Conall, Dominic, and Santiago agreed.
Agar frowned. “And who of you thinks that no one has a greater right to kinship?”
The three vampires and Drako voiced their agreement.
“Then it is settled. Neither Maximilian nor Conall will claim kinship over the witch named Cassandre. She will be free to choose. As to the matter of the mother, Evelyn, using the logic that gives the daughter the freedom to choose, it is only appropriate she be given the same treatment. This matter is declared resolved.” Agar pinpointed his gaze on Maximilian and Conall. After long moments, he nodded and stood. “This meeting is adjourned. Thank you for your patience in resolving this issue. Good evening.” With that, the Elder picked up his folder and made his way from the room.
When every Council member except for he and Tiberius had left, Maximilian allowed his anger to show. His face turned a deep shade of red and his nostrils flared. The Council was worthless, completely worthless, and this decision reaffirmed his belief in that. As soon as he resurrected the druids and restored his powers, he was decimating the Council, and with it, Conall Athelwulf’s entire wolf pack.
“What are you going to do?”
Maximilian turned to Tiberius. He’d confided in the other Grand Wizard some of his plans for the twins. He hadn’t exposed that they were druids, just powerful witches with the ability to undo the curse that the druids had put on them. He hadn’t gone into detail, but it was enough he’d mentioned it. Like him, Tiberius was aged and surviving only because of the longevity spells he cast on himself. The Grand Wizard was desperate to have the curse revoked. He also had another reason for divulging the information to Tiberius: he needed the Grand Wizard to help him resurrect the druids. He doubted that his power would be enough. No attempts had worked in the past, and he wasn’t willing to take that chance, especially as this might very well be his last.
“We’re going to resort to the original plan. We’ll get them the old way.”
“Trackers?”
Maximilian pushed himself to his feet and called his cane to his hand. His bones felt fragile, weak, like an old man’s. He would have to enact a spell to make him stronger when he returned to his covenant. That thought only made him angrier. Had he been immortal, this would not have happened.
He began walking toward the exit. Tiberius followed.
“One tracker. We’ll use one tracker to find them.” He thought of Max, his stubborn son. He might have been proud of Max’s resistance to the treatment had he been in someone else’s holding cell, refusing to divulge information about his father and his covenant. He’d never seen a creature—witch, vampire, or werewolf—last more than three days against the convincing techniques of his specialty trackers. “He’ll lead us directly to them.”
Tiberius nodded.
“Athelwulf’s pack will declare war on us. The wolves will probably join him.”
“Let them,” Maximilian replied with a sinister smile. “By that time, our race will be restored to its former glory. If the wolves want a war, we’ll gladly indulge them.”
***
Vivienne couldn’t help the nervousness spiraling through her body as she waited for Conall to return. He’d told her about the council meeting, and Evelyn had helped to explain exactly what that was. Still, as Max had been taken to God only knew where, and Conall had left Raoul and three others to “wait” with her, she had the feeling the meeting was more dangerous than he made it seem. She was still very new to this whole…druid business, but instinct told her he’d hidden something from her. He’d said the meeting was routine, that it shouldn’t last more than an hour, but that had been it. He hadn’t mentioned why the meeting had been called. All she knew was that it was scheduled for six, and it was now after eight. Where was he?
She pushed off of the sofa in the living room and headed for the front door. Either Raoul or one of the men Conall had left would be on the porch. She’d just have a quick peek outside….
“Vivienne.” Her mother’s voice was sharp, and Vivienne stopped and glanced toward the staircase. “Please, stay inside, ma chère.”
This wasn’t the first time Evelyn had appeared before she could poke her head out of the door. Glaring up at her mother, she released a frustrated sigh and ran a hand over her hair. Evelyn came down the stairs quickly.
“Cassandre is awake. She’s asking for you.”
Vivienne nodded and cast a futile look to the front door. She’d spoken to Cassie sparsely throughout the day. After fainting last night, her sister had slept until mid-morning, and as soon as she’d awoken, Evelyn had been with her. She had spent most of the day comforting Drew, who’d gone to sleep in hysterics and had awoken with the same. She too was terrified about what could be happening to Max, but she held on to the vain hope that a father wouldn’t do anything to hurt his son. Even if the father was the one who was trying to hurt her and Cassie.