The Sanction Read Online Free PDF

the
parchment, and then gestured for Rhys to follow him outside. As
soon as they exited the room, Graeme spoke. “How does she
fare?”
    Rhys directed his frown toward the man
and thought he sounded a little more than anxious. He kept his
opinion to himself when he responded. “Stronger. Have you decided
when the ransom will be announced?”
    Graeme smiled slyly. “Tonight I send an
envoy to the Hunters.”
    “ And your
demands?”
    Graeme acknowledged the men that passed
and greeted him before allowing his voice to drop an octave. “A
hundred heads – Hunter heads to be precise.”
    Rhys eyed him in concern. “They will
not annihilate their own defense to retrieve her. Tis
folly!”
    “ Tis foolproof is what it
is,” Graeme countered quickly. “They will do anything to have her
returned to them. That’s when we will attack – when they’re at
their weakest.”
    Rhys hesitated and chose his next words
carefully. “If this does not work-”
    “ It will work.”
    “ If it does not, we will
become a sore to the Cronus Coven. They will not rest until every
one of us is killed.”
    “ Their female is here – we
cannot become more of a problem than we already are. If I return
her out of good will they would not forgive her ill-treatment, and
if I kill her we have a war on our hands. It is wise to take
advantage of this opportunity.”
    Rhys digested the plan and nodded. He
would stand by his leader’s decision. “She informs that you are
needed tonight.”
    Graeme’s grin was wiped clean of his
face. “She informs?”
    Rhys shrugged, as if he could not have
been bothered. “If she is to be kept alive she needs to eat. I
shall secure the means of her meals.”
    Graeme’s frown was thunderous. “I will
not have her feed from my people.”
    “ Of course not! We have
animals, don’t we? Cattle and swine?”
    “ Bleeding the livestock will
only confirm the rumors. Leave her to me. In the mean time I want
you to gather the men who were present the morning of her failed
execution. Have them dispatched as scouts to the border-lands until
further notice.”
    Rhys nodded and turned away to do as he
was instructed.
    ****
    “ I shall tear that dogs’
heart right from his chest when I get my hands on him!” This from
Macer. He sat menacingly upon his armored mount, eyes as cold as
the Baltic Sea. “He would snatch her from my hands then demand
this?!”
    Beside him his son’s horse snorted, but
Vilirus was deep in thought, eyeing the castle in the distance. It
was hewn out of the very rock of the mountain and housed, as far as
they knew, three hundred strong – a considerably large number
compared to their meager ninety, but there was a reason a Were
thought twice before provoking a vampire. They relied on brute
force in battle – a vampire relied on speed and skill, and was
considered more than just a worthy adversary.
    “ We must inform the Elder,”
Silas announced softly.
    Macer snarled. “Father would not grant
his request. We are the only wall between those animals and our
species. What use is there committing suicide and leaving them
unprotected?”
    Silas’ eyes glinted. “She is your
daughter. Whatever decision you make now will determine whether we
retrieve her dead or alive.”
    “ I can sneak in and get her
out as quietly as I can,” Vilirus offered.
    “ They’ll have you cornered
and killed before you can even find her.” Macer’s voice was
strained with frustration. “There is no other way. We must pay the
ransom.”
    “ Then I suggest yours should
be the first head we present,” Silas intoned. “You said it yourself
– tis foolish to do so.”
    “ I meant that we will
deliver a hundred vampire heads, not necessarily ours.” He cut
Silas a chilling glance. The man was not known for his many words,
but his skill with a blade in battle was renowned. His, however,
was not as swift or as deadly as the twin brother he constantly
grieved. It was this brother whose help they would