"Lady Meryn, we have trained professionals who can handle this situation ..." Sascha started.

"Well where in the fuck are they?" The men flinched. Meryn didn't know if it was because they weren't used to women cursing or from the question.

"Where is the Unit Commander? I demand to speak to him at once!" A voice echoed down the hall.

"Now what!" Meryn practically shouted. She turned to see the vampire Elder Evreux bearing down on them.

"I demand unit warriors be assigned to my home! It's ludicrous that the council members have been left unguarded." Meryn saw Byron coming up behind him, his face like a thundercloud.

"Elder I'm afraid that isn't possible, all available warriors will be needed to set up a perimeter or patrol the city." Meryn said as she stepped forward. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Sascha give a slight nod of confirmation.

"Why are you even addressing this issue? Shouldn't you be at home waiting for your mate to return with his tail between his legs? I heard he had been injured, what a disgrace for the Unit Commander!"

Meryn felt an evil smile form. The unit warriors around her had stiffened at Elder Evreux's insult and Adair and Ben held Byron back as he snarled.

"Just what I thought, a useless human for a useless ..." Elder Evreux started.

"Shut the fuck up you slimy douche bag. Let me ask you something jerk off, in all the long centuries you've been around I'm assuming you learned how to use a sword?"

"Yes." The Elder hissed.

"Dagger? Rapier? Gun? Martial arts?" Meryn continued.

"Yes of course! What does that have to do with anything?" He demanded.

"Because that makes you more able to handle a feral attack than most of the city. Now shut your fucking mouth and get out of my way before I assign you to a unit for patrol." Meryn's insides were shaking she was so mad. How dare he insult Aiden!

The vampire Elder's mouth moved but no words came out. Just when she thought his head would explode he turned and stamped down the hallway. When the slamming door echoed through the hall Meryn turned back to Sascha.

"Sascha take Gamma and two units of your choosing and set up an outer perimeter. The other two units set up patrols in the city. Alpha stays here to guard Aiden. Check in with each other on your handhelds every ten minutes." When she finished no one moved.

"Today gentleman and someone find me a motherfucking map!"

Sascha smirking, snapped his heels together and gave her a salute, the men followed his example grinning from ear to ear. They dispersed. Meryn exhaled.

Byron pulled her into a hug. "That's my girl!"

"I think they were scared of my gun." Meryn held up the tiny revolver.

Byron nodded and with a straight face agreed. "I'm sure that's why."

Meryn put her gun in the holster and looked up at Ryuu. There was pride shining from his eyes that warmed Meryn. She rubbed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"I will definitely need another cup of coffee."

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

It was after five o'clock before they had an unused treatment room across the hall from Aiden's set up as their command central. Colton handed her a map and she laid it out on a gurney.

"Mark where the attacks have been." She handed him a pen. He circled two locations almost directly across from each other. She picked up the handheld.

"Gamma Kitten One, Gamma Kitten One, come back, over." Meryn released the button.

"Is this really necessary?" Sascha replied.

"Yes, and you didn't say 'over'. When Aiden gets up I'm going to go over how ridiculously lax your security is when it comes to technology. Anyway, assign a heavier concentration of men north and south of the city, they have already hit east and west. It looks like they are trying to keep the warriors on the outskirts of town. Tell the two units in the city to keep their eyes open."

"Roger that, over and out."

"Normally six units are more than enough to keep the city safe, now we're stretched so thin." Byron observed. Meryn looked up and realized if anyone, he should be in charge.

"Dad, I'm so sorry, you should be doing this." She indicated to the map.

He shook his head. "You're doing just fine. You've done everything exactly as I would have done. Have you studied battle strategy?" He asked.

"No, but I do play World of Warcraft."

"Sounds useful, you'll have to show me later."

Meryn smiled slyly. "Sure, I bet you would love it."

Meryn looked up and saw Adair sitting with his mother, her eyes then went to Colton. She looked back to Adair then back to Colton again.

Colton pushed himself off the wall and stepped forward. "What?"

"Adair, the training academy is located in the city right?" She asked.

Adair looked up. "Yeah, why?"

"How many trainees do you have?"

He looked confused for a moment before answering. "Thirty, five for each unit."

"Maybe..." Meryn pulled her laptop out. She started accessing the city's wireless feeds. She looked around.

"Where are Darian and Gavriel?" She knew Keelan was assisting Adam in the infirmary with healing spells. In addition to Aiden, two members from Gamma had also been injured, one with a head injury and the other with a broken leg.

"Outside I think." Colton said.

Meryn put her laptop on the map. "Be right back." She sprinted out the door. For her plan to work she would need Gavriel or Darian. She was about to open the door when she heard Darian's elevated voice. Not wanting to disturb them she eased into the room beside the exit and stood next to the cracked window, their voices were easily heard.