AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Torin slowly raised his head, his eyes veiled. Silence grew between them. Antonio seized and gripped Torin’s upper arm. “Take her,” he whispered forcefully, “make her your own and from that union, bring forth a child, your own flesh and blood. You can be a Sirun.”
Torin shook his head. “That’s not important to me, it never has been.”
“That will change when you behold that child’s eyes.” He paused and took a haggard breath, “which brings me to the truth of this visit. I need you, Torin.”
“Need me? Why would you need me?”
“Because I need a Sirun I can trust, one with integrity.”
Torin’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t understand.”
“Well understand this. Garret is intoxicated by power and the day will come when he makes a move, I can see it in his eyes.”
“He could never defeat you,” Torin said.
“Not alone, but he has gotten very close to Maxum and if the two of them join forces, they could take me out and you know the rules of engagement. He would then destroy my bloodlines and after that, he’s home free. The other Siruns would be easy prey and then when Maxum least expects it, Garret would kill him as well.”
“Then he would combine the armies of the four dead Siruns and dominate the west,” Torin whispered.
“Exactly, which brings me to you. You’re an honest Iridescent one of kind, not seeking power, but love which sadly has evaded you. If you would become a Sirun,” he paused, if you would take a stance at my side, Garret would think twice.”
Torin dropped his head.
“You deserve happiness,” Antonio whispered, “and from your reactions to this girl, she’s the very one who can give that to you.”
“And if she doesn’t?” Torin retorted.
“Then two birds with one stone. You will have saved me, possibly the death of my family not to mention this girl’s life. Isn’t that what Anstosa requested of you with her last breath—to save her lineage?”
Torin squeezed his eyes tight and dropped his head.
Antonio released his grip. “I’ll hold Garrett off as long as possible and give you time to catch this bastard, but don’t take too long with the girl. Word is spreading of a Durent female which you know is all but nonexistent. Within weeks, there will thousands of Iridescents swarming the Soo and one is bound to nab her. End this before it starts.” he sighed. “Take her.”
Torin raised his head and they locked eyes. “I can’t, she’s too powerful. Hell, I can’t even get close to her, the need to feed and mate is overwhelming.”
“You can do it.”
“No, you don’t understand. It’s the scent of her blood, so damn beguiling,” he flung his head, “even more powerful than Anstosa’s.”
Antonio cocked his head. “What do you mean, more powerful?”
“Her red blood cells aren’t round like Anstosa’s, they’re oblong with a hint of gold.”
Antonio narrowed his eyes. “Oblong? Then her Rh-null has mutated. There must have been inbreeding in her lineage, first cousins or who knows, even father to daughter.”
“I don’t know,” Torin shuddered, “but it’s the most powerful thing I’ve encountered.”
“My God,” Antonio mumbled, eyes glazed, staring at nothing. “She’s the Durent female prophesized over five hundred years ago.” He gripped Torin’s arm. “Don’t you see, she’s the last one standing. She’s ‘The Red Queen.’ It was said that her blood would be so rare that she would spawn a world war, Iridescents killing Iridescents for the last chance of becoming a Sirun. You must take her!”
“You’re not listening,” Torin growled, his dark eyes numinous. “Even if I wanted to, I can’t, I’ll snap and there will be no stopping me. She’s like a drug, Antonio, she’s in my head, she’s taken control.” He ran his hands through his hair. “Don’t you see, a little could never be enough, I would have her…all of her. I might kill her!”
“Make an elixir of boiled cannabis, primrose, garlic, willow with a pinch of arsenic. Feed one hour before your encounter with her, then drink the potion. It’s good for four, maybe six hours. The desire will still exist, but your ability to resist will save you, that is until she consents and once your antigens bind her cells, you couldn’t kill her if you tried. Now, I suggest you get moving. Before you know it, there will be thousands of power-hungry suitors and the queen will be brutally dethroned.”
Torin gripped the bannister.
“You know it’s true. She’ll be an abused consort warming an Iridescents bed.”
Torin growled, his chest expanding. He threw his head back, fluorescent green eyes penetrating the thick, overhead canopy.
