Kindling Flames: Gathering Tinder by Julie Wetzel

Author:Julie Wetzel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-09-26T00:00:00+00:00

Darien stood in the foyer and watched as Tiffany pulled his surprised assistant away. He felt bad for abandoning her to the teen’s care, but he couldn’t take her in to see the Council. Tiffany would take her to Natalie, and she would make sure Vicky was put into the safety of the house pets.

Turning, he took the stairs at the other end of the room. The center stairway split at the middle into two smaller ones that led off in opposite directions. He followed the steps leading left and climbed to the grand chamber where the Council held their meetings.

“… You need to take more responsibility for those you bring over,” Darien slipped into the room and waited for the Council to stop reprimanding the youngest chair holder. “You can’t just turn whomever you like and let them go on the city. We’ve had to ‘take care’ of your last fledgling already.”

“That’s not entirely my fault,” Michael defended himself. “How was I supposed to know she would try to turn all her friends, too?”

“You should have known it was a bad idea when you found out she was a crack addict.” The head council member rubbed the headache from her temple. “I still can’t believe you couldn’t taste it in her blood.”

Michael crossed his arms and huffed at her. “Well, this time it’s not one of my fledglings, Clara,” he defended his brood. “I’ve been watching them since that last incident.”

“About time.”

Darien looked at the heavyset, blond man who had made the comment. That was the same thought that passed through all of their minds, but Daniel said it out loud, without holding back. Being Michael’s sire prevented the younger vampire from snapping back at him.

Michael shot Daniel a look that could melt flesh from bone, but he didn’t say anything.

Clara looked up from her problem and greeted their guest. “Welcome, Master Darien.”

Bowing to the Council, Darien took the chair awaiting him. Even though he wasn’t on the Council, they still provided a seat for him in case he changed his mind.

“We have gathered as you’ve asked,” Clara gestured to the other six vampires sitting at the oval table. “What can we do for you?”

Darien cut straight to the chase. “I’ve come for information.” It sounded like they were already addressing the subject he wanted to know about. Michael’s coven was on the south side of Brenton, and Darien guessed that the other council members thought one of his fledglings was causing the problems there.

All seven members of the council stared at the master vampire with questioning eyes.

“Our knowledge is at your disposal,” Clara offered.

“What can you tell me about the murders known as the ‘Southside Slaughters’?” Darien asked.

Michael slammed his hand onto the table. “It’s not my fledglings!” he yelled.

Darien raised an eyebrow at this reaction. So, he had been right. The Council had noticed and thought it was one of their own.

“I never claimed it was one of your young, Michael,” Darien used as soothing a voice as he could on the agitated vampire.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.