If our morning wasn’t bad enough, through an email communication direct to The Vampire Dominion, as well as one to Callum, we learned that the rest of the concubines being held were murdered, the proof of this further atrocity irrefutable as they’d videotaped each life being blinked out.

One hundred and seven concubines gone, including another member of Leah’s family.

Now our bags were packed. We were ready to roll the minute we got the word.

“As you can see,” the president went on, “there are immortals in this world.” He gestured beside him to a handsome, blond vampire named Rudolf, a Council member, who had just extended and retracted his fangs. Also beside him was a wolf named Saint, who the cameras had caught transforming but now sat docilely, being pet by a beautiful, dark-haired she-wolf in human form, his mate, named Juliana. And last, there was a stunning, ethereal wraith hovering, seated over another chair.

The president drew in breath and locked eyes with the camera, but it didn’t pan in, keeping the immortals sitting beside him, who seemed normal and, more importantly, not aggressive, in the frame.

“They have lived among us as long as there have been humans roaming this planet,” the president went on gravely. “They are your colleagues. Your neighbors. They are productive, involved citizens. They pay taxes. They create jobs. There are some who are doctors who save lives. Nurses. Scientists who help to eradicate disease. Our existence with theirs has been harmonious for millennia. They have kept themselves hidden only for the purpose of our safety, however, there are many among us who know of them. Work with them. Take them as husbands and wives. Indeed, they are of us, human, just a different race. But as with any race, there are those who desire to destroy harmony.”

At this point, the camera panned in, broadcasting only the president’s face, which he’d arranged into a mask of concern and determination.

“I know it’s asking a great deal of the citizens of this great nation, but I urge calm. This faction…who attacked our own in Iowa and others around the world…is few. We, as well as the immortals, are aware of their existence. We are prepared to retaliate. We have more than hope that we will quash any further barbarisms perpetrated by this small, rogue offshoot before they happen. We have weapons to defeat it. And I promise, as your president, as your commander in chief, as a man who knows these races and trusts them, we, with our immortal brothers and sisters, will prevail.”

The president disappeared and we saw the newscaster.

Callum, who had the remote, turned the volume down.

“You think that worked?” Xun asked.

“Nope,” Moose answered.

I sighed.

“Is that true, you guys human?” Wei asked.

“Propaganda,” Lucien answered. “We were born of magic. However, that likely won’t be accepted very well at this juncture.”