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I pointed to the painting. “You admitted you have to interpret the symbols in your dreams, which means there’s a chance you’ll misinterpret them. So I repeat, what if you’re wrong?”
“There’s always a margin of error. But in this case, the evidence is quite strong I’m correct. In addition to the proof I’ve mentioned, there’s something else. You’ve survived being staked by apple wood not once, but twice. That’s pretty remarkable, given no other vampire could survive such an attack. Neither could a mage without immediate intervention, by the way. So that begs the question, why are you immune? One could argue it’s because you have a special purpose that requires super-preternatural powers.”
I rolled my eyes. “Or one could argue that the mixing of my blood gave me the immunity. Have you ever been staked?”
She shook her head and frowned.
“Right, so how do you know you’re not also immune?”
“If it’s all right with you, I think I’ll skip trying it out just to see.”
I smiled tightly. “And you still haven’t answered my question. What if you’re wrong?”
Maisie crossed her arms. “If I’m wrong, then the universe will offer another sign to help us correct course.”
“Oh, that’s convenient. Look, I’m sorry if this offends you, but what you call evidence, I call delusions. You want to prove something to me? Don’t offer up dream analysis and drug-induced hallucinations. Show me hard evidence. Show me facts. But don’t expect me to go all in on this Chosen thing based on faith alone.”
Rhea smiled. “Ah.”
I frowned at her knowing expression. “What?”
“Oh, nothing. It just makes sense now. You’ve lived your entire life following orders. The Dominae trained you to be a machine, trusting only their authority and ignoring your own instincts. But then you found out they lied to you, and you were forced to wake up. I’d imagine something like that makes it hard to trust anything or anyone—including yourself.”
My jaw tightened. “Don’t psychoanalyze me, mancy.”
She laughed. “It’s not psychoanalysis. It’s facts. Isn’t that what you wanted? The Dominae betrayed you, and you did something about that. But now you’re struggling. You’re used to taking orders and using your fists to deal with problems. And now we’re asking you to believe that there’s more to you than being a death machine. We’re asking you to rely on your instincts and to tap into powers you were raised to hide. It’s only natural you’d be scared.”
I leaned toward Rhea, towering over her. She met my menacing stare with a serene smile. Her lack of intimidation pissed me off even more. “I’m not scared.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Prove it.”
“I don’t have to prove anything to either of you.”
“Then prove it to yourself. Prove that the Dominae didn’t break you. Prove that there’s more to you than fists and that chip on your shoulder.”
I realized then the fists she referred to were clenched and ready to strike. I forced myself to relax, releasing the knots in my shoulders and allowing the blood back into my fingers. My anger was blinding me to Rhea’s strategy, and I’d allowed her to poke at the recent, tender wounds I hid behind layers of swagger. “I see what you’re doing, mage.”
“I fully expect you do. You’re a smart girl.” She smiled. “I’ll tell you what, you don’t want to believe in the prophecy, that’s cool. Time will tell whether it’s true or not. Instead, why not focus on the other benefit of learning how to use your magic?”
I narrowed my eyes. “What’s that?”
“You’re already physically strong, no doubt about it. But think about the added advantage being able to use magic would give you in a fight.”
I paused, thinking it over. I’d been trained to be a killing machine when it came to vampires. But fighting magic users? The playing field suddenly changed to favor mages. That’s how the race had survived so long despite the vampires’ hatred of them. During the last war, called the War of Blood, the mages were winning before they sued for peace and the Black Covenant was drawn up. Luckily for the vampire race, the mages weren’t as bloodthirsty as their dark-race rivals. If it had been the vampires in the lead, the world would be a very different place today—a mage-free one.
And since vampires were now my enemy, too, knowing how to use magic would definitely work in my favor.
“And as I recall, your grandmother isn’t dead yet,” Rhea continued as I thought it over. “Chances are good you’ll face her again at some point. Think about how shocked she’ll be to learn you have a few new tricks up your sleeve.”
I cursed under my breath. The old woman was wily. I knew she was manipulating me, but damned if the image she painted didn’t appeal to my ego. I’m not proud to admit that I would love to see the look on my grandmother’s face when I used magic against her. She’d f**king flip her gourd. After all, she was the one who tried to do everything in her power to keep me from exploring my mage side. Becoming a kickass mage would piss her off big-time. I felt a smile spread on my lips.
“Just so we’re clear, I still don’t buy that I’m destined to lead the dark races.”
“Fair enough,” Rhea said. Behind her, Maisie’s worried expression turned into a wide smile. However, Rhea wasn’t done. “But I reserve the right to say ‘I told you so’ when it happens.”
I rolled my eyes. “And I reserve the right to laugh in your face when it doesn’t.”
She smiled. “It’s a deal.”
10
Hold up, they think you’re a what?” Giguhl’s claws held up his face as he lay on his stomach. He kicked his hooves behind him like a sixteen-year-old at a slumber party.
I nudged him with my hip to sit down. It was my bed, after all. “K-thon-ic,” I enunciated. “I guess it’s some kind of dark magic involving death and sex and stuff.”
His shaggy eyebrows raised. “Awesome!”
I shot him a look. “You think so?”
“Hell, yes. Think about it, Sabina. You’re gonna be so kickass once you know how to do that stuff.”
“I thought I was already kickass,” I said with a raised eyebrow.
“Well, yeah, but now you’ll have wicked mage skills to back up your vampire ones.”
