little while then,” I told him.
He grinned and glanced over at Anastasia, who refused to meet his gaze. “Maybe I will.”
Chapter Seventeen
I don’t know what I expected, but it certainly wasn’t what I arrived home to witness. We had definitely entered the wing-it zone.
“What the actual fuck?” I muttered as I felt Levi and Anastasia materialize next to me.
“And then some,” Levi added.
Over two hundred unfamiliar and highly armed Vampyres stood facing the Cressida House behind a crazed-looking Catriona. Wilhem stood silently next to her with his men flanking them on all sides. One of Catriona’s hands flailed wildly, and the other was possessively on Wilhem’s back.
We’d landed to the far left side of the palace behind a grove of blossoming apple trees. Unlike Martha and Jane landing in the rose bushes, I’d chosen this spot. Having no clue what was going down, I wanted to arrive under the radar. We were fifty yards from the action.
Ethan stood about a hundred feet away from his possibly soon-to-be-dead brother with our palace at his back. Behind Ethan stood at least forty Elite Guards. We were outnumbered. However, forty of our men and women were probably worth a thousand of Wilhem’s men.
“He’s not with her,” Levi said.
“Who’s not with who?” I asked, not following.
“Wilhem’s not with his consort.”
“Looks to me like he’s standing right next to her,” I pointed out.
“Look at his stance,” Levi said. “It’s odd.”
“Your leadership is no longer needed or wanted,” Catriona shouted. “Wilhem will bring the North American Dominion together with the South American Dominion. As one, we will rule the entire world!”
Wilhem’s army cheered. Wilhem didn’t move a muscle.
“Something is off,” I said, agreeing with my brother. I just didn’t know what it was. “And Carolinainnia has lost her mind.”
“I will end that bitch,” Anastasia hissed with so much naked venom in her voice, I hated to remind her that I’d already called dibs on Catriona’s head. “Move over here and look from this angle. She has a sliver dagger at Wilhem’s back, aimed at his heart. She’s turned his men against him. Unbelievable.”
“There you go,” Levi said with smug satisfaction. “I was right.”
“You win,” I said tightly.
“What’s her end game?” Levi inquired. “You really believe his entire army has turned on him?”
“That’s a fine question.” I glanced over at Anastasia. “Thoughts?”
She shook her head and ran her hands through her hair in agitation. “I want to say that what we see is real,” she said. “However, at this point, I wouldn’t discount anything. My guess would be that she wants Ethan to kill Wilhem. She can cry foul. The South American army attacks and a coup ensues. She’s sown tremendous distrust in Ethan’s people by creating Zombies. It might work.”
“When Hell freezes over. Fuck,” I said, glancing around wildly. “Does anyone see Mother Nature?”
“No,” Anastasia said, her body as tight as a wire about to snap. “Where will she land?”
“She usually arrives with a jungle and slides in on a pole. There’s a fine chance she’s in the Grand Ballroom wondering what the heck is going on. I forgot to tell her where we would be.”
“Not nice to fool Mother Nature,” Levi pointed out.
“I am fully aware that you’re being sarcastic,” I told him with a raised brow. “However, you are correct. We could have so many problems on our hands shortly that no one is going to know what hit them.”
“Might not be a bad thing,” Anastasia said, still laser focused on Catriona and the silver spike aimed at her brother’s back.
Hold that thought,” I told her. “Ethan, I’m here. I can see you. Don’t turn around. I’m on the far left side of the palace with Anastasia and Levi. Catriona has a silver dagger at Wilhem’s back.”
“That information certainly sheds some light on the shitshow,” Ethan growled.
“Agreed. Also, I think Mother Nature landed in the palace or she poofed somewhere else altogether. Catriona is responsible for the Zombies. She created them herself. I have no clue if Wilhem was in on it.”
“I’m going to say no to that,” Ethan replied tersely. “His own men have apparently turned on him and now it appears his fucking consort is going to end him on my front lawn.”
“They’re some seriously bad houseguests,” I said.
“Understatement,” Ethan said flatly.
Levi chuckled. I’d forgotten he could hear us.
“Did you find Walter the jackhole traitor?” I asked.
“Yes,” Ethan said. “He won’t talk. He’s in the dungeon. Did you eliminate the Zombies?”
“Not exactly,” I told him.
His body stiffened. “Define not exactly.”
“The living dead