The men nodded at the women as they were introduced. Mostly, all eyes were on Meryn, but Anne noticed that vampire Jourdain stared at Elizabeth.
"Now that we know each other, let us move on to the topics at hand--" Daggart began.
"Don't you mean allegations?" Elizabeth interrupted.
Daggart smiled at her. "Allegation is such a harsh word." He smiled at her in a condescending manner. Anne fought the urge to smack him.
"So you simply wish to discuss certain topics, with no intention for any actions to transpire after the fact?" Elizabeth asked.
Daggart shook his head. "There have been some extremely reckless decisions made by some of you ladies that have resulted in damages to public property."
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "I disagree. Everything that was done was in response to unusual and dire circumstances. I can't believe that the Committee would value property over the lives of our people."
Adalwin shook his head. "Had things been done the way we have always done them, we wouldn't have had any damages."
Elizabeth smiled sweetly. "In that case, can you please go to the super ferals--"
"Reapers," Meryn whispered.
Elizabeth glanced down at Meryn and continued. "Please go to the reapers and convince them to go back where they came from and to stop killing people. That way, we can go back to doing things the way we always have."
Adalwin's face flushed at her response.
"We don't need her introducing human technology; it isn't needed," Edmond protested.
To Anne's surprise, it was a white-haired man leaning against the wall who responded. "I'm Sascha Baberiov, Gamma Unit leader. We..."--he pointed to the rest of the warriors--"the units disagree. Since the introduction of updated technology, we have been able to save lives without losing warriors. I know of several instances where Noah and Jaxon were able to direct units away from pockets of ferals in the last battle using the city's surveillance cameras. They were able to avoid being outnumbered and were able to escort civilians to safety."
"Who the devil are Noah and Jaxon?" Edmond demanded.
Elizabeth smiled. "Noah Calloway and Jaxon Darrow are the first students in Meryn's technology learning program. As the Gamma Unit leader has pointed out, it's already a huge success."
Daggart pointed to Elizabeth. "That brings me to my next point. We have methods of teaching our young people so that they can be closely monitored. How do you explain your out of control witch unit warrior who cast the perimeter spell?"
Aiden stepped forward and Anne could tell it was taking every ounce of his will not to yell at the accusing committee members. "As previously reported, no unit member witch is responsible for casting the spell that created the perimeter."
Elizabeth leaned back in her chair, looking smug. "Maybe you should reevaluate your teaching methods, witch representative of Storm Keep. It looks like one of your witches has been naughty."
Anne could hear the wood crack under Daggart's hands as he grasped the arms of the chair. "Our methods are perfectly sound."
Jourdain locked eyes with Elizabeth until she shuddered and looked away. Gavriel was behind her in an instant, his eyes glowed bright red as he hissed at the other vampire.
Jourdain smiled mockingly and spread is hands. "Forgive me, but I haven't seen little Bethy in quite some time; old habits die hard."
Elizabeth held onto Gavriel's hand so tight Anne could see her knuckles turning white. "I'm fine." She took a deep breath and sat up straighter. "If you gentleman have nothing more substantial to discuss, frankly, I find your allegations groundless and insulting." Her voice held an edge that hadn't been there before Jourdain's stare.
Jourdain leered at her. "We're just getting started. We haven't even discussed how the Alpha Unit let one of their own warriors be compromised and fall into the hands of the enemy."
Anne felt him before he even walked into the room. She turned to the doorway to see Aiden and Colton parting to allow Kendrick to enter. The committee members turned to look at the new arrival. Daggart and Adalwin were staring with mouths open at Kendrick. Suddenly, the room felt smaller, as if it couldn't contain Kendrick's very presence.
"I will not allow you to turn my brother into a political stepping stone." His deep voice resonated through the room.
Jourdain turned back to Elizabeth, ignoring Kendrick's entrance. "You may have a pretty answer for our reasonable concerns, but you cannot deny that... that human is incapable of leading our units." His long finger pointed directly at Meryn.
Byron stood, growling lowly. "First, be very careful how you address my daughter, Jourdain. Second, I follow her lead, as do the men. Are you trying to tell us that, with our combined thousands of years of training, we don't know what we are doing?"
Jourdain scowled. "Of course not."
Kendrick walked behind the chairs of the committee members slowly, causing each one of them to flinch. He stopped at end of the row. "I believe she is doing exceptionally well."
Daggart looked up, his eyes dark. "And why would the opinion of an archivist who has yet to receive a Mastery level matter to anyone?"
Kendrick nodded while smiling. "You're absolutely right, I'm just a poor scribe from the Lower City."
Daggart smirked at Kendrick's admission.
"However, Lady Fairfax isn't, and neither are many of her other highborn friends, or many of the Lycaonian citizens I spoke with today." Kendrick kept walking until he was behind the women's chairs. "You see, they trust Meryn implicitly. Because, when it mattered, this pregnant human female took up arms and protected not only her mate's unit warriors, but also the people of the city. Unlike certain elders who show up after the fact, pointing fingers."