What if they learn the DNA markers that make us what we are? With gene therapies and stem cell research, they could try and recreate the things the gods put in place.”
Dragos shuddered. “That’s why they’re hanging on to Iva and your beta.”
“I think so, yes.” Noah dropped his arms and sighed.
His night just kept getting better and better. “I want the wolves on border patrol.” Amara and Eddy returned, with two trays of tea and munchies. “Thank you, Eddy.”
“You’re welcome.” Eddy, looking a lot better, settled on the arm of the sofa next to Amara, who had sat next to Parker. “Something felt fishy with your brother, by the way.”
“Oh?” And here Dragos had assumed Eddy’s response had been more to what his brother was, not what he wanted.
Eddy’s expression turned distant as he tried to express what he’d sensed from Trajan. “There was a conflict inside him, as if he wanted to do one thing but was being forced to do another and he didn’t know how to fix it.” Eddy frowned thoughtfully. “He’s powerful, but there’s a light inside him that’s slowly being eaten away by this conflict.” Eddy looked up at Dragos, his expression sincere. “He’s not a bad man, Dragos. I think...I think he was trying to joke with you, not insult you.”
“What do you mean?” Surely his brother had changed. Hadn’t he? Was his beloved older brother still in there, not completely extinguished by Laurentiu’s hatred?
“When he said what he did about how the mighty had fallen and you got angry, I could sense his immediate remorse. I don’t think he meant to hurt you or make you angry. He feels...” Eddy suddenly looked baffled. “He feels good in my head.”
“So you don’t think he’s working with the Van Helsings? This is too much of a coincidence in my book, your brother showing up like this.” Parker stared at the Renfield, his eyes flickering with red light.
“No, I don’t. Not even my father would willingly work with Van Helsings.” Dragos rested his chin on his hands. “No. Something else is going on with them. Something you don’t have to worry about.”
“But we will, because we’re your friends, you idiot.” Parker stood and held out a hand to Amara. “If there are Van Helsings nearby, we’ll keep an eye out.”
“Discreetly, of course.” Amara grinned as bark flickered into and out of existence on her hands.
Someday Dragos would be used to Amara’s casual displays of power. Now that she’d found her mate, there was no longer fear in her. The rejections and taunts were in the past, and Amara had come into her own.
“Of course.”
* * *
Mina gritted her teeth , knowing that Parker and Amara had stepped through the magical veil that usually guarded the Throne. Battle was about to be joined in the Throne , and there was nothing Mina could do to stop it.
An aura of evil hung over her as she moved through the Throne to confront Parker and Amara. Thanks to her link to Mina , Terri would also be aware of their presence. The vines gave her power here now , the bitch tapping into Mina’s connection with the forest. Mina still wasn’t certain how the witch had gotten the drop on her , but one moment Mina was following Ash and Greer through the forest , and the next ...
Mina shrieked , pain tearing through her , more intense than anything she’d ever experienced before. When it was over , she was panting , breathless , ready to collapse.
The hamadryad was here , and Mina was dead.
“ Parker. ”
Mina tried not to lose consciousness. If she did , Terri would devour her , draining her power and killing her tree.
“ Hello , sweet. ” Parker’s British accent was thicker , his voice mellow , nonthreatening. Mina bet he could charm the birds from the trees if he wished. “ Where’s Mina? ”
Terri paused. “ Mina? ”
“ Oak , Terri. Where’s Oak? ”
Please don’t remind her I’m here. Please, Parker. If Terri remembered she’d give Mina more
Dragos shuddered. “That’s why they’re hanging on to Iva and your beta.”
“I think so, yes.” Noah dropped his arms and sighed.
His night just kept getting better and better. “I want the wolves on border patrol.” Amara and Eddy returned, with two trays of tea and munchies. “Thank you, Eddy.”
“You’re welcome.” Eddy, looking a lot better, settled on the arm of the sofa next to Amara, who had sat next to Parker. “Something felt fishy with your brother, by the way.”
“Oh?” And here Dragos had assumed Eddy’s response had been more to what his brother was, not what he wanted.
Eddy’s expression turned distant as he tried to express what he’d sensed from Trajan. “There was a conflict inside him, as if he wanted to do one thing but was being forced to do another and he didn’t know how to fix it.” Eddy frowned thoughtfully. “He’s powerful, but there’s a light inside him that’s slowly being eaten away by this conflict.” Eddy looked up at Dragos, his expression sincere. “He’s not a bad man, Dragos. I think...I think he was trying to joke with you, not insult you.”
“What do you mean?” Surely his brother had changed. Hadn’t he? Was his beloved older brother still in there, not completely extinguished by Laurentiu’s hatred?
“When he said what he did about how the mighty had fallen and you got angry, I could sense his immediate remorse. I don’t think he meant to hurt you or make you angry. He feels...” Eddy suddenly looked baffled. “He feels good in my head.”
“So you don’t think he’s working with the Van Helsings? This is too much of a coincidence in my book, your brother showing up like this.” Parker stared at the Renfield, his eyes flickering with red light.
“No, I don’t. Not even my father would willingly work with Van Helsings.” Dragos rested his chin on his hands. “No. Something else is going on with them. Something you don’t have to worry about.”
“But we will, because we’re your friends, you idiot.” Parker stood and held out a hand to Amara. “If there are Van Helsings nearby, we’ll keep an eye out.”
“Discreetly, of course.” Amara grinned as bark flickered into and out of existence on her hands.
Someday Dragos would be used to Amara’s casual displays of power. Now that she’d found her mate, there was no longer fear in her. The rejections and taunts were in the past, and Amara had come into her own.
“Of course.”
* * *
Mina gritted her teeth , knowing that Parker and Amara had stepped through the magical veil that usually guarded the Throne. Battle was about to be joined in the Throne , and there was nothing Mina could do to stop it.
An aura of evil hung over her as she moved through the Throne to confront Parker and Amara. Thanks to her link to Mina , Terri would also be aware of their presence. The vines gave her power here now , the bitch tapping into Mina’s connection with the forest. Mina still wasn’t certain how the witch had gotten the drop on her , but one moment Mina was following Ash and Greer through the forest , and the next ...
Mina shrieked , pain tearing through her , more intense than anything she’d ever experienced before. When it was over , she was panting , breathless , ready to collapse.
The hamadryad was here , and Mina was dead.
“ Parker. ”
Mina tried not to lose consciousness. If she did , Terri would devour her , draining her power and killing her tree.
“ Hello , sweet. ” Parker’s British accent was thicker , his voice mellow , nonthreatening. Mina bet he could charm the birds from the trees if he wished. “ Where’s Mina? ”
Terri paused. “ Mina? ”
“ Oak , Terri. Where’s Oak? ”
Please don’t remind her I’m here. Please, Parker. If Terri remembered she’d give Mina more
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