Riley's Downfall [Brac Pack 29] (12 page)

“ I don’t like it,” Maverick said from the couch in Christian’s office. “I thought you didn’t like politics, Christian?”
The prince of vampires sat back, a deep frown around his mouth and his black eyebrows severely pulled down.“I hate politics. It irritates the hell out of me when the elders come into my club and make demands. They are a bunch of boring old men who act like women in a knitting circle.” Christian sat forward, his eyes snapping around the room at everyone in attendance.“But this will be different. If we don’t form a council, then the rogue problem will only get worse. Preternatural creatures need to learn that there will be consequences if they choose to go rogue. There need to be penalties in place, punishments.”
Maverick sat back, sighing. Not only had Christian called him here for this meeting, but he had also called Zeus, the alpha of the eastern grey wolf pack. He had also assembled Panahasi, the leader of the demon warriors, Ahm, the leader of the shadow elves, Nazaryth, the leader of the winged beasts, and Dante, the leader of the Northern coven of vampires.
“So, you want the seven of us to form some sort of council?” Ahm asked.
“For too long we have all operated independently, respecting each other’s territories and lending a hand when needed. But with human vampire hunters, the rogue paranormal drug sweeping population getting out of control, a through the communities,”—Christian stood, walking around his desk—“and now Maverick tells me that humans have begun to hunt in his very territory. We need to implement some sort of plan for damage control and to stop any person considering the dark side of our races.”
Gods, Maverick did not want to be a part of this. He stretched his legs out in front of him, seeing the looks on some of the other leaders’ faces and knowing they felt the same way. But deep down he knew that Christian was right. Something needed to be done about their ever-growing problem.
He and his warriors had combed the woods when Malcolm called him to report that human hunters had held shotguns to Chance and Seth’s heads. Malcolm was spitting nails over having his son and sonin-law threatened.
It seemed Maverick’s hunting signs weren’t doing the trick. And he couldn’t dismiss Christian’s problem with human vampire hunters. Sooner or later, those vampire hunters would learn about shifters and come after not only his pack, but all shifters in general. Zeus had a pack of his own to look over, and a town full of people as well. Ahm and his people were pretty safe, for now. They lived in some godforsaken watery marshland, but the wood elves were vulnerable.
Panahasi and his demons may be safe from hunters because the demons lived in the demon realm, but Maverick wouldn’t put it past the humans to find a way into the demon realm.
Nazaryth and his motley crew of winged beasts lived high up in a castle that was built into the side of a mountain, but one could get in if determined.
Their very world was being threatened, and Maverick knew that something had to be done about that threat. It was long overdue, but Maverick had hoped it wouldn’t come to this.
“Are we going to be called the council or have a cool name?” Maverick asked. Fuck it, if they had to become the Avengers, they might as well have cool names.
Christian chuckled, a twinkle sparkling in the depths of his black eyes. “Ultionem.”
“Nice.” Dante chuckled.
“Which means?” Maverick asked, admitting to himself that it did sound pretty damn cool. But if he was going to be a part of this evil plot to take over the world, Brain had to tell Pinky what the word meant. He also noticed how Panahasi kept looking at Christian, covertly, of course. Maverick wasn’t sure why the demon leader was so interested in the prince of vampires, but if Panahasi wanted to eat Christian, it wasn’t his business.
“Revenge,” Dante supplied, a smile tugging at his lips.
Maverick grinned when his phone began to play“Bad to the Bone.”
“Really?” Panahasi’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s your ringtone?”
Maverick shrugged. “Cecil programmed it for me. Who am I to argue with my mate?”
Christian’s phone began to ring as well, and then Ahm cocked his head.
“The bears are calling me,” the shadow elven said.
Ahm shimmered out as Maverick answered his phone. “What’s up?”
“There is a planned attack by vampire rogues on the wood elf village tonight,” Malcolm said from the other end. “Me and my boys are headed over there.”
Maverick shot forward the same time Christian quickly stood. He must have gotten the same call. Christian cursed as he grabbed Maverick, Dante grabbing Zeus at the same time. Panahasi walked backward into a shadow, as if the demon already knew what was happening, while Nazaryth walked from Christian’s office, probably taking flight right outside.
“Time to inform the paranormal world that the leaders are done sitting on their asses,” Christian said as he reached up and grabbed a sword above the mantel. “It’s laced with silver.” A determined look entered his eyes as theydisappeared from the prince’s office.

Riley was relieved that Terrik had survived the hellhound bite, but it would be pretty fucked-up if he died from being drained by a vampire. Riley wasn’t sure how accurate Ross’s warning was, or even if they were being set up, but he couldn’t leave the wood elves to a slaughter.

As unreasonable, narrow-minded, and hate-filled as the wood elves were, Riley’s conscience wouldn’t let him sit idly by while the race of elves became extinct just because he didn’t like them.

Riley, along with Kenway and Olsen, cursed when they turned onto the long dirt path leading to the village, seeing the fighting had already started. Riley pressed the gas, getting them closer, and then jammed the gear into park.

