I was in my old home.
The one I’d been sent from.
I was in my castle in Scotland.
It was covered in blood.
MASON
Shouting commenced as the doors to the stone castle shoved forward with great force. Standing there were two hooded figures, both of them imposing. Both of them… evil.
Everything about them felt wrong.
It felt… other.
My mom approached them, blood on her hands, her face pinched with worry and fear. My father stood behind her, his hand on her back.
“We can’t…” My mom covered her face with her hands. “We fight amongst ourselves as much as we fight amongst the other immortals. They challenge us as king and queen. Every few years, we lose more and more of our armies. Our son has a sickness, one he was born with. It keeps him bound to his bed. My husband needs an Alpha to step in.”
The hooded figure took a deep breath then rumbled in a low voice, “So, you’ve sought my help?”
My mom nodded. “I’ve heard what you can do.”
The hood dropped from his face.
I swore as black hair fell around carved cheekbones, and one single strip of red placed in the front framed his angelic face. “Have you now?”
The person next to him laughed darkly.
Father held out his hand. “We have money, resources—”
“A favor.” Bannick grinned menacingly. “All I ask is for a favor. I swear to you, you won’t even be alive to follow it through.”
Anxiety washed over me as my father held out his hand and shook Bannick’s. “A favor. You have my word.”
“I know.” His grin was cruel, and then very slowly he tilted his head, closed his eyes, and breathed in before jerking his attention directly at me and whispering it again. “I know.”
I backed away.
I could feel his stare through every inch of skin, bone, muscle.
“What you’re doing…” Bannick slowly turned his attention back to my father. “…it is… not accepted.” He pointed up to the ceiling. “It may get you killed, or your son, but if it works — war will stop. You’ll have someone too strong, too powerful to challenge. An Alpha who is a hybrid like the world has never seen.” He opened his mouth as if to say more then shut it. “Come, Gadreel. We’ll need to hunt.”
Father nodded. “I’ll help.”
Bannick outright laughed. “We can catch a silly vampire. It’s getting them to agree that’s the problem. But we have our ways… Everyone has a price, and I’m thinking I know just the vampire who’s willing to do just about anything to have a child.”
Time moved ahead of us in rapid succession as my body chilled. I reached for Serenity’s hand only to discover she wasn’t there.
I did a slow circle.
Completely alone, except for Cassius. He gave me a sad look. “It’s not fair.”
“What isn’t?”
“To allow others in on our innermost fears, our thoughts.” He put a hand on my shoulder. “I sent them back to t
he present. Let’s see what they bargained for with the devil.”