“I can’t compete in the Immortal Cup,” he replied.
“Maybe you don’t have to,” I returned. “So answer my question—lycan or vampire?” Because he had to have thought about it. Especially if he’d wanted to compete for immortality.
All humans possessed dreams.
Hell, vampires and lycans did, too.
It was a part of life.
Unless Lilith’s antics have completely demolished that side of humanity,I thought, my lips curling down as I glanced at myErosita.When was the last time you dreamed, little lioness?
Her mind told me in a flash, the visuals of me warming my heart. Until those dreams melted into reality.
Her last dream had been particularly potent. She’d dreamt my memories had returned, only to discover that I was fucking her awake… and not at all who she’d just imagined me to be.
It’d nearly broken her then, her heart shattering into a thousand jagged pieces upon the realization that I was still a monster.
I swallowed, the burn in my chest rather unpleasant. I didn’t like hearing her call me that. Oh, I was absolutely a beast. A predator in a sleek suit. But a monster? Not to her.Neverto her. Onlyforher.
“A vampire,” Keys said, drawing me away from Ismerelda’s pain. “I would choose to be a vampire.”
“Why?” I asked him, craving this distraction.
“Shifting into a wolf doesn’t appeal to me. I’d prefer speed and agility on two legs instead of four.” He shrugged. “Plus, vampire bites are kinder than wolf bites.”
I snorted at that. “Truth. All of it.” Although, if my inner animal could be released, he’d absolutely be a large, intimidating wolf.
Alas, I was all vampire. But my inner spirit was undeniably savage.
Keys said nothing more, his posture relaxed as he drove.
I checked the map, noting we still had another two hours to go before we reached the checkpoint, primarily because Keys was driving at a safe speed rather than a quick one.
Had it just been me, I would have demanded that he drive faster. But for Ismerelda, I was okay with this pace, especially since it seemed to be energy efficient as far as the battery was concerned.
There was no one else on the road. No signs of life. No security. Not even a hint of a maintenance crew, yet I knew one had to exist. These paved streets were too clean and well kempt to be completely abandoned.
Lilith had probably assigned the work to mortal teams.
Service workers.
Better than being dinner, I supposed.
Of course, that was the fate of all humans.Including Vigils.
Keys’s commentary about not fearing the future was probably how he maintained his composure now—driving a predator through the middle of nowhere to another region.
He had to wonder if he was about to become dinner.
I parted my lips to comment on it, when the phone rang again.
Keys glanced at the screen. “I don’t recognize the number.”
“Answer it anyway,” I said, expecting to see Deirdre or Abigail on the screen.
Except neither of them appeared when Keys hit the Accept button.
Instead, it was Hazel.
