Page 148 of Eternal Surrender

Ingrid leaned precariously over the edge of the coffin, examining something she’d seen inside. She wiggled back up and pretended to be fascinated with the side of the tomb again. She dropped whatever it was she’d found into her pocket.

She’d found a clue but clearly decided not to share it.

I gestured to the engraved Stonehenge scene on the tomb. “Look at the monks’ expressions.”

“They’re all tranced out,” Marcus agreed.

“That’s bliss.” I ran my fingertips over their faces, tracing their rapture. “The monks are high from drinking blood. Only the Stone Master himself is permitted to drink, but if you’re a member of Sovereign, it’s permitted.”

“To motivate members of the Stone Masters to transfer over to Sovereign,” Ingrid suggested.

“And keep them loyal,” I added.

“Something happened for them to change their mind,” Marcus said, “and turn on Dominion.”

“And turn on the Stone Masters,” Ingrid agreed.

“They found out about the Stone Masters’ plan to initiate joint reign,” I sensed this as the only explanation. “Vampires and mortals ruling together. Dominion went from deity to threat. Maybe they hated the idea of him ruling them.”

All of us stared at the empty sarcophagus, fearing the worst.

“Do you think they killed him?” Anaïs bravely whispered the words we were all thinking.

“Fabian would know that,” Alex said. “Wouldn’t he?”

I wanted to believe that. “Perhaps we’ll find more answers in London.” I pointed to Anaïs and Sebastian. “I need you to search every corner of this place. See if you find anything else.” I threw Alex a glance that he was to assist them.

“You’re not planning on going back to Sovereign?” Marcus asked nervously.

It was the last place I wanted to visit and yet saw no choice.

“Ingrid, up for a trip to London?” I asked her.

Marcus approached and steered me into the corner, lowering his voice to a whisper. “It’s too dangerous. Remember what Jacob told us about them?”

“I’m not going alone,” I said.

Marcus shook his head. “I’ll come with you.”

“I need you to get word out to every vampire,” I told him. “Warn them.”

Marcus shook his head. “I wish we could just get those scrolls and get this over with.”

“Sovereign once watched over Dominion,” I said. “They must know something.”

“You’re sure you can handle them?” he asked.

I opened my hands and then closed them into fists, gesturing. “Once we have what we need, I’m going to annihilate the bastards.”

“I’ll miss you, you know.” Marcus glanced over at the others. “When you revert back to Orpheus.”

I stopped my flow of thoughts, afraid they’d reach him.

Marcus frowned having already caught every last one. He grabbed my forearm with an ironclad grip.

“Not now, Marcus,” I whispered.

He blinked in astonishment and said, “Tell me you haven’t changed your mind about separating?”