“What did you find?” Aiden prodded.
“The locals reported that five vampires not known to this area came to the house and were let inside. Two inhabitants of the house ran out the back and into the woods. They kept running and weren’t followed.”
“Likely Ming and Peter,” Marcus murmured.
“Locals?” Philippe asked.
Bel’s lips split into a crooked grin. “A chipmunk and a couple of starlings.”
“And these animals told you all this? Amazing.”
“Well, I had to sort through it a bit.” Philippe couldn’t help but be charmed by the slight flush painting Bel’s cheekbones. “Starlings are horrible with numbers. It could have been more or fewer intruders. But definitely two escaped. Winter is seeing if he can get a trail through the woods.”
Philippe shook his head. “He probably won’t have much luck. The woods aren’t deep, and they empty out into another subdivision.”
“We have to assume Ming and Peter escaped and are looking after themselves, at least for now. We need to focus on Jullien.”
Philippe wanted to say that Ming and Peter were better off on their own at this point, but his words were cut off by his phone vibrating in his pocket. He grabbed it, praying that it was possibly Jullien or the others telling him that they got away safely. But his body froze when Ezra’s name flashed across his screen.
“Put it on speaker,” Rafe said, drawing him in closer.
He had to suck in a deep breath to regain control of the swirling vortex within him. Ezra needed to fucking die. To die in the most painful, horrific way for how he betrayed his clan.
“Ezra,” Philippe choked out.
“I take it you’ve returned home at last,” his former friend replied.
“Why? Why would you betray our clan?”
“You left me with no choice. I did what you refused to. I protected us.”
“What?” Philippe gasped. It was all nonsense. “Took care of whom? How were you protecting Piper? Or Kim? Or Erik and Sarah? They were your clanmates, and you’ve killed them.”
“Because they didn’t deserve to be clanmates. They didn’t even deserve to be fucking vampires!” Ezra screamed into the phone. “Someone should have slaughtered them after they were reborn, but everyone was too lazy or cowardly to do it.”
“You knew all this time what our clan was built on. If you had such a problem with it, you could have walked away at any time. No one was forcing you to stay.”
Ezra sighed heavily, his breath battering the speaker. The silence stretched and there was a soft scrape that sounded as if he was pacing somewhere before he spoke again. “I love you, Philippe. I’ve always loved you. I love Jullien too. You’re my brothers, my family. I couldn’t leave you. But I also couldn’t let you go on building a clan that would ultimately destroy us. We need to be stronger. Surround ourselves with stronger vampires so that we can survive the war that’s coming.”
Philippe flinched, and Rafe’s fingers tightened on his shoulders. Rafe had used those same words when he’d repeated the conversation he’d had with Nolan MacPherson.
“Where’s Jullien? Is he still alive?” Philippe demanded, his voice wavering when he wanted it to be strong.
“He’s here with me. Alive, for now.”
“What do you want?”
Ezra chuckled low. “So many things, but we’ll start with something simple. I’ve struck a deal with the MacPherson clan. There’s no other clan more powerful than the MacPhersons. We’ll be safe. We’ll grow even stronger with them.”
“What’s the deal?”
“MacPherson’s clan leader wants all three of us or none of us. So, if you ever want to see Jullien alive again, then you need to leave those weak Variks and come to MacPherson Hall.”
A harsh, ugly laugh erupted from Philippe’s lips. “And that’s it? I’m just supposed to accept that you slaughter innocent vampires that were once your clanmates and come live happily ever after with you in the MacPherson clan.”
“I know it will be hard, Philippe. You’re going to hate me for a long time, but we’re immortal. You’ll come around eventually. You’ll see that I’ve saved both you and Jullien. When the war comes and you’re on the winning side, you’ll thank me for what I’ve done. Only the strongest are able to make the hardest sacrifices.”
“No, all you’ve done is saved your own skin. You don’t care about anyone else. Where is Jullien? I want to speak to Jullien.”
“I don’t think so. He’s struggling with my decisions as well and needs to be restrained. But when he sees you with me, he’ll come around. He’s always been your dutiful little follower.”
“Ezra—”
“Enough of this time-wasting. You have until midnight tomorrow to present yourself at MacPherson Hall, or Jullien will be eliminated like the others. And if you involve the Variks in this matter,” he paused and laughed again. “You know what? Go ahead. Bring the Variks along. We’ll kill them and snuff out their so-called mystique once and for all. Everyone will bow to the MacPherson clan.”