Everyone, including Alejandro, stared at Miguel. He shrugged apologetically, ducking his head. “Papá used to talk to me about it. But if he stole something from Vonhausel first, I don't know about that.”
“And then the war came,” said Grayson. “And Vonhausel came after your father. I think we may surmise that was more than a casual or personal enmity.”
“Oh, well⦠Actually, he came after Mamá, not Papá,” Miguel said. He could not keep his tone level, though Natividad knew how hard he tried. “He took her sister, first, our TÃa Maria⦔ He stopped.
“He did not come alone,” Alejandro said. His voice was harsh with anger and grief. “Without Dimilioc to stop him, Vonhausel found a lot of black dogs to follow him. They came. I wasn't⦠I wasn't there. Natividad and Miguel hid. I found them there⦠later. Afterward.”
“They killed everybody,” Natividad said. Her voice sounded small and shaky, even to her. She fixed her eyes on the smooth grain of the table between her hands and tried not to see or think about anything else. “Even the goats and the⦠the chickens. So, we had to go⦠we had to go somewhere.”
“I said we should come here,” Alejandro said, with considerable force, not looking at Miguel. “Vonhausel had already killed our father and mother. I did not think he would follow us. There seemed no reason for him to follow us.”
“He wants Natividad,” Miguel said apologetically. “Because she's Mamá's daughter, and I think there's something about Mamá's magic. Something she passed on to Natividad.”
Natividad stared at him.
“I kind of think so,” Miguel said to her, even more apologetically.
“Well,” said Zachariah when Natividad did not say anything further, “And how excited he must be, now that he has not only found Natividad but also discovered Dimilioc's weakness. The vampire blood kin lost the war, but I imagine
Vonhausel
still hopes to win it.” He looked at Grayson. “You were
very
right about our need to recruit. Unfortunately, this trouble is worse than I think even you expected.”
“It seems we've joined Dimilioc precisely in time to watch it destroyed utterly,” Keziah said smoothly. “How delightful.”
Grayson gave her a look. He said to the other Dimilioc wolves, “I think we must indeed recruit in greater numbers than I had anticipated. And with a little more alacrity. James, you had better go to Boston this afternoon. Ezekiel, you will fly to Chicago tomorrow morning.”
James looked disconcerted, but Ezekiel nodded casually, as though he'd expected this order. Miguel asked, “Sir? Who are we recruiting?”
Grayson deliberately spread fig preserves on a biscuit. Then he leaned an elbow on the table and looked at Miguel, his expression unreadable. “There is a pair of black dogs in Boston that may do well for Dimilioc. Brothers. They have never caused difficulty enough there to provoke us into killing them; now we may be glad of it. They also have two human sisters who might prove useful. I believe they will be glad to receive my invitation, which is why James will deliver it, using,” he glanced at Natividad, “the famous Mallory charm.”
Miguel nodded. “And in Chicago, sir?”
“Yes. There we have a black dog named Thaddeus Williams. I knew his father slightly: a very strong black dog with more sense and less temper than one would expect of a stray. I believe Thaddeus takes after his father. For example, he has taken a Pure wife. That's against Dimilioc law, of course, but now it only increases his value to us. I want both Thaddeus and his wife, but I suspect they will not be inclined to cooperate. Ezekiel will bring them here for me.”
Yes, Natividad understood that. If Grayson sent the Dimilioc executioner, it was not to deliver a suggestion, but a command. She wasn't sure she liked the idea ofâ¦
forcible
recruitment.
Miguel didn't seem worried at all. He asked, just as though it was a matter of academic curiosity, “How many other black dogs will you ask to join Dimilioc, sir?”
Grayson cut a slice of ham into small, neat pieces and began to eat them, one at a time. Natividad thought he was not going to answer. But after a moment he paused, his fork in the air, and said, “I had initially thought to stop with the Meade brothers and Williams. Now⦠I think we had better recruit to something like full strength. I think Dimilioc will need⦠shall we say, a minimum of thirty wolves.”
Neither Zachariah nor Ezekiel looked surprised, and Keziah leaned back in her chair, looking suddenly both thoughtful and pleased. But Benedict and James both stared at Grayson. “Thirty?” said Benedict.
