Pretty When She Destroys (Pretty When She Dies #3)(13)

“That’s their fight,” Eduardo said, gesturing toward Cian and Amaliya. “Not mine.”

Samantha glowered at the coyote. “Do you have to be such an *?”

“I’m stating the truth. We’re all here to save the world, not her. Even if she is pretty f*ckin’ hot and I’d love to bend her—”

Cian kicked Eduardo’s chair over. The coyote hit the floor, rolled, and came up growling. Instantly on his feet, Cian bared his fangs, eyes flashing red.

Amaliya rolled her eyes. “Oh, my gawd! Calm the f*ck down, boys!”

“Don’t push me, vampire,” Eduardo said around a mouthful of sharp teeth.

“You’re in my city because I allow it.” Cian answered. “Amaliya is mine, not yours.”

“Excuse me?” Amaliya slammed her high heels onto the floor and stood with her hands on her hips. “I’m my own person, Cian, and your girlfriend. You don’t own me.”

Rachoń laughed with delight. “And you wonder why I won’t send more of my people to help you.”

Back me up. He’s challenging my authority, Cian’s voice said clearly in Amaliya’s mind. Don’t weaken me.

“But Cian is totally the boss of the city and what he says goes,” Amaliya said quickly, her brow furrowing. Had she really heard Cian’s words in her head? She didn’t want to undermine him, so she decided to act as though she had somehow really heard him. “I’m totally in his corner, so back your shit down, Eduardo.”

Eduardo narrowed his non-human eyes at her.

“So if I tell you to help me defend Amaliya, you will do exactly that or you will leave my city.” Cian met the coyote’s gaze. His lean muscled body was tensed for battle.

Using the tip of his boot, Eduardo up righted his chair, slumped into it, and nodded. “Fine.”

“The truth of the matter is that we all have a role to play,” Cian said, turning to face the people gawking at him from around the table. “Jeff, coordinate with The Assembly. Aimee, find a way to set up strong wards against any form of attack and we need the most powerful defensive and offensive spells you can mix. Alexia, you need to start building a communication center so we can keep track of what is going on. Rachoń, send Baptiste, but you better prepare your people to fight if the veil does come down. Benchley, you know a lot about ghosts and mediums, so help Samantha. Samantha, you need to be at full power, so you’ll need to practice, and often. Amaliya, I expect you to do the same. Cass, I will need you to build an arsenal that will be able to take out supernaturals. Sergio, go home. This isn’t your fight.”

“I’m invested in this, too! I have a family,” Sergio exclaimed.

“You’re also a liability. You’re not trained for this.” Cian remained standing, arms folded over his chest. Amaliya remained at his side, trying to look supportive and imposing.

“Then train me!”

“Go home,” Amaliya said, tired of the fighting. “Sergio, I already lost Grandmama. Do I have to lose you, too?”

With a grunt of frustration, Sergio looked away from her. “Fine.”

“What will you do, Cian?” Jeff ventured to ask.

“Talk to the other vampires and hope I can convince them to side with us,” Cian answered.

“Any chance they’ll do that?” Cass asked.

Cian lifted his shoulders. “I don’t know.”

“So we’re done,” Jeff said.

“We know what we need to do,” Cass agreed.

Cian shoved the chair he had been sitting in back under the table. “Let’s get to work.”

As the group split apart, forming small pockets scattered across the room, Amaliya followed Cian along the short hall into a smaller room filled with bookshelves. Taking hold of her wrists, he tugged her close, kissing her deeply.

“You heard me in your mind,” he said in a soft voice when they parted.

She nodded.

Cian grinned. “Finally. I’ve been trying to break through that tough head of yours for months.”

“You hear my thoughts, don’t you?” Amaliya asked. She had always wondered, but was afraid to ask.

“Yes. Not always, but sometimes.” Cian slid his hands up her arms to rest on her shoulders.

Did you notice Aimee and Cassandra when talking about the blood bond?

Cian nodded.

Amaliya was both unnerved, but impressed by their new connection. They know how to break it, don’t they?

Maybe. I don’t want to push too hard...yet.

“Still trying to connect with her?” Amaliya said aloud. She pressed her hand to his cheek and he turned to kiss her palm. The pulse of his power enraptured her. She loved him so much.

“Yes, but it’s not easy. Though getting better.”

“Sorry to interrupt, but I’m leaving. I have much to do,” Rachoń’s voice said from behind them.

Cian turned and nodded. “We’ll be in touch.”

“You do realize that most vampires have no reason to side with us, don’t you, Cian?”

“I can try to convince them otherwise.”

“You’ll most likely fail,” Rachoń said.

“We’ll prepare for the worst.” As always Cian sounded reassuringly calm and confident.