Chapter 8
Acheron - Eighteen Months Prior
All seven Territory Kings stared at the spread of photos in silence. The collective unease we all felt at the gruesome scenes was palpable.
Twenty-two bodies were shown in full, explicit color, all piled neatly in the middle of a dark, abandoned warehouse thirty miles outside of Spokane.
Their bodies were pale, their faces relaxed in death, the glaring antithesis to what we knew would have been a horror-filled and painful death.
To the human eye, the killings appeared to be random, with no rhyme or reason.
Men, women, and children were slaughtered indiscriminately.
I surveyed the photos with a clinical eye, noting the position of bodies, the puncture marks, and any other notable disfigurements.
As graphic as the photos were, I had seen far worse.
Heads decapitated, bodies burning alive.
Hell, I had done far worse to those who crossed me.
The many BloodKin I had captured had their fingers, toes, and tongues ripped from their bodies before I butchered them without thought.
But there was one glaring difference between the killings laid out on this table and the ones doled out by me. Those Otherly Beings came from the vile dregs of society and deserved their punishment.
These victims, shown so graphically in full color, were innocent. And worse, they were humans—innocent humans torn apart by our own kind.
A few human killings here and there over the years by the BloodKin, while terrible, could easily be excused away to inquiring human minds.
A random burglary gone wrong, a suspicious accident, a drifter passing through town.
Even though blood draining was highly unusual, it was always explained away by some fumbling coroner.
But twenty-two humans—innocent humans—all drained of blood and left in a careless pile to be found; that was difficult to cover up.
Once the story leaked, news crews descended on the location in droves.
This type of killing did not just make national headlines; it was a worldwide breaking story.
Every news station had picked up on the gruesome details and run with it.
The limited information they were drip-fed by contacts in law enforcement were discussed at length on news panels and opinion pieces.
The media were well-known for sensationalizing their stories, but in this case, there was no need for such embellishments.
If anything, their stories were tame, and their theory of a human trafficking ring, while plausible in the human world, was entirely off the mark.
They could not comprehend that the common denominator in these killings, that vital life source that was drained without mercy, was the driving motivation behind the senseless acts.
Of course, if they ventured down that path, they would eventually reach a dead end unless they opened their minds to what they deemed impossible.
"They're becoming bold," King Harkin of Ashua commented, breaking the tense silence.
"That’s a fucking understatement," King Damon grumbled. He picked up his gold goblet, downing the contents in one go. His bond-servant stealthily appeared at his side, silently refilling his goblet before disappearing from sight.
The BloodKin's acts of violence against humans had indeed increased. They were no longer hiding their kills or keeping the numbers steadily low.
The mass killings equally horrified and baffled law enforcement.
Notable scientists, doctors, and psychologists were flown in for their expert opinions on how and why these killings occurred.
Unless one of those experts was versed in the field of Parapsychology, then none of them would come close to the truth.
Amateur internet sleuths and conspiracy theorists were more on the money; in fact, they were eerily accurate.
But with scientific facts and non-circumstantial evidence as the framework for human deductions, we knew they would never consider a more paranormal conclusion—that Other Beings walked among them.
"The Weres, Lycans, and Witches are enraged. And I doubt they are the only ones."
King Harkin snorted. "What do those dogs have to be mad about? They're not exactly discreet with their howling."
"It is hardly the same fucking thing, Harkin," King Fraand of Straess growled. "They are not leaving mutilated bodies strewn about for humans to find."
Harkin shrugged carelessly as he tossed the photos he held in his hand onto the table. "We all know why the BloodKin has continuously breached cover over the last few years." He eyed me, his black eyes roving down to my chest before his mouth lifted in a sneer.
On instinct, I moved to cover my beating organ as if I could protect my mate from his disdain. My body calmed at the steady beat—now elevated under the scrutiny of my peers. Envy saturated the air.
"You have something to say, Harkin, then fucking say it."
He scowled. "It is no secret that your mate has been born. What is curious to us"—he indicated around the table, and a few of the Kings lowered their gaze from mine—"is why you have not been able to locate her. Or perhaps you already have her locked away in that dank dungeon of yours?"
"Slight my mate again, and I shall throw your body into Hades myself."
"Now, let's all calm down," King Cassius of Ipaua implored.
"It is odd that you have yet to find her though," Harkin continued, ignoring the comment. "We know by now that she is not a Vampire. The question is, do you know what she is?"
"Vladimir and his Kin are an enemy to all of us. Wasting time indulging in your petty jealousy will achieve nothing."
He snarled and looked away, confirming my prediction.
He was jealous. And probably not the only one of the Kings who felt that way.
We were all-powerful, our strength and authority unmatched.
Yet I was the one blessed with a fated mate.
My power would exceed theirs with her by my side—a troublesome thought that intimidated some of them.
Unlike others, I had no plans to use my power against the other Kings—unless they crossed me.
Yes, there were rivalries between certain Territories, but we were all united and bound by a common threat as well as the Treaty of ManKind, which King Artemis and Queen Sarai spearheaded. We would always be allies.
But I could not do anything about the rampant envy that rippled through the group.
King Remus of Llarmo, King Damon of Ameros, and King Dionyis of Gilla were the only Kings I trusted implicitly.
We had built a friendship that strengthened over the centuries.
I knew I could count on them to have my back.
"Why are we arguing among ourselves? Let us refocus on what is important," Dionyis chastised. "Vladimir was spotted five hundred miles from here. Chances are, he knows we are meeting and has since fled, but not far. We know he watches us and, I fear, you the most, my friend."
I blew my breath out, frustration clawing at me. "It is no secret that my mate is born." I again touched my chest and felt my ire slip away. "As much as it pains me, we fear she is…another Other."
That she was human was a closely guarded secret between me, Von, and my Elders. Not even Damon, Remus, or Dionyis knew, and I was unsure whether I would ever disclose that information to them. I was not a fool. I knew the reason for the current uprising was the birth of a King's mate—my mate.
I glanced at the photos before quickly averting my gaze.
The thought of my precious mate being slaughtered in the same manner caused bile to rise from my stomach.
I could not live with myself if I brought danger to her doorstep.
I would cease to exist if she were no longer in this world. The guilt and sorrow would eat at me.
It was why I made the difficult decision to abandon my search for her. It was a resolve I had conceded over a year ago when the BloodKin's murders became more rampant. It pained me greatly, but I would rather she were out in the world living her life freely and, more importantly, safely.
I swallowed thickly as another barrier entered my thoughts, darkening them.
She was married.
She was living happily with her human husband, possibly with a child or children of her own. The mere thought enraged me. Even though I allowed her to live freely, it did not mean I had to be happy for her. I was not that generous. However, her safety was more important than my needs. My ego.
Furthermore, even if we did meet, the likelihood that she would feel the same bond as me—as a human—was not guaranteed. My Elders thought it impossible. A sexual attraction, yes, but this deep, searing obsession and need? It would not register with her.
I had done many cruel things in my lifetime.
I killed without mercy, slaughtering my enemies and their families without thought.
I slept with taken Beings, seducing them without guilt.
Yet forcing a human woman, regardless of her status as my mate, to conform to me and adjust to our ways—the thought did not sit right with me.
Our meeting dragged on for a few more hours before finally ending early in the morning. I only needed a couple of hours’ rest, although there were times I went without sleep for days. My body had grown accustomed to centuries of regeneration.
Damon invited Remus, Dionyis, and me to drink with him at his underground bar in Vancouver. His primary residence was just outside the city, near Squamish, where our meetings and resting rooms were located.