Dominik
It hasn’t escaped my attention there is another presence in the café, one of solid granite. Viktor stands off to one side, as ancient as the sunset.
Ferenc holds the little pup against his shoulder. It yawns and stretches and then goes back to sleep.
“It’s a small litter,” he says quietly, looking over at his mate, who has handed one of the pups she holds to Lucy.
My mate holds it as if it’s one of the grenades the humans like so much, although I doubt it will go off in a similar manner.
“By werewolf standards anyway,” Ferenc continues. “But as I want to keep her pregnant for the foreseeable, I don’t care.”
I lift my lip slightly.
“And you seem to have found a pregnant human.” He fixes me with his wolfish gaze.
“My consort.”
“You don’t fool me. Vamp consorts are vamps. That is Lucy, a friend of Grace and most definitely human. I can smell her a mile away.”
The only reason I don’t touch him is because of the pup he carries. Otherwise I would have done some serious damage. Instead I tap my claws on the wooden balustrade, making holes which will need to be fixed as a matter of some urgency.
If Ferenc notices, and he notices, he decides it’s best not to say anything, instead dropping into a seat. A waiter rushes over, placing a coffee in front of him.
“So, to what do I owe the pleasure of Viktor?” I eye the gargoyle.
“I’ve been hearing some interesting stories.” Ferenc takes a sip of his drink and leans back in his chair, gently rubbing the back of the pup who yawns and closes his eyes.
I’m getting the feeling this might be payback for London. If the werewolf had any imagination, which I doubt he does. I’ve known Ferenc a long time, too long given how much I dislike the smell of wet dog, but he’s always been loyal, just like any pack member should be.
“What have you been hearing?” I lean back against the balustrade, my eyes straying to Lucy again who is now cradling both pups while her friend talks animatedly and shoves croissant into her mouth.
Perfectly fitted for a life with a werewolf.
“About the rogue vampire?” Ferenc says. “The one you told us was under control.”
“He is under control.”
“I find it’s useful to keep family close.” Ferenc’s eyes glitter with danger. “Often too close for comfort.”
“Like your cousin, you mean. I returned him a changed wolf.” I bare my fangs, but Ferenc doesn’t bite.
“You did. I sent him to a farm on the puszta. I hear he might even recover the use of his arm eventually.”
“You did want the information.” I pick at a non-existent thread on my sleeve.
“I did. However, I’d have preferred to know the vampire trying to kill me was your brother.”
“I am not his keeper, Ferenc. Who he was, who he is, doesn’t matter. Vampires are not pack animals. What he does is in no way influenced by me.”
“I’m pleased to hear you don’t want me dead.” Ferenc bares his teeth. “But it doesn’t change the fact you had him and you let him walk free.”
I sigh as he takes another sip of his coffee, not taking his eyes off me, like a wolf sizing up prey.
“It’s complicated.”
“Make it uncomplicated, so I can understand why you let the vampire who threatened me, my mate, and my unborn pups go free,” Ferenc says, his voice so low it’s barely even a growl.
I look over at Viktor. So much for our truce. The gargoyle is impassive.
“He took one of my guards by surprise and escaped.” I study my claws. “Not a moment I’m proud of, but I had all the usual precautions in place. He shouldn’t have been able to leave my nest.”
“Atrocious.”
“I think we can probably agree neither of us have had family members acquit themselves particularly well recently.” I raise my eyes to him.
“If he comes for me, or my mate, or my pups, I will end him,” Ferenc growls. “If he attempts to open the vault, I will end him.”
“He won’t open the vault. It’ll will stay where it is as long as I’m alive.” I fix him with my usual gaze. “And I have a mate who is with child. Why would I want to risk any harm to them from my brother?”
It’s true to my cold, dark soul. I can say such words when I know what Damek demanded of me.
Of the deception I am maintaining whilst he continues to circle, to push to attempt to break in.
I know what he wants. I know he will continue to attempt to get it until such a time he is successful or he is at an end.
In the meantime, he will continually be a thorn in my side.
Ferenc holds my gaze. The pup resting on his shoulder stirs and whimpers, distracting him enough I can glance at Viktor.
The stony gaze I get back tells me everything I want to know. He had to tell Ferenc after the incident at the gallery. His loose tongue will not go unnoticed.
“I will not let any harm come to you or your pack from my brother, Ferenc. You have my word.”
“If I didn’t already know your word was good, mostly, I wouldn’t take the word of a vampire,” Ferenc rasps.
“Mostly?”
“You weren’t exactly honest with me about your brother being the rogue vampire,” he says, shifting the youngster to his other shoulder. “If you want the assistance of pack Kobór in the future, I’m going to need you to stop being such a vamp.”
“Did I or did I not come to your aid in London?”
“You had your own motives.”
“I did.” I glare at him. “And I didn’t need to spend my time rescuing you from the Monster Force after you got yourself tangled up in it.”
Ferenc rolls his eyes.
“Answer for everything. Spoken like a true vamp.”
The pup is restless now and Ferenc gets to his feet. “This one needs a feed,” he says.
“Ferenc.” I stop him as he walks past me towards our mates. “I have given you my word. This situation with my brother will not continue, and your pack will be safe.”
“I should hope so, for the sake of your mate as well as mine.”