The three shadow warriors were fighting expertly, but were terribly outnumbered. The men were tall, lean, finely muscled, and had a look on their faces that said they meant business. Riley shifted as soon as he cleared the truck, heading straight for Iam, who was losing the fight he was engaged in.

“ About damn time!” Iam shouted as he blocked a hit with his arm. “There are too many to fight off.”
Riley spared a shadow of a second to be stunned as he watched Kenway shift. Never in his life had he seen a buffalo shifter, and he was amazed at the sheer size of the beast. The buffalo had to weigh at least fifteen hundred pounds and was about six foot long. His fur was black and his head was down, lethal-looking horns decorating his head.
Kenway lifted his head, scented the air, and then charged. If Riley didn’t need to help Iam, he would stand there in wonder and watch.
“Are you going to help or stare at that Bison all day?” Iam shouted as he stumbled backward, losing his footing and landing on his back.
Riley turned his attention back to Iam, charging in and leaping onto the vampire’s back. He took the rogue down in seconds, but another appeared. He felt like no matter how many he took down, more replaced the fallen.
He locked his jaw on the next vampire that appeared and stopped himself from gaping when one cheetah, and then another, took down two vampires trying to get at Riley. Maybe having the new shifters in town would benefit the community. It sure as shit benefited Riley’s ass at the moment.
Riley killed the vampire and then took off across the village when he saw Terrik running toward the woods from a vampire. Going into the woods was the worst thing that fey could do. It would cut Terrik off from the shifters, and made him easy prey.
Riley skidded to a stop when Christian and Maverick appeared right in from of him. Maverick grabbed Terrik around the waist and pulled him back as Christian wielded a sword and cut the vampire’s head clean from his shoulder.
Damn, that was gross.
“Watch him,” Maverick said as he placed Terrik on his feet in front of Riley.
What the hell?
He hadn’t come here to babysit. Riley had come here to fight. He shifted back to his human form, glancing all around him before his eyes settled on the young elven man.
“Do you know where the Lakeland ranch is?” he asked the terrified young man.
Terrik nodded his head rapidly.
“Shimmer there and you’ll find Ross. Tell my brothers Bryce and Roman that I sent you.”
Riley watched as Terrik shimmered out and then turned back to the fight. At least the young fey was safe. He just couldn’t understand why the rest of the fey weren’t shimmering out of there. They weren’t fighters. They were outnumbered. They didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning. Yet they fought.
The fight went on and on, seeming as though it was never ending in Riley’s mind. But eventually the rogues that had invaded the village were all dead. Riley stood there in his bear form, looking at the carnage around him, and then glanced over at the leaders. Zeus’s grey wolf was so large that he rivaled Riley’s bear size. Maverick had stayed in human form. He saw Ahm, Panahasi, Christian, and another vampire he didn’t recognize. He also saw a man who looked like he could kill with one intent gaze.
“You are looking at the Ultionem. We are now your governing council. Any who defy us, or the laws we have yet to set down, will pay the price,” Ahm said to the wood elves. “I will inform you of the new laws once they are decided. Iam, come here.”
The wood elf hurried forward, coming to a stop in front of the shadow elven. “This man is your new tribe leader. If anyone opposes, speak now,” Ahm called out to the crowd around him.
Riley glanced around, but no one said a word. A few didn’t look too happy, but they kept their opinions to themselves.
Smart men.
All six leaders stood behind Ahm, as if backing up what he was announcing. Riley was pretty damn stunned at the news. They had a council now? How would that affect his world? Would it improve the way things were or make them worse? What were the new laws going to be?
He wasn’t sure of anything right now. Riley’s only concern was keeping his mate and family safe. His world was changing so much that Riley felt displaced. The events that had been taking place in the paranormal world were changing his world, and Riley began to mourn the loss of what was once a peaceful existence.
He began to miss the simpler times, and how rogues were far and few between. He missed the times when the only shifters he knew to exist were bears. But there was one change in Riley’s life that he was grateful for and wouldn’t change for all the world, and that was Sterling.
Even if his mate was a little strange.

“ I’m ready,” Sterling announced as he walked into his and Riley’s bedroom. His mate was standing over by the dresser, looking through a drawer.

Sterling took a seat on the bed, folding his legs under him, and watched his mate put his socks and boots on. He still couldn’t believe that Riley Lakeland was his. It was like his dream had come true.

Although Riley hadn ’t ridden in on his horse and swooped Sterling off of his feet, Sterling still felt like his dream had become reality. The man was strong, stunning, and starting to grow a sense of humor. His once-grumpy mate was starting to show his true personality and Sterling loved it.

