Dios. If he didnât leash his instincts heâd have her tumbled on the nearby bed and showing her just what sheâd been missing all those long, lonely years. Maybe she would even discover a new appreciation for a mere barbarian. Or maybe she would rip out your heart and feed it to the wolves , a voice whispered in the back of his mind. For some reason the thought only intensified his smoldering anger. âSo you were willing to remain in your little slice of paradise while the rest of us went to hell, but now that youâre being threatened youâre ready to take notice of the danger?â
Her dark gaze held a piercing intelligence that warned she could see far more than he wanted to share.
âSo bitter,â she murmured softly. âYou cared very deeply for Gaius.â
He squared his shoulders, refusing to allow the memory of his sire to rise to mind.
âI care about the family who didnât abandon me,â he growled, âwhich is why I would do anything to protect them.â
âI am here to offer assistance, not harm.â
âEasy enough to claim.â
âTrue,â she readily agreed. âWhat will it take to convince you?â
Oh, he could think of several possibilities.
Erotic images flashed through his mind, most of them focused on having those cherry lips wrapped around a specific body part.
With a growl he was crushing the dangerous thoughts. How often had he used his own potent sexual attraction to defeat his enemies?
He wasnât going to be led around by his cock.
âItâs no coincidence you are in this precise spot at this precise moment,â he accused.
With an elegant motion Nefri moved toward the window overlooking the backyard, her hair rippling like liquid ebony in the moonlight.
âNo, it is no coincidence,â she admitted. âLike you I am searching for the prophet.â
Santiago curled his fingers, ignoring the itch to run them through those satin strands of hair.
âWhy?â
She turned back to meet his wary gaze. âIt was our hope to protect her from the Dark Lord by taking her beyond the Veil.â She waved a hand toward the empty room. âI fear we were too late.â
Yeah. He knew the feeling.
âHow did you even know of Cassandra?â
A Mona Lisa smile curved her lips. âWe are not utterly isolated.â
âSo youâve been spying on us?â
âThere are those who travel between worlds,â she said without apology. âAnd when it became known that there were rumors of a seer I began to investigate. She is ...â
He frowned as she hesitated. âWhat?â
Nefri reached into the pocket of her robes to pull out a thin book no larger than the palm of her hand.
âShe is vital to the future of all our worlds.â
He studied the book, sensing its age. âWhat is that?â She stroked loving fingers over the battered red cover. âA book of prophecies that I took beyond the Veil when the Dark Lord began to destroy them.â
His brows lifted. Books of prophecies were as rare as actual prophets.
âAnd?â
âMost of them are gibberish, I fear.â
Santiago snorted. âTypical.â
âBut, there is one that speaks of the birth of the Alpha and the Omega.â
The Alpha and the Omega ...
Santiago stiffened. They were the same words spoken by the Sylvermyst who warned that the child Laylah had protected for so long was destined to return the Dark Lord to this world.
It couldnât be a coincidence.
âWhat does it say?â he rasped.
âIt warns that the âharbinger of truthâ must not be silenced,â she said without hesitation.
âThatâs it?â
âYes.â
He clenched his teeth. Why the hell couldnât prophets just spit out the future in words a person could understand?
âStill gibberish.â
âNo.â Nefri shook her head. âA warning that I intend to
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