Draco

Vigo, Charlotte, and I gathered at Falcon’s home as he asked. There was so much to discuss, and well, we all wanted to check on Leonora. I was glad we added the extra cameras here, but there needed to be more. It was too easy for someone with teleporting abilities to get into the lab. They could be in here in an instant. Falcon and I didn’t trust sorcerers, so we didn’t have extra magical charms to keep them out. But I had an idea that I wanted to run past Falcon. It came to me as I thought about how we were going to keep the women safe. After all that happened to Leonora and hearing my friend’s distress, I knew that I had to do my job as his guard and step up our measures of security. I would have to talk to Vigo about it, too. He had all sorts of chemical analysis tools to use.

“Draco, Charlotte, Vigo, it’s so good to see you all,” Leonora said, coming into Falcon’s library. She ran up to Charlotte and hugged her. I watched as Charlotte froze, but she eased when Leonora embraced her.

“I’m so sorry, Nora. I’m sorry,” she sobbed in Leonora’s arms. She pulled back to look at Charlotte with her hands holding her upper arms.

“Charlotte, there’s nothing to be sorry about. You can’t help what happened, and I’m certain that if you could have, you would have.”

“Thank you, Nora.” I watched Falcon’s expression, and I noticed a sense of disdain on his face. He wasn’t pleased with the choice Charlotte made, and I suppose that if I had been in his position, I would feel the same. But I would not allow him to treat her like she was guilty of a crime.

“Let’s get this over with. I’d feel better if we started organizing shit,” I said, breaking up the embrace. I was going to have to have a word with Falcon. He pulled Leonora in his arms, like he was protecting her from Charlotte, and that wasn’t good with me. I took Charlotte’s hand and tugged her to my side.

Calm down, Draco.

I’m fine, my love.

No, you’re not. He has reason to be upset.

“Yes, I want to get this settled and I want Stavros’ head on a fucking platter,” Falcon roared.

“Same here,” Vigo and I said at the same time. That was something that had to happen. Perhaps we’ll chop his head off without piercing his heart.

“What are your plans?” I asked Falcon. I may have been his strongest warrior and his guard, but he was the mastermind and the leader. This lab had been his idea from the start.

“I’ve been thinking that I want to get rid of the special lab. It’s causing a lot of tension lately and attention. I want all the equipment transferred and added to my lab here in my house. We can continue the research here. We need to do so without bringing attention to ourselves.”

“In the cover of night?” Vigo asked.

Falcon nodded. “Yes, we need to move all that we can. Draco and I can teleport many things by hand, but I don’t want the women alone at any time while we do it, so we’ll have to take turns.”

“I have the large van for blood transport, so we could load it up and haul it over.”

“That would be good, but it must be done tonight. Some of the things can be brought over after we discuss other matters. As for our soldiers, I must travel to Lombardy and address the people. Whether recruits are gained there or elsewhere, we’ll need to grow our numbers. This is what Stavros has wanted. He thought our guard would be down after we found our mates. It’s Charlotte’s gift that allowed us to be successful. Our research for a cure will have to be done solely by Vigo and you, my love,” Falcon said, looking to both of them. “Draco and I must prepare our army and we must protect Charlotte.” I was shocked to hear him say such a thing since just a moment ago he had looked at her with anger. He continued, “She is our best defense against our enemy. If The Lamia gain strength, we will need to have an advantage. Charlotte’s our advantage.”

I saw his reasoning now. It wasn’t because he forgave her, but she was needed. I closed my eyes and tried to calm the rage growing in me. He was the leader and had always been. And he was thinking as a leader and not as my best friend.

My duty was to our kind and my mate. “What is your plan? This could be quick or it could last for ages.”

“I know, Draco. I have considered that my mother’s prophecy could still be centuries away.”

“It won’t be that long, Falcon,” Leonora said, holding his hands as she sat in his lap.

“We all need to have that faith, but remember that we have to be strong, regardless of how long it may take.”

* * *

It was well past midnight when we entered the lab. Vigo had left the van at the lab in the garage, so I teleported both of us there to get it loaded. Falcon stayed with the women as they napped. It was late, but I didn’t want to leave Charlotte at our home.

“Vigo, let’s get all of the things you need, and I’ll load the truck as fast as possible,” I demanded, afraid to leave Charlotte alone for too long.

“Fast isn’t as important as safe.”

“I have fast reflexes, Vigo,” I argued, annoyed that he thought I was clumsy.

“Yes, and so do I, but that doesn’t mean you won’t knock the damn glass around and shatter it.”

“Yeah, Yeah.” I helped him bring the stuff to the van. I wasn’t going to tell him that on one of the trips I accidentally bumped a box. I heard something crack, but I wasn’t going to mention it him yet. I needed to get back to Charlotte. Hearing Vigo lose his shit and tell me how he was right wasn’t on my agenda.

Twenty-five minutes later, I was back at Falcon’s and scooping up Charlotte to head home. I was going to leave Falcon to deal with an irritated Vigo, who was driving the van back to the house. He didn’t want it teleported because of the possible damage of the glass in transport. That was fine with me, I just wanted to go home to Charlotte.