Her feet hurt a little since she hadn’t worn shoes outside, but she’d discovered it was easy to leap over fallen logs and small bushes in her path. Garson sped out of her sight and she stopped for a minute, thinking.

There were homes ahead and she wanted to avoid them, so she circled around, going at the lodge from the side. Lights blazed from the windows on all three floors of the big building. It was easy to scale the hill it sat on. She hid in the shadows at the top, caught her breath and waited.

It didn’t take long before shouts sounded from around the back. She crept that way, staying in the thick trees to prevent anyone from easily spotting her.

Lorn, Kar, Garson, her father, and one other VampLycan she couldn’t identify from the back stood facing a small group of the clan. Brista seemed to be the group’s leader, since she was in front, her mouth moving. Kira couldn’t pick up the exact words but they were hissed, the tone angry. She cautiously inched closer.

“Enough!” Lorn bellowed. “I settled this yesterday. Those children aren’t to be harmed.”

“They’re dangerous,” Brista argued, her voice louder. “They could bite the other children. The law is the law!”

“Laws change,” Lorn snarled. “You heard me tell Perri her young were safe. I’ll not be made a liar.”

“You’re just assuming feeding them blood from strong ones will work.” Brista threw out her arms. “Who told you that? Other clans? They’re liars who would love for us to lose children. That’s why they gave you bad information. You’re being a fool! You’ll get our youngest murdered.”

The unknown VampLycan turned enough for Kira to identify Bran. Veso’s father hadn’t liked her much but he’d been cordial the few times they’d had contact. “I don’t believe that’s true. No one wishes for harm to come to children.”

“If you weren’t a woman, I’d deck you, Brista.” Lorn stepped closer. “You stay the hell away from those kids. Do you understand me? Anything happens to them and I’m holding you responsible, since it seems you’ve used fear to get these parents to come with you tonight.” He glared at the small group gathered. “Your small ones aren’t in danger.”

Dobis cleared his throat. “My baby is barely two years old. What if Perri’s daughter decides to go after mine because she’s too weak to defend herself? We live close to their home.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Kar said. “Is that what you think of Elsa? She’s too sweet for her own good. She won’t lure your child out of her bed to bleed her dry. Shame on you! That girl puked her guts up going hunting with the women last summer and cried over their kills. She’s babysat your daughter, hasn’t she? She’d never murder a child, and especially one she’s cared for.”

Dobis stepped up next to Brista. “But the blood tells, and Perri’s children are tainted. It’s only a matter of time before Elsa hunts, and it won’t be my child she attacks! That’s why they must be staked and destroyed. It’s for the good of the clan!”

“Yeah,” Zober agreed. “Elsa has babysat most of our young when Brista was at meetings. They trust Elsa, and would think nothing of going to her. I’m not willing to risk my young over lies you’ve been told by other clans.”

“Everyone calm down,” Garson demanded.

“You don’t have children. Stay out of this,” Brista spat. “It’s my duty to defend all the young and assure their safety. I demand we stake and destroy Perri’s young before they go after other children!”

Memories surfaced of Brista treating Kira like crap. Now the bitch was trying to get VampLycan kids killed. Elsa was a soft-spoken girl who hadn’t been mean to anyone that Kira knew of, yet Brista still wanted to kill her. It infuriated Kira, and she clenched her teeth.

“You have no proof of blood donations working,” Dobis stated. “But we know what happens if we allow those abominations to gain strength and the hunger sets in. They’re tainted with the bloodlust. Elsa was a good child but now she’s vile. I won’t allow children to die because you’re listening to clans who hate us.”

“I’ll personally see that it’s handled. It’s my job. Otherwise I’ll have every parent opposing you, Lorn. I won’t sleep until those children are destroyed and my babies are safe!”

Lorn snarled, his claws coming out. “Don’t threaten me, Brista.”

That was it. Kira had heard enough. She pushed away from the tree she hid behind and raced toward the group. “Hey, bitch! I mean, Brista. You want proof? Here it is. You touch Elsa and I have no problem doing more than decking you. I’ll stake your ass out in the sun all day and rip off your head!”

All eyes turned her way. Kira glared at Brista though, refusing to look at Lorn. He’d be pissed but she was too mad to care. Brista was a bully, and she’d be damned if she allowed her to use her position as the clan caregiver to the youths to kill some of them.

“Kira…”

She still refused to glance at Lorn. He sounded pissed. She marched forward and walked between Garson and Bran. She put her back to Lorn, glaring up at Brista.

“Inhale, bitch. What do you smell?” Kira hoped Garson hadn’t been lying about how she scented.

Shock widened Brista’s eyes.

Kira lifted her hands and shoved Brista hard. It sent the other woman stumbling backward. She would have fallen except she hit the VampLycans gathered behind her and they stopped her from landing on her ass.

“That was a love tap. I’m a hell of a lot stronger than when you used to torment me as a child.” She met Dobis’s stunned gaze. “My death was greatly exaggerated. I was attacked, turned into a Vampire, but I’ve been drinking blood from Lorn. I’m eating food, spent a little time in the sun today, and I so don’t want to suck your blood. You wanted proof? Here I am. It strengthened my Lycan side to drink from Lorn, and guess what I am now? VampLycan. So take your little lynch mob and go home.”

Dobis sniffed, paled a little, and backed up.

“Kira, come here,” Lorn demanded in a gruff voice.

“I’ll be right there. Please allow me one more minute?” It would be bad to oppose him by flat-out refusing to do his bidding in front of the clan, so she hoped that response wouldn’t raise eyebrows.