Page 54 of Between Imminent Fates

“Is there nothing I can say to convince you?”

Torrin allowed his silence to speak for him.

There was no arguing with a man who believed him incapable of change. If Torrin’s mind was made up and he believed all vampires were hell spawn, then nothing Lucius did would make a difference. Instead, he tried a different approach—anything to try to get Torrin to end the war. If he failed here, people would die.

“May I ask why you hate me personally?”

“You? You’re the worst of them,” Torrin spat, adjusting the steak knife beside his plate. “Carefree.Joyful. Every photo I have of you, Lucius, is a study in happiness. No demon should ever be so content.”

“I’m flattered you’ve such established affections for me.”

Torrin’s features went blank. “Where is Derek?”

The abrupt shift in topic didn’t surprise Lucius. “Safe.”

“Safe? Derek issafe?” Torrin scoffed. “You’ve probably dismembered him and stuffed him in a godforsaken hole in the ground.”

“I can assure you with all sincerity that Derek is alive. We didn’t kill him, Torrin, but we have taken him somewhere he can live out his days without being a threat to the immortal communities. Lucy requested he be spared, and we obliged.”

“I won’t sit here and listen to lies,vampire.” Torrin stood then, sneering down at him. “We’re done here.”

The words echoed in Lucius’ ears. With them, came his failure to convince Torrin of their benevolence. His face fell as he realized the next step: theCitizens’ leader’s early exit was Kaien’s cue.

Chapter Twenty

Blair

The human lashed outas soon as he recognized he’d been teleported. Kaien had brought both Lucius and Torrin into the holding cell, but theCitizens’leader was still capable of fighting back. Torrin pulled a small pistol from the holster hidden beneath his suit coat. It was undoubtedly filled with the dual ammunition rounds designed to incapacitate immortals.

Kaien barreled into him, grappling with the human before he had a chance to use his weapon. Within seconds, Torrin was plastered against the floor, and all he could do was bare his teeth at the two men he’d nearly killed.

“Long time, Torrin,” Blair hissed. “With your lieutenants disappearing right and left, you’d think you’d be a bit more careful about your own safety.”

“Let go of me!”

Torrin struggled fruitlessly when they hauled him onto his feet. Blair grabbed his cell phone and wallet from his back pockets before they arranged him in a chair with leather straps for his hands and feet.

Built to withstand a vampire’s strength, Torrin wouldn’t be able to budge from it. Unlike theCitizens’own restraints, they wouldn’t be followed by torture and mutilation.

“You didn’t have to follow me, Torrin,” Lucius continued, “but I want you to know that we truly did want peace. Your stubbornness was your own downfall.”

Blair looked at Lucius with pride. He never showed fear before the man who’d brutalized him. Though she had been hopeful the war would end, seeing Torrin pay the ultimate price from his crimes would be immensely satisfying.

Torrin was beginning to sweat. “My work will continue. My death will not save you. We’ve been recruiting, showing other humans the viciousness of your kind. My cause is theirs. Nothing can stop your destruction.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” Nothing but sheer confidence infused Kaien’s voice. “Cut off the head of the snake and the body will die.”

“As soon as Derek disappeared, I engaged a contingency plan that no one can stop.” The smugness he wore was heavily tinged with despair. “No matter how many of us you take out, there will always be another ready to take our place. It doesn’t matter if I’m not there to pick up the phone when your death comes calling.”

All of them watched as the human grew more anxious with every passing second, trying to delay the inevitable.

After a minute of silence, he finally managed to sputter, “What are you going to do? Turn me into a vampire?”

“That would be the ultimate punishment, wouldn’t it? Turn you into the very thing you detest most?” Blair considered it for a second. It’d be oddly poetic. “No, Torrin, you needn’t worry about growing fangs. Why would we ever waste immortality on the undeserving?”

“You’re going to pass peacefully in your sleep, surrounded by the privileged wealth of your apartment, alone on top of the world.” Kaien shared. “A quiet death. Or at least that’s what your newspaper will say.”

“And how will you manage that, when I’m sitting here in your dungeon?”

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