Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 145341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Afanasiv was trying to comfort her. If several of his people and those she knew to be hunters of rogue Lycans were converging on her lands, she would be able to build an army to fight whatever or whoever was threatening her people. He was connected to her, mind to mind, without intruding too far, and he saw immediately that she recognized the name Zev Hunter. He would have been astonished had she not.
Zev was considered an elite rogue Lycan hunter, sent out after any Lycan who refused to follow the rules of Lycan society. Zev didn’t return until he had finished his mission. Those on his team were considered elite, just as he was. Zev had now come under suspicion by the Lycan council since he had chosen to become the lifemate to Branislava of the Dragonseekers. The mixed bloods were not tolerated in the Lycan world. They were considered killers, and the Lycans thought they should all be exterminated. The Carpathians considered them guardians.
Afanasiv knew there were arguments for both sides, depending on one’s experience with them. He knew many of the Lycans on the council had tried to bring more understanding among their people. The resurgence of the popularity of the Sacred Circle among the villagers had made the acceptance more difficult.
Just knowing Zev was close had Vasilisa settling even more. “We have to hurry, Siv. Find out about Grigor.”
Nicu, have you encountered a master vampire in league with demons from the underworld? Is there a member of the royal house with them?
Yes. Fighting them off as we speak. The voice was clipped.
Do you need aid?
Dimitri and Skyler have come to my aid. With them are Fen and Tatijana.
Do not allow anything to happen to the royal if you can help it. He is under some kind of influence.
That is evident.
“I just spoke with Nicu, my lady. He said it was very evident that the royal was under some kind of influence. He is not acting on his own. That means Andros is not, either. It also means Garald was a target. Whatever trick was used on the other two, it was unable to be used on him.”
Vasilisa wrung her hands together. “That is the point, Afanasiv. No trick should be able to work on my brothers—or me. Something isn’t right. This is truly frightening. They’re strong. They hear lies. They can feel threats coming at them. Energy in the air, good or bad, even the slightest risk can be felt.”
“Yet they managed to ensnare two of your brothers and one of your strongest trackers. Andros, by all accounts, is fighting against whatever was done to him, as is Grigor. We need to find out as fast as possible what they have done to entrap your brothers.”
“We must go to Andros, then. He is strongest.”
In principle, that sounded like the right path, but Afanasiv wasn’t so certain. He didn’t want to act so quickly that they missed what was right in front of them. They had asked Garald to go find Dimitri and warn him of the possible danger to Skyler. Nicu was already with Dimitri. Garald’s brother Grigor was there as well, a pawn to be used by the demons and a master vampire to lure his twin to the same fate.
Vitus had heard every word. He knew Garald and Andros had been sent to the same place. It would be such a blow to his ego to have another master vampire succeed in capturing both royal brothers and binding them to the underworld. He would lose all status with Lilith, if that was what this was all about.
“I believe we have to intercept Garald and protect him from Vitus. Vitus will be wholly focused on acquiring him,” Afanasiv said, giving his opinion. “Vitus was here to acquire him. Or you. I believe he wanted Garald for the underworld. He wanted you for himself, and that was only because he believed you held the other half of my soul. These are only guesses.”
Once again, her gaze was steady on his. “How would he know that?”
“That is a question I have not an answer for, my lady.”
She indicated the broken ice sculpture. “Can you track this master vampire?”
“I can.”
“Let us follow him, and while we do so, I think it would be a good idea to inspect these memories that are missing.”
He wasn’t so certain, but he did think it was necessary.
PART TWO
CHAPTER
5
Vasilisa couldn’t understand how Andros or Grigor could have been entrapped by vampires or demons. It had always been deemed impossible for anyone of their bloodline, yet she was connected to Afanasiv’s mind when he spoke with his brethren, and there was no doubt that each of them had believed it was the truth.
Her lifemate. She let herself taste the words—feel them in her heart as she followed his lead. They took the shape of owls and used the birds’ silent wings to follow the master vampire as it raced through the night toward the easternmost corner of the thick forest.