Terra's Victory (Destiny's Trinities Book 7) by Tracy Cooper-Posey

countryside,” Zoe shot back.
    “Why not?” Blake asked. “They’re people, too.”
    “They’re mortal,” Beth reminded everyone. “Eventually, they will grow old and die.”
    “So let them find what freedom and peace they can until they do die,” Aithan said.
    Remmy stirred. “What’s to stop them from turning fresh humans?” he asked.
    Declan sighed. “Procreation. Individuals die, yet the vampeen will linger forever.”
    “They eat people for food,” Zoe said, her voice low and hard. “They get a free pass after the war because that’s their nature? We executed the Nazis and they said they were just following orders, too.”
    The silence around the table was tense.
    Blake looked as though he had a headache. He was rubbing his temple. Aithan didn’t look happy, either.
    “So what do you plan to do, Seaveth?” Remmy asked, using his polite, charming tone.
    “You thought this was the key, didn’t you?” Aithan asked her. “Find a way around the vampeen and take out the Grimoré, then the vampeen will be neutralized and the war won.”
    “Something like that,” Beth said slowly. “It seems to me that we all agree, more or less, that the vampeen were human and once free will is restored to them, they should be treated as individuals with human rights once more.”
    Zoe grimaced, but nodded. No one disputed her.
    “No offense, ma’am,” Remmy said, “That’s not your issue here.”
    “No?”
    “It’s what the vampeen do with their new-found free will that will be the decider,” Aithan said.
    “If they become psychotic, then they won’t be capable of making any rational decisions,” Declan added.
    “We need to find out what happens to them,” Blake said, his tone urgent. “Nothing should be decided until we do.”
    Beth sat back. “That’s what I need you to figure out, all of you. We make no direct move against the Grimoré until we know.”
    Aithan blew out his breath. “Tall order,” he said.
    “And then some,” Remmy added.

Chapter Nine
    Cole was sitting on the front verandah when they got back, his face turned up to the sun, which was as high as it would go at this time of year. He wore jeans and a tee shirt and that was all.
    Zoe shrugged into her heavy winter coat and boots and went outside. Declan was already there, sitting on the verandah railing, facing Cole. He didn’t need outdoor clothes, either, although he would always dress to match any normal humans in the area, just as the vampires worked to look more human.
    “Telling him about the meeting?” Zoe asked.
    Declan shook his head. “About what Blake said, after.”
    “About the trinities breaking up?” Zoe shook her head. “He was upset, Declan. Everything he said was tinted black. He lost a daughter to the vampeen, remember.”
    “Breaking up?” Cole said sharply.
    “He had a theory—” Declan began.
    “It wasn’t a theory. It was a question Sera had asked, that he’s now obsessing about.”
    “What happens after the war?” Cole asked quietly. “It’s a good question.”
    Zoe looked at him, startled. “Nothing happens,” she said quickly. “We go on just as we are. Even if the bonding or whatever fades, it doesn’t matter, especially to us. We already had our own sort of bonding, before we knew a thing about the Grimoré.”
    “The bonding is the only reason I’m here,” Declan said quietly.
    Zoe stared at him, her throat squeezing. “No. Nuh-uh.”
    Cole was just looking at Declan. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking. His expression was…calm.
    “I don’t want to hear any more of this,” Zoe said firmly.
    “Maybe we should talk about it,” Cole said.
    Declan sighed. “I’ve had my time and it’s over. This, the last few weeks…it was a bonus. I’ve spent most of it wondering when the other shoe would drop. Maybe that’s when.”
    Zoe stared at him, her eyes prickling with tears that hurt as they formed. Her throat was aching. “I didn’t get my time with