Chapter 10

10

C laudius Pelas was one of the few vampires Thor respected. Blessed (or cursed) with truth magic, he made having honest discussions easy. Thor didn't like wasting words or time, and Claudius was much the same. He was the best chairman the Vampire Council had ever had.

"I think this is the first time you have requested a meeting with me in fifty years. What is wrong?" Claudius asked.

Thor took a seat on the opposite side of the chairman's desk. "First, you have a mole in the council building selling off floor plans to people with enough money."

Claudius's lips pursed in annoyance. "I see. Do you know who?"

"I might be able to get a name for you by tomorrow," Thor replied.

"And your source is reliable?"

Thor nodded. "She is my mate."

Claudius's brows furrowed. "I thought you wargs didn't have mates."

"So did I, but that was before I met her. This changes everything."

Claudius nodded. "I'm sensing there is more to this than you seeking happy felicitations."

Thor didn't waste any more time. He told Claudius about Nicola arriving bloody at his doorstep, Kaleb's plans, and the meeting with the emissaries.

"I always thought old Markides’s daughter was too smart to be his. Clever girl to piece it all together," Claudius said, an approving note in his voice.

"She is that. She was trying to get to me the night of the party you forced me to go to. She doesn't want a war with the vampires, and I think most wolves feel the same. It's just Kaleb and his inner circle of extremists who want to kick things off and probably use the vampire retaliation to bring all the wolves behind them. It's always the same old tricks," Thor replied with a sigh. He had seen it all before.

He had thought the world didn't have too many more tricks to show him until Nicola turned up. He had to get back to her. He hated being apart from her. Bjorn and Astrid would protect her if anything happened, but it grated on him not to be at her side.

"I don't suppose you would consider giving the girl back to Kaleb and hoping that it's enough to keep the peace?" Claudius asked. Thor gave him a long look, the silence stretching between them like a bowstring. The vampire pinched the bridge of his nose. "No. I didn't think so."

"She is my mate," was all Thor said.

"You intend to turn her into your Bride as well? Because turning a wolf will make you more ostracised from the vampires than ever."

Thor snorted. "Like I care. Politics is their game, not mine. As for turning her, that will be Nicola's decision, not mine. I just want to keep her safe and deal with our mutual enemies."

"Kaleb Pateras will attack you, you know that, yes?"

"I'm looking forward to it."

Claudius made a frustrated sound. "Keep the conflict in your territory if you can, and get me that evidence so we can start shutting down some of Kaleb's operations. Cut him off at the knees."

"I have an ax that can do that just fine," Thor said with a vicious grin. "But I will get you the paper trail from Nicola. I just wanted to warn you that this will be heated."

"So considerate of you," Claudius deadpanned. "I suppose I should be grateful you are bothering to warn me at all these days."

"That's right. You should be. Isn't that why Blood Pack land is wedged between the vampires and the wolves? I stand between you both and protect the vampire flank. Let me do it my way, or not at all. Now, if you will excuse me, Chairman, I have a mate I need to get home to," Thor said and was struck by the feeling that gave him. Warm. Contented. Something he never thought he would feel again.

"Don't be a love-sick fool and keep your head on your shoulders," Claudius warned him, but he smiled as he said it.

Thor had never been either of those things, but he had never had Nicola in his life. For the most part, his life had always boiled down to two things—winning or dying. Those were the only outcomes.

What the hell would a creature like him do with a mate? Thor grinned as his mind helpfully provided him with a long list of exactly what he would like to do. He hurried out of the council building and toward home. He had a promise to keep to his mate.