Claimed

Chapter 11

The two-hour plane ride had been a strategic waste of time. Striding down the hotel hallway lined with bouquets of fresh lilies as if directing a wedding procession—or a funeral—Dage wasn’t any closer to a solution. He shook his head at his youngest brother. “What do you mean Caleb isn’t here yet?”

Jase shrugged. “Conn went to fetch him at the airfield and he’s late.”

Not good news. “Caleb said he’d be here, so he’ll show up sometime. We’ll go ahead as planned.” Dage had wanted to meet with Caleb before meeting with the prophets. If his old friend told him to go to hell, there was no reason to piss everyone off with his plan.

“Good.” Jase grabbed Dage’s arm and pulled him to a stop. “I, ah, I’ve been working on something.”

“Really? What?” Dage shifted to meet his brother’s gaze.

“You know how I can heal some wounds with my thoughts?”

“Sure.” A handy talent to be sure.

Jase cleared his throat. “I think I can yank the virus out of the women.”

Shock bashed into Dage for a moment. Reality soon filtered through. “What would happen to the virus?”

Jase shrugged. “If I could get it out of their chromosome, which to be honest, I’m not sure I could, then I might need to attach the bug to mine. Who the hell knows?”

Dread and pride filled the king in equal measure. “Sacrificing yourself isn’t a solution, Jase.” His brothers were truly men of honor.

“We protect mates at all costs, Dage.”

He gave a short nod. “We’re not to that point yet, but I appreciate your willingness.” Damn. Now Jase as well as Kane had to be kept from sacrificing themselves. That was his job. Dage pivoted, stalking down the hallway until reaching a thick double door manned by two armed vampires with the prophecy signet on their lapels showing their ranking as guards to the prophets. One opened the door.

He crossed the threshold, his spirits lifting as a cloud of wild strawberries rushed toward him and a small woman graced both of his cheeks with a kiss. “Dage.” Kind eyes the color of midnight twinkled before a grape energy drink was thrust into his hand. “For you.”

He grinned. “Prophet Sotheby, you’re as lovely as ever.” Gazing closer, he fought a frown. Dark circles marred the pale skin of the prophet’s stunning face. Her golden hair had been pulled up into an intricate knot but her perfect makeup failed to provide camouflage. The prophecy marking on the back of her neck stood out in deep blue.

She returned the smile. “My friends call me Lily, and you mustn’t look so concerned. I took a bet from a multi-shifter last night involving a dart game and tequila. I lost.”

“Lily. Multies claim incredibly fast metabolisms. You didn’t stand a chance.” He tugged her arm through his and led her to a plush chair near a crackling fire. Her hand trembled slightly against his forearm. Poor thing. A hangover and now her day was about to get worse. He settled her down.

He shifted his attention to Milner, who appeared regal in a deep velvet waistcoat. “Prophet.” Who in the hell wore waistcoats these days?

Milner shook his hand, taking the chair next to Lily’s. “King. I hope you don’t mind, but Prophet Sotheby suggested we meet in here by the fire instead of yet another cold conference room.”

Lily nodded next to him. “Yes. I do love a nice gathering by a warm fire.”

Milner nodded toward Jase, who had taken up position next to the door. “Prince.”

Jase returned the nod, then smiled at Lily.

Dage hid the concern for Lily from his eyes. “Thank you, Lily. This setting is much nicer than usual.” He turned and took the next extended hand. “Prophet Guiles.”

“We appreciate the chance to speak with you, King.” Guiles gave a short shake and took the chair opposite Lily. His long brown hair cascaded down his strong back. He had to be, what? Maybe a hundred years older than Dage’s three and a half centuries? The fates designated him a prophet the same day Dage became king. War and death had created the openings for them both.

Prophet Milner cleared his throat. As the oldest person in the room, the meeting would be run by him—for a while, anyway. “First, let me say how pleased we are that two of the royal family have mated. We’d like the rest to follow suit.” He shot a glance at Jase, who grinned in response.

