The Devil's Wolf
Chapter 43

"That is bullshit," Raiden moved forward. "If they detonated explosives around the base of this building, they could not guarantee which direction it will collapse. It takes engineers and explosives on multiple levels of a building to ensure that it collapses downwards, rather than to the side."

"The vampires' habit of buying entire city blocks has made it possible," the blonde woman replied with just the shadow of smugness. "The buildings around this one are all vampire owned. We don't particularly care if every building in the so- called Vampire Square becomes rubble. Now," she met Cecelia's eyes. "Shall we sit down and discuss this civilly?"

Nate appeared at Ashlynn's side and put a hand over her mouth. He indicated for her and Cael to move further back from the stairwell door. As they edged their way through the darkness, Ashlynn saw Rebecca move to stand behind Cecelia, who turned her head ever so slightly as if listening to something whispered inaudibly to human ears.

Ashlynn returned her gaze squarely to the blonde woman. "Very well," she dropped her power, plunging the room into darkness. "Follow me."

The werewolf alpha female walked unerringly through the obstacles of the foyer, her vision wolf-keen. The human woman, however, dazzled by the flash of Cecelia's power-light and the sudden return to darkness, was not so surefooted. As she edged her way through the barricades, Dior glowered down at her, an imposing mass of man. She looked up at him and for the barest moment, she looked intimidated, before clutching her laptop tighter and hurrying her steps behind Cecelia.

Raiden held the door open for his mate and followed the two women into the stairwell, the door swinging closed behind them with a whoosh of air that sucked Ashlynn's hair forward.

Nate's head tilted, listening to the retreat of footsteps. "Right," he commanded the room. "Whilst the wolves keep her busy, let's verify the presence of explosions around this building and see what we can do about them."

There was a flurry of activity and voices as the vampires called the next shift down from an upper floor, freeing those currently on duty to search for the explosives, and those behind the barricades, took the stairwell down or edged out of the other exits, to examine the exterior walls.

Nate went to the glass front of the building and lifted a little of the obscuring weaves. "They have fallen back," he murmured. "They may have done so anticipating an explosion."

"So, they have moved the trap from the stronghold to this building," Cael observed in an undertone. "We should seek our vampire, Ashlynn." His meaning was clear, that if the building fell, he and Ashlynn would ensure the survival of their vampires and each other.

They made their way to the stairwell and up a level, before creeping down the hallway. Rebecca and Jacinta lingered outside a door and met their eyes as they passed. Jacinta placed her finger against her lips to indicate that they should not speak. Ashlynn could hear her parent's voices behind the glass.

Down the hallway, they eased open the door to Elior's office. He was talking on his phone, and looked up as they entered, his eyes ruby red as his Other dominated. He repeated Jacinta's signal for silence.

"No, John. You are forcing my hand." He listened for a moment, and then sighed heavily. "I regret that, very much." He disconnected and stood, tugging down his waistcoat. His jacket hung over the back of his chair. "What is happening?" "A woman came," Cael told him. "Wanting to speak with you about the surrender of Ashlynn and Cecelia."

Elior froze, his gaze turning inward. "Clever, Caleb. What was our response?"

"Mum said that you and I weren't here," Ashlynn rested her hip against his desk tabletop. "And said she wasn't prepared to talk until they turned back on everything they had turned off.

"The woman said that she couldn't do that, because they had disconnected the building in anticipation of blowing it up. Nate is verifying the presence of explosives, and mum has taken the woman into a room down the hall for a chat." "Shit," Elior placed his palms to either side of his laptop and leaned forward. His hair was still loose from his kiss with Cael and swung over his face hiding it from her until he straightened again. His expression was grim. "They could be seeking to verify the presence of their main targets in the building by sending the woman in.

"If Caleb has told them about the effects of font blood, they may be looking to take you and your mother out of the equation Ashlynn. If we surrendered you, which we would be foolish to do, then they would have your blood. If they kill you and your mother, then they equal the playing field - no one has access to your blood."

"Yeah, I figured that," Ashlynn agreed. "And I am guessing mum did too, which is why she told the woman that we weren't here. The question is, what do we do about it, Elior? We are stuck in a building that they can explode at any time. If we surrender, they may still blow it up. If we don't they probably will."

"We need to leave," Elior agreed. "The subterranean tunnels are not an option." His eyes went to Cael. "We may need to use portals."

