Wicked Burn (Realm Enforcers #3)
Rebecca Zanetti
Prologue
A century ago
Nicholai Veis leaned against the interior wall of the rock and clay cottage, the ring nearly burning a hole in his pocket. Peace surrounded him in the silent dwelling, and even he, a former demon soldier, could feel the magic of Ireland outside the door.
He loved Ireland.
Or maybe it was the witch who’d captured his heart that made him embrace the magic of the place.
He reached for the ring to admire. Stunning. A three-carat Alexandrite gem surrounded by pure silver. It would look lovely on Simone’s finger. His nerves increased. Would she like the cottage? It was small, but for now, small would work.
Energy shifted outside the door. He paused and then shoved the ring inside his pocket, reaching for a dagger in his boot.
The knock on the door surprised him. Frowning, he crossed the empty main room and pulled it open. “Prophet Lily,” he murmured, looking immediately over her head to see Dage Kayrs, the King of the Realm. “And the king.” He had met both of them during peace talks after the last war. Tension uncoiled in his gut.
Even worse, dreams had been plaguing him lately in which Lily showed up and changed his entire life from light to dark. The dreams could not be omens. He wouldn’t let them be.
Lily smiled up at him, her stunning blue eyes lacking their usual sparkle. “I’m sorry to just appear, but the matter is urgent.” The weak sun shone on her nearly white-blond hair, which the wind instantly lifted. She shivered.
He drew her inside immediately, recognizing her scent of wild strawberries. Even in the dreams she smelled like the sweet fruit. “I’ll start a fire.” A stone fireplace made up the entire northern wall.
She shook her head. “I won’t be here long.”
Nick lifted an eyebrow at the king, who hadn’t moved. Dage Kayrs was six-and-a-half feet of hard soldier with dark silver eyes and jet-black hair. He’d had to step up as king after the war, or rather during it, and the toll showed in his world-weary gaze. “Are you coming in?” Nick asked.
Dage shook his head. “I’m just the transport. Lily said you needed to speak privately.” Even the king obeyed the tiny prophet. Yet he cleared his throat. “The Realm and the demon nation are allies for now, so I ask you to guarantee her safety.”
Nick’s chest heated. “I wouldn’t harm a prophet, king.”
“Understood.” Dage jumped up on a stone wall to sit.
Besides, Nick was leaving the demon nation. Well, perhaps not leaving, but he was finished working for them. It was time to mate Simone and start a new life in Ireland, where she could pursue her ambition of working for the Coven Nine, the ruling body of the witches. “Do you think it odd that you’re the only vampire to be able to teleport across the world?” Nick asked.
Dage shrugged. “Nope. I’ve got a gift.”
Nick barely kept from rolling his eyes. Someday the king would have to face the fact that there was a demon in his family tree—demons were known for being able to teleport by altering dimensions. Unfortunately, Nick wasn’t one of the demons who had that ability. “All right.” He shut the door and turned to face the tiny woman.
Lily fluttered her small hands together. The prophet marking wound up her neck in a graceful arc. She was one of three people chosen by fate to wear the mark and administer wisdom to all immortals. “I am so very sorry about this.”
Nick drew in a deep breath and gestured toward the rock ledge fronting the fireplace. “I haven’t had time to buy furniture, so that’s the only seat.”
She perched and spread her yellow skirts out. “I had a vision, Nicholai.” Her gaze remained on her hands.
Chills, sharper than normal, clawed down his back. In every bad dream, she had said the same words. “Is something bad going to happen to Simone?”
“No.” Lily took a deep breath. “Well, that depends on you.”
Ah hell. His head dropped forward. “I’m out, Lily. My uncle is right-hand to Suri, who now leads the demon nation. They have a plan, and they’re strong.”
“Your uncle is a sadist, and even he pales in comparison to Suri,” Lily whispered. “They can’t be allowed to follow their plans.”
Nick looked up, his muscles tightening through his abdomen. “Demons rule by lineage, and I don’t have the right bloodline. Even if I wanted to challenge Suri, and even if I had a chance in hell of beating him in a death match, I’m not of his line. I can’t rule.”
“I know,” she whispered. “But you, and only you, can make sure the right person does.”
He frowned, imaginary weights beginning to shove his shoulders down. Suri had two sisters; one was crazy-evil and the other too gentle to lead. “Who is the right person?”
“He hasn’t been born yet, and he won’t be unless you are in the right place to maneuver fate.” A tear slid down Lily’s face. “Several key moments have to come together, and even if you commit yourself fully, I don’t know that you’ll succeed. But you’re the only chance.”
He coughed out heated air, his mind burning. “Lily, I’m not in a position to do anything.”
“If your uncle died, you would be,” she whispered, her voice breaking.