Tariq let his breath out in a long slow hiss. “I can’t figure out what he’s up to, but whatever it is, it must have something to do with San Diego. No vampire has ever stayed in a place where so many experienced hunters have gathered.”

Dragomir heard the frustration in his voice. It echoed a similar frustration gathering inside himself. He glanced at his fellow ancients from the monastery. In some ways, they were lucky they could no longer feel. They understood Tariq’s frustration but did not share it, and it didn’t affect them one way or another. They hunted. That was their life. They hunted individually or in packs. It made little difference how they caught their prey, only that they did.

“I want the waterfront watched,” Tariq said. “Tomas, Lojos and Matias, you’ve been patrolling the wharf, can you continue?”

“Of course,” Tomas answered for them.

“We should extend the areas where we’ve been looking over the water and along the shore,” Tariq continued. “Spread out along the sea to encompass as much as we can.”

“I’ll take that,” Nicu volunteered.

“I will aid you,” Afanasiv added.

“Good. The two of you work out a schedule. Vadim and his army know we’re watching for them, so go unseen. Even if you spot them, don’t let them know you have. We need to follow them back to their lair and find out what they’re up to,” Tariq advised.

“I’ll take another look at the underground city,” Dragomir said. “If Vadim is hiding something there, we need to know.”

Tariq nodded. “Chances are, if he is still using the underground, he’ll have more than one vampire guarding it. If he is using it, we need to know why and what he’s doing. I think I’ll go with you…”

“No.” Gary stated the denial firmly.

The others shook their heads and shifted uncomfortably, as if they might surround Tariq and force him to stay where he was. Tariq looked shocked. He studied the ancients facing him and then slowly looked around the circle.

“What is this?” The question was directed at Gary.

“You have to be protected. We will hunt.”

“I have always hunted,” Tariq said. “Granted, there are many at this table considered stronger and faster, but I have managed, these centuries, to stay alive. I will do what I have always done for our people.”

Dragomir cleared his throat to bring Tariq’s attention to him. “We are in a new world. An environment the rest of us are struggling to understand and catch up with. You are familiar with this world. You’ve shared your knowledge with us, but where we are still trying to process and learn to fit in, you do so naturally. You fit and move in this century with humans as if you are one of them. You understand their technology, and more, you look ahead, anticipating. We need you. All of us. We cannot afford to have anything happen to you or Charlotte.”

Tariq frowned. “Maksim” – he turned to his partner – “you are as familiar as I am.”

Maksim shook his head. “Not so, Tariq. You’d chosen to live among humans long before I came along. You instructed me for several years. I live among them, work among them, but I still feel as if I am moving just out of step. You are at ease. Completely so. If we are to survive, we have to be like you. All of us.”

“If our lifemates are human, and it appears many will be, then we need to understand them,” Afanasiv added.

“The technology of this century is so advanced, it is a threat to us,” Sandu pointed out. “We have to be aware of cameras everywhere.”

“Software recognition,” Tomas said. “The perils of this century.”

“All of it,” Ferro said. “It isn’t simple, especially for those of us who’ve been locked away for a couple of centuries.”

Tariq pushed his fingers through his hair in agitation. “I am sorry. I should have worked with each of you more. You all seemed to be learning so fast. I have no problem sharing information – you have only to ask. I can’t just push my way into your minds.”

“No one here thinks you have shirked your duty to our people,” Gary said. “To the contrary, you are the leader here, one we all accept, so you must remain safe.”

Dragomir suppressed a groan. He understood how difficult it was for ancients to process emotion, but they’d been well on their way to convincing Tariq until Gary used the word safe. Safe was what they wanted for their women and children, not a hunter of Tariq’s caliber.

Tariq’s eyes flashed with a kind of fire. That fire smoldered in him, deep, suppressed maybe, but always there. He glared at Gary. “I am no leader. We have a prince. His name is Mikhail Dubrinsky, and I have sworn my allegiance to him. He is the leader of our people.”

Gary nodded. “Most of us have sworn our allegiance to him.” He looked around the room, his gaze touching the members of the brotherhood. “There are a few exceptions, but for the most part, everyone acknowledges Mikhail as our leader. When he sends out orders, those who have sworn allegiance to him can do no other than obey.”

Those odd-colored eyes pinned Tariq. The Daratrazanoff line had produced renowned warriors and through the centuries, some had strange eyes. The ice blue rimmed with silver had significance, but Dragomir wasn’t certain what it was.

“Is this not so, Tariq?” Gary pressed.

“Of course we would obey Mikhail,” he said. “I send him daily updates on all urgent matters, which these days encompasses just about everything. I am hoping he has ideas as to why Vadim is behaving the way he is.”

“He has sent a message to you. I received it last rising, but we were under attack and you needed my skills as a healer. Unfortunately, I was too fatigued to deliver it to you.” Gary pushed a piece of paper across the table to him.

Tariq drew it to him reluctantly. Very slowly he picked it up and read it. His expression darkened. He frowned and shook his head. “I don’t understand. He sent you to me for what purpose?” His blue eyes focused on Gary. “I have no need of a bodyguard or second-in-command. I am not in command. I own a nightclub with Maksim. I have this property, and hope those of you who want to remain will, and that you’ll purchase the properties around mine. Some of them I own and can allow you to buy; others need to be acquired.”

Gary shook his head. “You are deliberately not understanding what Mikhail is saying. It is an order, Tariq. He isn’t asking.”

Tariq tossed the thin parchment onto the table and leapt up, all restless energy. He shook his head. Gary didn’t move, not even when Tariq paced close to him, looking threatening. The Carpathian was always elegant in his attire. Now, he looked what he was, a predator pushed close to the edge of control.

“He’s got this wrong. He can ask someone else.”

“Order, Tariq. This is an order from the prince of our people,” Gary corrected. “He sent me to assess the situation here in the States. It is dire. Vadim is not the only master vampire here. We need more hunters. We need a stronghold and a way to protect our families and the humans around us. You’ve already thought of that and begun the process.”

“I was here,” Tariq said.

Gary shook his head. “You anticipated this happening long before it did. You are going to become a target. I suspect you are already the biggest target. Vadim knows it is your mind going up against his. You are the appointed leader in the United States. You answer only to Mikhail. All hunters coming here are bound by your orders…”

Tariq snarled and leapt at Gary, landing inches from him. “I do not give orders to my fellow hunters.”

Gary didn’t flinch. “You have no choice in this matter. None. Look around you. Long before Mikhail sent me, you already had those ancients following where you led. Mikhail recognized your abilities just as everyone at this table has.”

Tariq snarled again, whirled around and paced across the room. The Carpathian had wide shoulders, but already, Dragomir could see weight settling there.

“I am here to protect you. Mikhail sent you a Daratrazanoff to keep you alive. I will do so whether you wish it or not.”

Dragomir’s head went up. “I was there, Gary. In the monastery. Surely you told the prince that your lifemate was in Paris.”