Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 142050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 710(@200wpm)___ 568(@250wpm)___ 474(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 710(@200wpm)___ 568(@250wpm)___ 474(@300wpm)
Something was changing for him. He just didn’t know what.
The impending existential crisis had been coming for some time now, and try as he might, there was no putting his finger on any specifics. No matter how much he reflected, rested, tried to recharge, he couldn’t shake the drain.
So when he’d received a call from one of his inductees, and heard an unfamiliar, haughty-accented voice over the connection, the out-of-the-blue had certainly seemed to be part of the ennui.
Or at the very least, a trail marker—
A figure appeared at the edge of the park, and Lash scented the air, picking up the vampire’s subtle, sophisticated cologne. With keen eyes, he discerned the fine, fitted overcoat in the correct camel shade, and the maroon scarf knotted around the throat. Hair was dark and parted on the side, face was handsome in the way of good breeding, and the carriage of the torso was perfect.
Ah, yes, the aristocracy. Having grown up with them, he did appreciate the surface aspects of the glymera.
Especially given who he consorted with now.
Lash stayed where he was and let the male trudge over to him. All the while, he scanned the periphery. Nothing was lurking, and as he willed a boundary into place, he intended to keep it that way. The Brotherhood had its mhis; he had a version of the same.
“Whestmorel,” he drawled.
“Lash, son of the Omega.”
The bow he got was a nice touch, an indication of a loyalty split from Wrath, son of Wrath, sire of Wrath—in theory. He trusted no one and nothing, however, in this world and the next.
And on the note of the great Blind King, he still didn’t know how that bomb had missed thirty years ago. But that was a rumination for another time.
“I was surprised to receive a call like yours.” As the wind continued to weave through his long black robes, Lash was glad he’d changed out of his fighting attire. No reason to spook the male. “Most aristocrats prefer to leave the heavy lifting to others.”
He talked to put Whestmorel at ease. The more relaxed a target was, the easier it was to get into their mind and soul. Interestingly, however, his probing was blocked.
Someone had been practicing their own mental control.
“I have something to give you,” the aristocrat said. Without any tone of superiority.
The calm steadiness was a surprise. Lash was used to people quaking before him—then again, if someone was going to betray Wrath, they had better be able to keep a level head in front of an enemy.
“And what might that be,” Lash murmured.
“I can tell you where Wrath’s Audience House is. I can give you the nightly location of the King and the Black Dagger Brotherhood.”
In response to the statement, a kindling occurred deep within him, and as he felt a surge of power, he thought, maybe he’d been coasting along for a while now. Maybe that was his problem.
“And let me guess,” Lash said evenly. “You wish to exchange this information for assurances you will be put in power after I overthrow the throne for you.”
That head inclined only once. “You will need someone to rule over the vampires on your behalf.”
Lifting a brow, he very nearly pointed out that his goal was the eradication of the species. But when your enemy sought to betray his own, there was no reason to point out that he was betraying himself.
“Go on,” Lash prompted.
“I cannot believe your ambitions lie only with us. Do you not wish to take over the world? Why rule just vampires in Caldwell, when you could dominate Earth—and indeed, to do that, you will need many armies, not merely your own. With a piece of you in each slayer, how far can you go before you are weakened? If you have vampire fighters loyal to you, then you are far more powerful.”
As his fangs descended, Lash’s upper lip twitched. “You know little of which you speak, aristocrat.”
“I know that all bank accounts have a zero point, and a fortune spread over too many heirs dwindles to nothing.”
Of course it had to be put in terms of money.
Whestmorel arched his already high brows. “If you could have killed Wrath by now, you would have. If the Lessening Society could have eradicated the vampires, it would have. Generations of this war have endured because the approach has always been the same. You against all of us. But what if there was another way. What if instead of a perpetual seesaw that leads nowhere, there was a collective effort against humans instead—”
The aristocrat grabbed for the center of his chest and gasped for air. As his knees buckled and he strained for breath, he landed face-first in the snow, his legs kicking at the ground cover in their no-doubt-handmade loafers.
Lash extended his palm and flipped the male onto his back with a surge of will. Crouching down, he locked eyes with his prey. “I could kill you right now.”