Lily clapped her hands together. “Yes. I spent some time with both Emma and Cara at the ball. Wonderful women. I’m so happy for you, Dage.”

Dage smiled. So far so good.

Milner continued, “We reviewed the information you provided regarding the Kurjan virus. Has there been any luck finding a cure?”

“Not yet.” Dage might have a duty to inform the prophets about Cara and Katie being infected. Probably. “We finished setting up the lab and are hard at work.” Nah. The less the prophets knew the better. He took a drink.

Lily leaned forward. “Has the wolf shifter had any other episodes?”

“No.” Dage had hoped to avoid this issue. The doctor who’d diagnosed Maggie had copied the reports for the prophets. “In fact, there’s a good chance the virus will run its course with her, leaving her healthy.”

Milner shook his bony head. “We must report her existence to the Bane’s Council.”

Dage bit back a sharp retort. “All due respect, Prophet, but you are a spiritual leader of the vampire race only. I lead the Realm.”

Guiles set his drink down. “We’re all members of the Realm and are subject to the same laws, Kayrs.”

“True. But as King of the Realm as well as the vampire people, I decided it is unnecessary to contact the council at this point.” Damn but he hated to pull rank. He needed the meeting to go smoothly.

Lily gave a delicate cough. “Well then. I guess that’s settled.” She fluffed her pale yellow skirt around her legs. “So, what’s next on the agenda?”

Dage wondered once again what the fates were thinking to make this fragile woman a prophet on the day her mate died. Her mate, Miles Sotheby, had been a prophet and a good one. Sympathy for the woman charged through him.

“Dage?” Lily raised an eyebrow.

Milner leaned forward. “Now we talk about humans being given access to our DNA.” His beady eyes narrowed.

“Meaning?” Dage kept his voice low and controlled.

“Meaning it has come to our attention that you’ve allowed humans to be a part of the research team investigating the virus. Do you have any idea how many laws this breaks?” Milner swept his hands out, his jaw clenching.

Dage didn’t twitch a muscle. Apparently he had a leak. “I’ve broken no law, prophet. The human scientists believe they’re studying cancer treatments for humans. They have no access to any data regarding Realm species.”

“You can’t guarantee that,” Guiles said, shaking his head. “This could put your kingship in jeopardy. Don’t you know that?”

The temptation to step away from the kingship nearly overwhelmed him. “My family has led the Realm for centuries.” They’d protected the Realm for centuries.

“True.” Milner sat back in his chair. “But only because there’s been no reason to remove you as the ruling family.”

Dage narrowed his gaze and lowered his voice. “You threatening me, Prophet?”

Milner shrugged. “The council has a duty to make sure the ruling family is doing its job. If it isn’t, the council must take steps to replace the current monarchy.”

Steps that would entail Dage’s head being removed from his body.

Lily slapped her hands together. “Enough of this nonsense. Dage is a fine king and the Kayrs family is doing an excellent job.” She glared at Milner. “We’re at war and the last thing we need is an internal battle. One I don’t think you would win.”

If Dage had had any question as to where Lily’s loyalty lay, he now had the answer. He gave her a short nod. “I appreciate the support, Prophet. And I assure you, the humans are not aware of our existence—nor will they be.”

“Good.” She took a sip of tea, carefully setting the cup back down. “So, what’s next on the agenda?”

He might as well hit them with all of it. “Ah. Well, it’s time to bring Caleb Donovan back into the fold.”

Lily gasped, Milner paled and clutched his chest, while Guiles jumped to his feet. “You must be jesting.”

“Nope.” In Dage’s peripheral vision he could see Jase settle into a readied stance with his knees bent and his concentration focused on the door.

Milner swept a brown speckled hand toward Lily. “Caleb killed the prophet. Her husband. How can you think—”

“No he didn’t.” Dage stood as well. “The Kurjans killed Sotheby. You know that.”

An ugly red crept up Milner’s withered face to make his eyes bug out. “You truly are trying to end the Kayrs monarchy. Caleb was responsible. The Kurjans said they’d let Sotheby go if Caleb stopped his search. He didn’t.”

