The other alpha didn’t dignify that with a response, and Raoul snorted. Santiago glared at him. On some occasions the two got along, but most of the time, it was like this.
“Who’s the potential enemy?” Dominic asked, easily reassembling his gun. Conall didn’t have to check to know that the bullets in the thing were silver, not lead.
“Who else but Conall’s new in-law,” Santiago retorted blandly.
“Are you referring to Maximilian Cronin?” Drako asked, from the window, in a bored tone.
“No shit, Sherlock,” Santiago retorted. “Cronin recently hosted the mother of all witch meetings at his place. About twenty or so of the most powerful grand wizards in America and Europe.”
“Europe?” Drako repeated, and Santiago pushed himself off of his seat and whipped his body around to see the man.
“Yes, Europe. London, Paris, Istanbul, Dublin—they were all there. It was a regular United Nations for witches.”
What the hell is that bastard planning now? Nothing good could come of Maximilian Cronin hosting an international meeting of grand wizards in his own home.
“When was this?”
“Last night.” Santiago’s dark gaze locked on Conall, and the playful façade disappeared. “I brought us together to hear what you had to say about it.”
“What I have to say—?” Conall repeated, dumbfounded.
Santiago leaned forward, his lip curling up into a wolfish smile. “Cronin called a council meeting to petition for kinship over your mate and her twin. Next thing we know, Cronin’s calling in grand wizards from all over the world like it’s an international holiday and he’s on some love the world, love the witches bullshit, which we know that selfish fucker isn’t, so, I figure either Cronin’s suddenly become interested in being the next Mother Teresa-Michael Jackson, or you’re not telling us something.” He braced back against the seat, eyes never leaving Conall’s face. “Now might be that time to take a seat.” He briefly switched his gaze to Raoul, who’d lost his smile, and was glaring down at him. “You too, bitch-boy.”
Conall continued as he was, his legs braced apart, hands in the pockets of his leather jacket.
“My mate is not a witch,” he said after thorough consideration. The weres in the room were his comrades, and if Cronin was gathering armies, as Conall was beginning to suspect, he would need them, too.
When there was no smart retort from Santiago, he continued, “Vivienne is a druid. So is her sister.”
“There are no druids. The witches made sure of that centuries ago,” Drako chimed in from the window.
“Yes,” Conall agreed, not particularly feeling like getting into the details at the moment. “They are the only druids currently alive.”
“And Cronin wants them why? To kill them? Banish them?” Dominic asked. His gun was now one compact piece of metal, and still very visible. Conall briefly wondered if Dominic was trying to intimidate anyone in the room, before deciding against the notion. It was likely boredom. Every were had weapons on his person. Among the five of them, he could count at least twenty weapons in the room, most belonging to Santiago, as this was his place.
“No,” Conall replied. They were going to find the truth out anyway. “Cronin wants to resurrect the druids.”
“Madre de Dios!” Santiago swore, reverting to the language he only used when stupefied. “What kind of death-wishing asshole would do that?”
“According to Conall, Maximilian Cronin,” Drako answered, walking over to them. He surveyed the four men, and then said in crisp, even tones, “So, what we have here, gentlemen, is a dilemma. We have one grand wizard who’s getting ready for a war, two druids who can be used to instigate it—”
“What you mean instigate it?” Santiago cut in.
“Why would a witch want to resurrect the druids?”
“Didn’t anybody ever tell you not to answer a question with a ques—”
“Immortality,” Conall cut in, stating what should be obvious.
Drako’s gaze whipped to him. Conall flashed a cold smile that barely lifted his lips.
“What’s the point of immortality without absolute power?” Drako retorted with one brow raised.
“Immortality and power,” Dominic agreed.
“And to achieve that type of power, Maximilian will have to get rid of anything remotely powerful standing in his way.”
“Like us.” Santiago was beginning to understand. He shook his head and looked to Conall who was scowling in dislike for the grand wizard. “Us and everything that threatens him.”