Chapter Ten
Early in the morning, Drake studied the map on the wall of the small control room, noticing the different energy signatures and vibrations going throughout Spokane, Washington. It wasn’t a place he would’ve thought to find several enhanced females, but it’d be an easyplace to reach.
Most soldiers weren’t up yet, so he had the place to himself.
His fingers still tingled from holding Hope’s hand the night before, and he marveled at the memory. Not much moved him. She was powerful and would make the perfect queen—and if that brought some peace to their people, so be it.
First there would be retribution and rivers of blood. It was the only way to avenge hisfather’s death.
The outside door opened, and power instantly slammed inside. He knew who it was before turning, so hedidn’t bother.
“You found three more?” Ulric clomped down the stairs to the lower level, where Drake stood.
“Yeah. Spokane, Washington,” Drake said. “I’ll send a squad inabout an hour.”
“Good.”
Drake spared a glance at the Cyst leader. He’d regained all of his strength, despite being held in a horrific prison world for a thousand years. His appetite was unseemly, ranging from food to females. But at the moment, he was revered not only by the many Cyst in the coalition but also by the Kurjans—his people, who should be looking to Drake.
“How is your house coming along?”Ulric sneered.
Drake looked squarely at the Cyst leader. He had grown even broader, wider, and stronger as he recuperated. He stood at least six foot nine and was probably the largest soldier Drake had ever seen. He was pale, unnaturally so, even for a Cyst, and one long line of white hair bisected his otherwise bald scalp and was braided down his back. His eyes were a terrifying hue of so many colors, Drake couldn’t choose just one. “My house is lovely, thank you.”
Ulric snorted. “To think you believe that you’ll make a Realm female happy just by giving her a house. She can’t live here. She can’t live the way we do. You knowthat, correct?”
“She’ll live any way I want her to,” Drake responded. Hope had been his from the moment she’d been born; they were destined for each other. Not only did he feel that in his gut, but fate whispered the truth on the wind. “You know the only way to take down the Realm is from the inside.”
Ulric glanced at the screen. “They still don’t know theplan, do they?”
Drake shrugged. “I don’t believe so. As far as I know, they still think your grand scheme is to kill all enhanced females.” Which was just stupid. The Kurjans needed to mate enhanced females just as the vampires and demons did. “It’s a good way to cause war between the shifter, demon, and vampire nations. They won’t be able to help themselves once we’ve finishedthis campaign.”
“Have you ever thought that your mate will try to stop you?”
“Of course she’ll try to stop me,” Drake said. “Don’t be ridiculous.” Sometimes he didn’t have patience for ancient soldiers who were unable even to text on an iPhone. “She’ll make a fine queen, and she’ll learn her place soon enough. She’ll be an excellent mother, and the power our sons will hold shall impress even you, General.” Not that he gave two shits whether he impressed the general or not, since he fully planned on killing him once he figured out how.
Ulric leaned down and typed rapidly on a keyboard to bring up a square on the monitor. “Paxton Phoenix is back in Realm territory. To think you almost had himin Nuremberg.”
Blood rushed through Drake’s veins with the need to exact revenge. Paxton would die, many times over. Drake would bring him back each time, until at some point he’d finally give up. His fangs dropped low with a needto taste blood.
“I thought you were going after the girl in Nuremberg,” Ulric said evenly.
“I was actually following the girl to get to Paxton,” Drake admitted. “I’m not ready for Hope yet. We might as well let her have the freedom she enjoys as long as possible.” Because there was no doubt, once she was his, that would change.
Ulric seemed amused, and yet anger, as always, flowed from him. Furious seemed to be his default setting. “Are we prepared for the attack on the Seven headquarters tonight?”
“Yes. The Defenders in demon territory came through with the intel.” Drake clicked on another monitor and surveyed the location an hour from Denver. “Soldiers are in place, and air support is ready to go. We have missile lock.” Even though the scientists had enabled the Kurjans to spend a limited time in the sun, they were stronger after dark. “Go time is midnight.”
“Good.” Ulric rubbed his wide jaw. “Don’t forget. I need the Intendedin one piece.”
Drake brought up the picture of Destiny Applegate-Kayrs. She was such a little thing to be both a Key and Ulric’s Intended. “The squads have her picture.” Although he didn’t really care. If she died, another Intended would take her place, and fate would stamp another female with Ulric’s mark. “Legend says the three Keys will have the ability to destroy you. I’d think you’d want to kill all three of them rather than mating one.” The other two were also at Seven headquarters, which made it allso convenient.
“If the other two are dead, her power as a Key is ended.” Ulric stared at the stunning brunette. “Mine.”
The door opened again, and Vero walked in. He and his unit had just returned to headquarters the day before, having been stationed outside of Homer for the last year, first creating and then using a training facility for soldiers. “Harold just took another complaint from the women we have here in storage. They need to be put into warmer quarters. The cabins we’ve been using aren’t insulated well enough.”
Drake looked at his cousin. “Then insulate them.” He didn’t have time for this, and Harold did nothing but irritate him. Why hadn’t Vero left theloser in Homer?
Vero stood tall. “If it were that easy, I would. Humans aren’t the only ones affected by the supply chain problem, cousin.” Anger and something deeper glowed in Vero’s blue eyes. He was an anomaly amongst the Kurjans, who never had even a hint of blue in their eyes. After Vero’s father had been killed, he’d spent a lot of time with the females, which might’ve softened him. He had a kindness that didn’t belongin their world.