Lily put a shaking hand to her head. “He was avenging his sister’s death. You can’t begrudge him that.” She chewed on her lip for a moment. “The Kurjans would never have released Miles. We all know it.”

“You disloyal witch.” A dark vein popped out of Guiles’s neck.

Dage pinned him to the wall in a heartbeat, forearm against the bastard’s neck. “I strongly suggest you apologize, Prophet.”

A soft hand on his arm kept Dage from pressing any harder. “Dage. Let him go. I’m not a witch, darn it.” Lily cleared her throat. “If I were, he’d be croaking as a toad right now.”

Dage started in surprise at the humor but kept his gaze on Guiles’s blue eyes. “I’m waiting.”

The door banged open and the two prophecy guards dodged inside, guns at ready. Dage pivoted toward the entry as Jase took one guard down to the floor and the cocking of a gun stopped the other. Caleb flashed a grin, his weapon pressed into the second guard’s neck. “Well now. I can see not much has changed with the Realm.” His booming voice echoed around the room.

Dage tightened his hold against the prophet’s jugular. Shit. He couldn’t exactly kill a prophet today. “Now.”

Guiles cleared his throat. “I apologize.”

Lily nodded, dropping into her chair.

Dage threw Guiles back into his seat and gestured for the guards to leave. Jase tossed one out on his ass while the other backed away.

“Caleb. Thanks for coming.” Dage extended a hand.

Caleb shook it, his multi-colored gaze encompassing the entire room. “So. Invited to speak with the Realm after a century and a half of being exiled. Hell has frozen over, huh?” He sprawled into a chair next to Lily, turning toward her. “Before we start, I’d like to say how sorry I am the Kurjans killed your mate. I’d have prevented his death if possible.”

She nodded, her hand going to her throat. Dage frowned. She appeared paler than before. Maybe this was a bad idea.

The red in Milner’s face flushed darker until his skin matched his waistcoat, though he held his tongue.

Conn entered the room and stood at the other side of the door from Jase. Dage gave him a short nod of acknowledgment. “We’re at war. The Kurjans have allies and are prepared, scientifically as well as strategically. The smart move is to reunite our allies.”

“Allies?” Guiles sat forward, biting out the words. “Are you kidding me? Caleb and his crew turned their backs on us years ago.”

“You exiled me, boyoh.” Caleb leaned back, the chair protesting under his weight. He was as tall as Dage, and thick across the chest. A dark eyebrow rose. “In addition, you underestimated the number of my followers. Lost a bit of the Realm, did you?”

“You gave us no choice but to exile you,” Milner hissed. “First you refused to stop your crusade, then you protected your brother.”

“My brother didn’t do anything wrong.” Caleb relaxed back in his chair. He’d probably tied his blond hair back not in an attempt at fashion but as a prelude to a fight. Dage had done the same thing.

“Nothing wrong?” Guiles jumped to his feet again. “He mated with a wolf shifter who’d been betrothed.”

Dage cleared his throat. “First, there’s no law against vampires and shifters mating.” The union was rare, but not unheard of. “Second, the woman chose him. The prophets do not need to get involved with such matters.”

“She was betrothed to a ruling demon,” Guiles spat. “We needed the demon nation as an ally.”

Dage cleared his throat. “What’s done is done. Now we need to consolidate for this war. Without question.” He turned toward Caleb. “The prophets will confirm you are no longer exiled”—he put a deadly threat into his gaze as he eyed each member in turn before focusing back on Caleb—“or the royal family will denounce them.” He hoped nobody would call his bluff. He couldn’t go to war and denounce the prophets in the same fucking month.

Gasps filled the air. “You wouldn’t,” Milner muttered. His gaze darted around the room, obviously seeking to land somewhere away from the king. Grabbing a handkerchief out of his pocket, he wiped his ancient brow. “I’m not an enemy you want, King.”

