Page 54 of Those That Are Lost (Hidden Vampires #2)

TY

T o stop the madness truly setting in, I’ve thrown myself into more of the work I started in the Northern Isles. Searching through Red’s things that Claire had saved, I dug out her laptop and have been using it to hunt down the final few bank accounts my parents had set up for me.

The pack here wasn’t poor before the war and my parents had been clever.

They’d started storing money in hidden accounts with false aliases.

Since the war, I’ve been living on my military salary, my injured knee had gotten a sizeable sum of compensation and seeing how I was high up in the double agent service, I had been on a very high salary.

Taking into consideration I had lived like a nomad, then under Adicious’s rule, and had a researcher's stipend I had drained my accounts for sure but they weren’t depleted.

To restart the pack, however, we were going to need significant investment.

The rebuild works we’d need on the ranch alone would be more than I currently had.

Well, until Theodora showed me the accounts from my parents and I realised they had hidden the packs profits.

It seems all of them had pooled their resources and we’d have enough to last us for a couple of years.

Red and I had discussed incomes for after we took control.

We’d need to bring in decent money to sustain the pack and provide them with a good standard of living, but we planned to run it how my parents had.

Each member would have to contribute a percentage of their salaries to the main household.

Providing the majority wished to live with us they’d have to help with the work and the finances.

If we invested in the land as well, hopefully several of the pack could work on getting it producing some crop or livestock that would bring us income. The land surrounding the ranch was certainly vast enough.

Opening my email, I find a response from the leaders of a pack which resides in a smaller city south of the capital.

Malantra had been one of the Fae strongholds but in the last couple of decades had seen a significant shift in attitude.

Calliope and her mate Sephan were two who’d survived the war, although their pack had been hugely diminished.

I’d reached out to them several times during my research, having found the final resting places of those that they’d lost.

Ty,

We are glad to hear you are still well. After our interactions, then your quietness we feared something may have happened to you in your endeavours to find those still missing.

Your news is an exciting development. One that, I’m sure you know, would’ve made your parents very proud.

Whilst we weren’t close we kept in touch often enough to know you were their absolute pride and joy.

They were always the most selfless and caring of leaders who did not take their responsibilities lightly.

We’re sure you will take on the role with the same attitude and thrive.

We are also intrigued to hear of your recent mating.

Once things have settled down, we wish to invite you both for a meeting.

I’m afraid we cannot risk sending you any aid right now but if you would like to learn how we have secured a constant food source for ourselves, then we would be happy to accommodate you.

We truly wish for a positive outcome and to hear from you soon.

Kind regards.

The email doesn’t go as far as I'd wished, which is disappointing, but I know these two have influence over the packs that are left. To have them on our side, and acknowledging Red, will go a long way in legitimising our pack once we get it back.

I’m about to shut the laptop and go find Henry when the mobile sitting on the desk begins to ring. Looking at the ID, I answer it, putting the device to my ear.

“Tell me something about me,” the voice at the end of the line asks.

“Ash is your favourite child,” I tell her.

“Incorrect but fine, you’ve proven it’s you. Now, what the hell were you thinking?” I’m not used to being on the receiving end of Theodora’s anger but if she could see me right now I’m pretty sure I’d be dead from the dagger’s she’d be shooting.

“Your ability to glean information really amazes me,” I say with a fake bravado I don’t feel.

“You let her go into that house alone?”

“She’s not alone.”

“You’re not with her,” she scolds .

“She knows what she’s doing. She’s got this.”

“I don’t like it.”

“Neither do we but it’s a solid plan. Get in, corrupt the pack from the inside, kill Adicious and those who remain loyal, take back our home.”

“When are you ending this?”

“A few more days, a week tops.”

“Okay, don’t make any moves sooner.” Her voice is the epitome of an alpha.

“Why not? If she’s in any danger, I’m going in.”

“Try to give us the time. You stupidly didn’t tell me of this plan and now we’re playing catch up.”

“What can you do?” I ask, perplexed.

“We told you to ask for help.”

“But you’re an ocean away. Cut the crap please and tell me what’s going on.”

“We can travel to you. I still can’t tell you how but we’ll be there. We’re not risking you losing this fight.”

“The treaty?—”

“Do you trust us?” she interrupts me.

I hesitate, not because I’m not sure of the answer but because the implications of this conversation means that the wolves are travelling to Froan. “Of course I do.”

“Good. Then hold out a few days and we’ll be there to help.”

“I… I don’t know what to say.”

“‘Sorry’ would be a great start. I hate surprises.”

“I apologise,” I tell her, still at a loss for what she’s seemingly about to do. “What should I expect?”

“It won’t be a huge group but enough to swing this your way.”

I don’t know how to respond to that, my chest feels a rush of warmth and a little trepidation at the risk the wolfpack are taking for us.

If the authorities find out that they’re breaking the treaty, they’ll be killed on site.

But I guess we’re about to commit mass murder, cover it up, and set up an illegal vampire pack, so what’s adding a few wolves to the mix?

“I don’t know how to thank you for this.”

“In the long run, I hope it’ll help both our packs. Ash will be in touch soon. Tell your mate not to make a move until we are in place.” Ash must be leading whatever cavalry they’re sending.

“I will.”

“Stay safe.” The line goes dead.

I put the phone back on the desk and reach out to Red immediately.

She lets me in enough to know that she can’t talk now but checks that I’m safe.

We’ve not been talking during the day, only late in the night when she and Antares are safely tucked away in their room. I reassure her and leave her be.

I feel for Henry next, the connection I now have to him telling me his proximity to me. He is downstairs by the strength of the bond.

I stand, stretching my underused body. Being cramped up in this house is getting to me in more ways than one. The shadows, which I’ve pretty much left loose since Red left, prance around my feet as I go in search of Henry to update him on the positive news.