A Ride of Peril (A Shade of Vampire #46)(54)

“Welcome, travelers,” the one in the middle said. “My name is Tamara, Mother of the Lamias, and these are my sisters.”

Bijarki got off his horse and was the first to bow in front of them. Anjani and I followed suit. The Mother and sisters bowed in return.

The triplets who’d brought us in took the incubi away.

Three young Lamias appeared almost out of nowhere, offering to take our horses and give them food and water. Bijarki gave Anjani and me an approving nod, and we let our stallions go.

“What brings you here?” Tamara asked, measuring us carefully.

“I’m Bijarki, of the Strandh clan. These are my companions and allies, Anjani of the Red Tribe and Jovi,” he waved in my direction.

I felt awkward again with a sea of yellow eyes focused on me. I was the odd one out, after all. Tamara sniffed the air, her forked tongue flitting over her lips.

“Jovi of the wolves, I believe?” She smiled.

I nodded.

“You’re not from around here.”

“I’m not.”

“Where are you from?” Tamara lifted an eyebrow.

“Jovi was visiting with a delegation from another planet outside this galaxy, many light years away, when Azazel attacked,” Bijarki answered on my behalf. “He’s been stranded here ever since but is extremely valuable to our cause. He’s one of the most skilled fighters I’ve ever been honored to meet.”

I wasn’t sure whether Bijarki was just making all this stuff up to validate my presence here, but I didn’t mind the whiff of pride gleaming through me at his description of me. I put on a confident smile to further validate his statement, and the Lamias seemed to appreciate it. I gave Anjani a sideways glance and noticed her frowning, tension pulsating in her jaw. I figured she wasn’t a fan of so many creatures gazing at me with such interest.

“And yet you haven’t answered my question, Bijarki. What brings you here?” Tamara replied.

“We’re here to discuss an alliance with the Lamias,” he answered. “Draven, son of Almus and the last Druid of Eritopia, wishes to arrange a discourse with you, Tamara. We are gathering forces all over the planet and beyond to rise against Azazel and put an end to his tyranny. Draven has faith in you as potential allies in the upcoming war.”

Tamara cocked her head, looking at Bijarki with newfound interest.

“You mean to tell me that the Druids are not all dead or decayed into those filthy, useless Destroyers?”

By useless I figured she meant sterile, as the triplets had already confirmed. I noticed Anjani slowly moving closer to my side, inch by inch, until the back of her hand brushed against mine.

“Draven is the only survivor, from what we know,” Bijarki replied. “Azazel never knew he was born. Chances are he still doesn’t know.”

Tamara nodded, looking at her sisters before shifting her attention back on us with a warm smile and arms wide open.

“We’d certainly be pleased to meet with the Druid and negotiate an alliance, as you say. But first, let us feast. We will look after your horses and offer you a place to rest for the night, along with our finest dishes and company,” she said.

A moment passed, during which we looked at each other, distrust hanging loosely in the air. We were willing to initiate a dialogue against a common enemy. That didn’t mean knives couldn’t be thrust into our backs if we weren’t careful. Most importantly, I still felt some degree of concern for the incubi we’d captured. Every able-bodied soldier counted in our war, even the ones hungry for Azazel’s bounties.

“What about the incubi?” I asked.

“What about them, little wolf?” one of the sisters replied with a smirk.

“We captured them with the help of your sisters. However, we could use their help in this war, should they be willing to cooperate. Will you keep them alive, at least until we can decide whether they can be trusted or not?”

“We do not kill so easily,” the sister said, her chin up and proud. “We will ask them questions, as they were far too close to the river to begin with, and will leave them in your care afterward, if that is what you wish.”

I nodded in appreciation.

Tamara smiled. “But in the meantime, let us feast!”

“Why should we trust you?” Anjani interjected, her brow furrowed. “Your reputation doesn’t exactly speak of peaceful demeanors and trustworthiness.”

“Neither does yours, succubus, and yet we have a common enemy—one who is cruel and evil enough to put our troubled history aside for the moment. Wouldn’t you agree?” Tamara’s voice was laced with ice and contempt.

Heavy silence fell between us for a few long seconds.

“Besides, we would never think of harming the friends of a Druid,” she added. “After all, nothing makes us happier than the thought of there still being one Druid alive in this wretched world.”





Field





The day had been calm and sunny, but I still wasn’t comfortable with just waiting around the mansion while Aida, Phoenix, and Vita were busy with their visions. I felt like I could do more to keep my friends—particularly Aida—safe, so I decided to fly out beyond the mansion’s protective shield and do a wider perimeter check.

I was careful, flying low and soundlessly. I wasn’t comfortable leaving the safety of the mansion, but I had to check the surroundings and see whether the Destroyers we’d seen in previous nights were getting any closer to our location.