“Yes,” she lied. “We’re ready. In fact, I’m not even needed.”
His smile showed razor-sharp yellowed fangs. “That’s what I thought.”
It was odd they were in the same space while she was wide awake. In the dreamworld, there had been a haze between the two of them. With no haze, she could feel the evil emanating from his pores. Centuries ago, the only way to contain him was to mess with the laws of physics and create a prison world. Now they had the Keys, Lock, and the Keeper of the Circle. “You must be terrified that the Realm has the ingredients to destroy you.”
“Yet you’re here,” he said. “I don’t feel terrified. Rituals always work in my favor.”
“You know, I’m fine with dying if it means you go with me,” she admitted.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “But I will tell you a little secret. I do plan on performing the ritual again, for all of my Cyst soldiers. They need to be invincible as well.”
Her stomach lurched. “You’re going to kill hundreds of enhanced females?” It had taken the blood of a hundred women to make Ulric’s body impenetrable. “You can’t.”
“I shall. Just for a chosen few.” His smile revealed sharp fangs.
“Why tell me your plan?” It didn’t make sense.
His chuckle poured evil around the room. “I want you to dream about it. When it happens, and it will, I’ll let you have a front-row seat.”
She needed to throw up.“You’re evil.”
He shrugged. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He grinned at his own joke, because he obviously didn’t care if she excused him or not. “There are two more enhanced females we just found in a nice little tavern outside of Anchorage, Alaska. You may meet them when I bring them here.”
“There is no need to perform that ritual again, and you know it. After spending centuries in a hell world, didn’t you do any introspection? It’s not too late for you to do the right thing. Save your soul.” She threw up her hands, noting how the long sleeves bounced and flouncedand sparkled.
His gaze caught on the sparkles and then traveled to her breasts. “My soul will live forever back on this world. You’re such a pretty pet. I wonder what it would take for Drake to let me spend time with you before he mates you. You’re not safe right now.”
It was true. She wasn’t safe until she mated somebody, and then anybody who touched her would get a horrible rash. She met his gaze directly. “You’re not my type. Way too old.”
“That is permissible. I could live with the agegap,” he said.
Her knees trembled, but the stupid skirt hid the weakness.
“For now, your king awaits.” Ulric stepped to the side. “You should hasten to obey his orders. He may appear patient, but you’ve only witnessed that side of him. I look forward to your meeting his true countenance. You may then come crawling tome for solace.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The guards escorted Hope across the main living area to a heavy, shielded door on the far side of the fireplace. They knocked before opening it and then gestured her inside. She followed their directions and stopped at the sight of Drake sitting on a heavy leather sofa across from two matching chairs. The room was a large office complete with a conference table and several monitors on the wall.
An unmanned computer area formed an L-shaped desk in the far corner. “Come in,” he said, gesturing toward one of the chairs. His gaze swept her. “You look beautiful.”
“I feel like I’m dressed up for a Halloween party,” she said, holding the skirt so she could walk across the floor without tripping on the voluminous folds.
He poured two cups of tea, his gaze heated. “If you were, you would be dressed up as a queen.” Next to his cup sat a glass full of what looked like Scotch.
“I’m not a tea drinker.” She sat gracefully in the seat and stared at him before leaning forward and snagging the glass. The liquid heated her stomach, and she’d bet it was Glenlivet from a good year. “Not bad.” She placed the heavy crystal down.
His eyes warmed, and he sat back, smiling. “We need to speak before making our announcement tomorrow at dawn.”
“Speak?” she repeated, her spine straightening. There had to be a weapon in this room somewhere, although she wasn’t quite sure what she would do with it. “What would you like to talk about, Drake?” Sarcasm loaded her words.
“I can tellyou’re upset.”
“No shit,” she snapped.
His nostrils flared. “There’s no reason to swear. Queens don’t swear.”
“How do you know? Have you known any queens?” She gestured around the room, her attention focused on the large monitors in the corner. “What are those yellow dots?”
