Page 30 of Dark Embers

A knot twisted in the pit of my stomach. “Hybridwhat?

“Vampire-shifters,” Hadrian said, raising his arms to the side. “Our glorious future.”

“But that’s impossible,” I all but stammered. “Any shifter that a vampire has tried to turn has ended up dying. Vampire venom and shifter genomes don’t mix.”

“But we are on the verge of figuring out the final pieces of making it happen. Which is where you and Piper come in.”

I withheld a gasp, my pale complexion masking the panic that flooded my system. This was terrifying information. If Hadrian was successful in figuring out how to make vampire-shifters, nobody would be safe. Too many powers mixing together. It would create an uncontrollable abomination.

“Do you not share the vision, Julian?” Hadrian asked, menace hiding beneath the casual tone of his voice. “You seem forlorn at this grand announcement.”

I realized my misstep as those deadly blue eyes bore into me. “To be honest, I’m shocked. I never thought such a thing was possible. And if this is what you want me to do, I’ll get with Piper today and we’ll get to work on it.”

Hadrian smiled, seeming pleased with my obedient recovery. “Then I’ll show you to your quarters and get out of your hair. Welcome back, my friend.”

We continued our ascension, but I felt my spirits drop. Was this information worth contacting Caesar about? Or should I continue working on Hadrian about the prophecy? It was, after all, the information Caesar had requested.

Not yet.

It was Alice’s voice in my head again, and I’d learned to follow it long ago. I just had to stay out of trouble until I had what I needed.

If Hadrian really was close to creating these fucking hybrid monsters, there was no question that I would have to intervene. I’d be obligated by my own moral compass to prevent such an atrocity. I only hoped I could do that without sacrificing myself in the process.

Chapter 11

Arya

A gentle touch trailing up and down my back slowly roused my consciousness, and I woke to find my face nestled on a warm chest. With a rush of apprehension and something akin to regret, my eyes widened and I lifted my head.

“Morning, gorgeous,” Kendall cooed as our eyes met.

We slept together last night!Fuck!

I sat up, hugging my sheets over my bare boobs and awkwardly tucking my hair behind my ear.

“Uh, hi,” I said stupidly. “You—um—you stayed.”

A frown invaded the boyish charm on his face. “Well, you were sleeping on me, and I didn’t want to wake you.”

“Oh.” I nodded, having absolutely no idea what to say.

What the hell did this mean? Did he think we were a thing now? Did I want us to be a thing? I had no fucking clue what I wanted, I only knew this was painfully awkward.

He sat up, too, putting a comforting hand on my bare shoulder. “Hey, about last night… We don’t have to make a big deal out of it if you don’t want to.”

I hadn’t been expecting that. I paused, then looked up at him over my shoulder, trying to gauge his emotions.

He looked sincere. Not like he was trying to brush me off as a one night stand, or like he was just telling me what I wanted to hear as a way of winning me over. In his eyes, I saw someone I could trust.

“Really?” I asked, my brows pinching upward uncertainly.

He nodded. “I know you’re going through a rough time and that things are…”—he shook his head, as if searching for the right word—“confusing right now. I just want you to know that I’m here for you. If that means telling Cora to back the fuck off, then I will. And if that means being your boy toy every now and then, well, sign me up.”

He flashed me a sexy grin, and I couldn’t help but giggle, my cheeks no doubt turning pink.

“Are you sure?” I asked, schooling my expression. “I don’t want you to ever feel like I’m using you. I just don’t think I’m ready for any kind of commitment right now.”

He lightly traced the back of his knuckles down my arm, sending shivers racing over my flesh.

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