Page 26 of Crimson Mate

We step inside, and I watch her face as she takes in the room.

Her eyes widen as she scans the room and the array of screens on the wall, the computers spread over multiple desks, the lush furniture and eating area, the stacks of books in the far corner on shelves that reach to the ceiling, and then finally to the table in the center, big enough to hold far more than just who's sitting there.

Alek is, of course, at the head of the table, flanked by Lachlan and a rare sighting from Ransom, as this meeting is important enough to drag him away from his pregnant mate.

Hawke sits to the left of him, and Benedict, the king's personal lie detector, sits to the right of Lachlan.

Ajax, Dagon, and Talon fill up another three seats, leaving four empty chairs.

One of them should have Saint in it, and in a perfect world, Samuel.

Saint must be off helping Aurora through another panic attack, his unique ability to slip inside her mind and calm her with soothing dreams one of the only antidotes to the torture his twin brother inflicted upon her.

Talia only hesitates for a moment before she takes the first step toward the table, sinking into a seat next to Talon, who nods to her respectfully. I sit on her other side, grateful my brothers knew her in another life and still treat her as if she wears my mating mark.

It's more than I can ever ask for, as well as not one of them betraying my secret or grilling me over the situation when we were awoken from stasis.

They all knew it was the first thing on my mind as we came out of our deep sleep, and had expressed concerns about it inthe beginning, but I'd always shut them down. I’d immediately reached out to any living acquaintances from my past, and they assured me Talia died centuries ago, a rumor she apparently started herself, one that freed her from the obligation of taking her seat in the royal court, no doubt. And Conrad clearly knew she was alive, but no other contacts from our past did. She burned that history down, setting fire to her family’s estate after her parents’ passed, and never looked back.

I'd carried that pain of her death with me while adjusting to the modern world and suffering the horrible blow from Samuel, but when I found out she was alive? I knew every single one of my brothers was wondering what the fuck I was doing and why I wasn't on my knees every second of every night begging for her forgiveness.

Begging for her to take me back.

But I know Talia better than she may even know herself, despite the huntress she'd turned into since I last saw her. I knowbeggingwon’t work, only atonement. And like I said the other night, even if it took me an eternity, I would find a way to make up for what I had done.

“Thank you for coming,” Alek says, smiling softly at Talia.

That smile from anyunmatedmale would send me into a frenzy, my instincts still very much begging me to complete the bond with my mate.

For instance, if Dagon looked at her with such kindness, such softness, and respect, I fear Ajax would have to stop time to keep me from coming across the table at him. And Saint, who mercifully wasn't here, because he's just mad enough to tempt it.

“I appreciate the invite, your majesty,” Talia answers.

“This mission is as much yours as it is ours,” Alek says, then glances at Dagon. “Dagon, you called this meeting, ensuring that you had information that was vital to all of us. The floor is yours.”

Dagon nods to the king, then glances to me and does his best to not even turn his head Talia’s way.

I've always loved my brothers, but he earns my deepest respect at that move alone, and I flash him an apologetic look.

“I hope the first thing out of your mouth is that you're going to help my mate’s niece,” Ransom interjects.

The highlander next to the king laughs, while Hawke, next to Ransom, seems utterly bored as he plays with a knife, flipping it end over end, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else than here.

“Like I've told your mate,” Dagon says, clearing his throat to rid it of his normal dickish attitude as he looks at Ransom, who seems like he might unravel at any second. Poor bastard, bringing new vampires into the world the way they are is certainly stressful. “I will help her niece if there's any real evidence of her being an elemental. I've got a few tips, but neither one of them have shown me any real inkling that she actually has those powers. Our time is divided enough, and she isn't at risk or in danger. If that time comes, I assure you I will help.”

Ransom digests the information, then gives Dagon a nod.

“Okay,” Dagon says, blowing out of breath. “I spoke with Gunther earlier this evening,” he says, referring to one of those acquaintances from our past. “And he told me he heard a rumor that Conrad is collecting ancient remedies that make transitioning half-bloods more successful. I'm sure we can all assume this is to increase his numbers, and as much as I hate to say it, likely Samuel's numbers as well. The two of them have likely found a common cause and have teamed up. I don't have any hard evidence to suggest that, but I don't mind speaking my assumptions out loud.”

“Holy shit,” Talia says, almost more to herself than the room at hand. She sits up a little straighter. “It makes sense,” she says.“I’ve tracked him all over the globe, and I knew he was stealing artifacts from ancient bloodline households, but I didn't knowwhy. I thought it was just to open doors of conversation to try to get more wealthy bloodlines on his side. Or to piss them off. I had no idea that the artifacts contained properties that would help him create new vampires.”

“And he's not interested in creating vampireallies,” Lachlan says from the king's right. “He's transitioning these half-bloods and then starving them, intentionally creating bloodmads. Why?”

“My guess?” Talia says as the highlander dips his head. “He doesn't want an army of vampires with their own conscious choices. He wants an arsenal of weapons,grenadesthat he can throw and unleash and dispose of without a second thought.”

“It also keeps us busy,” Ajax offers, and I nod thinking the same thing.

“He's certainly stretching us thin,” Talon agrees.

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