Fatal Sight (Harbingers Of Death Book 2) by LeAnn Mason (book club reads .TXT) 📕

“It appears so. Or else, we have a crack in the HD system. Either way, it bears investigating. It may be time to revive our original task; Enid worked with me eradicating the first surge in vampires long ago.”

Ember understood now. The person Seke was willing to break the rules over mattered not just to Aria but to him too; it tied them together. No wonder the jaded god had been floored when they found the young banshee.

Raven choked. “Dude. Your mom’s over four-hundred years old? I didn’t think any supes lived longer than normal except gods and this one.” She poked a finger into Ember’s bicep, making the phoenix scowl and rub the offended spot.

“Banshees can live quite a while if they are skilled; they foretell death, remember. That can become useful when evading it,” Seke replied calmly.

Aria seemed a bit shocked at his response. Guess she still had learning to do.

“Enid left our team before we finished the task and reorganized as the HD you know today.” Seke’s voice dipped into that resolute quiet tone he used when he got frustrated, adding, “Now, we know why.”

The god focused on the banshee in the room. Ember saw more than professional curiosity as his gaze softened toward Aria, but she couldn’t be sure if it was for the woman before him or her mother. “Were you able to see where this cohort of vampires is?”

“They’re hiding in Bermuda,” Aria said with a tight expression. “They had my mother in some underground dungeon — it looked like part of the freaking sewers.” Rage curled her hands into fists.

Ember reached over and grabbed one of Aria’s fists in her own hands. “We’ll find her,” she promised, the banshee’s icy blue eyes rising to meet her own. Ember knew what it was like to lose family over the years. She’d done her fair share of hunting, most unsuccessful.

They would do their best with this one. At the very least, they would take out those cursed vampires. And if they were unsuccessful with their rescue objective, they would be there to get Aria through it. Ember had no doubt even Raven would get the banshee a tub of ice cream if she needed to eat her feelings… eventually.

“And take out those blood-sucking, soul-stealing corpses,” Raven spat, rising to her feet and pounding a fist into her palm.

“And send them to Helheim,” Gunhilde agreed with a battle-worthy roar. The Viking woman got a high five from the slender raven shifter, though she didn’t seem to know what to do with the action.

“Is this an extraction mission, Captain?” Cole clarified as he placed a staying hand on Raven’s shoulder. “Or do we actually get to take out vampires?” His elongated canines glinted.

Seke considered. “It is the Harbingers of Death’s duty to ensure no vampires exist on this Earth; that is why we were founded. I think this mission has two objectives, neither of which fit into our traditional repertoire. Do you think you can handle this?”

He looked around the room, receiving vehement, steady nods from each person.

“And work as a team?” he nudged.

Another nod came from all around, though maybe not as resolute. Teamwork compatibility was a question for most of the supernaturals crammed into this dingy room.

Ember glanced at the clock, not inclined to wait any longer for Jim to return. “If we’re all on the same page here, then let’s go.” She rose to her feet and got approving responses from her teammates — all of them. One thing agreed upon, she thought. “How’re we getting there?”

Seke raised his palms and gestured to Aria. “I’m not leading this mission.”

Aria blinked at him. “Me? One minute, I’m kicked out of the club, and now I’m in charge? That seems pretty sketchy… This isn’t Director approved anyway, is it? You shouldn’t be here. I can do it myself.”

Ember raised a brow, barely restraining her snort, and folded her arms as Seke’s jaw clenched. He had his hands full with this one. No wonder he was interested. Aria was probably the first person who challenged the ancient god. First, he’d been revered; then, he’d been a fighter, and now, a leader. It was pretty much never that he’d met his match even among other gods and supes. Who’d have thought it would end up being a naïve, little, silver-headed screamer who’d hold that title?

“You are right,” he replied patiently. “Though it does serve our greater purpose, it is not a sanctioned mission. I will handle any disciplinary action... if it comes. If we succeed in taking out an underground vampire horde, I am certain the director will be pleased and willing to reconsider any punishment.

“That said, since it is not an official mission, it is not mine to oversee. It belongs in the hands of the most capable of leading these particular objectives.”

Aria looked down at her hands as if visually inspecting said “capableness,” seeming overwhelmed by the responsibility being dropped on her. “I’m not capable. I... I pawned the ring you gave me. I got it back,” she rushed to add. “But... I mean, I only just figured out how to somewhat control my visions.”

Ember’s eyes rounded. “Ring?!”

Raven beat her to the punch. “Did you freaking propose?” she shrieked at Seke in a pitch worthy of a banshee. Her hands grabbed at Aria’s, lifting the hand to stare at the ring. “Is that what you snuck up here to do?”

Everyone cringed.

“No!” Aria objected with horror, realizing the thought everyone seemed to have about the purpose of the ring exchange, blushing so red Ember might have expected her to combust, phoenix-style.

“No, no.” Seke was clear, but the calmness with which he spoke wasn’t the quick denial Aria had given. He flicked his eyes at Aria, seeming a bit… hurt. “I gave her a ring her mother had left in my care.” To Aria, he said, “You had the vision, found your mother, the location. That is more than the rest of us can do. Gunhilde and I