Page 42 of Becoming One
Nelson smiled. “He hacked us, didn’t he?”
Sabien didn’t answer but he didn’t have to.
“You say Heskel isn’t fit to be leader. What makes you say this? From what we are told, you don’t have the best of reputations in your own coven. Do you have proof of your accusations?” Jewel asked.
Sabien reached down and straightened his seat before sitting. His face tightened in anger as he replied, “Every coven member pays into the coven a portion of their earnings.”
Ezra gave a nod. “Five percent.”
Shaking his head, Sabien stated, “Heskel makes us pay him twenty percent every month, and if you don’t give what he thinks is enough, he will starve the member to the brink before feeding him again. He forces members to steal from the human blood banks, so he doesn’t have to purchase from the coven’s supplies. Heskel refuses male to male relationships and if you are caught in one, he will beat you to within an inch of your life.” Looking at Jewel, Sabien asked, “Do I need to continue?”
Nelson looked at Ezra. “I smell no lies coming from him, Ezra.”
Nodding, Ezra said, “That is one of my concerns, Nelson. If what Sabien says is true, then a man I have known for hundreds of years is worse than a tyrant—he is a traitor to his people.”
Orion looked at Sabien. “There is much more we need to discuss. However, much of it is going to have to wait until everyone leaves Kaliss.”
“Ezra, if Heskel is harming his people for his own gain, we can’t in good faith send him back to them,” Jewel stated.
Sighing, Ezra replied, “I can’t remove him from his position on just the word of one man. I need proof.”
“Proof? Hell, I can tell you about all the cells are that Heskel keeps the people he is starving,” Sabien replied.
“What about your friend, Strife? Will he talk to us?” Nelson asked.
Sighing, Sabien said, “I don’t know. Fear is a powerful deterrent.”
“What if I was to offer him a place in my coven as well?” Ezra asked.
Sabien laughed. “Strife is no fighter, Re.”
“Maybe not, but Nelson is so busy, he needs some help in the office. Besides, were you not just telling me that you needed a good computer guy?” Ezra said, then turned to Nelson and directed his question to him.
Nelson nodded. “Uh… yeah.”
“When everyone leaves, I want to talk to Strife. However, what I am going to do is simple. Orion, I want you, Jael, and a few other of the Imperial Army to go to Heskel’s coven the second the Ceremony is over. I want you all to take our private jet and get to that coven. I will make a mandatory one week gathering of the Scion. I’ll use the Nicu thing as a reason and keep them here under lock and key. There will be no calls in or out for one week. Find me proof of everything going on in that coven, Orion. I meaneverything,” Ezra stated through clenched teeth.
“I don’t like you being alone with Heskel if what this man says is true. Which I believe it is,” Orion stated.
Ezra stood, his eyes glowing redder than Nelson had ever seen before. His breathing was rapid and heavy. Saying in a deep gravelly voice unlike he had ever heard before, Ezra announced, “I. Am. The.Re.”
Orion gently replied, “That is why I don’t want you alone with a man who might be trying to take you out as the Re. You must have a guard. We would be lost without our Re and Scion, Ezra. And your mate and unborn child would be devastated beyond compare.”
Jewel stood and moved to stand in front of his mate, placing a gentle hand on his chest. “Ezzy, listen to Orion. It isn’t safe.”
Ezra looked at his mate, his eyes dimming until they were back to his normal deep sky-blue. “I will have Theron and Keir by my side at all times. You, my love, will not play your foolish games this time. I want Cassidy with you every step you make.”
“I will not have another in the bathroom when I pee,” Jewel stated firmly.
“Fine, he can stand outside your door. I will also have him choose six other guards,” Ezra stated.
Jewel opened his mouth to say something, but Ezra stopped him, saying, “There will be no argument, love. You and our childwillbe kept safe.”
Jewel nodded his agreement. “Okay, Ezzy, but you forgot that my brother already has four guards of his own on me now.”
Ezra smirked. “No, I didn’t.”
“I should go with them,” Sabien said.
Ezra looked at Sabien. “Why?”
“I know that coven like the back of my hand, Re. I can help Orion and the others,” Sabien stated.
Orion said, “He isn’t wrong, Ezra.”
Nodding, Ezra replied, “Sabien, I am starting a police department here. When you return, prepare to start interviewing so you can help choose your men. You will be my Chief of Police.”
Sabien smirked. “That’s if I live.”
“You better, because in order to survive this mess, I believe we will be needing you,” Ezra answered.