“ You’re going to ride Buster. He’s the gentlest horse we have,” Riley said and then tossed something on the bed.
Sterling kept the grin from his face because he knew Riley would have a coronary when he saw who Chauncey had helped Sterling saddle.
He just prayed Riley let him ride.
Sometimes Riley was a tad overprotective, and Sterling loved that fact, but he was damned and determined to show his mate that he could take care of himself. Maybe not during fights, Sterling was never a fighter, but he could get by in life without Riley trying to wrap him in cotton.
He glanced down at a shiny cell phone, but knew right away that it wasn’t Riley’s.
“Just in case you need to call anyone. I programmed everyone’s number into it.”
Sterling sat there stunned. Riley had tossed the phone on the bed like it was no big deal, but to Sterling, it meant everything. It meant Riley cared about him.
“Let’s go start your lesson,” Riley said as he grabbed Sterling’s hand and pulled him from the bed.
Sterling felt like he was a thousand feet tall when it came to his mate loving him. Riley was the best thing to ever happen to Sterling, and Sterling was damn glad he and Darcy had come to this town.
“Going out for your lessons?” Pa asked as he wiped Cole’s face. The baby was in his highchair, making more of a mess than eating. Oscar was sitting next to the towering man, dunking cookies into a glass of milk.
“My very first,” Sterling boasted proudly.
Just then Bacon ran through the small doggy door the Lakelands had made for the pig. Sterling had been so shocked that the men had done something so nice for him that Sterling had embarrassed himself and cried like a damn baby. They said they did it because any pig that defended his owner, the way Bacon had defended Sterling when the pig ran for help, deserved to live in the house and be a pampered pet.
“Sorry, girl,” Sterling said as he picked Bacon up and ran a hand over her head. “Papa’s got to ride by himself.”
“Can I play with her?” Oscar asked as he wiggled out of his chair and hobbled over to Sterling.
“You sure can. But don’t give her too many snacks. She likes to make a pig of herself.” Sterling winked at Oscar, the little guy laughing at the pun.
Sterling handed his piglet over to Oscar and then walked outside to join Riley. It was a bright, sunny day, the clouds fat and fluffy as they walked side by side to the barn.
Bryce walked Warrior out, handing the reins to Riley.
“Where’s Buster?” Riley asked.
“I’ll go get him,” Sterling said quickly and then took off into the barn. Riley was going to shit his own little pen of piglets when he saw Sterling ride out on Hell Raiser. Sterling had been coming to the barn for weeks, talking to the black stallion, getting to know the guy, and bringing him treats like carrots, apples, and sugar cubes.
He had even sat on Hell Raiser when no one was around to protest, trying his best to get the horse used to having Sterling’s weight on his back. Saddling him hadn’t been easy, and Chauncey kept telling Sterling he didn’t like Sterling’s plan, but he had convinced the bear that he was confident the stallion would allow Sterling to ride him.
He grabbed the reins, smiling up at the horse. “Are you ready to show these bears just how gorgeous you are and that you are a good boy?” Sterling asked as he opened the gate and led Hell Raiser from his stall.
“If Riley wants to skin anyone, leave my name out of it,” Chauncey said as Sterling walked the horse to the barn door.“I like my ass right where it is.”
Sterling was hoping it didn’t come to that. There was only one way Riley couldn’t stop Sterling. He mounted the horse, with Chauncey’s help, and then clicked his tongue, the way Chauncey had shown him.
Hell Raiser whinnied and then took off out of the barn. Sterling held on tight, his legs locked against the horse, praying he didn’t fall off as the horse cleared the barn and took off toward the fields.
“Sterling!” Riley shouted and began to chase him on Warrior. “I’m going to kick your ass when I get a hold of you!”
Sterling grinned and then laughed, feeling the freedom all around him as Hell Raiser slowed to a canter. He looked behind him to see how close Riley was when he saw the horse’s tail high in the air.
Hell Raiser was showing off!
Sterling beamed as his mate approached.
“You have five seconds to dismount and take that beast back to the barn.” Riley growled out his words.
“But why?” Sterling protested with a slight pout to his lower lip. “He’s letting me ride him.”
“He’s too ornery.”
“So were you.” Sterling winked at his mate.“But I managed to tame you, didn’t I?”
Riley opened his mouth to speak and then closed it, studying Sterling for a second. He grinned. “I guess you did at that.”
“So, give me a chance on Hell Raiser.” Gods, he prayed his argument worked. Sterling had invested every free moment he had had in coaxing the horse into letting Sterling ride him. It would all be a waste if Riley made him take the horse back.
Riley rubbed his hand over his head and studied Sterling for a moment. Sterling held his breath. Riley’s expression was contemplative, and it looked like he was about to order Sterling to take the horse back. “Fine, but the first sign the horse is becoming unstable, you are off of him. Are we clear?”
Woo-hoo!
“Okay. Hell Raiser just did most of the work, and I learned the basics already. So show me what I don’t know,” Sterling said with a feeling of triumphant glee coursing through him.
“Who showed you the basics?” Riley asked.
“Oh, no. I’m not saying a word.”
Riley harrumphed.“One of these days Chauncey is going to make me strangle him.”
Sterling snickered and then loosely held both reins in his hands. “I’m ready for my lessons,
sir
.”