“They'd outnumber us three to one!” James protested.
Grayson looked thoughtfully at the Mallory brothers. “I think it would be better if there were no âthem.' No âus.' Only Dimilioc. Thirty black wolves and a reasonable number of humans with proper blood ties, and as many of the Pure as we can find.”
Benedict seemed subdued by the Master's flat tone, but James smacked his hand down on the table in open anger. “You'll turn Dimilioc into a mockery of itself! A wild pack filled with internal division and murder, black dogs with no history, with no ties to each other or to us! They may call themselves by our name, but whatever exists by that name, it will not be Dimilioc! How can you consider this?”
“I think the proper phrase,” Keziah said to him, with cutting sarcasm, “is, âa mockery of what Dimilioc
once was
'
. You are much reduced, aren't you? A fact I don't think you emphasized much during your invitation.
That
is why the Master considers this. When this enemy of yours brings his pack of black dogs and shadow shifters against Dimilioc again, what do you want to do? Face him with seven true Dimilioc wolves, pure of heart and bloodline? That would certainly end your difficulties.”
James Mallory stared at her.
“So, we do thank you for your invitation, which has brought us into your danger,” Keziah added mockingly. “And you had better thank us for accepting, Irishman, and for fighting alongside Dimilioc, and for remaining now, when we might go to your enemy instead.”
James opened his mouth, but then closed it again without saying anything.
Before the silence could become too fraught, Grayson said smoothly, “We are pleased you and your sister accepted Dimilioc's invitation, to be sure, Keziah. When we win, you will be well placed within Dimilioc.”
“Yes,” murmured Keziah, smiling with slow, deliberately seductive aggression. “That's why we're still here.” But Natividad saw how she glanced at her sister, a swift fleeting glance, and was suddenly sure that Keziah had come to Dimilioc for exactly the reason Alejandro had â to protect her sister. It almost made her want to like the beautiful black dog girl, which was uncomfortable because she was scared of her.
“Fine. Fine. Wonderful.” James glared at Grayson. “But we need wolves who are truly Dimilioc! Not ragged strays with less control than a moon-bound shifter! Not stray black dogs who can't walk down a city street without dealing out wholesale slaughter⦔
One corner of Grayson's mouth twitched upward. “James, please. No, certainly not.”
“The ones we bring in will be Dimilioc,” Zachariah said quietly. “Given time. They or their sons.”
“Dimilioc will be burned to ash and dust before they have sons!” James said furiously. “The ones who can
have
sons!”
Amira's face tightened and she looked down, though Natividad thought James had not deliberately aimed that barb at the black dog girls. Keziah's lips curved in a faint, amused smile. She ate a bite of ham, appearing untouched by any of this argument.
“We can control them until they learn to control themselves,” said Ezekiel.
 “
Control
them! They will be a worse enemy to us than that Vonhausel, because they'll be on the inside rather than the outside! How can you not see that?” James looked from Grayson to Zachariah to Ezekiel and back to Grayson. Meeting only a bland, blank look from the stronger Dimilioc wolves, he shoved his chair back, got to his feet, and turned to walk out.
“James,” said Grayson, and despite his fury the other man stopped, though he did not turn.
“Go to Boston,” Grayson told him. “Bring me Andrew and Russell Meade and their sisters. They already believe that belonging to Dimilioc is a privilege. Bring them to me burning with a desire to earn that privilege.”
James still did not turn around. But before he stalked out, he gave a short nod.
“He'll do well for us,” Zachariah said after he had gone.
“Of course he will,” said Grayson, and ate a biscuit.
Benedict, who had been sitting very still while his brother argued with the Master, now risked a glance up. “I could go with him, Master.”
Grayson gave the young man a brief smile. “Thank you, Benedict, but no. I want you here.” He transferred his attention to Ezekiel. “And I want you to return from Chicago as quickly as possible.”
“If Vonhauselâ” Natividad began.
