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She didn’t say anything, but I could hear her heartbeat and her breathing—slow and steady. She could be sleeping, but I knew she wasn’t.
“I’ll give you one more day to do this the easy way,” I told her.
Her chest moved, and at first, I thought she was having a seizure, but then a raspy sound came from her throat, and as it grew louder, I realized it was laughter.
Dot threw her head back and cackled. She stopped and stared at me, a sick grin on her dark lips.
I held her gaze, unflinching.
I didn’t mind forcing her to help me, but the only way for that was torture, and I wasn’t looking forward to that. I was sure as I tortured her, I would relive my past trauma. It wouldn’t be pretty. Just thinking about it brought a wave of rage forth, and my Shadow Wolf stirred. I inhaled deeply, trying to remain in control.
After a long while, Dot lowered her head and returned to her previous pose. Like a motionless, creepy doll.
Holding Raika’s hand, I took us out of the dungeon.
Once out in the castle’s hallway, Raika asked, “Are you okay?”
“Of course,” I scoffed. “Dot is nothing. One way or another, she’ll break my curse.”
“But the full moon is almost here.”
“I know.” I could feel it, actually, the pull getting stronger and stronger. From now until the full moon, or until Dot did the spell, the Shadow Wolf would make himself known each time I got mad or frustrated. Which was almost every day.
I guided Raika through the castle’s hallway, telling her about some of the rooms we walked past, and what was beyond this corridor and that, until we entered a meeting room across Drake’s office.
Killian, Lavinia, and Ariella were already here, along with Dom and most of the DuMoir princes. I introduced Raika to them—Prince Cain, Prince Aston, and Prince Dorian. I told her Prince Gray had left to help the demon hunters in their war against Paimon.
A couple of minutes later, Almae arrived with Elisa and Zadkiel—Elisa was Thea’s right hand, and Zad was an angel and Elisa’s mate. I introduced them both to Raika.
“How are you feeling, dear?” Almae asked Raika.
“Like myself again,” Raika answered with a smile.
Another minute passed before Lord Drake and Queen Thea arrived.
“Please, sit,” Drake commanded. Vampires didn’t have the same power as wolf shifters when it came to that, but Drake’s tone didn’t leave any room for arguments.
We all sat down around the long, dark table.
“Before I forget,” I started. “Lord Drake, I promised something to the goblins we met at the mountain.” I explained the promise to send vampires to check out the demon activity in the mountain and why.
Drake nodded. “You did the right thing.” He looked at Aston. “After this meeting, send Lyra with a team to check it out.”
“Another test for Lyra?” Killian asked. Once he had told me that to become a prince (or princess), a vampire had to pass many tests.
“Something like that,” Drake said. “Now, who can tell me about the demon hunters and Paimon?”
“I’ve talked to Demon Hunter Norah this morning,” Prince Cain started his report. “After Shane encountered Paimon at his house in Vancouver, and later at the building in Montreal, they sent teams to find him, but Paimon and his demons were long gone. However, Doreen and Thierry filled them in about the dragon and why Paimon is after her. They sent a team to either capture or kill the dragon.”
“Evelyn and Asher are on it,” I spoke up. “They are being helped by a dragon shifter, Kaz. He said there’s a place where he can take the dragon, where she’ll be safe and Paimon won’t find her.”
“Where is this place?” Drake asked.
I shook my head. “Kaz didn’t tell us. He said he won’t.”
“It's a sacred place,” Ariella added. “Like a refuge for dragons and dragon shifters. I think Kaz might not be able to tell us. Like an oath, or something.”
Drake nodded. “Prince Cain, contact the demon hunters and tell them what we know about the dragon. Please, let them know to not harm her.”
