Between Shadow & Ruin (Fangs & Fae Saga Book 2)

sixty-five.

The next morning, Val was up early rummaging through her drawers for herbs and ingredients to strengthen the protective spells she and Zane planned to place. Aria came and picked up the kids to take them to the beach for the day. Ray was outside smoking a cigarette with Zane and Chris when Val came downstairs.

"Okay, I think I have everything," she said, pulling a bag over her shoulder.

"Jeez, Val, did you take your entire cabinet?" I said, grabbing it from her.

"I just want to make sure we'll have everything we need! Are the guys ready?" Chris opened the door.

"Yes, we are. We should be heading out now. You two ready?" We nodded. Zane held my arm as we were about to leave.

"What is it?"

"Let me hide the pregnancy from the other vampires. I think I figured out how to mask the scent of the baby on you. As long as you keep your jacket on and don't get too close to any of them, it should work."

"Yeah, fine. Do it." He put his hand on my stomach and whispered something under his breath. Chris walked by and I stopped him. "Did it work? Zane masked my smell." He sniffed and nodded. As we got to the car, Chris opened the door to the driver's side.

"Liz. Let me drive," he put his hand on my shoulder.

"I always drive!" I said.

"Yeah, and with this meeting on your mind, I'd rather drive so we can make it to the meeting..." I took a deep breath.

"Fine... You're right." I walked around the other side of the car, getting in the front passenger's seat. Chris drove us to Boston and all I could think about was how this meeting was going to go, and I was nervous. This was my first real meeting as Magister with all of the Sheriffs – many of whom I had no relationship with. When we reached the hotel, Chris parked the car, and we headed into the hall. Anna was waiting for us in the lobby. She stood up when she saw us. Everyone walked over to her while I headed to the main desk.

"Hi... I reserved the meeting room for today at noon. Is it okay if we head in?" I asked.

"Sure. What's the name on the reservation?" the young guy at the counter said.

"Delacour. D-E-L-A-"

"Yep! Here you are! You're all set Mrs. Delacour. I hope it's set up the way you asked." I walked over to everyone, shaking Anna's hand. We walked into the hall – they'd set it up with ten rows of five tables each and chairs in between them on one side facing a podium in the front.

"Chris, can you move that?" I asked. "I don't want to use that." He took his suit jacket off and draped it over a chair and moved the podium into the corner. I started placing the cards for each state on each table for the Sheriffs and their Lieutenants to sit while Val and Zane got to work on their spells.

I heard Val take a deep breath and the smell of her blood filled my nostrils. I heard Anna's fangs drop and Chris, Ray and I all looked at her and Zane. She apologized, retracting them instantly.

"Val, what the hell?" Chris asked.

"I'm sorry. But if you want a good protection spell of this size, it requires blood. Zane and I can't span the entire length of the room, so our blood will act as a conductor, keeping the spells going..."

"Yeah... but do you think that's smart when this room is going to be full of vampires in a few hours?" I asked.

"They won't know it's there if you let me do this now... There will be herbs burning that will mask the smell, don't worry."

"I do worry. I don't want other vampires I don't know enough to trust to smell your blood!" Val looked at me from across the room and placed her hand to the wall, her blood smeared on the wall and glowed brightly. The smell of Zane's blood filled my nose as he cut into his hand and did the same.