Chapter 45
Forty-Five
ASHTON
My father once told me that a great leader would be willing to give up anything—or anyone—for the good of others.
I told him I understood, but the truth is, I didn’t. Not really. I couldn’t imagine caring about anyone or anything that much. To me, it was a no-brainer. Sacrifice one person for the survival of everyone else? Easy.
Then I found my pack. Three idiotic shifters whom I would die for. Kill for. Live for.
And Izzy. Goddamn Izzy.
Why couldn’t she have stayed where she was? Why did she have to come here and overturn my life? I want to hate her—God only knows I’ve been trying to—but I can’t. She consumes me, burrowing her way beneath my defenses with every coy glance and acerbic retort.
She’s right. I have been pushing her away.
But it’s the only way to keep her safe.
I think back to my meeting with the vampire Elders.
Fear coils around my throat like a noose as I follow Kain through the winding halls of the hotel and then stop when we reach the ballroom.
“Just follow my lead,” Kain tells me, then he pushes open the door and steps inside.
The first thing I notice are the vampires themselves—their beautiful faces belying an agelessness and wisdom that surpasses my comprehension.
A woman with chestnut-colored hair bares her fangs when she sees me. “Kain, who is that?”
“It’s cool. He’s with me.” Kain grabs my arm and drags me farther into the room.
I grit my teeth but don’t complain—even though I feel like a rabbit dumped into a cage with ravenous wolves.
Oh, the irony.
“He’s Gregor’s boy, isn’t he?” The tallest vampire takes a sip from a champagne flute, his red eyes intent on mine over the rim.
Edward, I believe his name is.
The leader.
Whispers ripple through the room, and the brunette from before hisses in our direction.
“You brought a Councilmember’s son here? Are you fucking insane?”
“Relax.” Kain doesn’t seem at all perturbed by the glares hurled his way as he moves closer to Edward. “He’s on our side.”
One of Edward’s brows quirks upwards. “Oh, is he?”
He gives me a pointed look, and I know Kain won’t be able to answer for me this time around.
Play this carefully, Ashton, I tell myself, taking a breath.
“Hunters attacked the shifters,” I say carefully, the lie burning the tip of my tongue. “They need to be eradicated.”
It’s hard to say those words, knowing what I do. But the last thing I want is for the vampires to realize I’m onto them. We’re onto them.
Kain gives me a curious look but doesn’t contradict my claim. He probably thinks I’m lying to get the vampires to help us take down the Hunters, even though that’s the last thing on my mind.
“You’re speaking of an alliance?” Edward’s eyes glimmer with a thousand secrets—ones I can’t even begin to dissect.
“Are you even authorized to do so?” a man with dark skin interjects, frowning.
“I guess we’ll find out,” I say with a shrug.
The memory shifts again.
We stand outside the hotel an hour later—an hour full of angry vampires, a smug Edward, and a satisfied Kain.
“If the vampires and shifters work together, we might be able to annihilate the Hunters for good. Maybe even the witches,” Kain says, a wicked smile unfurling on his lips.
I half expect him to rub his hands together like a stereotypical movie villain.
“I would be surprised if the vampires accept the deal, considering they believe the shifters are behind a recent attack on them.” I slide my gaze to Kain, keeping my expression impassive. “But then again, you knew that.”
Kain doesn’t even bother to deny it.
“I think I’ve proven myself to you already.” I straighten the sleeves of my jacket, trying to ignore the erratic thumping of my heart. “Isn’t it time I meet the mastermind behind all of this?”
Kain stares at me intensely…then breaks into raucous laughter. He actually throws his head back and slaps his knee.
I watch him dispassionately, not allowing a single crack to appear on my face.
“Do you think I’m an idiot?” Kain wipes tears from his eyes as he struggles to get his laughter under control. “I know you’re just using me to get information, and honestly? I’m okay with it. It got me out of that damn cell, for one, and hopefully the vampires will join our side thanks to you.”
Unease gnaws at my stomach lining.
“You still don’t trust me.” I don’t phrase it as a question.
“You want my trust?” Kain straightens from his slightly crouched position and levels me with a penetrating stare. “Prove yourself.”
“How?” My hands twitch by my sides, wanting to curl into tight balls, but I leave them loose.
“My…employer wants something. Someone.” A malevolent grin appears on Kain’s face. “You give her to him, and he’ll trust you.”
My unease intensifies, and icy fingers of dread cascade down my spine, causing goose bumps to ripple on my skin.
“Who?” I ask, but I already know what he’s going to say.
“Izzy.” Kain spears me with an unreadable look. “He wants Izzy.”
Now, a day later, I can’t think of anything else.
My father’s mantra plays on a continuous loop in my head.
A great leader will give up anything—or anyone—for the good of others.
If I can find the person in charge, I can hopefully stop this war before it can begin.
But…
But there’s no way to guarantee Izzy’s safety. For all I know, the second I hand her over, she’ll be killed or moved or worse.
Can I give up my fated mate to save hundreds of lives?
In the cage beside me, Christian whines, lowering his huge, furry head.
I lean against the metal bars as my stomach churns, bile scorching my throat.
“I don’t know what to do,” I whisper to my brother, keeping my voice low so the others won’t hear me.
Everybody else is already back at the clearing, except for Travan and Izzy. Kyle, who went to look for them a few minutes earlier, assured us they were fine and simply talking.
That’s good.
I don’t want to see her.
Because if I do…
A great leader will give up anything—or anyone—for the good of others.
I wish I hated the girl. That would make this decision so much easier.
Now I’m stuck wrestling my own need to care for her versus my desire to protect my people.
My father would know what to do, but I’m afraid to ask for his opinion. I know exactly what he would say.
A great leader will give up anything—or anyone—for the good of others.
Izzy or my people.
Izzy or hundreds of innocents who could get hurt in this war.
Izzy or my conscience.
The decision weighs on me, a one-thousand-pound weight, and I know nothing will alleviate the burden.
Tonight…
Tonight, I’ll make a decision.
Today, I’ll pretend I didn’t mess everything up irrevocably with the one girl I shouldn’t care for but do anyway.