**3rd Person POV**
Given the bad blood between the two camps, Major Drieden's worry was not at all suspicious of his interests in this talk but was a valid fear.
“We already do trade and I can argue that you could do the same to us,” returned Charlotte. It was true that her pack did business with the vampires. Unlike the rest of the werewolf clan, they had been quite neutral in their relations, especially before the George saga and the attempt to eviscerate them.
“Let us concentrate on the more immediate problem. We would like to take harsh actions against the raiders in our land while preventing a serious provocation between our kinds,” said Harlin, trying to bring the conversation to the reason they had come in the first place.
“I can guarantee you that no citizen of Dome is on your land and should any be found committing nefarious activities like robbery or any such thing, we will punish such a fellow,” came Kristoff's response.
“How do we convince the other vampire kings not to go to war with us over defending the sovereignty of our land?” quipped Reginald.
“It will be an impossible task. We vampires will not sit on our hands if another of us turns up dead in your land,” said Major Drieden.
****
“You've done a lot for us brother,” said Ashton, hugging Azrael, his closest friend. He was happy to see that he had returned home safely.
“I still can't get over the fact that you wanted me to return to you a corpse, but you're all forgiven,” said Azrael with a laugh. Ashton laughed too because he understood what Azrael had said. He had wanted to stir up the werewolves a bit and so he had written to Azrael who had been in the Shadowclaw pack, looking over the interests of Ashton in the pack. Ashton had wanted him to be arrested and then questioned by their King to get an idea of what the werewolf was like. They had also staged his fake death. The truth was the reason the vampires had survived this long had to do with the fact that they were almost impossible to kill.
“You are Ashton's new bride,” said Azrael with a smile at the young lovely woman who stood beside Ashton. His eyes did a quick sweep at her lovely features. He had to give his friend credit for always managing to find the loveliest women.
Gabriella did not like the way he said, new bride. It made it seem like there had been other brides of which there had only been one who had died not too long after her marriage to Ashton.
“I do not think we have been introduced,” Gabriella’s voice was strident. She did not care to know what his role was, what mattered was that she ranked way higher than he was and she would not allow him to address her casually.
“Gabriella…” Ashton began to make the introductions but Gabriella cut him off with a correction, “Princess Gabriella…”
Ashton cleared his throat uncomfortably, he would have to have a long talk with her afterwards about how to address him in the presence of his friends going forward.
“Princess Gabriella, I would like you to meet my long-time friend, Lord Azrael, Earl of Sandwich,” said Prince Ashton by way of introduction.
Gabriella nodded her head to acknowledge Azrael then excused herself afterwards.
“I will talk to her,” Ashton's eyes were red once Gabriella had left them.
“Ashton, I would advice that you treat her with care. Dome would not keep quiet if you lay a hand on their princess,” said Azrael who had taken one look at Gabriella and realised at once that she was not at all like all the other women his friend usually kept by his side or on his bed.
“She will never have the chance to tell,” his friend's voice was dangerously low and while he had never cared before how Ashton treated women, this time it bothered him.
“You’re not thinking of killing her, are you?” quipped Azrael quietly. He knew that Ashton's previous wife had not died of natural causes. After all, he had helped get the poison that had contributed to her death.
“Not yet. This werewolf business may drag on longer than I like,” returned Ashton. He had been at it for a little over thirty years and it was still very much in play. His plans to use George had failed terribly and he had suffered huge losses then. This time he was playing the long game but he did not have a lot of patience for it.
“Things won't end well if you mistreat her,” warned Azrael. Ashton's eyes narrowed on his friend.
“Why do you care? Do you like her?” quipped Ashton with sarcasm.
“We should discuss the Shadowclaw pack. Just like you…”
“Why are you changing the subject?”
“Because what you're implying is ludicrous. Do I like her? Of course not, she's yours.”
“I see.”
The two friends said nothing for a while but only stared at each other. Ashton was deciding what he would do if it turned out Azrael actually wanted Gabriella. It would be good if that were the case because then he would be able to exploit that point and ensure that Azrael never betrays him. While Azrael may view him as a genuine friend, Ashton had no such sentiments. He only became friendly with people he wanted to exploit.
“Tell me about the Shadowclaw pack,” said Ashton after a minute or two of quiet between them.
“Just like you wanted, they believe the other vampires are hiding out in inns across the pack,” reported Azrael.
“That is good. So they suspect nothing of Lord Silver?” quipped Ashton.
“Not a whiff. We could not have chosen a more perfect hideout. Do you know Lord Silver has special guards protecting his place from raids?” said Azrael.
“The man can be a little extra sometimes.”