Chapter 24

You could tell that Melissa wasn't going to trust Jazlyn. You could practically taste the tension running between the people in the room. Tom was standing in the far right corner, Mel was laying at his feet in the form of a big she-lion.  The only way you could tell that the lion was Mel was her eyes. They were a deep purple instead of a golden like a real lions'.  Aubrey sat in the chair in the far left corner. Jazlyn Stood in the Middle of the room, in front of Keller. Ash was standing, protectively, in front of his mate. Keller seemed to be the only calm one in the entire room.... Until five more people came bursting into the room. First Gallen and Mist, Followed by Dex, and bringing up the rear came Kaleo and Calla, who was finally catching up with the times. She had ditched the heavy dress and was wearing a blue top with a pull-string collar, a pair of jeans, and plaid converse high-tops. Keller jumped almost completely from her bed and her eyes started to glow wolf-blue. Ash was pulling her back down almost as quickly as she jumped up.

"I'm fine. Just a little startled," Ash was still checking her over " I said, I'm FINE. Relax," She repeated sternly, then she looked to the group that had just walked in. "Why are you guys here?"

"Thought that Tom might want a witness to tell the cops where those two buried his body," Gallen said ,sarcastically, Mist smiled in agreement.

"I came to see Jazlyn get either severely injured or possibly killed," Kaleo said, you could tell he was ready to pick a fight.

"I am here to make sure Kaleo does not do anything he will regret," Calla supplied.

"How 'bout you Dex?" Aubrey said from the corner, thinking that something wasn't right with his usually talkative friend.

"Witness," Dex said, shrugging his shoulders. And that was when Aubrey knew something was wrong.

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"Well, since I assume that everyone is here let's get started." Tom said clapping his hands together. " I'll go first. I'm through running back and forth for you two. Look, I know you don't trust each other, and i'm not saying you have to, but for my sake just try to get along without ripping each other's heads off." He held up his hands and let the two people he loved most of all try to work things out.

"Fine. Melissa, I know that you say that you love him, but you're a hunter. Meaning that you hunt vampires. And guess what? Tommy is a vampire." Tom cringed at his old nickname. 

Mel growled in reply, standing up she stalked over to the puny human who was a little less pathetic than most because she knew how to fight. There was a trace amount of fear in her eyes as she saw a 210 pound she lion walking directly towards her. So she's not as stupid as I thought. Halfway across the room Mel stopped. Collapsing in on herself she shifted to her middle form. Partially lion, but retaining the ability to talk and walk on two legs. her Tail, ears , claws, and pupils had not shifted back. She was still all cat. She moved forward until she was directly in front of Jazlyn Blake, the only hunter in the world who was better than her, who used to be her best friend until.... that night "I know that, That's why I'm here. That's why I brought him here. " She hissed in her ear.

Instantly Jaz knew what was going on. She remembered their code. Rule 1. Never invade another hunter's personal space. When they worked together they broke that code because they knew it was the only way to communicate. If she was reading the code correctly, if it even was their code and not Mel just getting over-dramatic then there was a spy in the room. "A Lion's whisper means a spy." Melissa had said in low whisper as they were driven to their destination. Night Castle.  A vampire stronghold. Jaz was shocked out of her memory and looked directly into Mel's eyes and saw a barely perceptible nod. Then she tried to convey a message of her own. "I don't know whether to punch you or hug you right now." So instead of doing either she just walked out the door. Aubrey followed. JAz knew something that only two other people knew, In the close-knit circle of the Nine their mates and siblings, there was a spy. But who?

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Jaz put together a spreadsheet and automatically eliminated anyone who was a mate and not one of the Nine, because mates have proof. That leaves Keller, Mel, Mist, Dex, Hope, and Kaleo. It can't be Mist because she was the one who helped us find Keller, She showed us her power. It can't be Hope because she healed Keller. It would be a stupid move on Mel's part if she was the spy. And I have a past with Kaleo. He's the exact same way he was before. And if Jaz moved the curtain of her thoughts there was the answer. Well, hello Dex. I believe we need to have a chat. Jaz smiled as she realized she knew exactly who the spy was. The only thing left to do was confront him.