“Our enemy lost many of his black dogs today,” Grayson said calmly. “I imagine that those who remain will be wondering whether attacking Dimilioc was such a clever idea. Some will certainly slip away into the forest to look for easier hunting elsewhere. Vonhausel himself may want to attack again today or tomorrow, but I believe he'll discover he must find black dogs to replace his losses, or else he will have to make a good many moon-bound shifters and then wait for the full moon before he can attack.”
“That's all true,” agreed Miguel.
Grayson's eyebrows rose at this impudence, but he said nothing. Natividad hoped Miguel was right and Grayson's analysis was correct. It had better be. If Alejandro was gone, if he and Ezekiel and James Mallory were gone and all those black dogs came again⦠Her brother had already come home once to find burned rubble and the bones of his kin. Natividad didn't think he could bear that again. She and Miguel wouldn't like it very much, either.
“You are finished with your breakfast?” Grayson said to Benedict Mallory. “Good. Go see how the cleanup is coming. Tell Harrison I want to see him. Then you may help Ethan with any little chores that may remain. Zachariah, if you would be so kind as to take Miguel into town and buy him a real gun. Whatever he wants.”
“Half a dozen rifles,” said Miguel, adding hurriedly when Grayson turned his head and lifted one heavy eyebrow, “Please, sir. Maybe a dozen, if that's alright?”
The Master surveyed him. “You plan to break them? Lose them? Designate each for a particular day of the week?”
“Well,” Miguel said cautiously, “Any human can handle a gun loaded with silver. Those two human women James is supposed to bring? And there's Natividad, sir. She isn't as good as I am, but she does know how to shoot.”
Grayson said, “How reassuring.”
The Master's dry tone evidently reminded Miguel of the obvious fact that not every Dimilioc black wolf would wish to put silver-loaded guns into human hands. He said quickly, “You should make use of us; you know you should, especially right now when you're so hard-pressed. Human allies are something Vonhausel won't have, isn't that right? Not if his black dogs are so violent and shadow-driven, they won't tolerate humans, will they? Or if they do they'll kill them too quickly to use them properlyâ”
Grayson held up a hand, stopping this urgent flood of persuasion. He said to Zachariah, “A dozen rifles. Let the boy choose them.”
Zachariah nodded. “If you're certain.”
“Certain of the necessity,” said Grayson.
Benedict started to speak, stopped. Grayson looked at him. “Nothing, sir,” muttered the younger black wolf, dropping his gaze.
“Good. You may help Ethan, but first I want you to get on the Internet and order a lot of silver or silver alloy â Miguel, make a list of what you need. Include the proper equipment for casting your own ammunition. You do know how to make ammunition? Good. Go make up that list now.”
The Master shifted his gaze back to Benedict as Miguel pushed back his chair and went out. “Be certain to ask for same-day shipping,” he said to the young black wolf. “I don't imagine they'll manage that, but it would be good if they made the attempt. Remember to call the post office in town and tell them to notify us when the parcels arrive.”
“Sir,” Benedict acknowledged.
“I will show you appropriate rooms,” Grayson said to the girls. “Natividad, you may come with me. You are, I trust, capable of working the
Beschwichtigend
?”
Natividad nodded, trying not to look nervous. The Calming would counter their natural bloodlust to kill the Pure, but it would not actually make the black dog girls like her, she knew. Amira just looked scared, Natividad wasn't afraid of
her
, she felt sorry for her â but she was afraid of Keziah. Alejandro laid a supportive hand on Natividad's shoulder, glaring warningly at Keziah. Amira cringed, but Keziah met Alejandro's eyes, arched an elegant eyebrow, and smiled faintly.
Ezekiel stood, a smooth movement that somehow implied menace. He said to Grayson, “You intend to give them the brown suite? I'll show them where it is.” It was not
exactly
a challenge, Natividad thought â but it was not far off. It certainly was not a request.
Grayson met the younger black wolf's eyes for a long moment. Neither looked aside, but Ezekiel said easily, “If that's alright with you, Master.”
Grayson lifted heavy shoulders in a minimal shrug. “That might be best. Yes, very well. I'll have instructions for you before you leave, however. See me tonight. Benedict, since Ezekiel will be otherwise occupied, book an early flight for him.” He looked at Alejandro. “You'll go to Chicago with Ezekiel.”