Velkan pinned each member there with a hostile glare that should adequately cow them. “I’m here to bury the proverbial axe. Where exactly I bury it is entirely up to you. Either we can bury it in the ground and let bygones be bygones or I can bury it in the heart and head of every one of you here. Either way, the persecution of my wife and her friend stops now.”

Dieter stiffened. “You don’t come in here and order us about.”

Velkan shot a blast that knocked him off his feet. “Be smart. Take the out I’m offering you. I promised Esperetta that I wouldn’t be a barbarian anymore. So I’m trying to be civilized about this and let you live even though the warlord inside me would rather I bathe in all your entrails.”

“We are sworn—”

“Save it,” Velkan snapped, cutting Dieter off. “I was one of the members of this Order five hundred years ago and I know the oath you’ve all taken. And I’ve taken a new one. The next man or beast who threatens my wife or my servants will not live to regret that stupidity. Is that understood?”

He waited until each man had nodded.

Velkan took a deep breath. “Good. Now that we have an accord, I’ll leave you in peace.”

Turning toward the door, Velkan caught sight of something from the corner of his eye. Before he could react, a single gunshot rang out.

He snapped his head toward a corner of the room where Esperetta stood with Raluca, Francesca, Viktor, and Andrei.

Esperetta was holding the gun in her hands. Her eyes were narrowed on the men in the room. “Anyone else want to try and go for my husband’s back?”

Velkan looked to see Dieter lying on the floor with a single gunshot in his chest. Stunned, Velkan met Esperetta’s gaze.

She didn’t speak as she moved forward to take his hand while the wolves stood their ground. “Gentlemen,” she said quietly. “I think most of you have met Illie’s family and I believe they’d like a word with you. Alone.”

Stephen came to his feet. “Retta…”

“Save it, Stephen. You already told me what I needed to know.”

Velkan wasn’t sure what he should do, but as Esperetta pulled him from the house, he followed. And as soon as the door was closed behind him, he heard the screams of the men.

He stared in stunned awe of his wife. “I thought you wanted them spared.”

“I’m not the girl you married, Velkan. I’m a woman who now understands the way the world works. They wouldn’t have stopped coming for us. Ever. Frankie and her family owed a blood debt for what the Order did to her father. I say bon appétit.” She stepped into his arms and placed a chaste kiss to his cheek. “Thank you.”

“For what?”