Page 20 of Dark Reckoning
“I'll take that as a sign,” he said.
He was handsome enough to tempt Jewel, and the two did seem to get along well enough. I wouldn't interfere. “Well, now that Adrian has explained the barrier, you all stay inside. If any of those things try to get in here, the barrier will protect everyone. You won't have to do anything.”
“Good to know,” Nadia said. “You two be safe. Are you sure you don't need me to go with you?”
“Now that the barrier is up, I think it's best that you stay here, Nadia. I need you to make sure everyone gets here and is prepared if something goes wrong,” I said.
She nodded. “Consider it done.”
“Thank you,” I said. Shi and Adrian joined me and we left our home and climbed into the elevator.
***
“Please try to be more patient with Xavier,” Adrian pleaded once we were in the car, heading to Salino's.
“He needs to tone his bullshit down around me. I don't need his ass judging me when he hasn't even lived one human lifetime. He's not a shifter or any other kind of supernal. He doesn't know what our lives are like. He needs to keep his close-minded opinions to himself,” I snapped because I wasn't in the mood for Xavier's attitude or Adrian's defense of it.
Adrian sighed. “I know how you feel, Sage. But the other side of that coin is the human side. You have never been human. You've never been a victim of supernals.”
I didn't say anything as I thought about what Adrian said.
“You've never had to feel helpless as something you didn't understand or couldn't fight against was killing you for their own pleasure,” Adrian went on.
“And he has?” I asked, because I figured that was where Adrian was going with our conversation.
Adrian nodded. 'That's how we met. Five years ago, Xavier was attacked by a vampire. I saved him and we've been best friends ever since. He's saved my life in return, too, Sage. He's the only family I have, so please—”
I held my hand up and nodded. “I get it. I'll give him a few passes.”
“Thank you, baby,” Adrian said, then tilted his face to mine and I leaned down to kiss him.
“So, this is what our arguments are like?” I joked.
He chuckled softly. “Better than some I've had.”
“I'll keep them to a minimum. The last thing I want to do is make you unhappy, baby,” I said, then kissed the top of his head.
He held me closer. “Me too.”
We talked about our plans for Salino on the trip there while Shi multitasked by driving and making all the necessary calls to shut down my operations for the time being. I wanted my crew under lockdown until this could be resolved, and I hoped we could.
Chapter three
“Sire,anambassadorofEmperor Jude Martin is here to see you,” notified one of my vampires.
I sighed because this was all a prelude to war. This day, I was supposed to be celebrating my victory and getting even more acquainted with my brother and best friend. That had all gone downhill after I'd visited Sage. The call I received in the elevator leaving Sage's home was from the Emperor of Russia, Daniil Andreev. He was none too happy that I'd severed the contract vampires had with the Dark God. His had been the first call. An hour later, I received a call from the Emperor of Germany, Klaus Jager. He wasted no time with pleasantries and simply issued his threat. He said that I didn't deserve to rise in power after my betrayal of not only my Emperor, Lord Barron, but of all vampire-kind. I simply hung up on him. Now, I had to deal with the ambassador of Emperor Martin.
“Let them in,” I told my subordinate. The best thing was that I could sense Sage and Adrian getting closer. They would be here in a matter of minutes. Good.
I waited as the door opened and a tall, average-looking man dressed in a black suit with a matching turtleneck stepped into my office. I'd never met him before, but I was certain he was here to issue some kind of formal declaration of war. I'd sent my brother, Sarino, and friend, Louis, off with one of my loyal children so he could help them get used to this new world. Earlier, I'd given them my blood and along with it, my memories. A power only the emperor had. They got to see the world advancing through my experiences. They had marveled at all the wonders I'd experienced and I hated that they hadn't had the opportunity to see everything I had first-hand. If I could piss on Lord Barron's corpse, I would, but I had the body burned and the ashes scattered.
As I looked at the unwanted stranger in my home, I kept my gaze regal because it didn't matter to me if they felt I'd earned the title or not. One fact that couldn't be denied: I was the new emperor.
“And you're here because...?” I asked.
He bowed his head to me. “Emperor Laurent, my Emperor, Jude Martin, would like an official meeting with you.”
“If it's to declare war on me, he can take a number and get in line,” I said.
