Blood Law (37 page)

Both
men shook their heads. There was no answer. It was what it was. And for the
first time in nearly fifteen years, Rafael had a clear, concise game plan.

“What
if Lucien refuses the council’s request to produce Talia?” Yuri asked.

“If
he refuses to bring her when she can offer key evidence, then they will have to
find him in contempt!” Rafael strode to the door, but before he opened it, he
said to his two most trusted men, “Keep an eye on Falon. I don’t trust Lucien
any farther than I can throw the bastard. Have the women prepare for guests.
I’m going to see the Amorak.”

Rafe
was glad for the time to clear his head, but it only confirmed his resolve:
Falon would not be sacrificed because he’d killed a Slayer. He’d been well
within his rights as alpha to do it. He was the one who’d been wronged, not
Lucien. And he would prove it.

The
small village was brightly lit when he approached. Energy crackled in the air.
What had them so energized? Had they heard about Falon and her slaying of
Edward? It had to be.

Rafe
rode straight to Sharia’s small hut. She was waiting for him on the dilapidated
porch. He scowled and killed the engine on his bike.

“You
knew I was coming?”

“Of
course,” her old voice crackled. “Of course.” She turned and wobbled her way
into the small candlelit space.

Rafael
followed and was surprised to see Daniel and Maleek, an elder from the North,
seated on two new chairs. That was good for Rafael. Maleek had a strong dislike
for Lucien. Both men nodded, acknowledging him. “Sit, Rafa,” Sharia said,
pointing to a short stool by the window.

Rafael
helped the old woman into her worn rocker before he sat. When he did, he sat
forward and said, “You have heard of my desire for a council meeting?”

“Word
travels fast, Rafael, as you know,” Daniel said. “We are preparing.”

“Good.”
He turned to Sharia, “As the elder here, I ask that you instruct Lucien to
bring Talia to the meeting to bear testimony on my behalf.”

“What
testimony?” Daniel asked.

Rafael
scowled and thought before he spoke. “With all due respect, Daniel, I choose
not to divulge my reasons as it may prejudice my case.”

“With
all due respect, Rafael, I insist.”

Rafael
sat back in his chair. “No.”

Daniel
sat forward, his face tightening. Maleek put his gnarled hand on Daniel’s,
staying the man’s next words. The elder looked to Sharia, who nodded. “You are
free to have any person present to bear witness. It is my understanding Talia
is being held against her will in the Mondragon compound?”

“Yes,”
Rafael angrily said, sitting forward. “The council has done nothing to secure
her release. Lucien has been allowed to run roughshod over the entire nation to
its detriment.”

It
was Sharia’s turn to place a quieting hand on Rafael’s arm. “My son, the
council does not act or not react without great debate. There are valid reasons
for action or not. You must trust us. We act with only the Lycan nation’s best
interest at heart.”

“Then
why has Lucien been allowed to divide the nation?”

“Destiny,
my son can not be undone, not even by the council.”

Rafael
stood and swiped his hand across his chin. He wanted to pace, but there was no
room to do so. “So you’re trying to tell me all of the shit we’ve had to endure
since I don’t know the hell when is destiny?”

All
three nodded in unison.

“I am
in charge of my own destiny! No other entity, including the council or the
Blood Law, can dictate to me how I live my life!”

“Destiny
works in mysterious ways, Rafael,” Maleek softly said. “Do not fight it.”

“I
will fight for my beloved! Lucien will not destroy her! Under any
circumstances. Tell that to your destiny!”

He
took the two steps necessary to reach the door. He turned to the three who
sagely watched him. He felt like the joke was on him, only he didn’t know it
yet.

“The
alphas converge as I speak. They will have arrived by dusk tomorrow. Will
destiny permit the council to convene then at my compound?”

Daniel
scowled while Sharia and Maleek showed the hint of a smile. “Destiny has
already set the time at dusk tomorrow.”

Rafael
nodded. “Of course she has.”

The
ride home was quick. His heart, body, and soul yearned for Falon. He needed to
feel her in his arms, to know she was real, alive, not a dream. This all felt
like a dream. He was not the same man he’d been the night he rescued her from
Salene. His life before Falon had been a haze, one ruled by guilt and
resentment. He hadn’t truly been alpha until he’d found her, and even then, not
fully until she’d marked him. Her love fortified him in ways he had never
imagined. She brought everything down to its most basic level. His mission to unite
the nation and defeat the Slayers was possible now because of one thing—he not
only believed it could happen, he knew with certainty it would happen, with
Falon at his side.

He
had always thought he was fighting for his people and, while that was true, he
was now fighting for the woman he loved, as well as their unborn children. In
just a few weeks, he had discovered what mattered most. He understood his
parents’ adamancy that he and Lucien not leave their hiding place when the
Slayers came that day. To his parents, he and his brother were the most
precious things on earth. The things they would die to protect. And they had.

He
swallowed hard. Just as his mother and father had died so that he and his
brother could live, so, too, would he die so that Falon could live.

His
mind was made up. If the council refused to see the truth—if it gave Lucien
license to destroy Falon—he would destroy his brother, even if it meant facing
his own death sentence. But at least Falon would live.

FALON
WOKE TO Rafael’s lips kissing hers. She stretched, smiling.

“I
missed you, love,” he whispered against her lips.

“Mmm,
I missed you, too.”

