Zane shook his head, and destiny filled him. His mate had been correct, and it was time he followed her lead and stepped up. Duty and loyalty mattered. “You became allies with the demonnation. Not just with me.”
“Hell no,” Talen said. “Suri has too many supporters, and we need to take them out now. We finally can get the Intel to take him down.”
Zane nodded, fully understanding Talen’s anger toward the demon nation. “You have to remember thatSurikidnapped your brother, andSuritortured him. The majority of the demon nation still doesn’t even think it happened.”
“Oh, it happened,” Talen growled.
It’d be a miracle if Zane survived the day without Janie’s dad punching him again. “The majority of demons are good people and shouldn’t be attacked by you—or betrayed by me.”
Dage studied him, silver eyes thoughtful. “You’re stepping up to rule?”
“I am.” God, he didn’t want to. Not in the slightest. But Suri had to be stopped, and to prevent further bloodshed for both of his species, Zane would do what had to be done. Janie had shown him that.
Talen pushed away from the table. “The only way you step up is if you kill Suri.”
“I know,” Zane said.
“That will leave my daughter as good as a widow.” Talen stood tall and formidable across the table.
Zane exhaled slowly. “So you know how much power Suri will release upon death?”
“I’m the fucking strategic leader for the fucking Realm.” Talen nearly vibrated with irritation. “The second you talked about Suri’s power, I began researching everything I could find. Of course I understand the power.”
But he didn’t, not really. Zane could barely comprehend the power, and he lived with his own. “For years, Suri hasn’t been able to pierce my mind. I’ve practiced and I’ve trained mentally. If anybody can contain him upon death, it’s me.” Yeah, it was a damn long shot, but it was all Zane had. “Janie understands.” But did she? Really?
Simone smoothed back dark hair. “This is the closest I’ve sat to three demons in over a century, and I’m not even twitchy. While Nick has had eons to perfect his ability to refrain from harming the brains around him, you and Sam aren’t even a century old. Do you not have the power?”
“We have the power,” Zane answered. “I think our vampire lineage gives us more ability to control our impact on others.”
Simone leaned forward. “I do not think you have the power. Prove it.”
“Zaychik moy,” Nick muttered, shoving off from the wall. “He’ll hurt you.”
“Little Bunny?” Zane lifted an eyebrow at his friend. The dangerous, rather bitchy witch was nowhere near a bunny.
“Shut up, Zane,” Nick said.
Simone’s black eyes flashed. “I doubt the fledgling demon can harm me. Let’s see what you’ve got, boy.”
Zane couldn’t help smiling. The woman might be over a century old, but she appeared twenty-five, and he looked every single one of his thirty-one years. And he felt ancient sometimes. “I won’t hurt your lady, Nick.”
“I’m not his,” Simone hissed.
The lady definitely protested too much. Zane smirked. “Of course you’re not.” Taking a deep breath, he centered himself and allowed an energy to flow from him toward Simone. Contained and nearly gentle, he probed into her brain and gave her a slight electrical shock.
She jumped.
Nick growled.
Besides the physical pain, demons could conjure nightmarish scenes to plague their prey. Zane eschewed images of death and destruction to create a very sexy make-believe scenario of Nick kissing the hell out of Simone. Then he put Simone in a bunny outfit and Nick nude as could be.
Her mouth dropped open. “That’s enough,” she said, her voice going hoarse.
“Of course.” Zane calmly closed his mind and shut off his power.
Nick focused on the witch. “Are you all right, Simone?”
“Fine,” she said, not looking at him.
