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:It’s too bright. I can’t see the darker patches of taint and evil like usual.: She blew out a soft breath. :Let me try something… Remove the living humans from this view.:

As if she clicked a filtering button on a display, all the shining white bleeps representing humans blinked out. Leaving long trails of shadow winding throughout the sprawling city. Below the ground. Hiding in tunnels and sewers. Using hundreds of meters of underground access beneath Paris, thralls crept like the vermin they are. Hundreds. Maybe thousands.

:The catacombs,: Guillaume said grimly. :Some of the very tunnels I used to escape the prison beneath Notre Dame when Desideria freed me.:

Drawn by queens’ vibrant, hot blood, available outside of a blood circle, the thralls congregated beneath the access points to the street above. Waiting for enough darkness to attack.

A legion of thralls.

:Oh goddess.:

SHARA

So many thralls. It was like my childhood all over again, only this time it wasn’t just me, which was both good and bad. I wasn’t alone with only some salt and a club with a few rusty nails like spikes, but I had far more at stake now.

Including three humans with a queen whose strength was in probabilities. Not defending herself.

I stood abruptly. :Carys, head toward me.: The older queen’s initial response was a flash of irritation, but she must have felt my urgency. Especially when I added, :Bring everyone with you. Now! Rik⁠—:

But my alpha was already making orders. :Xin. Itztli. Shift and go escort our queen’s people to us. Nevarre, get us eyes overhead.:

:If I’m moving fast enough, my jackal looks like a dog,: Khalid offered.

:Go,: Rik said.

The Blood shifted so fast the two humans could only gape. Wide eyed, Gina and Leonie hurried to my side.

“I’ve called for the cars,” Gina said. “Frank said they’re leaving the parking area now and will be here in a few minutes.”

“We can’t wait,” Rik said out loud to her, but in the bond, he said to Vore, :Take point. Cut us a path to the cars if needed.:

:It’s still daylight. If humans are around⁠—:

:I can cast shadows around you.: Nevarre was perched on the building’s roof. :Many of the shops have closed already and there’s less foot traffic. Stick to the walls and I’ll cover you.:

Wait. The cars? Not toward Carys. :I’m not leaving anyone behind.:

:Of course not.: Usually I was the one soothing Rik with a touch, but this time, he cupped my cheek in his big palm. :But we need you safe too. The cars have bullet proof glass and were built to withstand terrorist attacks. There are too many thralls. We might be overwhelmed unless we all shift, which would force you to expose your power among mortals.:

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, is something wrong?” Kostas asked.

“I’m afraid so.” I nodded up at Rik and took his arm. “You should lock up your shop and stay inside if possible, though the danger should pass once I’m away.”

“What danger? If someone means to attack you here…” Kostas’ voice hardened. “They won’t find us easy to take.”

Rik swept me up in his arms, headed for the door. A wall of Blood around me. Moving fast. Too fast for me to know where Gina was. Leonie. If⁠—

:We have them,: Lew assured me, sending an image of Gina’s arm in his. Leonie clung to Jenrade, with Gerard, Ezra, and Daire covering their backs.

I checked Carys’ bond again. Kevin led the way back up the street, his face grim, his eyes scanning for danger. Julie and Regina hurried on either side of Carys, all of them carrying several bags. Though they were walking quickly.

:What is it?: Carys demanded. :What’s wrong?:

:Thralls.: I deliberately didn’t tell her how many, trying not to scare her.

:Too late,: she retorted. :I can feel your dry mouth and curdled stomach, my queen. What the fuck am I supposed to do with thralls? Throw proofs and theorems at them?:

Despite my very real worry, I couldn’t help but laugh. :Draw your blood.: