the true part of being a leader comes in. “I don’t think we should attempt a rescue until tomorrow at first light. The vampires appear to be able to get about in the daylight, but I have a hunch that they are still at their peak during the night. We have to attack when there is an advantage. If we are going in there, then we are going in to win, not walking into a suicide mission.” Ally addressed the group like a true leader. She was finding more and more strength in the thought that she was where she was meant to be.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Ally continued, “I want input on the plan, but I don’t think we should risk the lives of Sophie and her family in this.”
“I agree,” James said strongly.
Adele and Chase nodded their agreement.
“But we want to help in some way,” Mackenzie said shyly.
“And you will, just not with the battle,” Ally said reassuringly. “We will need meals tonight if you could organize that Sophie. Logan we will need Destiny, Cooper and another horse saddled and ready tomorrow morning at dawn. Henry I need you on standby to bring us a car should we need one. I won’t bring you anywhere near danger though, I promise,” Ally smiled at him. “Mackenzie can you organize a guest room for Chase?”
Ally turned to Chase. “You will stay here until we find her, and I don’t want to hear any arguments.”
“I had none, but thank you,” Chase said holding her eye contact a moment longer than was necessary. He didn’t mean anything other than gratitude, but James didn’t like it and moved to take his place beside his love, Ally. She leaned into James instinctively without noticing. It didn’t however escape James’ notice. He was very pleased with how things were progressing.
“Tomorrow we will set out on a tracking mission. We can go back to the airstrip where it happened and see if they left any clues behind that we can follow. In the meantime, I want each of you three,” she motioned to James, Adele and Chase, “to contact every single immortal you know. See if they know anything about where we could find Natalia or anything to do with the vampires. And I think one of us should stay behind in case the vampires decide to pay a visit to Carlisle Manor. We can’t leave the Muir’s unguarded.”
Adele made a decision. “I will stay behind and protect them. You need Chase and James with you Ally.”
“Thanks Gran, but are you sure?”
“I am, sweetie. Besides, I’m an old woman. What use would you have for me?” she joked.
“Adele you’re younger than me,” James quipped.
“Yes, but you seem to have aged better,” she said with a wink.
Ally leaned in closer to James, once people had begun talking among themselves, shewhispered, “I want to talk about the conversion later when we are alone.”
“We’re going to be alone later, are we?” he said with a sultry smile and gleam in his eye.
“Not that kind of alone time, but I thought we could talk, spend some time getting to know each other better. And I want to read the prophecy remember?”
“I’m growing on you aren’t I?” he teased.
Ally smiled. “Maybe.”
“I told you that you would come around,” he said feeling very pleased with himself.
She teasingly punched him in the arm. He mocked her with a show of pain.
Adele was standing off to the side, watching Ally interact with James. They really were a perfect match, and they seemed so much more comfortable this evening than they had before the ride this morning.
She had watched her granddaughter grow so much over the last few days. It appeared that Ally had really found herself in this land, with James and with her role as a leader. People were already looking up to her and following her without question. It was a small start, but it was promising. The incident with the vampire seemed to only strengthen her resolve. She had expected Ally to go to pieces the first time she met with a vampire, but then she had met Vincent and survived to tell the tale. The girl was made of stronger stuff than Adele gave her credit for. She wished that Ally’s parents were here to see her, they would have been so proud. It was hard for Adele watching her only daughter’s child walking the path of destiny that she was, but some things were bigger than us. Ally seemed to