am and Paul’s right. Better to have some control in the situation.
Jude nodded, then addressed his men. “As you can imagine, I’m concerned for Hannah’s safety.”
“Everyone here is,” one of the Guardsmen spoke up.
“Here, here,” went around the men.
She knew these men and which ones had wives and families and what each laid down every night to battle the enemy. “I feel the same way about all of you. I hope you know that.”
Another said, “We do, Hannah. That’s why you find a couple of us passed out in your bunkroom every night at dawn.”
Laughter erupted this time and she joined them.
But when her gaze landed once more on Jude, she saw a look in his eye, of deep appreciation, that pierced her heart. She felt two things at once: The huge divide that separated them because the focus of each of their lives was so different and her ever-present affection for him.
She had to look away, to remember that she’d made a promise never to allow what was important to her to be set aside for the needs of a man. Maybe Jude wasn’t Mark Jackson, her ex. And yes, Mark was a real dick for demanding that she sell the bar to basically prove she loved him. But the situation had the same difficult resonance – what she’d have to give up and what Jude wouldn’t.
So she calmed herself down, wanting desperately to keep her perspective as the hours and possibly days wore on.
Jude brought the subject back to the point. “Here’s the way this needs to go. I want every Guardsman on patrol. And Paul, bring in everyone on leave. You’re to give this basic information to each of the men, about the mist, about Hannah, but that we need to draw Margetta out. One of my fears is that she’ll use some of our people again to try out her mist-making ability and more innocent realm-folk will die. So, let’s keep a sharp eye out for the mist. Heavy patrolling everywhere.” Which covered a lot of miles. But Jude’s Vampire Guard was three-hundred strong so no one balked at the order.
“And Reese, I know the shifters aren’t fully ready, but let’s put them on the ground. I’m thinking about that scent, it was sweet but in a way that smelled decayed. Maybe a shifter will have a better chance at locating the next intrusion.”
“I think that’s a great idea. They’re chomping at the bit to see some action.”
“Then tonight would be a good place to start. Go ahead and contact Rayle. I’ll leave you in charge of that part of the operation. Just get them out there.” Rayle was the alpha and had command of his men.
Reese took off.
They also discussed whether or not to alert the general population to the mist problem. The central issue became clear, that to let all of Kellcasse know about the killing mist could cause wide-spread panic. And if that happened, Jude would end up with more problems than his limited Guardsman force could possibly manage.
And never mind about the bad press Jude would receive in the Kellcasse Chronicle. He’d be crucified in print. One way or the other, this was shaping up to be a PR nightmare if he and his Guard didn’t figure out how to deal with the killing mist.
Hannah made her own contributions, her observations of the mist, of Margetta, how the ancient fae seemed able to pull the mist with her, and that Hannah’s fire dispelled it.
In the end, it was agreed that each of the team leaders would alert their men about the mist and the necessity of avoiding it, but to report any sign to Longeness and his staff at the Kellcasse Communication Center. Longeness had the ability to reach the Guardsmen all at the same time when needed.
As the Guardsmen dispersed, leaving by the front door this time, Hannah hurried with them for the simple reason that she loved to see vampires in flight, especially the super-fit Guardsmen.
Jude stood close to her, one arm around her waist.
As the last one left, he turned to her and said quietly, “I don’t like you looking at other men,
Jude nodded, then addressed his men. “As you can imagine, I’m concerned for Hannah’s safety.”
“Everyone here is,” one of the Guardsmen spoke up.
“Here, here,” went around the men.
She knew these men and which ones had wives and families and what each laid down every night to battle the enemy. “I feel the same way about all of you. I hope you know that.”
Another said, “We do, Hannah. That’s why you find a couple of us passed out in your bunkroom every night at dawn.”
Laughter erupted this time and she joined them.
But when her gaze landed once more on Jude, she saw a look in his eye, of deep appreciation, that pierced her heart. She felt two things at once: The huge divide that separated them because the focus of each of their lives was so different and her ever-present affection for him.
She had to look away, to remember that she’d made a promise never to allow what was important to her to be set aside for the needs of a man. Maybe Jude wasn’t Mark Jackson, her ex. And yes, Mark was a real dick for demanding that she sell the bar to basically prove she loved him. But the situation had the same difficult resonance – what she’d have to give up and what Jude wouldn’t.
So she calmed herself down, wanting desperately to keep her perspective as the hours and possibly days wore on.
Jude brought the subject back to the point. “Here’s the way this needs to go. I want every Guardsman on patrol. And Paul, bring in everyone on leave. You’re to give this basic information to each of the men, about the mist, about Hannah, but that we need to draw Margetta out. One of my fears is that she’ll use some of our people again to try out her mist-making ability and more innocent realm-folk will die. So, let’s keep a sharp eye out for the mist. Heavy patrolling everywhere.” Which covered a lot of miles. But Jude’s Vampire Guard was three-hundred strong so no one balked at the order.
“And Reese, I know the shifters aren’t fully ready, but let’s put them on the ground. I’m thinking about that scent, it was sweet but in a way that smelled decayed. Maybe a shifter will have a better chance at locating the next intrusion.”
“I think that’s a great idea. They’re chomping at the bit to see some action.”
“Then tonight would be a good place to start. Go ahead and contact Rayle. I’ll leave you in charge of that part of the operation. Just get them out there.” Rayle was the alpha and had command of his men.
Reese took off.
They also discussed whether or not to alert the general population to the mist problem. The central issue became clear, that to let all of Kellcasse know about the killing mist could cause wide-spread panic. And if that happened, Jude would end up with more problems than his limited Guardsman force could possibly manage.
And never mind about the bad press Jude would receive in the Kellcasse Chronicle. He’d be crucified in print. One way or the other, this was shaping up to be a PR nightmare if he and his Guard didn’t figure out how to deal with the killing mist.
Hannah made her own contributions, her observations of the mist, of Margetta, how the ancient fae seemed able to pull the mist with her, and that Hannah’s fire dispelled it.
In the end, it was agreed that each of the team leaders would alert their men about the mist and the necessity of avoiding it, but to report any sign to Longeness and his staff at the Kellcasse Communication Center. Longeness had the ability to reach the Guardsmen all at the same time when needed.
As the Guardsmen dispersed, leaving by the front door this time, Hannah hurried with them for the simple reason that she loved to see vampires in flight, especially the super-fit Guardsmen.
Jude stood close to her, one arm around her waist.
As the last one left, he turned to her and said quietly, “I don’t like you looking at other men,
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