Page 58 of Dante's Circle Reborn

“I need to protect my people, and to do that, I need to tell secrets, things that we have hidden for countless years.”

“Why tell me? Why are you here?”

“I have other plans,” Misha said, continuing to pace. “I was going to talk with that dragon, Dante. He seems to hold a lot of power, and I thought maybe he could sway the Conclave to help my people.”

“And who are your people?”

He didn’t answer. “But then I saw you, and I knew exactly who you were to me.”

“I’m nothing to you.”

He met her gaze, his eyes glowing red for an instant, and she froze.

“What are you?” she whispered.

“You can feel it, can’t you? Who we could be? It’s not just one-sided. It can’t be. You know that not everybody can feel that pull. Sometimes, it takes years for it to grow between people. But a bond can be made, and it didn’t even surprise you. I feel it already, and I’ve only been in your presence for moments. We have the potential to be true halves, mates in truth. But I didn’t plan on this. I didn’t plan on you.”

She swallowed hard, trying to ignore the feeling inside. Because she felt the tug, that pull. The fact that he could be the one person to complete her soul.

But she didn’t want that. She couldn’t.

“It doesn’t matter what I feel, not when I have a mission. And that is to find out exactly what you want, and who you are. You keep neglecting to mention that, so, why don’t you tell me?”

“I haven’t told anybody who we are for so long, it’s hard.”

“Just say the words, and then we’ll figure this out. Though the fact that you threatened the Conclave means you’re not on the right side. You’re the one I need to protect my people from.”

“Your Conclave has ignored my people for centuries because of their prejudice.”

“I ampartof the Conclave. So, watch your tone.”

“My apologies, Caly. I was merely speaking of your elders. The ones who hide their secrets.”

“Everybody’s allowed to have secrets,” she whispered.

“And yet you want me to divulge mine?”

“Because you’re playing games. You want your people to be recognized by the Conclave. And you threaten to do it. Yet you won’t tell anybody, you won’t tell me what kind of supernatural you are. How are we supposed to want you to be part of us and give you a voice when you won’t even make your true intentions known?”

“You’ve got me there, but the elders know who I am. The fact that they sent you on this wild goose chase means that they want to look as if they’re trying.”

She froze, blinking. “They can’t know, they wouldn’t have done that.” But she knew she was lying. She didn’t like the elders. Never had. They had forced some of the Conclave members to do things that nobody in their right mind would ever want to do. They’d stayed back from wars when it served them, and they hid behind their shield of power.

It was only because of the lightning-struck, and Dante himself that the actual apocalypse had ended before it began. The elders would have let it happen, stating that nature needed to run its course.

“I’m an immortal,” he said, his eyes narrowed.

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, that’s a good one. We’re all immortal, you asshole. That’s what being a supernatural means.”

“No, the supernaturals appear immortal. I’m a true immortal.”

She froze. “You can’t die?”

He shook his head. “You can’t kill what’s already dead, can you?”

Fear crawled up her spine. “Tell me what you are.”

“I’m not what they say I am.”

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