“Only you?” Maximilian shook his head. “No, Cassandre, I need you both.”
“No, you don’t need her. If you don’t believe me, ask Alexander. You only need me to resurrect the druids. I have the power. You don’t need her.”
“So, that’s it? You’re a druid of creation, and as your twin—of course: a druid of destruction. Balance must always be maintained.”
Eyes narrowing, Cassandre watched him, saw his eyes churn with the knowledge. Had he not known that before?
“Look, I’ll make a deal with you.” Cassie tried again, desperate now. “Release my mother, and leave Vivienne out of this, and I’ll resurrect the druids willingly.”
“Leave your sister out of this?” Maximilian repeated with a raised brow. “I need your sister as much as I need you, Cassandre.”
She shook her head. “She doesn’t have the power to resurrect druids. You don’t need her.”
“Your sister will help me with something else.”
“What?”
He smiled and replied, “You’ll soon find out.”
Tired of his vague statements, Cassie was preparing to curse him out when a tracker suddenly appeared behind Maximilian.
“Everything is ready, my lord.”
“Have all of the necessary calls been made?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Very good.”
The tracker vanished into thin air, and Cassie looked back to Cronin. When she continued to stare at him without speaking he asked, “Are you curious to know what is happening?”
“Does it include you either releasing my mother or dying?”
His eyes narrowed, and the smirk faded, before he visibly calmed himself. “We’ll be taking a trip soon. Think of it as a family reunion of sorts. You know, if your grandmother had accepted me, you would be my grandchild.”
That thought seemed to fascinate him about as much as it sickened her. “Thank God she had taste, right?”
Maximilian’s lips thinned and he looked down his nose at her. Cassie held his gaze and smirked. He headed to the far corner of the cell, where a door was concealed.
“Your sister is probably searching for you as we speak. She should arrive in a few hours, at maximum a day. Until that time, make yourself comfortable, Cassandre.” He indicated the cot next to her. “You’ll find I am an accommodating man when I choose to be.”
She doubted he did anything unless he had something to gain from it. When he disappeared, she shivered. The cell was freezing, and she was wearing one layer of clothing. The long-sleeved shirt was thin, and her sweat pants provided a small modicum of warmth.
Leaning against the stone wall, she closed her eyes and prayed silently that Vivienne would not search her out. Something told her her unwitting revelation of Vivienne’s true nature had just given Maximilian a new reason for wanting her sister.
***
Max released a quick breath after Kyros flashed them from his apartment to a large, mosaic hallway outside of a cherry-wood double door. Drew was in his arms, her breath faint, her heart rate slow, but steady.
Kyros knocked rapidly, and waited. The door was pulled open by a pale man, who looked directly at Kyros before stepping aside. Max followed Kyros through a penthouse suite littered with other pale creatures, up a staircase, and then down another hall. There was another set of double doors, this one black wood with golden handles, which Kyros pushed open and entered.
He stepped in behind Kyros, tightening his grip ever so slightly on Drew. The room was large and dimly lit, with a few candles illuminating the space, and an array of dark-hued furniture. In the corner, against the wall, was a tall, wing-back chair, and in it, a book in his hand, was a man. As soon as Kyros entered, the man looked up, closed the book, and stood. He was tall, pale and lean, with long dark hair pulled back, and a welcoming look on his face.
“Kyros,” he said immediately, but paused as his vision caught Max and the woman in his arms. Dark eyes narrowed, and he demanded, “What is the meaning of this?”
“I told you on the phone, Lucian. I’ve come to call in my favor.”
“Yes, the favor that is owed to you. Why have you brought a human here?”
“She is the favor,” Kyros responded in a low voice.
Drew moaned in his arms, and Max looked down. She was fading fast.
When Max next looked up, Lucian stood before him, glaring down at both him and Drew. Instinctively, Max took a step back, which only curled the vampire’s lips up in an expression that was in no way a smile. A smirk, perhaps, or a challenge.
“Who are you?”