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Raine stepped forward. “The reaper king?”
Hakim nodded. “That is Killian’s plan. If he is successful in his mission to call the shadow shifters and turn them reaper, then he will become the king of all.”
Dannika sucked in a breath. “We can’t let that happen. He would massacre the human population, then enslave it.”
The Bokor’s eyes twinkled, his amusement childlike and scary. “Yes. That is his goal.”
Though Dannika’s demon huddled in the recesses of her heart, she understood the emotion for what it was: fear.
“Why would you want that?” she asked. “If he wins, then you too will be enslaved.”
Hakim’s eyes narrowed on Colton. “Your family destroyed the only thing that mattered to me. The shadow shifters are a disease, and they will not be able to moderate their hunger. They will slaughter humanity and starve themselves to death. It will cleanse the earth. The end of humanity will come to pass, one way or another. If it happens sooner, then I will be around to see it.”
Dannika shivered because he believed every word he said. Whether it was true or not was an entirely different matter. “You hate the shadow shifters, but you know they protect humanity.”
Hakim clutched the gold medallion around his neck. “They did not protect my family. My daughter died because of the shadows.”
Her heart stuttered. “They killed her? Was it reapers?”
Hakim’s eyes bored into Colton. “No. She mated with a shadow shifter, even knowing what he was. When he left, taking their child, she killed herself. Though she had the means to protect herself from the reapers, Steele allowed her mate to return to the cougar clan.”
Dannika swallowed hard. “I’m sorry. We are trying to change the shadow mating habits. It’s an atrocity.”
Colton’s face hardened. “Who was the shadow that mated with your daughter?”
Hakim waved his hand through the smoke from the candle. “It doesn’t matter. That time has passed. My daughter resides in the spirit world. I wait for the chance to join her.”
Colton put his hand on the counter. His shadow melded with the candle before he ripped his hand away with a hiss. “Do you know who your daughter’s shadow mate was?”
Hakim’s dark eyes met Colton’s. “Oh yes, and I will see to his destruction one day.” He blew out the candle. “But not today.”
Dannika swallowed the lump in her throat. “Then you have a grandson. Don’t you care what happens to him?”
Hakim paused before he spoke. “I will have nothing to do with him as he is a shadow, despite my daughter’s pleading when I communicate with her.” His eyes flicked to Colton. “As a consensus to my daughter, I will give you one chance to save humanity. Agree to my terms or leave.”
CHAPTER23
Dannika’s heart thumped in tune with the African drums playing in the background. The music that was soothing when she’d arrived at the shop now thundered in her ears.
“Don’t do this,” Dannika pleaded.
Hakim’s face was a mask of injustice and hatred. “You will pay the toll or your species shall perish. Those are your only options.”
“How do we know you would keep your word?” she asked.
Hakim grabbed a leather-bound dagger from under the counter. “You can sense lies. You know what I say is true.”
Raine shook his head. “We know you think you believe the truth. That doesn’t necessarily make it so.”
“I have traveled to the spirit world. The balance of power has shifted in favor of the reapers. You have already noticed the differences, or you would not be here. Agree to my terms or leave.”
Raine pulled Dannika towards him when she was about to speak. “We can’t trust him. He will demand your demon soul.”
Hakim laughed. “Is that what Steele told you?”
Dannika nodded.
Hakim shook his head. “Fine. I will not take your demon soul. I omit it from this contract. In fact, I do not care which one of you pays the toll.”