"The sort of portals you are talking about," Cael ran his fingers through his hair restlessly. "To transport the number of people you are talking about, Elior, the portal would either need to be open for a considerable amount of time, or..." He trailed off.

"Or what?" Elior prompted.

"Maybe multiple portals would work," Cael was thoughtful, hesitant and uncertain. "If we could cast many portals, each transferring a small number, they would be open for a shorter duration. We may pass undetected, or..." He grimaced. "Multiple portals may generate interest. I do not know."

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"Interest from your people?" Elior was catching up with the conversation. "I remember Ashlynn saying something to that effect."

"Yes. We do not want to attract their attention," Cael said severely.

"We really don't want to attract their attention," Ashlynn agreed. "The slave owning devils are the nicer of the two parties, according to Cael."

"So, the option is to get blown up, or to open portals that might bring a new enemy upon us?" Elior looked from one to the other.

"Pretty much," Ashlynn confirmed. "Cael did say that the portals were dangerous."

"I would say that staying in a building that might explode and collapse is more dangerous, "Elior decided, leaning on his arms against the tabletop and looking to the devil. "Cael?"

Cael shrugged, but she caught a glimmer of something in his eyes that told her he wasn't as casual about it as he acted. "If I could think of any other way, I would suggest it."

"Would Alatar's portal make it safer?" Ashlynn suggested trying to mediate the danger that she saw in his eyes. "Rather than yours?" Her understanding of portals was, as Cael had pointed out earlier, minimal.

"Great," Elior closed his eyes. His mobile began to ring. He answered it. "Elior. Mhm... Hmmm. F-k." He drew in a breath his eyes meeting Cael's. The devil shrugged. "No, leave it. Tell the warlock and his companions to begin whatever process they need to create multiple portals... Yes, multiple portals. And organize them on each occupied level. Tell them they have to be quick with them - open, through and closed quickly. Begin evacuation immediately... Destination?" His eyes met Ashlynn's, and he inhaled through his noise. "I am really going to have to replace a better fall-back location," he grumbled. "The destination is pack lands."

"Can't do anything about the explosives?" Ashlynn guessed as he disconnected.

"Pressure rigged to explode if disconnected wrong. Nate thinks he might be able to work it out, given time - but not without risking a detonation."

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"So, portals," she looked at Cael. The devil looked worried, which made her uneasy. The devil had shown no fear of anything else, not her father, not the vampires, not the gargoyles and not the humans. If Cael was afraid of his people, she thought, it meant they were truly terrifying.

"We will be okay, Cael," she said reassuringly, reaching out for his hand. "The portals will be there and gone in a flash."

"We are yet to see the outcome of Cecelia's chat with the human ambassador," Elior added thoughtfully. "If we have sufficient time, we may be able to stagger the portals. Many, brief portals, over a period of time. That might not catch your people's notice as much?"

"We can hope," Cael agreed, but his tone was grim.

Elior's phone rang as if on cue. "Elior. Mhm. Yes, Raiden, I am listening." He was silent for a long time and moved around the table to sit before his laptop. He pinned the phone between his ear and shoulder as he typed. "Put me on speaker phone."

His eyes met Ashlynn's again. "It is time," he said to her. "We have done everything we can to avoid this."

She blew out a breath understanding what he was telling her. "I know you have."

He hit a key on the screen. "Miss Devereaux, this is Elior Cohen speaking. I understand the proposition. At this moment, my children will enter the room," he paused, listening for their entry. "Rebecca and Jacinta will be taking your electronic devices whilst I consider your proposition. You will be supplied with a beverage whilst you wait. Do no leave the room. The door will be locked, for the duration."

"I am to report every hour on the hour," the woman's tight voice responded. "No earlier, and no later, or they will explode this building. I do not wish to die, Elior Cohen."

"Understood," Elior glanced at the old-fashioned, elegant, and expensive wrist piece he wore. "According to my watch, that allows me forty-five minutes in which to consider your proposal."

"That corresponds with my clock," she agreed.

"Good. We will speak again before the forty-five minutes is up." He disconnected and dialed another number on his phone. "Nate. There is a forty-five minute duration in which we must evacuate this building... Mhm. Get it done." He rose to standing, closing the laptop, and sliding his phone into his pocket. "It is time we leave, my mates."