Free Blood and Redemption (Cassandra Myles Witch Series) by Electa Graham Page B

didn’t know if I belonged here anymore. I had to decide if I could accept them for who they were. I couldn’t expect them not to be vampires and if I couldn’t make peace with them, then I needed to go. The adrenaline leeched from my body and soon I was falling back to sleep.

    Chapter Eight
     
    I was summoned to Quintus’ office later the next night. I had to force myself to go. I knew I was being a coward. Na’min was waiting there in one of the overstuffed chairs. He was doing something with his iPhone. He was going to have a hard time giving up all his newfound gadgets when he went back to the fae realm. He looked up when he noticed me enter the room.
    “Cassandra, you look well.”
    “Thank you, Na’min. Please tell me you feel better.” He looked fine, but I still couldn’t stop feeling guilty for what I had done.
    “Yes, in fact , you should know it took very little time for me to feel myself again. So if we are to use this against Mab, it will have to be done quickly.”
    Killian and Lucius walked in together. That was weird . We were just waiting for Quintus. As soon as I thought of him, he was there. He breezed past me without even a glance my way.
    Out of the corner of my eye , I caught Lucius staring at me. I wanted to ask how he was, but he looked a little evil tonight so I decided to stay quiet. I felt out of place being here. Like I had sneaked in and any moment someone as going to catch me.
    Quintus cleared his throat. “There has been strange activity in a small town in Northern Alberta. High Level has reported ten people missing. The RCMP is investigating. Of course , they won’t find anything. If it is Mab, then Na’min has told us the goblins will eat the evidence.”
    A chill ran down my spine. That was a cold way to put it. “We have to go. It’s starting.” Panic was taking over my mind; all I could think of was rushing there right this minute.
    “I agree we need to do something, but we are the only beings who know what is going on. We are the only beings willing to do anything about it. If we run in there without a plan and we fail, then there will be no one left to help.”
    I wasn’t in the mood for logic . “We could just go to the town. I’d feel better if we were at least close so if she moves again, we can stop her.” Na’min looked at me and I knew he agreed with me. He needed to do something to help his people.
    Quintus clearly didn’t agree. “That will make it harder to get reinforcements if we need them. I know this is hard for you, but we must be patient and do this right.”
    Killian smiled at me. “That, dear one, is brilliant. We will be able to keep our eye on the human population and we might even be able to capture one of Mab’s minions. Some good intel would be very useful.”
    “Back off , Killian, you aren’t in charge here,” Quintus snapped.
    “No worries, Quintus. I am aware of where I stand here. It doesn’t mean I can’t have an opinion, or does it?” Killian’s face had smug all over it and I was a little frightened for his safety.
    The look on Quintus’ face made me feel better. He was still in control and already had mentally dismissed Killian. “We need a plan and we will need it soon. Mab may be just playing with us, trying to get us to move against her. Going to High Level may be exactly what she wants.”
    “We need to act. What few of my people who have survived are being tortured. They are being held against their will. I beg you to help me take action. I know I have wronged you in the past and I know you don’t owe me this, but these are people I love. They are all I have left.”
    I reached over and took Na’min’s hand. He squeezed mine and seemed to take comfort in my touch. His pain was justified, but he had a part in the whole thing. He wasn’t an innocent bystander.
    “Helping your people got us into this mess. You neglected to tell us that there were horrible creatures living in prisons.”
    “They have been locked