Wild and Free (The Three #3)(195)

“He and his army attacked two American towns,” the president shot back.

“And he and his army will pay for their crimes,” Callum returned. “We’ve already rounded up the golem and all the others. They have fallen.”

“The vampire Etienne must stand trial,” the president declared.

“He has and has been found guilty. Which is why we’re speaking,” Callum reminded him.

“You can’t simply execute him without—” the president began but stopped when Callum leaned forward in his seat and his expression changed.

“Humans do what they do and much of it I don’t understand. I know what you wish. I know you wish for his trial to be televised. And, in a small way, I understand that would provide closure, not to mention the understanding of justice being done…and vengeance. But mostly, the only purpose it would serve would be to provide titillation and an opportunity for voyeurism. Immortals don’t do things that way. We will make the transcripts of the trial available to the ruling bodies of all nations and you can decide to do with them what you will. But Lucien takes Etienne’s head tonight. And then it is done.”

“We cannot—” the president tried again.

“This call was a courtesy,” Callum bit out. “It was our people who committed the atrocities. It was also our people who bled and fell to put a stop to it. We will have justice. You will only be assured of it. And now, we’re done.”

“If this is how you intend to conduct our affairs for the future, Callum, I have grave concerns,” the president sniffed.

“And if you haven’t learned from our sacrifice that we wish harmony but autonomy, not dominance or interference, I fear for your nation’s future as that would prove you’re not a very astute leader,” Callum retorted.

The president reared back in his baronial chair.

“As you are very aware, this threat was not new. We have lost much in order to contain it for a very long time. And further, in all matters, we have kept order amongst our people for an equally long time,” Callum shared something the President knew. “We know how to govern our own. You have no idea. But regardless, at no time during the negotiations to conceive a plan to share the knowledge of immortal existence with humans was such meddling discussed. I’ve carefully gone over the minutes and Gregor’s copious notes on all of your meetings. After we, and we alone, secured a safe transition into society for our people, changing your tactics now would be foolhardy.”

The president’s brows shot up. “Is that a threat?”

“If you wish to take it as one, I’ve no control over that,” Callum replied. “However, it wasn’t one. It was simply a statement of fact.”

The president glared.

Callum finished it, “We’ll share with you when we’ve concluded the matter with Etienne before we release a statement to the press. Now, I wish you a good day.”

With that, he leaned forward, moved the mouse, and clicked, disconnecting the call.

“In the upcoming election, the candidate campaigning against him and favored to win is a much more open-minded human,” Cristiano noted.

“This is because his daughter is dating a wolf,” Callum muttered, rising from his seat. “I must go to Lucien.”

“When you speak to him, if you would, mention our invitation to join The Council,” Rudolf called as Callum moved to the door. “He’s refused, but he would be an excellent addition to our fold and your recommendation would hold great sway with him.”

Callum stopped and cut his eyes to the vampire. “Don’t you think he’s earned at least a small time of peace?”

“He’s revered, Callum, and we’re all going through colossal adjustments,” Cristiano replied. “He could be very helpful.”

He understood their concerns.

They’d lost Gregor.

They needed to fill that hole.

A hole that couldn’t be filled. Not even by Lucien. Hell, especially not by Lucien, who was absolutely no politician.

“Give him his time of peace, time with his mate, a year, five, then try again,” Callum suggested, even though he knew no matter how much time elapsed, they would fail.

The vampires nodded.

Callum looked to the queen of wraiths and the king of phantoms.

“You’ll attend?” he asked.

“Absolutely,” Gastineau replied, curling his arm around his mate to pull her close to his side.

The wraiths and phantoms had reunited.

An additional gift to Gregor’s legacy.

Callum jerked up his chin.

Then he left to tell Lucien the execution would commence as planned.

After that, he would find his queen.

*

The Three

In Speranza, Italy, at the headquarters of The Vampire Dominion, where the trial took place, they stood side by side along with Yuri but save Lucien, who stood in front of them, the shining, long, thin, lethal blade of a sword with its ornate gold grip that curled in swirls around his hand.

Serena, Gastineau, and a delegation of wraith and phantom witnesses floated behind them, off to the right.

Standing amongst them were Julian and Isobel, Lucien’s children, and Magdalene, his mother. They did not come as representatives of Etienne’s family. They came as the blood of Lucien and were there, as it was their due, to witness Lucien’s vengeance.