The prophets could certainly try to take him down. At the very least a fight with them would tear the Realm in two. Dage shook his head. “We’re at war. You may want to remember the prophets need my protection right now more than ever.” Weaselly little prick. Dage had had enough taking orders from spiritual leaders who had no clue of the means necessary to keep the Realm whole. As a soldier, as a leader, Caleb did, and Dage would choose his old friend over the prophets any day. Regardless of the outcome.

Caleb straightened. “Why would I want to rejoin the Realm? I don’t need you.”

Dage lifted an eyebrow. “Don’t you? You’ve been fighting three shifter clans because of your brother’s mating. Not to mention the entire demon nation. Aren’t you tired of feuding?”

The grin sliding across Caleb’s face lacked any semblance of humor. “You going to broker peace for me, Kayrs?” His voice lowered. “If we unite, there’s a better chance the demons will declare war on you.”

Dage nodded. “I hope to keep that from happening. But even now our alliance with the demons is uneasy. They won’t lift a finger in our war with the Kurjans.” He glanced at Lily, then back to Caleb. “You will.” With Caleb’s soldiers, the balance would tip in the Realm’s favor.

Caleb sighed, shifting his attention to Lily, challenge sparking his eyes. “What do you think, Prophet?”

She shot a gaze to Dage, then squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, focusing back on Caleb. “I think you do need us.”

Dage stifled a grin. She may be dainty and old-fashioned, but the woman had grit.

Caleb winked at her. “If it’s done, it’s absolute. There’s no tossing me out later once the war is over.” He shifted his melded gaze toward the king.

“Agreed.” Dage nodded.

Three muted agreeds filled the room. Silence beat around the room before first Lily, then the other two prophets made polite good-byes and hustled through the exit. Jase and Conn followed suit, leaving Dage and Caleb sitting in the loungers. The fire’s peaceful crackle helped dissipate the irritation left in Milner’s wake.

“Quite the bold move.” Caleb reached for Lily’s tea and downed the rest of the fragrant brew.

“Yes. Milner is no doubt on the phone planning to dethrone me.” The weasel might succeed, but not during a time of war. Not right now. Dage grinned. “I’ve missed you, old friend.”

“Ditto. I heard you found a mate. Congratulations.”

“Thanks.” Dage eyed the door. Something began to tingle at the base of his neck, an awareness of some sort.

“Has Lily been ill?” The casual question belied the sudden intensity sparking Caleb’s colorful eyes.

“Rough night.” Since when did Lily party the night away? “She was so young when her marriage to Sotheby was arranged. Maybe she’s spreading her wings.”

Caleb shook his head. “They were only married for two weeks before he disappeared.” He quirked a lip. “Did you know I was courting her at the time?”

“Ah. Er, no.” Dage lifted an eyebrow.

Caleb nodded. “Yeah. She chose duty over me.” He shrugged. “Can’t blame her.”

Dage took another drink of grape energy. Caleb sounded like he blamed Lily. “Well, she has always been mindful of duty.” Always. Awareness slammed into reality. She wouldn’t have gotten drunk at a colloquium event. “Damn it.” Dage leapt to his feet, three strides taking him through the doors.

Caleb followed on his heels. “Kayrs. What the hell?”

Dage all but ran through the hallway and up to the next floor, stopping to pound on the door he needed. “I hope I’m wrong.” He should’ve paid better attention.

The door clicked open a couple of inches, the chain in place, the scent of strawberries wafting out. Lily’s pale face filled the slot. “King? I’m sorry but I’m not feeling well right now. Could you come back later?”

“Open the door, Prophet.” He placed his palm against the wood.

“No.” The word trembled weakly from her mouth.

Caleb pushed him to the side. “Lily, open the door. Do you need a doctor?”

“I need the nosey vampires in this place to leave me to rest. Now I’ll speak with you gentlemen later.” She stepped back, and the sound of a small thud filled the silence.

Caleb threw a shoulder against the door and the chain snapped in two. Dage followed him inside to where he’d dropped to his knees to cradle Lily’s limp body. Caleb lifted his gaze. “What’s wrong with her?”

Dage shook his head. “We’ll need to run some tests to make sure. But I think she’s been infected.” If he was right, the Kurjans would pay.