other high fae.”
Alston shook his head. “Peri abandoned them on the battlefield. I’ll bet she’s in the faerie realm cursing the fact that she ever involved herself with the human realm.”
“As a high fae, you of all people should not be so quick to dismiss her,” Sincaro warned.
Alston could feel his face getting red as his anger rose. His hatred for Perizada had grown like a rumbling volcano, and he was very close to erupting. “I’m not just a high fae. I happen to be the leader of the high fae in case you’ve forgotten. My power is beyond Perizada’s.”
Sincaro shook his head. “You were the leader. You left that life, and now you’re a traitor to them. Isn’t the fae power linked to their realm? And can’t it be linked to other fae if they allow it?”
Alston wasn’t surprised the vampire knew so much about their kind. He was old, and old beings learned things over time. It’s how they stayed alive. How they adapted. “In case you have forgotten, I have fae here in the Order who are loyal to me. If I ever need more power than I already have, they are at my beck and call.”
Sincaro did not look convinced, which bothered Alston. Did he know something about the goings on within their organization that he did not? Was there division not only in the leadership but in the soldiers as well?
Sincaro held up his hand when Cain began to speak again. “I agree with Alston. This is not the right time to be challenging one another.” He looked at the elf king. “We have recognized your leadership and vision for the Order for a long time. Maybe it’s time we sat down with the heads of each of the supernatural leaders who support the Order, and you can lay out the direction you believe our organization needs to go once this battle is over. We need to know that we all are on the same page.”
Ludcarab glanced at the three of them, his eyes staying on Alston the longest, and then finally nodded. “Of course. I would not expect anyone to follow me blindly. Though I do believe that I have proven myself in the past