‘So the state gets flooded with random ’wolves … and then the next state? And the next?’ Tom looked at Marcie for confirmation, and she nodded. ‘Doesn’t that go against all the old-fashioned stuff about quality and purity that ’wolves like you believe in?’

‘These street-trash ’wolves will be an inferior race. Servants to the true breed –and through the drug, dependent on us for everything.’ She smiled. ‘They will do anything for their pureblood masters.’

‘So that’s what makes it acceptable to polite werewolf society, huh? A whole new race of soldiers and servants.’ He repressed a shudder. ‘And you really think the rest of the world will just sit back and watch you create a Werewolf nation?’

‘We are not fools,’ said Takapa coldly. ‘We are realists. We shall start small. I am furnishing the next generations of ’wolves with the tools and knowledge they will need if they are to flourish. I am going to unite the ’wolves as never before.’ He punched his fist into his palm. ‘It shall truly be das Zeitalter des Werwolfs.’

‘Wolf time,’ Tom translated. ‘With the support of a dried-up pureblood bitch and the stolen biology of resisters like me and Rico.’

Marcie slapped him hard around the face.

Takapa leaned in close. His breath stank of raw meat. ‘Once I overcome the child’s resistance, there will be no human defence that can stand against me.’

‘Oh yeah? Not even Jicaque?’

Takapa reacted angrily. ‘That old crank is a spent force. He is nothing.’

‘So why do you flare up even at the sound of his name?’ asked Tom mildly before turning to Marcie. ‘And why did you frighten him out of New Orleans with death threats? Just for laughs?’

‘You are a rare creature, Wereling,’ Takapa said smoothly. ‘Your dual nature is near perfectly balanced; you draw on the best of your humanity and the best of the ’wolf. Once I have cracked the genetic code that allows you to do this, I shall use it to enhance the natures of the most loyal soldiers. They shall mate with pureblood females and sire a new breed, more powerful, deadly and more numerous than ever.’

Tom looked away. ‘Spare me the global domination bullshit. You’re crazy.’

‘No he’s not,’ said Marcie coldly. ‘And Kate will help us in that task. Yes, I feel she will be a most fertile ’wolf mother over the coming years. However loudly she howls about it.’

‘You’ll have to find her first,’ Tom taunted.

‘I will,’ Marcie calmly assured him. ‘Now, come, Takapa. My husband has been out searching for Kate, but he will be joining us shortly. We should prepare ourselves for tonight’s celebrations. It’s almost time.’

Tom noticed a clock on the wall. It was eleven o’clock.

In an hour, the slaughter would begin.

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