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“Whenever your wise granddaughter finds this spirit to target, will it not be better to send us out as soldiers to face the threat first, at least, before endangering your own far superior family members?”
When I glance up, I see that the idea of using us as cannon fodder, at least, appeals to him.
He huffs out his displeasure as he steps back, then glares at where Phoenix and Layden are standing together near his golden throne. “If you don’t have something more concrete for me by the end of the day, I will expel every last one of them from the compound. Including the witch. Now,” Vlad looks Phoenix’s way, lifting his eyebrows significantly, “your uncles and I will do our part to siphon you strength for any coming conflict.”
Phoenix sighs and looks toward the floor. “Moderate feeding should be enough.”
I have to work to keep my eyebrows from lifting. So, she is not a vampire but still gets power from them when they do feed? How exactly does that work? Is “granddaughter” as loose a term as “son” is? How exactly are they all related to one another? Layden mentioned there was a god here. Did he mean Phoenix? As soon as we can get our hands on him, Layden has some explaining to do.
Vlad glares at Phoenix. “Now is not the time for moderation,” he snaps. “And a better leader would know that.”
As he turns and begins to walk toward the door, his “sons” immediately move in formation to flank his sides and back.
“Yes, Grandpapa,” Phoenix says to his retreating figure, her posture deflating the second he turns the corner out of sight. “Fuck,” she says as she looks between Layden and Sabra. “What are we going to do?”
Layden looks worried, but Sabra just rubs her hands together. “Blood magic, baby.”
Phoenix winces but looks resigned.
“I’m going to check on my wife,” Abaddon says, finally standing. “Keep me informed.” He looks around, his mouth curling in disgust. “The sooner we’re gone from this place, the better.”
I keep my peace. I’m torn, both wanting to stay to find out what will be involved in this “blood magic” the mage speaks of and needing to get back to Lo-Ren to make sure she is unharmed in this dangerous vampire’s nest.
“What did you mean with that last bit about feeding?” I ask. Phoenix and Layden both look my way, before Phoenix drops her face, turning away from me.
“Can I tell h—” Layden asks her, and she waves a hand. “Whatever.”
“Phoenix isn’t like. . . them.” Layden scowls, looking toward the door.
Phoenix huffs out a mirthless laugh. “Aren’t I? Just indirectly.” She turns back toward me, then confirms my theory. “When my ancestors feed, it feeds me. Don’t ask me why.”
Ah. Part of the blood magic, I take it. Before I can ask more, though, I feel my head getting heavy and my sight going dim.
Dammit, not now, I think, as my vision starts to go. This is an incredibly delicate political situation we’re all in, not to mention how things are with Lo-Ren. Remus better not screw anything up—
But then my vision goes black as I fall into deep, undreaming sleep.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
REMUS
I wake up to find myself standing in an unknown room. I quickly take inventory. Obviously, I’m still within the vampire compound. Layden and the head vampire’s granddaughter are the only other ones in the room, but I can scent others were recently here. Abaddon and more of the bloodsuckers.
The granddaughter—Phoenix, I think was her name? She’s watching me oddly. How much has Layden told her about us?
I start to head out the door without a word. If I follow Abaddon’s scent, I’m sure it will take me back to our quarters and our women. It’s only once I’m outside that I pause, fully thinking through the ramifications of my time lost to Romulus, considering where we were when I passed out.
The shower. I was inside my woman after my brother had just woken up. An impossibility, and yet there he was, awake and so suave and sure, suggesting we share her.
My hands clench into fists.
How long has the tactician been working against me? He not only woke when I was supposed to be in control of the body but then kicked me out. What did they do together after I was gone, their naked bodies slathered in soap in that shower?
Has he allowed me to play the fool, thinking that I have the upper hand when he’s been plotting against me this whole time? My teeth clench, threatening to crack.
I am no fool.
When warriors come against me with tactical perfection and coordinated strikes, I meet them with overwhelming chaos and rage. After all this time, still, my brother does not know me.
