Chapter 32

King rubbed his temples as he looked at his corkboard. As they rebuilt the city, the power structure had to be clear and concise for everyone. Right now they were sitting on a powder keg. This was where he kept all of his information in one place. It was a running list of all the territories and powers in charge of different sects. Some he’d sanctioned, others that were a problem. Any key power player.

Ace, his friend and one of his lieutenants, stood next to him, his arms crossed over his chest as he eyed the information as well. “At least Ingrid’s coven is now firmly in your corner. It’s progress.”

“Yes.” It was progress, but it had cost a lot of lives. He would have rather gained Ingrid’s loyalty a different way. “There are still a lot of vampires in the city who haven’t given me full allegiance.”

“You haven’t been in charge that long, even if it feels like it. It will take time.”

He knew that. He was just worried that they didn’t have time.

“If you take a strong mate, it will go a long way in solidifying everything,” Ace said mildly.

“Maybe.” He turned away from the board, immediately thinking of Aurora.

Things were currently in his favor and he was allied with packs and clans around the globe. But he had to keep his own territory in order if he wanted to remain in control, and that was a tricky thing.

“No maybe about it,” Ace said as King went to sit behind his desk.

“How so?” King leaned back in his chair, not wanting to discuss mating. He wanted Aurora, that wasn’t the problem. If she’d shown even a fraction of interest in him, he’d have made his move. But she’d been in captivity for a year, and though she’d never told him what happened…he could guess there were things she didn’t want to discuss. He was pretty sure she just needed a friend.

Ace strode to the window that overlooked the massive yard of their compound. “You need someone who is likable, but also strong. Someone to balance out all of your rough edges. Someone most beings trust. Because you’ll never make everyone happy. That’s impossible.”

Yeah, he’d thought about that. “I’m not mating with a vampire.” And he wasn’t going to mate with someone he didn’t love. He would make almost any sacrifice but that. His wolf wouldn’t allow him to anyway. There were simply some things he couldn’t force.

Ace snorted and turned back to look at him. “I know.” Then he gave him a long, knowing look.

King glanced away, not wanting to have this conversation because he knew exactly where his childhood friend was heading with this. Aurora. And King wasn’t discussing her with anyone.

“No response?”

“Nope.”

“She would make a good mate,” he said quietly. “Everybody likes her. Hell, loves her. And she’s an Alpha. A young one, but her powers…” Ace let out a low whistle. “She’s just coming into them. She’ll be a true force one day.”

“I know. We’re just friends.”

Ace had opened his mouth to say something when a sharp knock came at the door. King scented Delphine before she called out, “It’s me.”

“It’s open,” King said.

The door swung open and she strode in, her jaw tense. “It’s probably nothing, but we’re getting reports of some human gang activity near the college housing. I’m headed over there with a team to check things out.”

“Keep me updated.” He shoved up from his chair. He wasn’t sure why he’d thought he would get any rest right now. He had way too much to do, like meeting with a small pride of jaguars who were dealing with harassment from humans. He trusted Delphine and his team to take care of whatever was going on at the college.

She nodded once and strode out, her movements brisk.

“Just think about what I said,” Ace said.

King knew he would think about his choice of mate far too much but he simply nodded. “Come on, I’m sure we both have work to do.”

Ace started out with him. Another day, another problem to deal with.

At least one problem was gone and done with—those treacherous witches. Now he just needed to figure out if there were more like them lurking in his city.