Page 32 of Viktor’s Temptation (East Coast Territory #2)
The meeting room was warm and inviting, designed not with formality in mind but with comfort.
Deep, plush chairs were arranged in a semicircle around a central hearth, where a low fire crackled softly.
The golden glow from the flames danced across the room’s rich wooden paneling and thick rugs.
Overhead, a rustic chandelier cast a warm light that softened the features of everyone present.
A faint scent of aged leather and cedar lingered in the air, creating an atmosphere that was simultaneously homey and serious.
Viktor stood at the head of the room, his imposing figure a stark contrast to the cozy surroundings.
His gaze swept over the faces of his division leaders, their postures varying from tense to contemplative.
Each one of them felt the weight of the situation, and silence hung heavy after Viktor’s announcement.
“The person the police have been after isn’t human,” he’d told them. “The person responsible for these murders is a vampire.”
He waited for the mummerings of shock and horror to subside, his silver eyes scanning the room for any sign of insight or ideas. “Any ideas of who might be perpetrating these killings?” His voice broke the quiet, steady but laced with urgency.
In the back of the room, a woman tentatively raised her hand. Viktor nodded toward her. “What do you know, Evelyn?”
Evelyn stood nervously, her hands smoothing down the fabric of her plain cotton skirt. She glanced around, her eyes darting to her fellow leaders before settling on Viktor. “I don’t know if this helps, but one of my group leaders mentioned seeing a stranger walking through his territory yesterday.”
Viktor straightened slightly. “Vampire?”
“Yes,” Evelyn said quickly, nodding for emphasis. “He’s not a member of my group, so I tried to track him down. But no one has seen him since.”
Viktor’s jaw tightened, but he inclined his head, gesturing for her to sit. “Thank you.”
Another hand rose, this time from the middle of the semicircle. Viktor’s sharp gaze landed on the older man. “Go ahead, Don.”
Don rose, his movements slower but deliberate.
He glanced briefly at Evelyn, as if weighing the risk of speaking up.
“This stranger might not be part of our clan, my lord,” he began cautiously.
“There are rumors—” he hesitated briefly before continuing, “—that vampires from the West Kentucky clan have been seen in our territory. Not many,” he added quickly, noting the way Viktor’s jaw clenched at the implication. “But it could be relevant.”
“Rumors?” Viktor asked, his voice clipped.
“My group leaders have mentioned it a few times,” Don admitted. “I didn’t give it much weight at first, but if someone’s been slipping through the cracks, it might be worth looking into.”
Don sat down quickly, his gaze dropping to his lap, as if unwilling to meet Viktor’s sharp eyes any longer. Evelyn shifted uncomfortably beside him, as if relieved the focus was off her.
Viktor let out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing fractionally.
“Thank you. It’s a lead we can follow.” He turned his gaze back to the rest of the room.
“Now, I want suggestions. How do we catch someone infiltrating our territory? I’ll speak with Ted, the Kentucky clan leader, but we need solutions for identifying the one transitioning humans—and for stopping them before anyone else is hurt. ”
The room fell into silence again, heavy with tension. Each leader wrestled with the enormity of the challenge. Unauthorized transitions were not only a violation of Viktor’s rules but also a direct affront to the clan. Killing humans outright? That was punishable by death.
One voice broke the quiet. “We’ve already heard from Trent about air patrols,” a younger leader pointed out. “Maybe this should be an all-clan effort. If everyone’s in the air, and the witches and pack are searching the streets and bars, we’re bound to find this bastard.”
A few murmurs of agreement rippled through the room, but Viktor held up a hand.
“That’s assuming the killer is an outsider,” he said.
“If they’re not a member of our clan, but they’ve managed to enter our territory unnoticed, we have a bigger problem.
” His tone was calm but carried an undeniable edge.
This sparked a quiet hum of conversation.
Leaders muttered suggestions to their neighbors, throwing out ideas about coordination and logistics.
Some suggested doubling patrols in their districts.
Others debated the value of focusing on unaligned vampires passing through.
The room buzzed with low voices, a brainstorming session born of urgency.
Viktor listened intently, occasionally interjecting to clarify or redirect. He addressed each division leader individually, ensuring they knew the weight of the situation wasn’t on their shoulders alone. He made it clear that their primary mission was to catch the killer and prevent further harm.
But even as he engaged with his leaders, part of his mind drifted.
Thoughts of Gracie surfaced unbidden, softening the sharp focus he usually maintained during these meetings.
In less than a week, she had become an integral part of his life.
Her quick wit and determination fascinated him.
Her bravery, despite everything she’d endured, inspired him.
Viktor forced himself to focus back on the conversation at hand. There was work to do. Gracie’s safety, and the safety of everyone under his protection, depended on finding this killer. But deep down, he knew he’d do anything to ensure her happiness—even if it meant sacrificing his own.