Rafael
pulled her against him, stroking her hair as she snuggled into the crook of his
neck. Her fingers caressed his chest. “I love you,” she murmured before her
breaths took on the deep, even cadence of sleep.

He
kissed the top of her head. “And I you.”

He
glanced at the window just as the blush of dawn seeped beneath the curtains.
With dusk, their fates would be decided. And God help them all.

FALON
WOKE SLOWLY to bright sunlight and Rafael’s furry body stretched out beside her
in the big bed. She smiled, digging her fingers into his thick fur. His big
body pressed closer to hers. She wanted to wake up like this every morning.

No,
she wanted to wake up to Rafael’s human body every morning.

Realization
of what was to come struck her with the force of a lightning bolt. This could
be their last morning together.

She
rolled over and buried her face in his fur, trying not to cry, trying to be
strong, and trying to believe that Rafael could convince the council to set
aside the Blood Law.

In
her heart, she knew it would not come to pass. Even so, she was determined to
survive Lucien.

Her
body stiffened as she remembered his intrusion last night. He was determined to
destroy what she and Rafael shared. His methods were underhanded, and if she
were less of a woman and not as committed to Rafael, it may have worked.

But
she was alpha of a great pack. She stood beside a great man. She had destroyed
a great Slayer. If left no choice, she would destroy Lucien as well.

Careful
not to disturb Rafael, Falon slid from the bed and into the bathroom.

Twenty
minutes later, when she emerged from the shower, she peeked in on him. He still
slept. She wanted to go to him, but knew he was exhausted.

Besides,
the savory scents wafting up from the kitchen called to her.

She
was hungry, and she knew with the coming meeting and the many out of town
guests expected, there was work to be done downstairs. She welcomed it.
Anything to keep her mind off tonight.

The
women of the pack smiled, casting their eyes downward as she walked into the
hub of action. They were busy cleaning the remnants of the night’s revelry, but
there was an underlying, undeniable tension in the air. Not, she realized,
because she had walked into the room, but because of what was to come that
night.

“Falon?”
A petite blonde woman who she had seen on several occasions with Anton humbly
approached her. Falon’s natural instinct was to tell her not to act so
subordinate, but she knew that she could not. There was a definite and defined
hierarchy in the pack, and she was at the top. But she would always treat those
under her with fairness and love.

She
smiled, easing the woman’s nervousness.

“I’m
Glenna, keeper of the house. If you would permit me, I’d like to show you
around, explain how things have been done. In case you want to make changes.”

“Thank
you, Glenna. I would love to, but first I need to eat. I’m famished.”

Glenna
nodded. “Galiya has outdone herself this morning. Come,” Glenna, said,
extending her hand and waiting for Falon to precede her toward the back of the
house.

As
Falon sat down to a feast for dozens, she invited Glenna to join her.

The
woman’s cheeks flushed. Falon could tell she wanted to refuse, not out of
disrespect but from fear. Falon sipped her coffee. “I only bite Slayers.”

Glenna’s
big brown eyes widened. “How did you defeat Edward?” she gushed, dropping into
the chair beside Falon and raptly awaiting the tale. Falon smiled inwardly as
several other women, who just happened to find themselves near the kitchen,
drew closer.

Falon
plopped a piece of the most delicious cinnamon roll ever baked into her mouth
and slowly chewed. The other women seemed to be waiting for permission to
approach. She waved them over. Just as Glenna had, they hurried to take the
available seating and turned expectantly toward her.

Shrugging,
Falon said, “He threatened my man, so I ripped his throat out.”

Glenna’s
eyes shone bright. “I heard you ripped apart a metal cage first and even took
pity on that treacherous bitch Lana.”

“My
treachery was the act of a woman scorned,” Lana said from the doorway. “I
realize it was wrong now.”

“Do
you really, Lana?” Glenna demanded, narrowing her eyes at the lesser female.
“Or do you realize it was wrong because you got caught?”

Lana
bared her teeth at Glenna but did not come farther into the room.

“Your
desire for an alpha has been your undoing, Lana. Rafael and Falon may be
forgiving, but the council will not be,” the pretty brunette next to Glenna
said. “You will not survive the night. Now be gone with you.” She waved Lana
away as if she were an annoying gnat.

Falon
chose not to interfere. Lana had committed high treason when she went to the
Slayers. It was Lana who’d told them of Falon’s coming and her handling of
Lucien. Because of Lana’s treachery, several of the pack had not returned from
the warehouse.

Lana
curled her lips and snarled. “You act so high and mighty, but with the coming
of the Blood Moon we will all die!”

“Do
you have so little faith in your alpha, Lana?” Falon asked, rising and walking
toward the traitor. “If your life is spared, what part will you play in seeing
the battle won? Or will you run to the enemy again?”

“What
alpha?” Lana spit, not caring about her disrespectful tone. Glenna hissed in a
breath and stood. Falon waved her off. Lana continued her tirade. “Lucien’s
position will be upheld by the council. Rafael will die to save you. Then what
will we do? Unite under Lucien, who cares for nothing or no one but himself?”

Her
words sent a ripple of apprehension through the gathered women.

“You
give Lucien too much power, Lana,” Falon softly said, but the edge in her tone
was unmistakable. “Rafael will not die trying to protect me. Lucien will die
when I rip out his throat.”