While they never met personally, James knew enough of the vampire queen to not like her. She’d encouraged Lily to go off on her own the first time they were hunting Xavier, and it apparently hadn’t gone well for them. However, James knew that Hazar was one of the few Lily trusted and called her friend. Hazar’s death would hit her hard, and he was tired of seeing Lily get hit hard.
“It was the only way,” Xavier said with nonchalance. “Vincent wasn’t strong enough to turn me. Only one of the really old ones could do that. With your blood as the blueprints and all of Hazar’s blood at my disposal… well you’re not the only hybrid anymore,” he finished, winking at her with a smirk.
James jaw dropped as he stared at Xavier. It couldn’t be… but it would explain everything. He swore then rested a hand on Lily’s shoulder in an attempt to show her his support. Whatever happened now, James would be at her side. She glanced over at him, looking just as scared as she was angry. Xavier wouldn’t be easy to deal with now, and they both knew it.
Still looking at James Lily said, “You’re not going to get away with this shit any longer, Thompson! Not this time! You may be holding on to Tristen like a lifeboat, but you’re surrounded. You can’t just run away now!” As she spoke, she turned to face him, and whatever it was on her face it made Vincent quail.
“Doctor, we need to get out of here. They’ve got one of the elder council with them! We can’t let them take us! Come on,” Vincent said, taking a few steps towards the woods but stopped when Xavier wasn’t following him.
“It’s too late to run,” Lord Etienne said, coming from the tree line and Vincent took a few more steps towards the trees.
“In that, I do agree,” Xavier said, looking downright smug for some reason. “Lord Etienne, it’s an honor to finally meet you.”
The European vampire gave him a stiff nod as he walked to stand by Lily. “And you, I’ve heard so much about the lycan who trying so hard to change the natural order of the world,” he replied.
Something about the way the vampire said it made James more than a little nervous.
“So I am,” Xavier admitted. “You have me trapped, yes, but death need not be the only outcome, Lord Etienne. I’ve got grand ambitions, ones the lycans don’t share with me. They are so blind by their top dog mentality. I know much, and I’m willing to share with the vampires if they keep me alive and without me, no one will understand my research.”
“What?” Vincent exclaimed, staring at the doctor with the bitterness of betrayal in his face. “You said we’d take down the old ones, just like we’d take down the alphas! You said we were going to change everything. Why would you deal with them?”
“Because that’s who he is,” Lily told him snidely. “Thompson always bites the hand that feeds him. You were stupid to trust him!” She narrowed her eyes at the doctor. “There are no deals here Xavier. No one is going to buy into your bullshit anymore. There is only one thing that’s going to happen here – your death and this time I’ll make sure the job gets done!”
Xavier chuckled again. “I don’t think you speak for the vampires in Europe, Lily dear,” he replied.
James looked over at Lord Etienne, and he almost groaned at the look on the vampires face. He was considering a deal with Xavier. It couldn’t be real. Not after everything! God, he hated vampires!
“I am willing to entertain this,” Lord Etienne said, looking thoughtful and ignoring Lily’s look of betrayal. “However you must agree to Lily back her sister, and swear that no harm will come to Lily, her sister, or the girl’s family ever.”
Xavier grinned with triumph. “Done!”
“No, not done,” Lily shouted, looking more and angrier. So much so that her face started to shift. “Not, this time, Xavier! You are not weaseling your way out of this again!”
The vampire lord made a soft sigh. “What do you prefer Lily? Your revenge or that your sister is going to live to see the sunrise tomorrow?”
“If you take one step towards me, Lily, I swear I’ll break her neck,” Xavier said viciously, his hand wrapping around Tristen’s throat, causing her to make a fearful whimper as tears filled her eyes. “Then I’ll see to it that her brother dies slowly while her parents watch!”
Damn it, James swore silently. He had no doubt that Xavier would do it. There was a mean glint in the man’s eyes he’d never seen until today. His changing had made him crueler it seems. Just what we needed, James thought sourly. He glanced over towards Lily, her body stiff with anger and dread chilled him. The look of hate on her face was so intense, James was afraid she might say screw it and go after Xavier anyway.
“Lily…” James started.
“What?” She snapped back at him. “So we should just let him go? Is that it? Let him continue to play God?”
James moved closer to her. “Look at her, Lily. Look at Tristen,” he said, keeping his tone soft. “What would it make you if you sacrificed her and her whole family to get to him?”
Lily growled as she looked at Tristen, shaking so hard it was probably only Xavier keeping her upright. “It’s not right! He shouldn’t be allowed to get away again! He just hurts people James! Lacy, Fluffy, Greg, Andrew, you, me, and so much more! He needs to be stopped,” she growled.
“We’ll keep him contained,” Lord Etienne said as if he expected that to soothe her over.
Idiot Vampires, James swore, glaring at him.
A cold, harsh laugh bubbled out of Lily. “Contained? You’ll keep him contained?” She repeated. “You’re a fool Etienne if you think that,” she told him, but James could see her deflate, and some of her anger was gone.
Thank God for small favors, James thought. He was really worried that Lily might lose it.