Glacier (VLG Book 9) Read online

  “The message will be waiting for you,” Glacier promised. He nodded at Mandy.

  “Get a disposable phone, Olivia. Text this number with it. I’ll call you again soon. Love you.”

  “Love you, too. I’m so glad you’re alive.”

  Glacier ended the call and turned to his brothers, releasing Mandy. “We’re traveling back today. Creed, you’re staying here to keep Mandy safe.”

  “Damn.” Creed frowned. “I left Alaska to see some action.”

  “Action would mean my mate is under attack.” Glacier shook his head. “You do whatever you must to keep her safe.”

  “I swear,” Creed promised. “Why me though? She’d probably feel safer with Pest.”

  Pest chuckled. “Our bro here wants her left with a mated GarLycan. He doesn’t care that I gave my word not to hit on short stack. He’s all protective instincts and irrational thoughts right now.”

  Glacier flipped him off before turning to face Mandy again. “I’m going to have to leave you. I hope to return by morning. I’m sorry.”

  “You need to take care of this. I’m going to miss you but I understand.” She did. Someone on the council had protected Marco and his nest. It couldn’t happen again. Werewolf pups had died as a result. More could have been killed if Glacier hadn’t been called in and she didn’t have her morals intact. Vasquez, for example, wouldn’t have cared about pups. He’d have just followed orders and left town as soon as he’d taken out the threat to the nest. “Just be safe.”

  “Always. I have you to come home to.”

  She didn’t care that his brothers were watching as she wrapped her arms around him, giving him a hug. “I love you.”

  He wrapped his arms around her tight. “I love you too, baby.”

  Pest snorted. “I’m never taking a mate. Ever.”

  Nebulas chuckled. “That’s like begging fate to hand you your ass. Say it again. Hey Creed, want to place a bet that Pest is the next one to be mated?”

  “No way. I’m not a sucker. He just fucked himself.” Creed laughed.

  Mandy smiled against Glacier’s chest. She liked his brothers. They were funny.

  “Screw you all,” Pest muttered. “Neb’s going to need a motorcycle since we’re day traveling.”

  “Rent me one too.” Glacier released her, holding her gaze. “We can drop them off at the rental place once we enter Kevin’s territory. I plan to fly back to you tonight as soon as this is finished.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  The six male Vampires looked startled when three GarLycans flew from the sky and landed on the building’s roof. The lone female Vampire, Olivia, not so much. Glacier saw fear in all their gazes, though. That didn’t come as a surprise. GarLycans tended to have that effect on all races.

  The Vamps took up defensive stances, looking tense and ready to attack. Glacier crossed his arms over his chest and allowed his wings to spread outward as he glared at them.

  “I see that you got my message.” Glacier purposely made his voice deeper than normal. It was meant to intimidate. He slightly shelled his body until his skin turned ashen gray. It might remind the Vamps how easily they could be turned gray, too, as they died. “I’m guessing the female is Olivia. Step forward, assassin. I met your partner.”

  Olivia came forward a few feet and glared at him. “Are you the one who murdered Mandy?”

  He smothered a smile. She was a good actress. He gave her a slight nod. “You say murder. I call it self-defense. I wouldn’t attack just yet, little Vampire. You’ll want to hear what I have to say. That will be difficult if you force me to kill you. I’m not here for that…unless you leave us with no other option. This is to be a friendly discussion. Understand?”

  “Bastard,” she hissed, and backed up.

  Pest snorted. “Are you certain we can’t kill her just for the hell of it? I don’t like being called names.”

  Glacier wanted to shoot a warning glare at his brother for that remark. Olivia honestly appeared frightened now. He hoped she realized Pest was bluffing. She would be the only Vampire to survive on the roof if shit went down. He always kept his word, especially to his mate.

  Neb withdrew his sword and pointed it downward. “We came to talk—and you will listen. That’s not up for debate. Don’t contemplate jumping off the roof, assassins. There are no balconies on this building and you wouldn’t fair well with a sixteen-story drop.”

  “Splat,” Pest muttered. “And forget the roof-access door you came through. You’d lose your head before you even got it open. Just stay where you are and do what you’re told.”

  Glacier drew the Vampires’ attention by stepping closer. “I want to speak to your council. I’ll assume Vampires have phones. There are seven of you. That means at least one of you can place a call to them.” Glacier studied each one. “Who can make that happen?”

  None of the Vampires spoke.

  “The only reason you get to live is to be useful to us,” he added. “Now, I’ll ask again—who can contact your council right now? Someone speak.”

  A dark-haired male Vamp flashed his fangs. “I can.”

  Glacier had a feeling this one must be Vasquez. He seemed utterly cold and there was a look in his dead eyes that said he had seen a lot of death. He instantly took a disliking to the Vamp, with his leering expression and obvious disdain he didn’t bother to hide.

  The Vampire removed his phone. “You want me to call the council?”

  “Yes. I’d like them to see me. I want you to use your camera for a live feed and have them all join in as a conference call.”

  The male hesitated.

  “We don’t have to see them. You just point the damn camera at me and keep the screen your way. Is that simple enough? Let them know you’re surrounded by three GarLycans who are demanding to speak to them. Otherwise, they will be declaring war. Then put it on speakerphone, so I may hear their voices and know they can see me.”

  The Vamp nodded once and placed a call. Glacier waited while the Vampire connected to someone and whispered quietly. It didn’t take more than a few sentences before the Vamp paused, staring at him. “They’re conferencing the call and darkening their screens.”

  “Cowardly,” Pest sighed. “But not surprising that they would hide their faces.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Neb reminded him.

  A good three to four minutes passed before the Vamp holding the phone lifted it, staring at Glacier. “Where do you want it pointed?”

  Glacier strode forward, keeping his wings extended. He stopped ten feet away. “Can they see me?”

  The Vamp nodded and touched the screen. “Yes, and now it’s on speaker.”

  Glacier focused on where the camera would be. He gripped his sword in one, fisted the other. “Hello, Vampire Council. You may call me Glacier. I’m with two of my GarLycan brothers. I have a message from Lord Aveoth. He’d have been happy to speak to you himself, but you’re difficult to get ahold of. You really should change that policy of yours. I wouldn’t be holding seven of your assassins on this roof with the threat of death if we could have contacted you otherwise. Now, assure me I’m actually speaking to the council.”

  “We’re listening, GarLycan,” a female voice stated.

  “Are you a council of one?” He knew better.

  “No,” a male denied. “We keep ourselves hidden to protect our identities. Reprisals are something we’re wary of. You are speaking to all members of the council. I myself linked this phone to my computer and set up this conference call. You have my assurances.”

  Glacier wanted to snort but he was willing to give whoever spoke the benefit of the doubt. There were at least two Vampires listening. A female and male. Still…he decided to try something. “Are you Corski?”

  Someone gasped.

  “No, I am,” a third voice answered. “How in the hell do you know my name?” He sounded outraged more than afraid.

  “I captured an assassin. You missed that part of the conversation. She t