Page 45 of Rurik
“Yes. They change into large golden birds, similar to phoenixes. One flap of their wings and they can kill a dragon with a sonicboom.”
“And your father killed the last ofthem?”
“Not exactly. Grigori’s mate, Madelyn, is a thunderbird. Our father killed her parents, but he died during the battle. Before she passed from grief, our mother took the baby and convinced a couple to adopther.”
“How did she end up marryingGrigori?”
“It is a long story,” Rurik said. “With the most unlikely of coincidences. You might argue that fate brought them together. For Grigori to mate her, our natural enemy, it is…” He trailed off, and Charlotte suddenlysmiled.
“He’s like us—mated to someone who’s supposed to be his enemy. Maybe this will work out okay after all.” For the first time in a few hours Charlotte was filled with hope, but Rurik’s dark chuckle snuffed out that smallflame.
“Madelyn is the last of her kind. You have a secret international organization, trained to hunt mykind.”
Her smile faded. He was right. This was different. How would her brothers react when they learned she’d mated a dragon? Would they feel betrayed? Would she be disowned? Would Rurik face the same fate from hisfamily?
“Enough of this. Let me show you the palace.” Rurik helped her up the front steps and knocked on the doors. A man in a security uniform opened the door and stared at them. He spoke in Russian, clearly telling them to leave, but Rurik looked deep into the man’s eyes and replied in Russian. The guard stepped back, allowing them to enter. Charlotte didn’t miss the vacant expression on hisface.
“What did he say?” Charlotte whispered as they came into thehall.
“It’s closed to visitors. I convinced him we can have a quicktour.”
“You mesmerized him,” Charlottesaid.
Rurik’s only answer was a sly grin. “A private tour is better than sharing it with tourists, trustme.”
They walked down the main hall, and Charlotte marveled at the way the light reflected off the white walls and gilded lintel panels. It was the closest thing she could imagine on earth to what heaven must belike.
“An Italian sculptor, Count Rastrelli, created all this. He used more than a hundred kilograms of pure gold on the interior. Stand here.” Rurik guided her in front of one of thedoorways.
Charlotte gasped as she let him position her just right. At least seven more doorways extended down the hall ahead of her, the gilded paneling around the frames making the lengthy hall look like it went onforever.
“It’s like holding two mirrors against eachother.”
Rurik led Charlotte through a number of ornate rooms, until they came into a massive one with beautiful pale wood floors and tall windows on either side. Between the windows were panels of mirrors with gilded edges and hundreds of candles in front ofeach.
“What is thisroom?”
“The Great Hall.” Rurik took her by the hand and spun her around. “We used to dance for hours here.” He twirled, and she danced back into his arms, where he held herclose.
“The Russian court in those days was magnificent—the candles, the grounds, the click of heeled shoes on the floors, and the flutter of silk fans. It was…” Rurik seemed to struggle for words. “Quite a memorable time forme.”
“How old are you?” she suddenly asked, almost afraid of the answer. She hadn’t wanted to think about their age difference, but this had brought it all home to her, and she had toknow.
“I’m over thirteen hundred yearsold.”
Charlotte gasped. “Thirteenhundred?”
Rurik’s smile wilted. “What’s the matter? You’repale.”
“It’s… I just… I hadn’t thought about your age. What happens when I get old and youdon’t—”
He cupped her face and silenced her with a kiss. “Don’t think about that. We have time yet to worry.” He kissed her again, harder, and a rush of images filled her head. Rurik’smemories…
Colorful silk gowns swirled in candlelight, and the empress sat on her throne with a secretive smile on her lips. Dancing and laughter and joy were all around her. Time seemed to blur, and she felt a growing gloom, a press of evil drawing closer and closer. Men rushed through moonlit halls. She saw them through Rurik’s eyes. He wore a leather bomber jacket and was calling for men to help him. Then there was a room full of amber panels andmirrors…
“They must not take the amber!” Rurik shouted to his men. Charlotte, in his memories, could understand the Russian being spoken. A mighty roar shook the palace as bombs exploded in the distance, making the walls creak andgroan.
“The beast is coming!” a man shouted, and then he fled the room. Others followed him. Rurik stood alone at the entrance to the room as Dimitri Drakor came into view. His hands held balls of flame, and his eyes were brightyellow.
