Page 3 of Transfiguration
His gaze found an urn on the back shelf that made his gut clench. He knew from Sam’s stories what was in it and hated the idea that Sam had to face it over and over. But he stood beside Sam, waiting to hear why they had been summoned, and hoped Con was okay wherever he was.
Hart hung up the phone and turned to them, his gaze rolling over Luca longer than Sam, but pausing only a few seconds on their joined hands. “There’s trouble brewing,” Hart said.
“Okay,” Sam said, unfazed. “Isn’t there always?”
“There have been some attacks on Fellowship members, and a growing resistance to the dissolution of the Dominion.” Hart opened the computer in front of him and typed a few things in, then turned the screen to show them a dozen articles worldwide of increased attacks. “The violence doesn’t seem to be led by witches.”
That made little sense. “What?” Luca asked. “Non-witches are supporting the Dominion?”
“We’re not exactly certain,” Hart said. “It seems to be tied to the fire spell and subsequent backlash. There are a lot of threats against Rou, as we expected, but that will trickle to the rest of us, and in some places has already stirred up riots.” He typed in a few more things, pulling up pictures of crime scenes and lots of hate speech. Someone was making it clear they liked nothing not completely human with a “Human’s First,” and “Superior Race,” spread of events.
“We always see unrest when something big changes,” Sam said. “There was a lot of crap after the vampire war. It died down fast enough.”
Luca studied Hart’s face, which to most would appear blank, unmoved by all the destruction and likely death, but Luca had been watching him since he was a child. He was worried about something. There was a tiny edge of a wrinkle near the corner of his eyes that wasn’t joy or even age.
“What aren’t you telling us?”
Hart shook his head. “This seems to be a growing network of effort. Linked, if not organized.” His gaze focused on Sam. “We’ve had nearly a hundred vampire casualties already.”
Luca’s stomach flipped over and he tightened his grip on Sam’s hand. Forced into the media limelight, that meant Sam had a big target on his back.
“I’m fine,” Sam said, unworried. “What can we do to put a stop to it? Beef up security? Put a curfew on vampires? Will it help that Santini is back and mostly functioning?”
“I might move all of you overseas for a time,” Hart said. “I’m trying to decide.”
“I’m not good at hiding, boss,” Sam said, sounding annoyed. “Or leaving my friends when there is danger.”
“Rou does not need your help.”
“He still has it, and that’s not a choice you get to make for me.”
“And if that puts your lovers in danger?” Hart asked, looking at Luca now.
“I’m not exactly a princess in need of saving,” Luca bristled. “Pretty and sexy I might be, but I can fuck some pieces of shit up.”
“And the witch?” Hart asked.
“Con is fine,” Sam said. “He’s stronger than most give him credit for. What’s this really about?”
Hart frowned at his screen, the most expression Luca could recall seeing from him in years. “There are reminders of past events, but it might mean nothing. Will you add caution and move if I ask you to?”
“Hide, you mean?”
Hart gave a faint nod. “For a time. It would not only be for your sake.”
Luca gaped at him; was he saying that an attack on them would affect Hart? He met his father’s gaze, confused at the concern he saw there. “You think someone is coming after us to control you?”
“It would make sense, would it not? Santini might take on a more focal role, but the world knows me as a leader of vampires. It makes me a target as much as it makes Sam a target.”
Luca blew out a long breath. What would happen if someone took out Hart? Would the entire vampire world unravel? Santini might be back, but Luca knew he hated being a leader in the spotlight and wanted no more pressure reflected on Rou. Rou, as Pillar of Earth, already got endless shit. But Hart and Sam? It was more than Hart being a leader. Luca knew that.
He struggled to understand his emotions toward his father. It was a mess of seeing him as invincible, powerful, and ruthless, tied to small things like a puppy Luca had been given when he was ten. Or that Hart went to all three of Luca’s graduations, high school, his undergrad, and finally his graduate degree, even when it had been in the middle of the day. These were the small things his lovers reminded him were his father’s way of expressing affection. He wasn’t just Maxwell Hart, king of vampires, but also Luca’s dad. Luca clenched his fists, a bit of red rising in his gut. He would need a fight soon to burn off some of the possessive rage or get fucked through the mattress.
Sam put an arm around his waist. “Nothing is going to happen to us,” Sam said. “Tell me who I need to take out to put an end to this, and I will.”
“I don’t know. And that is the issue.” Hart turned and got up, coming around the desk. “I simply ask that you be cautious and ready to move. If I can move Rou and his family, I will. I am hoping Santini’s return will help Rou resist his own lack of common sense.”
Sam snorted. “The white knight syndrome is strong with Rou.”