“They told me I need to talk to him. And figure out what he is.”

“Alone?” he asked, and she shrugged.

“I have a feeling if I don’t do it alone, they’re going to do something far worse.”

“They’re not allowed to have that kind of power.”

“It seems they do. I’m going to go figure out who and what he is.”

“You shouldn’t. Not without help.”

Caly just shrugged. “I’m okay. I promise. I’m not going to do anything stupid.”

And then she chased after the man, going back the way he had come through, past the large, gilded doors. She really hoped like hell she knew what she was doing. Because, honestly, she had no idea what to do other than just come right out and ask him.

“Looking for me, pet?” a deep voice asked as soon as she was outside the large marble building that housed the Conclave.

She skidded to a halt, her heart racing. “You. What do you want?” she asked, looking at the man with the dark hair and hooded eyes.

“Well, things just got interesting, didn’t they, pet?”

Before she could ask exactly what he meant, he winked once, then vanished into thin air.

ChapterTwo

Misha slid between the shadows, thankful for his glamour. No one could pierce through it, not even another of his kind. Although his kindcoulddetect if a glamour were being used, just not who was beneath it. Thankfully, no one who knew him or could ever know him, was near.

Not that he enjoyed the idea that he was alone, but he was used to it.

This time, however, gave him time to look at her. A mermaid. Of all creatures, she would be the one to call to him. Well now, that was interesting.

He had spent centuries alone, helping his people, trying to keep them alive, but he had never truly searched for a mate. After all, what was the point when they would just die long before he did?

Because he was already dead, at least according to legend. Why add life to it?

“So, are you going to stand in the shadows all day, cousin?”

Misha smirked, having sensed his cousin Broderick near him right when the man glimmered. Glimmering was how his kind went from one point to another. It was another form of transportation, but it took immense power that not all had.

The truly strong didn’t need to see the end point of their glimmer in order to end up there. Some, most of the young, and those who had used far too much of their power over time couldn’t glimmer without knowing exactly where they were going. Others of their kind couldn’t glimmer at all, but Misha and Broderick were not those.

“I think I made my statement,” he said, ignoring Broderick’s taunts.

“And what kind of statement would that be?” Broderick asked, his voice low.

Misha looked over at him. “It’s whatever we need it to be.”

His cousin sighed. “I don’t know. I don’t trust any of this. We’ve been hidden for eons for a reason. The Conclave has never liked us, even in whatever iteration they were in when they knew we existed in the open.”

“I think two of the elders knew exactly who and what I was, even though they lied about it.” That worried him, but it shouldn’t. He wasn’t too surprised.

“The elders of the Conclave, lying? Shocking.”

He raised a brow at Broderick. “They will be our elders if we join the Conclave like we want.”

“I still don’t know why we have to. We’ve been fine alone.” Broderick looked off into the distance, worry in his tone.

“That is a lie, and you know it.” He turned to face his cousin.