But he was purposely walking into a trap knowing he was going to lose a great number of vamps to reach his end goal. It was a difficult decision to make for the purpose of defeating his enemy once and for all. He couldn't risk her though, even if he were able to justify losing his vamps.
"Ikir." Charles said from the doorway. "It's time for the briefing."
Jonny drew a breath. No matter how he felt or what he feared, he wasn't willing to stop the plan he'd put into steamroller motion after returning from the White God's compound the night before. Either he succeeded, and he dealt with what he felt for Ashley after the fact, or he failed, and it didn't matter. Telling her how he felt when he wasn't able to guarantee her they had a chance at tomorrow was wrong in every way.
Resolved, Jonny trailed Charles out of the mansion to the steps overlooking the dock and beach. The leaders of each team, including Ashley, were gathered for the briefing about the plan he'd kept under wrap all day. He purposely didn't look at her.
"You have one goal," he started. "Keep Valon's vamps distracted. No matter how many losses we take. I want to clear a path for me to challenge him directly. He's smart, shrewd and will do what he can to make this a very unfair fight. We will take major hits. We will lose a lot of vamps. But if we're not all in tonight, we face a war of attrition and the destruction of the truce we have with the Guardians." Jonny paused and nodded to Charles. His second handed out the individual team's objectives to each leader. "Read those instructions. Destroy them. Do not stray from your mission or location, no matter what you see or hear happening elsewhere."
He felt Ashley's gaze on him. She was frowning and this time, it had nothing to do with their muddy relationship.
Jonny gave the team leaders time to read their objectives and then asked, "Any questions?"
No one spoke, though Ashley's hand shot up. Jonny doubted it was because of her assignment; she'd been given an objective as tough as any other team.
"Yeah, Natural," Jonny said brusquely.
"Hector and I faced Valon at the factory. I think I figured out how to get past his weird voodoo disappearing act."
"Everyone else, join your teams. Stay here, Natural," Jonny directed.
Ashley approached him.
Jonny waited, not about to let any emotion show in front of his vamps.
"Two things," she started. "The first is you can see him from above, even if you can't see him when he's at your level. So, if you've got the option of an aerial view or … I'm not sure. A tree or something, use it. Second, you'll see this tiny spark of red where he is before he hits you."