“I agree,” Max said, managing a ghost of a smile. “But the good news is the council has finally and unanimously agreed we need to stop that no good fucking bastard, and we’re to take whatever steps are necessary to do it. Hector, Concepcion, and their people are already on planes heading back to Europe, and they have their clans joining forces across the pond to do what they can. Unfortunately, though, we won’t be able to do the same for a few more days.”

“I don’t understand?” Bennett said, her eyes locked on Max’s. “Why do we have to wait?”

“An ice storm hit Tromso, so until the airport reopens, most of my people are stuck in Norway for at least another day, maybe two. It would take almost that long to summon others around the world here, so that leaves me with mostly mortal kitchen help, a few guardians, my sentries, and a handful of vampires. It’s not enough to take on Napoleon’s army.”

“But if we don’t, people will die. Innocent people will die, Max.”

“I know.”

Bennett thought for a moment. “Then I’ll go back tonight and take out as many as I can.”

“No,” Lisa said, touching Bennett on the arm. “You can’t face an army alone.”

“She won’t be,” Ruby said. “I’ll go with her.”

“And me, too,” Angelique chimed in.

“And if you can lose a sentry, I volunteer as well,” Polly said, stepping forward.

Max’s jaw fell into his lap. “If you think, for one bloody minute, I’m going to send four women—”

“First, that’s really sexist, and second, make it five. I’m going with them,” Lisa said, getting to her feet.

Bennett sprang from her chair. “Absolutely not.”

“Why? I’m a vampire. I know how to fight, and I definitely can handle a sword.”

“You’re not going anywhere near Napoleon’s. I forbid it.”

Lisa ever so slowly folded one arm over the other, her eyes locked on Bennett’s as she widened her stance. “You may want to walk that back just a wee little bit.”

Most in the room were merely staring at the exchange, but Max had to press his lips together to smother his mirth. Bennett’s squared posture had vanished, and an attitude that was, seconds before, authoritarian and mulish had been replaced by one penitent and very, very wary.

“Um…right,” Bennett mumbled. “Perhaps I should have…um…I should have chosen my words more carefully.”

Lisa wasn’t about to break the promises she’d made to herself, so she didn’t care who heard her next words. “Bennett, I love you. I’ll be your lover, your partner, and even your wife if that’s what you want, but if you see me as your property, if you see me as someone you need to constantly protect, then—”