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She glanced away, despite knowing Killian had said the words to hurt her. “Whatever.”
Killian dropped his arm. “Julius is my lieutenant. He will oversee your training.”
Her eyes met Killian’s. “Never going to happen.”
Killian’s smile made her heart stutter. “But it will, Dannika, or everyone you care about will die.”
“Sorry, I’ve heard that threat a hundred times. You trained Maddock well.”
“Maddock was a tool. He performed his task, and while he threatened you, he would never have killed you. I forbade it.” His eyes narrowed when she feigned indifference. “Dannika, would you like to know why your blood is special?”
CHAPTER3
Dannika’s stomach rolled as Julius smirked at her. The reaper knew she wanted that information, and no amount of bravado would get her out of this situation. While the shelter was only a few blocks away, it was like another country, another lifetime.
“Why is my blood special?”
Killian’s smile was like evil wrapped up in a red bow. “Do you know the story of the Priestess?”
Dannika frowned. “The one that traveled to the demon realm?”
“Yes. The shadow clans and the reapers have different versions of that story.”
“Why would your versions be different? You were all shadow warriors once,” Dannika said.
Killian nodded. “True, but each clan has a unique piece of that story. Once reaper, we become one clan regardless of our origins. Starting out as a wolf, cougar or bear is irrelevant here. We discovered the inconsistencies between the scrolls recounting those events.”
Dannika itched her wrist. The bumps on the stump had lengthened into long nubs. “Okay. The wolves believe the Priestess entered the demon world and procured an artifact made of blessed steel. She returned and split the material into three sections, giving one to each of the remaining clans. The clans use this artifact to create the reaper blades.”
Killian turned to Julius. “Go check on the trucks. The next shipment should be ready soon.”
Julius nodded and dissolved.
Dannika focused on the pathway Julius had entered, making note of its location. “What do reapers need trucks for? When did you acquire the Graydon County salvage yard?”
Killian chuckled. “We killed the owner of this company some time ago. One of my clan members can appear as anyone. He impersonates the owner when required. The answer to these questions will come in time. Aren’t you more curious about your role in our plan?”
She swallowed hard. “Yes. Tell me about the Priestess and how it connects to me.”
Killian held his hand over the fire. Waves of black smoke pulled off his arm. “The Priestess wasn’t just traumatized in the demon world. It changed her for all time. Specifically, her blood. The shadow clans believed she remained inside her home because she was afraid of the outside world. The truth is much darker.”
“What does that mean?”
“That Priestess left the confines of her home when her husband and her children were asleep. She was very careful.”
Icy fingers prickled Dannika’s spine, but she wouldn’t let the fear show. “Where did she go?”
“She hid the chalice, so no other could enter the demon realm. And since her alterations only required her to feed when she was pregnant, she only left the house a handful of times.”
Dannika’s heart stuttered. “Feed? The Priestess was human.”
“True, but the demons changed her blood, and that alteration passed to her children. To keep them alive, she had to feed on human blood. One kill for each pregnancy. Thus was the pact she made with the demon king.”
Dannika stepped back from the fire. “What does this have to do with me?”
“Deep down you already know. You’re a direct descendant of that priestess. Your blood is her blood.”
She wanted to call him a liar, but she felt the truth. “Why does my blood affect both shadow and reaper?”
