Chapter 207: PART 2 -20 - THE FOOTAGE

-VANCE’S POV-

“What’s this?” I growled, walking into my office at the pack house with Blayne setting up his laptop on my desk.

Duke averted his gaze from the large luminous moon through the window to look at me while he leaned against the wall. Fatigue adorned each of us and we wanted to crawl back into bed with our mates. Unfortunately, pack safety came first. The hunt for the enemy brought long days and reoccurring migraines.

Sianna and I were just about to go to bed when my Gamma urgently linked me about an imperative matter for my immediate attention. My wolf grumbled and was pissed that we were dragged from canoodling our mate.

It’s been one week since we battled the barakian kriplings. The attack and the importance of preparations for any other attempt had us all working overtime. Therefore, Sianna had no time to dwell on the Esme situation. Thank goddess!

Apparently, Bette Clarkson had warned Esme not to approach me. She would have done it subtly with Sianna. Esme was very impatient and made the move herself. In defiance of leaving Dark Wolverson, she attacked Blayne and it triggered his bad side. During the altercation, he held her throat a bit too tight and it snapped.

Well, all’s well that ends well.

Her death meant nothing to me. It only irked me because I thought Sianna would misunderstand and accuse me of trying to cheat on her. On the other hand, the Kurtis guy bothered the hell out of me. After years of putting down the first Curtis mutt, here comes another one to haunt me. It was unfair to be paying for a dead man’s sin, but his name was like a flaming composition in my blood.

Standing in the midst of my two best friends, I sighed. Sleep riddled me. I was tired. The meeting with the Supernatural Triad Council took all day and then we deplored the gatekeepers to hunt the necromancer.

Thankfully, the halo-moon serums helped Venus recover so fast that she was back to her normal self. Her grandmother, Dr. Stone, monitored her, and she resumed school. Venus was shaken, but ultimately fine. Additionally, the pendant necklace that she wore would also repel the kriplings if they ever tried to get near her again.

“Liam sent this footage to me.” Blayne brought the video up and paused it. “This is what took place at Assad’s mansion.” He looked from me to Duke, saying, “I watched about sixty seconds of it before rushing here to show you.”

“Run it,” Duke said with a yawn. He covered his mouth.

Right. Liam and Donald were still doing espionage at the werelion king’s territory in Wisconsin. Silence pervaded and he pressed play.

The video began and we watched the screen concentratedly………

A tall man with a red goatee and his bald head covered in tattoos strode into the formal dining room. Based on his army hunting apparel and strong gait, he could be the second-in-command.

While eating breakfast, King Assad set his knife and fork down and used the napkin to clean the tips of his fingers before giving his full attention to the other guy.

“Was the diving team successful, Squiggles?” Assad inquired, chewing. He brushed the side of his long curly blonde hair back and his golden eyes flashed with intimidation.

“No, my lord.” He cut the chase and told him outright after a courteous bow.

Assad sighed with a heavy heart. He took up his brisket and bit into it. The displeasure on his oblong face seemed like suddenly the meat had lost its refined flavor. “Is there no expert that knows the seas well enough to be able to get me what I want?”

“Well,” Squiggles began, “Merfolks could be very helpful if you allow Tygart to go through with his plan. He sent word that he would be detonating the hypersonic missiles to shake up the Merfolk tribes tomorrow.”

“Rrrrrrr!” Assad roared in anger, slamming his palm on the surface of the table. “This whole fucking mess would have been avoided if he had followed my order and met with Mer-king Aegeus to strike a deal!” In anger, he slapped his plate from the table. “My brother is a hotheaded fool!”

“My lord, I have issued the order to General Kodjo to apprehend Duke Tygart. He will ensure that our ships are returned from sea since he is rebellious in his mission,” Squiggles reported. Assad eyed him with profused irritation as he continued, “And the human is here to see you.”

“He better have results for me today or I swear I will cut his balls off.” Assad spat and gestured with his hand. “Send him in.”

Squiggles bowed and went to open the dining room doors. A lanky man with short black spiky hair walked inside the room with a kripling in its black smoky form circling his body. He stood at the opposite end of the table wearing a grey trench coat with Squiggles behind him.

My body stiffened and my blood ran cold. So he was the motherfucker that sent his creatures into my pack. My lips pressed into thin lines and the pain between my temples increased. My wolf demanded his blood, instantly.

This was excellent evidence to go after the werelions. Assad was the reason my little princess got hurt. So help me goddess, he will pay. My hands remained fisted for the rest of the footage. In order for a human to become a necromancer, he had to delve into the dark magic and, of course, give up something to seal his deal with a Grim Reaper. Chances were that this necromancer had no heart.

I was smoldered with resentment, but I mastered my anger to keep watching the unfolding.

“King Assad, I bring you good news,” the human necromancer heralded with hands stretched out like a court jester at a celebration. “The fusion has been successful. The dragon egg’s yolk worked like a charm.” He bundled his fingers in a cone shape and kissed the tip before flashing them in the air and releasing a chuckle.

The king rose from his chair, palming the dining table. “Crawley, you’d better not be joking.”

Like a joker presenting a gift, he dipped his hands into his coat doing a little dance. “Ta-daaa!” Crawley sang as he held out a five-inch prismatic shard in his hand. The kripling soared away from his master, high to the ceiling.

Blayne zoomed in and paused the video. We drew closer and keenly studied the crafted object. I pursed my lips and tapped the desk. The pussycats had achieved their goal. Damn it!