“Nothing. What are you talking about?” He frowned. “That’s crazy.”
So he didn’t know. That was something, at least. “Okay.”
He studied her. “You know we’re meant to close the distance between our people, right? You and me?”
She nodded. The prophecy markings heated on her neck.
He lifted his head and looked into the distance. “I really have to go. Let’s spend more time together tomorrow night. Midnight.” Then he was gone.
She jerked herself into the real world and unfolded her legs. Holding out her right hand, she looked at the two rings. One silver, one gold.
What was she going to do?
* * * *
Drake fell back into the present, staring at a computer screen as the moon shone brightly on the Pacific Ocean outside his Oregon holding. Kurjan soldiers moved around him, stocking supplies to prepare for Ulric’s return. Their seers declared the Cyst leader would be home soon.
Finally, the screen cleared. “Drake. How are the preparations coming along?” his father asked.
“Well, Father,” Drake said, noting Vero in the background. He’d wanted to bring his cousin along on this mission, but his father had only wanted the best on the Oregon coast to set up camp for Ulric’s return. Vero’s good buddy Harold was also off to the side, pounding away on a laptop. Drake didn’t like the nerdy kid and never had. He didn’t take training seriously. “My source tells me that Yvonne is dead. Is that true?”
Dayne’s eyebrows rose. “She’s missing, and we haven’t figured out where she went. Your source is the Kyllwood girl?”
“Yes. She said Yvonne died in Ulric’s world.” It was common knowledge that Yvonne could visit Ulric in his world when she slept. It made sense that if she died in that world, she’d die in this one, too, but where was her body?
“Did Hope kill her?” Dayne asked, curiosity glimmering in his purplish-red eyes.
“No.” Drake had read Hope’s expression and was certain that she hadn’t killed. Yet. “The newest Intended is now located in Realm headquarters, so my guess is that she took out Yvonne. Her name is Destiny.” It fit. He had spies everywhere, and two of his men had followed each of the trainees from Stoneton Hills. “What about the other females who were conditioned to seek out the Seven?”
“I’ll take care of them,” Dayne said.
Drake nodded. Now that one trainee had finally made contact with the Kayrs, they could forget the rest. With one hand, he texted orders for the scouts to return to their respective bases.
Dayne leaned closer to his camera. “You were correct that this Intended would be the one to make contact with the Kayrs prince. There is some poetic justice in that, don’t you agree?”
“It stood to reason,” Drake said. Fate and Destiny twirled in circles, from what he’d observed.
Dayne nodded. “Do they know about the Intended’s training?”
“We can assume so, but I have no direct knowledge of that.” Drake settled his knife more securely at his thigh. If the vampires killed Destiny, another Intended would come to light. “I plan to meet with Hope again tomorrow night and will question her. She’s cautious about what she says to me, even after all this time.”
“She’s smart,” Dayne mused. “It’ll be a pity to sacrifice her, but we must prevent the ritual.”
Drake straightened, meeting his father’s gaze. “She will not be sacrificed. Hope Kyllwood is the only female vampire in the history of immortals, and she’ll be my queen. We’ll mate, and our sons will rule every world there is.”
“A worthy ambition, my son.” Dayne’s chest puffed out. He was hundreds of years old but looked thirty with his unlined face and strong body. His face was paler than Drake’s, as each generation grew a little darker. If they kept going this way, they’d almost look human in a couple of decades. The formula Yvonne had created was changing their lives for the better.
Walking in the sun was one of Drake’s favorite things to do. “We could reach out and offer another symposium once Ulric is free. The Realm does like its peace.”
Dayne rubbed his chin. “They won’t fall for it. They want Ulric destroyed, and he’s the leader of our spiritual nation. We’re at war, son.”
“Agreed.” There was no other way. “After I’m finished here, we need a plan to take the Keys and the Lock.” He didn’t use Hope’s name because he wouldn’t allow his father to see any weaknesses in him. “We’re still missing one Key.”
“We’ll find her,” Dayne said, glancing down at a notebook. “Our tracking software, which catches vibrations from enhanced females, will lead us to her.” He grinned, showing elongated canines. “Is the Realm still trying to figure out how we’re finding enhanced females?”
“Probably.” Something crashed in the recesses of the tunnels behind Drake. He sighed. “I must go, Father. It was good to see you.”
Dayne nodded. “You too, son. Stay safe.” The screen went dark.
