“I believe they are cats,” he spoke as he leaned down and pretended to kiss my hand. “Like the ones from the collapsed village.”

As he stepped back my head popped up and I went on my toes. I had to see where the sound was coming from. Jacob bumped Tammy and she pulled down on my hand. I gave Jacob my famous ‘kiss my ass’ look and walked a little faster. The crowd pressed in around us and I pushed back. I could feel eyes on me as I made my way in and around the gaudy ball gowns and bowing men, but then I saw the two thrones on a stage. There were two women sitting on the thrones, and both held a leash that was attached to a black, diamond adorned collar that encircled the necks of two beautiful black cats.

“Hold your calm, Renee,” Jacob moved Tammy and took my arm. “I fear we have been tricked and now stand in their trap.”

“Yeah, well, we expected that. What I want to know is, are those cats the boys we met the night we saved Martin?”

I could feel Fala breathe on the back of my neck as he came in closer behind me and the warmer it grew, the more I knew that I had my answer. Those two large, black cats were Luther and Lane, and they did not like being bound by the neck and held by chains. It was a bit shocking seeing the twins hold a leash in their hands but I was well aware that the sister’s came from the same sick line. Maybe I was hoping Inara would be showing a little restraint knowing that we would be here and that we did unspeakable things to those who committed acts of unnamable mention. I knew we were no better when it came to our method of stopping this crazed madness but we were getting our point across and that was all that mattered.

“I thank you all for coming to our annual Moon Gala,” Angelica said, as she stood handing the leash of her black cat over to a male dressed much like my boys, then lightly brushed her hands together. “This is a very special night indeed. I have just been given word that our very esteemed guests have arrived. And I, more than any of you, would like to welcome them into my home with a full round of applause.” At that point the entire room erupted with clapping and all that stood, pressing in around our group spread out, leaving us standing in the middle of a ten foot circle.

Bernard walked into the room from behind the thrones with a slight limp and Inara smiled as she got to her feet. She too, handed off the leash she held only this black cat was hissing and swiping out at the young man who took it. It was then that I saw droplets of blood dripping from its collar, and my blood began to boil.

“We just came for our friends,” I yelled out. “We don’t much like it when they’re treated badly.”

“Are you blind, little bloodbreeder? Or are you just too stupid to see how truly defeated that you are?” Inara said, stepping up beside her sister.

“Good to know Alex was never on the top of your list, Inara. We killed him before we came here,” I snorted. “We knew you were going to stab us in the back. You didn’t really think that we came this far by believing blood suckers like you…did you?”

The whole room fell silent as the sisters looked at each other. Derek threw his head back and burst out laughing. “She believed it…that ignorant bitch believed that she had one over on us. Just how stupid do these things get around here?”

“Now, young one, have I not taught you to respect your elders? They do not know the ways of the modern world,” Cates said, patting Derek on the back.

“Yes, they still believe in the old ways of tears and trickery. But, they did not plan on such a young breeder as our Lady Renee, taking down not one, but two ancients in but one night.” Jacob walked up close to the stage where the sisters stood back by their thrones. “My Ladies, you have misjudged this night and you and many others will die if you do not comply.” Jacob snapped his fingers and we all pulled our blades; my and Tammy’s display not being as smooth as the others. It was harder getting the hilt out of my pocket this time than it had been every time I had practiced.

“He lies, they are few to our many,” Inara hissed. “They would not kill my son. Martin said they were good to their word.”

“He and anyone else would say anything on a torture bed!” I yelled. “And how do you know we didn’t kill your son? Did you go look? Is he there? What did your men say when they came back from our home?” I was guessing with my questions. I had no idea if they had been waiting for us to leave, or if they believed anything we were saying, for that matter. They had the jump on us and we were just trying to talk our way into a semi-fair fight.

“I told you they would kill him if you betrayed them,” Bernard cried out and was backhanded by Angelica.

“Get out of my sight you fool,” she demanded, pointing at the area behind them. “Leave…now!”

Bernard looked out at us and I gave him a little wink and shook my head slightly. I saw a small smile cross his face and a fast sharp nod before he turned and rushed out. I had no idea what my little black leather wearing boy was going to do, but I knew he was angry with his twin mistresses and we needed some help.

“So, tell me, what do you have in mind?” Angelica asked, laughing and waving her hand toward the crowd, getting little reaction. They, too, had heard of our coming and the things we left in our wake.

Things could have gone smooth at that point and I was going to step back and let Jacob take control. But I saw something that took my anger over the boiling point and right into molten lava. Angelica was wearing my ring. As Jacob was stepping back to us I was taking my own steps up to the stage. He grabbed my arm. “What are you doing?” I could see his eyes looking around at the many eyes of the crowd watching us.

“She’s wearing my ring,” I spat each word as my eyes squinted into glares of hatred. “And I’m fixing to go get it back.”

“We have a chance to show superiority in front of the people we want to change, and you wish to start a battle?”

“Yep, now let me go.”

“This is not a good idea.”

“Well, the way she got my ring wasn’t a very good idea. We came here to stop that sort of shit and that is exactly what I am fixing to do. Either join me or get the hell out of my way.”

“I’m with you. And you heard her, Jacob, let her go. She gave you a direct order.” Derek looked from Jacob to me and raised his sword and bumped hilts with mine. “Let’s kick their ass, what do you say?”

“Fine, but we go in as one,” Jacob smiled at me. “As you have always said, we are one. No leader, but a whole.”

Chapter Twenty Eight

The proverbial ball had fallen, so to speak, and I was about to kick the shit out of it. Most of the crowd was clearing out and only the ones that the twins held power over, stayed. Once the room held fewer people, another stage came into view. It had to be Lord Cheree. He had two young males sitting on the floor, each one holding his extremely large legs as if afraid. There were two other beings standing behind his throne with flesh hanging in rotted patches from their bodies. Neither had eyes and both carried the form of the walking dead.

“He truly is a sick bastard, isn’t he?” I looked back to see most of my people looking at the beings behind Lord Cheree and not one of us wanted to have an encounter with them.

“You can deal with him later. Right now we have more pressing matters,” Jacob said as ten men dressed in some sort of armor came in behind us. “Ready yourself!”

“You will die this night and the elders will give me reign over anything I choose,” Angelica proclaimed then clapped once.

No one had a chance to respond, all ten men came rushing at us with blades swinging. Jacob, Cates, and Derek took the first three down with ease, as Garvin and Sydney fought three back into a corner. Tammy and I fought back to back while two of the armor wearing breeders sliced their blades wildly at us. The dress I was wearing was taking blow after blow, saving my flesh, but it was also hindering me from moving with the speed that I needed to save my own life.