“They’re enhanced females,” he said, his gaze remaining on her. “We have systems all over the world, and now we’re using satellite technology to identify them by energy signatures.”
So he admitted to tracking them. “We’ve done the same by hacking into the sensors you placed in various cities,” she admitted. “We know about the satellites too. What we don’t know is why.” She focused on those greenish purple eyes she’d known since childhood. If he wanted to kill Ulric, then he didn’t want the females so Ulric could allow his soldiers to partake in the devastating ritual. “Why are you kidnapping enhanced females?”
Drake waved a hand in the air. “It’s irrelevant. It doesn’t have anything to do with you, so you don’t need to worry about it.”
“You know, as a condescending dick, you’re doing a great job.” The skirt was hampering her movements. If she needed to kick, it was going to be difficult.
“I hardly think name-calling is necessary,” he said. “If you’re trying to get me to lose my temper, I don’t have one.”
Everybody had a temper. “I thought you and I were going towork together.”
“We are,” he said. “Between the two of us, we will broker peace, afterwe kill Ulric.”
She couldn’t tell if he was lying or not. “So you really dowant him dead?”
“Yes. He’s undermining my authority, and his appetites are uncontrollable. He harms women. He harms everyone, actually, and I don’t like it. In addition, he wants to duplicate that ritual he performed long ago, and I can’t let that many enhanced females die.”
For the first time, a kernel of hope unfurled within her. “You don’t want to hurt people?”
“No. We need them for mates.” Drake appeared long and lethal on the leather sofa. “I really do want peace. Once the Realm is destroyed,I’ll have it.”
Her throat hurt from trying not to scream at him. “Then what are you doing kidnapping enhanced females, if you’re nothelping Ulric?”
“It’s none of your business,” he said slowly, enunciating each word. “I understand things are different in the Realm, but in my nation, everybody has a place. Our society is very organized.”
One of her eyebrows rose on its own, and she realized her head still hurt from teleporting. “What exactly is my place,as you see it?”
“As queen, you can have anything and do anything you want.”
“What if I want to help enhanced females escape?”
He looked away and then back. “That is not going to happen. You can beat your head against the wall as much as you want, but they’re here as long as they’re useful, and then Iset them free.”
“What does that mean?” she asked, the skin pricklingalong her nape.
“None of your business,” he repeated.
Was he just bringing the women here to see if the soldiers wanted them and letting them go if they didn’t? It didn’t make sense to her. “What about Ulric’s grand plan to kill all enhanced females?”
“That was never his plan,” Drake said, gesturing to her tea. “Drink. I promise you, so long as there isn’t an accident during the acquisition phase, none of these females get harmed.”
Her head jerked up. “The acquisition phase? Is that what you’re calling kidnapping? Nice.” She’d heard of euphemisms before, but that was a new one to her. No way was she drinking that tea.
“Thank you,” he drawled.“I do my best.”
She looked at him, trying to find the boy he’d once been. “I thought wewere friends.”
“We were.” He shrugged. “I still consider you a friend. I think you’ll make a fine queen, as I said.”
“You know I’m human, right?” The words escaped her before she could stop them.
He studied her for several long moments. “I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I,” she admitted, looking away. Several books were carelessly piled on the bookshelf. One with black scales was tipped to the side. Her heart beat faster, and she hid her excitement. “However, as you know, all immortal beings take on the characteristics of one species only, regardless of their lineage. Apparently, I’ve taken on the aspect of being human. I probably could die, Drake.”
It was impressive that he sat there with his eyes barely moving. Chaotic thoughts were no doubt skittering through his brain, but he revealed nothing. As a fully grown male, his face had sharpened with age. His skin was pale, and long lashes surrounded those odd green eyes. He was conventionally handsome in a sharply defined way, and yet she could still glimpse theboy he’d been.
He leaned forward. “Well then, you won’t be human after we mate. Perhaps your dormant genes will awaken, and you’ll be more powerful than you hoped.”
