A location where we could be alone and heal.
Ismerelda had locked herself away in her head, her body completely limp as I carried her through the catacombs. Talking to her in this state would be impossible, even with my ability to speak into her mind.
Instead, our psyches seemed to be weaving together, my internal questions sparking answers from her thoughts and providing memories to go with them.
Like now as I navigated the underground, I pulled the memory of the last time we’d been here together.
There was a staircase that led up to ground level, the door one humans had never known existed, thanks to vampires manipulating their minds.
Instinct drove me toward that exit. Mostly because I didn’t trust what I knew—or what IthoughtI knew.
There were cameras everywhere.
Including in my room, I realized as another one of Ismerelda’s experiences graced our link.She found the camera in the ceiling near my bed, saw the footage from it on my laptop.
I would ask her why she’d never told me about it, but I already knew the answer—I would’ve never listened to her.
She was a human. A glorified pet. A slave meant only for blood and sex.
Yet some part of me had already begun to acknowledge her as my equal. A potential partner.My queen.
I’d wondered why I hadn’t turned her. Unfortunately, that part remained unclear.
But this female had obviously been mine in every way.
Why did I block you from my mind?I questioned.Why would I cut off our link?
The response hit me on a wave of agony as Ismerelda recalled my choice to build that impenetrable wall, how I’d taken it upon myself to face Lilith alone and hadn’t involved myErositain the decision at all.
“I thought Cam told you the plan. But you don’t know,” Luka had said after telling her about how I’d apparently staged her death. “I… Izzy…”
“Cam just staged your death to get captured by Lilith,” Mira had added. “He knows she won’t kill him. His blood is too powerful for her to waste. But he’s hoping to talk to her. And he needs you to remain here, where you’re safe, while he works.”
Is that really what I said?I wondered.Or is this another lie?
Michael had told me that Mira had served as myErosita’s babysitter, ensuring Ismerelda had remained safe and content while I’d slept. It’d also served a dual purpose of spying on Majestic Clan and their known associates—vampires and lycans who might not be acclimating to the world changes as well as the others.
That appeared to be true for the most part, but was the explanation accurate? Had I truly left Ismerelda behind just to talk to Lilith?
Why the fuck would I do that?
A recent memory answered my question.
“He never wanted any of this. He stood against it.” Ismerelda’s voice had been insistent. Angry, even.
“For you,” Michael had returned. “But as Lilith predicted, without your mortal influence in his mind, he’s a proper vampire. We just had to be sure of that before we unleashed him on the world.”
The recollection turned into Michael admitting why she’d been brought here—to test the theory.
He’d claimed I’dpassedbecause I no longer cared about her, as evidenced by me leaving her with those monsters.
Fuck. If I could shred them all again, I would. Especially hearing Ismerelda relive it again and again, the juxtaposition between the event and how we’d met wreaking havoc on her thoughts.
I wanted to force her to stop. To make herwake up. But I couldn’t. Not here.Not yet.
The staircase I’d seen in her mind finally appeared, the area around it dark and vacant. No signs of life. Just dust and the scent of ancient limestone. Still, I ascended carefully, my senses on high alert, waiting for someone to step into my path.
Michael had mentioned awe. Had he been referring to himself and Lilith? Himself and Mira? Or was there someone else in charge here?Maybe a puppet master I haven’t seen yet…
