19. Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Eighteen
Key
Torrin Scayde was a problem. Ever since she’d first glimpsed him in her visions a millennia ago, Key had found that anticipating his reactions was nearly impossible. Predicting his path, even with her visions, had never been an exact science.
The conversation she would have in a few short minutes would shed light on that travesty—and arrange the pieces precisely the way she needed them.
Yesterday, Nina had informed her that Zeke and Kaien had been discussing ways to eliminate Torrin from the equation. If the female sovereign hadn’t stepped in, her mate and brother may have compromised their chances of victory.
Bile rose in Key’s throat. The thought of what had almost happened made her nauseated. Out of all the nightmare scenarios she’d been subjected to, it was the repercussions of Torrin’s premature death that led to the most disastrous future. There was nowhere she could hide from the visions of that world. Though failing to eliminate the Citizens typically resulted in the genocide of immortalkind, one of those futures showed a fate far worse than death.
Sometimes, living was harder than dying.
Closing her eyes couldn’t keep away the visions. Curling into herself, Key braced her palms against her temples and exhaled a long, low breath. Meditation rarely helped her, but occasionally, it offered partial relief from the continual drum of foresight. The continuous bubbling of a small water feature and the low lighting in her bedroom helped her recenter.
Minutes—or hours—later, she was once more in balance, and she sent a telepathic ping to Kaien’s mind. Though they’d never engaged socially, they knew each other well enough that it wouldn’t be seen as an intrusion.
His response was swift. Key. What can I help with?
I need you and your mate to meet me at Lucius and Circe’s home as soon as you’re able, she replied.
Done. We will see you there in ten.
When Key knocked on Lucius’ door minutes later, she found the vampire waiting for her. Blair, his sire, must’ve warned him of their oncoming meeting. Key was unsurprised.
“Welcome to our home,” Circe said as she walked up behind him. “Please come in.”
Nodding appreciatively, she followed the mated pair into a cozy den with a gorgeous view of rolling waves. It was a peaceful spot, and she could see why they’d chosen it.
A part of Key longed to apologize to Lucius once more for her part in his torture. As it was, she could barely meet his gaze. With her sins brought to light, it was difficult to pretend that she was a good or wholesome person. Some things could never be forgiven.
Circe broke the awkward silence. “Blair and Kaien will arrive soon.”
A jerky nod. “Good.”
Silence reigned between them, and only when Kaien and Blair manifested did the stalemate break. The Raeth and his mate greeted the other couple warmly but turned to the foreseer with reluctance.
“Key,” Kaien said.
“Thank you for coming.” Key studied each of them. “Tomorrow, the four of you will attempt to stop our war. Torrin Scayde is your mark, and there are two possible futures stemming from your mission.”
Blair frowned. “Two? You can’t confirm one way or the other?”
“Torrin is …” Key paused, searching for the right word. “Unique. He’s exceptionally hard to predict and even harder to foresee.”
“Is that common?”
“No, which makes this more difficult. Torrin’s history with vampires is fraught with pain. If we manage to convince him that the race is no longer taking blood and using suggestion as a weapon, we may have an opening to end this war without further bloodshed.”
Lucius looked skeptical. “What’s the likelihood that Torrin will take our word?”
“I see possibilities, not probabilities. All I know is that if we play our cards right, the war could be over tomorrow.”
Hope was a glimmer in the eyes of those around her. It was everything they yearned for, Key included. If the war could be stopped, it meant that those who’d give their lives on the battlefield would survive.
She studied Blair. Though this allegation would shine a darker light on her, it needed to be said. “The last time I had a vision of you, Blair, you were biting the neck of a human and using suggestion to steal his car. Tell me, do you still break the laws your fledgling and his council have enacted?”
A trace of shame made the vampire drop her eyes. “No. After what I went through with Kaien, my outlook changed. That was the last time I used suggestion to my benefit.”
“Good. At least now, Lucius can be assured that even his sire is dedicated to the preservation of the species,” Key said, then turned to pin Kaien with a look. “I’ve also been informed that you were conspiring against Torrin.”
“Not conspiring. Planning.”
“Do you remember what I said that night, Kaien? That your interference could cause us to lose the war?” His jaw clenched, but he gave her a shallow nod. “If you had succeeded in moving forward with your plan, we would have lost everything.
“Shall I share with you the future that brings?” she threatened, baring her teeth. “Because of any of them, that one is by far the worst. If you’ve never known a cage, Kaien, ask your wife how captivity— slavery —destroys you.”
The blood drained from his face.
“Tomorrow,” she continued, “you will approach Torrin alone, Lucius.”
Eyes shifting to an icy blue, Lucius remained silent. Beside him, his mate clutched at his hand while Blair leapt to her feet. “Alone?!”
“That is the only way this works,” Key emphasized. “We wield Torrin’s obsession with Lucius against him. When he’s approached, he won’t be able to say no.”
Kaien shook his head. “And what happens if Lucius is captured again? If he’s injured?”
“No future I’ve foreseen shows Lucius being recaptured tomorrow,” she looked at the vampire, “and I give you my word that you will be safe. Blair and Kaien will shadow you—out of sight—in case he cannot be convinced. If Torrin stands up and says, ‘we’re done here,’ Kaien will know to teleport all of you to a holding cell beneath the vampire Council’s headquarters.”
“What then?”
“Then Kaien will stop his heart.”
Bitterness inched its way up Key’s throat. Though she wanted Torrin dead, killing him would set off a chain of events that’d seal the fate of those who would fall on the battlefield. There would be no changing it.
“Torrin couldn’t have been dealt with any earlier,” she explained into the tense silence. “If his death is suspicious, the newspaper he edits would’ve released an article identifying immortals as the culprit. Remmus is keyed up to run interference now.”
The technopath wouldn’t have been ready to act as the blocker any earlier. Nina’s third in command had only recently redeveloped his former skill after a case of psychic poisoning.
All that remained was one final warning.
“Torrin will be armed. If the conversation fails, disarm him immediately.”
If they did not, one of them would die.