Kayrs.”
“Really?’ Dage asked as another Kurjan moved into view to whisper something inaudible to Lorcan. “I don’t think so.”
Lorcan nodded at his subordinate and lifted his head, his dark eyes gleaming. “You have the child.”
“What child?” Dage kept his voice neutral as Chalton ran fast fingers across the keyboard to gain information. He better not have a security leak. Though chances were the Merodize gang had already reported back to Lorcan.
“You know what child,” Lorcan hissed, his naturally red lips contrasting with the pasty whiteness of his skin. “Our Oracles have seen her destiny. You must turn her over to me now.”
“No transmissions in or out the last day,” Chalton mouthed silently, his hands tapping across the control panel. “No breach on our end.”
“There’s no child here, Lorcan. You might want to reevaluate your informants.” Dage’s bored façade remained in place. “Plus, what could you possibly want with some human child? Are you starting a school for humans?”
“Funny. This girl is special. She has the gift of sight we’ve been waiting for and is to be mated on her twentieth birthday to my eldest son, Kalin. The Oracles have declared the future that must happen, if any of us are to survive what’s coming.” Lorcan’s eyes gleamed to rusted purple. “And the mother is mine.”
Dage lifted an eyebrow at his brother’s certain response tothat claim. “Really? Something’s coming, huh? You know, I’ve always wondered why each Kurjan successor is just a bit nuttier than the one before. Is there some sort of lunatic criteria you guys try to meet?” And God help them all if that nut job Kalin ever took office. Dage hadn’t met him personally, but his nightmares told of a possible fate none of them would survive.
“Silence!” The force of Lorcan’s bellow sent his subordinates scurrying back a foot or two, and Dage watched impassively as Lorcan’s eyes morphed to a pinkish purple. “You will not mock the Oracles. They have seen the future to arrive. For even your people, the shifters will end us all.” Lorcan visibly struggled to control himself, his canines grinding like a rock crusher. “Turn the child and mother over now, and you will avoid the war you’ve run from the last three centuries. Last chance.”
Dage smiled the predatory grin he was known across the Realm for. “Fuck you.” He nodded to Chalton to arm the weapons stored deep below the earth’s surface.
Lorcan failed to hide an uneasy swallow. “Fine.” He moved back from the screen, apparently not willing to start his war at this time. “But you won’t be able to concentrate on human women for long, Kayrs. In fact”—Lorcan’s yellow teeth gleamed in the semi-darkness—”I think you’ll be occupied with more important matters. Soon.” With the last word, the screen went black.
“Damn it Chalton!” Dage keyed several commands into the console at his fingertips. “Contact our scouts and find out what the hell is going on.”
“Yes, sir,” Chalton replied absently, his gaze on the computers.
Dage sent out a message for his brothers to contact him. Jesus. Kane was across the ocean, Talen raced through the U.S. with a mate in tow,
a mate.
And Conn. Man, Conn had to get his life in order—distraction rode him hard these days. They all knew that red-headed distraction practiced powerfulmagic in the land of the faeries, magic they might all need soon.
Rubbing his hand across his eyes, Dage sighed. He couldn’t order Conn to reacquire his mate, especially since they’d probably have to go to war for Moira ever to leave the green isle. He grinned. He’d liked that spunky witch from the get-go.
A request sounded through his earpiece, and he pushed a button to let the door slide open. Janie bounded inside and hopped to perch on his lap. “Hi, Uncle Dage.”
He settled her safely into place. “Hi, sweet girl.” Determination flowed through him to protect the perfect
“Really?’ Dage asked as another Kurjan moved into view to whisper something inaudible to Lorcan. “I don’t think so.”
Lorcan nodded at his subordinate and lifted his head, his dark eyes gleaming. “You have the child.”
“What child?” Dage kept his voice neutral as Chalton ran fast fingers across the keyboard to gain information. He better not have a security leak. Though chances were the Merodize gang had already reported back to Lorcan.
“You know what child,” Lorcan hissed, his naturally red lips contrasting with the pasty whiteness of his skin. “Our Oracles have seen her destiny. You must turn her over to me now.”
“No transmissions in or out the last day,” Chalton mouthed silently, his hands tapping across the control panel. “No breach on our end.”
“There’s no child here, Lorcan. You might want to reevaluate your informants.” Dage’s bored façade remained in place. “Plus, what could you possibly want with some human child? Are you starting a school for humans?”
“Funny. This girl is special. She has the gift of sight we’ve been waiting for and is to be mated on her twentieth birthday to my eldest son, Kalin. The Oracles have declared the future that must happen, if any of us are to survive what’s coming.” Lorcan’s eyes gleamed to rusted purple. “And the mother is mine.”
Dage lifted an eyebrow at his brother’s certain response tothat claim. “Really? Something’s coming, huh? You know, I’ve always wondered why each Kurjan successor is just a bit nuttier than the one before. Is there some sort of lunatic criteria you guys try to meet?” And God help them all if that nut job Kalin ever took office. Dage hadn’t met him personally, but his nightmares told of a possible fate none of them would survive.
“Silence!” The force of Lorcan’s bellow sent his subordinates scurrying back a foot or two, and Dage watched impassively as Lorcan’s eyes morphed to a pinkish purple. “You will not mock the Oracles. They have seen the future to arrive. For even your people, the shifters will end us all.” Lorcan visibly struggled to control himself, his canines grinding like a rock crusher. “Turn the child and mother over now, and you will avoid the war you’ve run from the last three centuries. Last chance.”
Dage smiled the predatory grin he was known across the Realm for. “Fuck you.” He nodded to Chalton to arm the weapons stored deep below the earth’s surface.
Lorcan failed to hide an uneasy swallow. “Fine.” He moved back from the screen, apparently not willing to start his war at this time. “But you won’t be able to concentrate on human women for long, Kayrs. In fact”—Lorcan’s yellow teeth gleamed in the semi-darkness—”I think you’ll be occupied with more important matters. Soon.” With the last word, the screen went black.
“Damn it Chalton!” Dage keyed several commands into the console at his fingertips. “Contact our scouts and find out what the hell is going on.”
“Yes, sir,” Chalton replied absently, his gaze on the computers.
Dage sent out a message for his brothers to contact him. Jesus. Kane was across the ocean, Talen raced through the U.S. with a mate in tow,
a mate.
And Conn. Man, Conn had to get his life in order—distraction rode him hard these days. They all knew that red-headed distraction practiced powerfulmagic in the land of the faeries, magic they might all need soon.
Rubbing his hand across his eyes, Dage sighed. He couldn’t order Conn to reacquire his mate, especially since they’d probably have to go to war for Moira ever to leave the green isle. He grinned. He’d liked that spunky witch from the get-go.
A request sounded through his earpiece, and he pushed a button to let the door slide open. Janie bounded inside and hopped to perch on his lap. “Hi, Uncle Dage.”
He settled her safely into place. “Hi, sweet girl.” Determination flowed through him to protect the perfect
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