The only vampires who are ignore everything the others do, so they’re just as guilty, as they know and do nothing but stick their heads in the sand.”
“Yes, and they are the other two biggest councils,” she sighed. “The dragon royals are the fourth most powerful group, but they took heavy hits when Africa and Australia were overthrown. That was when the corruption spiraled out so bad. It has been incremental since the fairies left, but that was the catalyst. There was no balance anymore.”
“And other shifters are following their lead instead of the wolves,” I worried.
“How do you know this?”
I snorted again. “A hawk councilmember tried to have me arrested for stealing from him without listing what was stolen and when it happened, so it wasn’t in the report it was hobgoblins. The conditions we’re learning of that they endured is—humans don’t allow their pets to be treated that way. It’s sick. And those are the elite and leaders. It’s all off the rails and terrifying.”
“So you are the one saving them,” she murmured.
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” I chuckled darkly. “I simply run the havens they’ve been coming into.”
“Of course. My mistake,” she purred.
Oh, I liked her.
“The problem with the warlocks not acting reasonable is trying to figure out what to do next. Backing off would make things worse.”
“Yes, as they would jump on any chance and think their pressure worked and your council would bend to them. Their egos would see it as such.”
She didn’t answer right away, sighing heavily. “Yes, yes, such egotistical men would. That is disturbing.” There was tapping in the background and I realized it was her nails on a hard surface. “There is something I want and it isn’t difficult—it benefits you even—but I want to be upfront that I do have a goal in all of this.”
“I adore your refreshing honesty instead of treating me like moron that can easily be manipulated,” I blurted, shocked down to my toes that someone was being straight with me.
“I appreciate yours as well,” she chuckled. “I would like you to broker a meeting with Queen Sasha. I would like to be her ally and get to know her better, but there is history. Not ours. Our mothers did not get along, and I’m sure mine told me she was wronged, as Queen Sasha’s told her the same. We weren’t even alive, so we won’t know, and I would like to leave it with our mothers who are both gone.”
“I can’t see that being a problem. She’s not one to hold grudges, and certainly not for the sins of someone else. I would do that without your help, but what are you offering to help with?”
“I offer my friendship, for one. As your friendship with Queen Sasha has made parties think twice about trying for you, a friendship with the mate of the high elder of the wolf shifter council is protection.”
“Thank you, but I’m truly friends with Mrs. Vogel, and I don’t use people like that.”
“You really are as lovely and honorable as my mate said,” she whispered, sounding shocked. “I still would give it and we can get to know each other, Ms. Vale. You’re doing a lot of good we wish to help with. We might not be able to do as much as we would like, as you’re not a wolf, but it’s not only your fight you’re engaging in.”
I nodded, even if she couldn’t see it. I’d heard that over and over again, learning to accept the valid offers because of it. “I understand.”
“Good. My mate was also amused at how dismissive you were of the prime wolves they brought to introduce you to.”
I winced and noticed others in the room did. “Oblivious would be a better word. I didn’t realize until I was clued in later and while a woman admitting she’s dense on something isn’t ever smart, I prefer to be honest. I don’t like how everyone is rushing to throw men at me while most imply it’s to take me over and get me under control.”
“My mate did not—”
“I know. Or I didn’t know that for sure, but Zack and Ray were damn sure that’s not how wolves operate. I really just assumed they were part of the councilmens’ posses, and who they all were didn’t really matter to me. So no offense was meant, but…”
“But you don’t want to apologize for what you see as bad behavior of bringing men to you on