Craig, the leader of the Ireland guild, was the first to speak, his thick Irish accent cold and unfeeling. “And who is in charge now? You? You’re barely ooeht o’ yooehr trainin bra. I wahn’t be answerin to a cheld, Xariana.”
I blinked, unprepared for his clipped response. “I fail to see where my age would make me less qualified for the position. I have been a hunter, assisting my father in the daily affairs of our guild for longer than most of you have been members. In fact, Craig McFarland, I hand-delivered your report with a recommendation to Xavier, earning you the job you now hold. You didn’t seem appalled or found my age a problem when I got you elevated to lead the Ireland guild. My bra size and how long I’d been wearing the fucking thing didn’t come into account at all. Explain why that is an issue now?” I snapped coldly, finding my spine.
“You’re a cheld,” he continued.
“I killed my first demon on my own at seven years old, Craig. Then, at seventeen, I eliminated the demon you were supposed to kill at your trial to earn your spot in the guild while you pissed your fucking pants. I was born into the guild and have a higher kill count than all the leaders of the guilds placed together. I don’t say this to boast or brag. It’s just a fact and a reminder of whose daughter I am. My father brought you in, Craig, and he did so because I told him you’d be a good leader.”
He shook his head, smiling coldly. “I dahn’t give a shet who yooehr father is. I dahn’t answer to a cheld. And I sure as ‘ell dahn’t answer to a female wethooeht enooehgh balls ahr aoehthahrity to roehn ‘er own guild, let alahne mine”
“Eryx, see that the Ireland guild is cut off from communication. Enzo,” I said, sliding a snide smile at Craig while crossing my arms over my chest. “Cut their funding and weapons as well. Rhys, see that our allies within Ireland, Scotland, and the British Isles know that the Ireland hunters guild is no longer in need of assistance as they’ve cut off their nose to spite their face. Kill the call. Craig, good hunting,” I snorted as the color drained from his face before the screen went black.
I pointedly looked at each of the other leaders before continuing. “Does anyone else have a problem with me running the guild until we retrieve my father?” My gaze landed on each leader as, one by one, they nodded in agreement that it wouldn’t be an issue. “Good, then place your territories on high alert and contact the hunters outside of your respective guilds to ensure they’re aware of the threat. I don’t need to tell you that whoever did this to us has declared war on all guilds.”
“What do we know so far, Xariana?” Blade asked, studying me through crimson eyes. He was the lead hunter in London and one of the oldest vampires we had in the guilds.
“Not much, other than they wanted to hit us hard enough that they left a mark. We have video footage we’re forwarding to you. The video illustrates the power behind the assault, but it doesn’t show you who attacked us. I will compile an image with our forensic artist and get that out to you and the public based on the creature I saw. He had amber eyes and silver hair. I couldn’t tell you more than that or even hint at his breed. Only that he was powerful, and that he seemed able to stop time, and when it restarted, everything exploded around him.”
“Bloody hell.” Blade rubbed his forehead, observing me. “You saw it and survived? Yet no one else did?”
“Yeah, you’ll see it all on the video.” I paused, creasing my brow as I noticed the guild in Ireland kept calling. A quick glance at Forest had the calls going straight to voicemail. “I was on a hunt before the attack, and when I returned, I witnessed the attack. Something or someone prevented me from dying with the others. I should have slammed into my jeep from the explosion, but I never touched it from what we can tell in the video. The same creature or one similar to it left this on me,” I stated, pulling my top up to expose the marking.
All the leaders adjusted in their chairs to look at the mark, and no one seemed to know what it was, as they all silently shook their heads. Dropping my shirt, I explained the encounter in the woods, leaving nothing out, studying their facial expressions while recounting the details. When I finished, everyone was somber and silent.
“If you recall any creature that could attack in such a fashion, I need to know. The marking isn’t painful at the moment, but it reacts when anyone else tries to touch it. If it becomes an issue, I will stand down and allow Noah Jameson to assume control of the guild. I won’t take a chance on something happening to any of you. Your safety and that of our guilds are first and foremost in my mind. We are still gathering the names and information on those we’ve lost. At the service tomorrow night, I will honor our fallen and do a last call of arms. Are there any questions?”
“Do you need us to come to Washington? You’re not alone in this, Anderson. We will be on the next flight if called or needed,” Blade offered, frowning, as I shook my head in reply. “Bloody hell, Xar, let us help you. When one guild weakens, we gather to show force.”
“We’re not weakened, Blade. We will continue hunting.” I could hear the sharp inhale and gasps of the surrounding hunters at my announcement. “My father would have my ass if we stopped and allowed the Otherworld creatures to infringe on the humans. We do not stop hunting, even at our darkest hour. Those are the rules Xavier created, and we will keep this place moving along until he is returned to us. The Underworld is probably already buzzing with the news of my father’s disappearance. They will seek to try us, but we will strike back.”
Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I repeated the words in which my father always ended his calls. “We are the unwanted, the unseen, that walk among the mortals. We are needed to hunt those that prey on the weaker race, enforcing the laws to protect them. We are hunters of the night and are never alone. For when we hunt, we do so as a family. They cannot break us, for we stand firmly together. Until next time ladies, and gentlemen. Safe hunting, and may the gods favor you always.”
The call ended, and I silently leaned against the desk behind me. Tears pricked my eyes, burning my throat. The command room was quiet, and an unsettling foreboding was present that everyone felt. Since the beginning of the guild, it had been no one other than my father that uttered those words.
“You did great, Xari,” Kaderyn whispered, breaking the silence.
“Thank you,” I replied, turning to peer up at the open office door that looked out over the command room. Eventually, I would need to enter my dad’s office to work. My heart pounded, and my stomach churned with uneasiness as my hand slid to my side, skimming my fingers over the mark before I turned to the men.
“Forward the videos to the other guilds, but not Ireland. They need to know what it feels like to be cut off for a few hours. Reroute their calls and those of the hunters who refused to align with the guild, choosing to hunt alone. I want those calls taken and addressed based on the nature of the offense. Nothing goes unanswered. Also, get a pulse on the news swarming in the Underworld. Reach out to our informants and find out what is being said about Xavier’s disappearance. Vet that information against what others are saying. Someone knows what happened here, and I need to know what they do. Enzo, can you get your girls working on their clientele and see if any of the high rollers in your club know anything?”