Bite of Vengeance (Shadows of War #3)

34. Zan

Chapter 34

Zan

“ I can change you. If that’s what you want.”

I leaned against the counter, listening to Kali’s conversation with Warner. I should probably feel more guilty for eavesdropping, but she knew Impulse wasn’t soundproofed. Hearing her from up here was easy since I finally gained my strength back. I peered around the place I used to call home with my brothers. I was positive we would never live in Deadwood again, but at least we had a place to stay while we figured all this out.

“You have the power to do that?” Shock was evident in Warner’s question.

“Yes. You never wanted to be a vampire,” Kali answered softly. “I can fix it.”

This was the first time she’d really had a chance to speak with her best friend since we escaped. In the last week, Warner had been the point person between us and the Clovers. I had to grudgingly admit that he was doing a good job keeping the peace.

“I…I think I’ll wait,” Warner finally said. “Right now, things are working between us and the Clovers. And—” He paused. “—being a vampire isn’t the worst thing.”

“Hear that?” Viggo laughed as he appeared in the hall. “He likes being immortal.”

“He likes Gia,” Pax stated from the couch. Viggo and I stared at him until he glanced at us and shrugged. “He does. He’s spent the most time with her.”

Viggo snorted. “I didn’t see that coming. You think their age gap will cause problems?” He chuckled at his own joke as he pulled out his pack of cigarettes. “Anyway, any word on good old Dad?”

“No,” I gritted out. “He went underground. No one has even spotted any vampires.”

“He could be on the property.” Pax sighed. “It’s the safest place for him. It’s a fortress. We wouldn’t get a foot inside without his army of vampires coming at us.”

“I don’t like it. You know how he is.” Viggo shook his head. “If he’s being quiet, then he’s plotting.”

“He has time,” I grumbled. “PARA won’t do anything right now. They might be building up Shadows to follow Keeva, but it won’t happen overnight. Even if Keeva turns humans into Shadows, their transition takes a year.”

“We don’t know how many Shadows they have now,” Pax pointed out. “Rowan might think he has a chance.”

Viggo nodded. “Or he’s trying to find Kali. They might have some of her blood, but you know what he’s trying to do. He wants to get rid of vampires so his Shadows can take over. Are you sure her blood really can do that?”

“I saw it with my own eyes. Kali’s blood could turn all of us human if we drink it.”

“Shit,” he muttered. “No wonder Dad was so intent on getting Kali to obey him.”

“So who do we go after first?” Viggo asked, looking between me and Pax. “Rowan or Dad?”

“Rowan.”

“Dad,” Pax answered at the same time.

“No,” I growled. “Rowan is?—”

“You’re thinking about revenge, Zan,” Pax snapped. “I know they put you through hell—put Kali through hell. But he’s not the largest problem right now. Dad is.”

“I don’t agree,” I forced out. “We need to go after him and Keeva.”

“To do what?” Pax threw his arms up. “According to that paper Kali read, we can’t kill Keeva, or Kali dies. The Shadows following Keeva will hesitate to go after Kali because they are born to follow both twins. Every day, PARA is growing smaller. The Shadows and Clovers have invaded four cities this week. Four . The humans are tired of government control. They were siding with the Clovers. Choosing the Shadows because in many cases, they used to be people they knew before the transitions.”

“Rowan will stop at nothing to get Kali.” I paced the room. “I’m not letting it happen.”

“For once, can you listen to me?” Pax exploded, his usual quiet voice nearly a shout. “I was right. Right about Keeva. Right about trusting Kali when I first found her. Who first guessed that you and her were bonded? And now I believe Dad is the greatest threat. Fucking trust me, Zan.”

Viggo’s eyes widened. “We do trust you, Pax.”

“Then prove it. We need to go after Amaros first.”

Silence hung in the air for a few moments until I finally spoke up. “Fine. We find Dad. Then we fucking kill Rowan.”

I heard Warner leaving Impulse, and I glanced toward the stairs, hearing Viggo snicker.

“Go,” he teased. “Since you can’t bear to be away from her for longer than five minutes.”

I crossed the room, heading for the stairs. His words didn’t bother me in the slightest. They were true. I never wanted to be away from her. Five minutes was far too long.