That wasn’t why he was here. And where was this?
The compound. Right. Block R, where Nick put the creatures who were almost beyond hope. Almost.
He scoured his brain. Where had he been tonight? Or last night? Something about a mission. A research facility . . .
You did well, my boy. I am very proud of your progress.
“What?” he rasped. “What did I do?”
You defeated my Sluagh, and while that is inconvenient for me, it is important training for you, son. You killed dozens of them and allowed the true predator in you to take over. The bloodlust became one with your soul, and you turned your rage on the one called Hunter.
“Ryon?” Sweet Jesus, no. “I killed him?”
If not for the untimely intervention of those meddling dogs, you would have. The war is near, and when the hour comes, you’ll help me destroy them all.
“No. I won’t do it.”
You will, and you will revel in their blood. Remember the pleasure of bathing in it, boy? Of feasting on your kill? That can be yours, always. You and I will rule, father and son. No one will stand against us.
“The blood was sweet.” God, no. He was losing his mind. Falling again.
Yes, son. It sustains us, the juices of our prey. Every night we will feast, not on those mangy Sluagh, but on young and succulent meat. Would you like that?
No, no. “Yes, Father.”
“Kalen?” a sweet voice called from far away. “Don’t listen to him! He’s poisoning your mind!” But her pleas faded.
I’ll bring the most beautiful specimens for us both, each night. They’ll be trembling with desire, eager to sacrifice themselves to the world’s most powerful creatures. They will be helpless against our seduction, spread their legs for us so we can feast on their essence before we slide our cocks deep.
Kalen panted, his cock lengthening in his jeans. Fought against the image, but hunger won. His cock throbbed as Malik continued.
You’re sinking your cock deep into your willing prey now. The tight clasp of heat writhes against you, and you own this body. You are lord and master and this is your due. More?
“Yes, please. Tell me how it will be.” He ground his hard cock underneath himself. Beyond saving.
You own your prey then, for that is what this body is—not woman or man. Simply a sacrifice to satisfy a superior beast. Your rod joins you both as you stroke inside, fanning your flame. Seeking the ultimate high. Just before the peak, you sink your fangs into the delicate throat. Do you taste the sweet, warm blood?
“So good,” he moaned.
It fills your mouth as your prey screams out a release of joy at having experienced this joining. Of being your Chosen One for the evening, your body to enjoy. The prey dances on your cock as you fill it with your seed, until at last the life force begins to leave it. You take the soul into yourself, this precious gift.
His cock erupted, spasming on and on as the decadent scene ended. So wicked.
The sacrifice your prey has given to you is an honor and shall not be wasted. You tear into the throat and feast, and soon move on to the heart, for that is the best meat and will sustain you until the next night. This I promise you.
“You promise,” he whispered.
Yes. You are my son. You are the prince of the Unseelie, and this is your destiny.
“Father, I’ve waited for you for so long. No one else ever wanted me.”
I know, my son. We’ll be together. In mere hours, it will all be over. You know what to do.
He did, and though the light fought to defeat the darkness, it dimmed to almost nothing. “I’ll lower the shields.”
Good. And then?
“I’ll kill them for you. Kill them all!”
Except the woman. She carries our future.
“Of course.” He frowned, but the wisp of light faded away again.
My Sluagh are coming, by the hundreds. You will fight at my side. And when it’s all over you’ll be rewarded with your first prey. Save your appetite.
He laughed. “Can’t wait.”
* * *
“Oh my fucking God,” A.J. croaked, stunned. He stared at Kalen curled on the floor of his cell, consumed by Malik’s poison. They’d heard enough of the Sorcerer’s side of the conversation to glean what was about to go down. “That’s not Kalen anymore. I’m calling Nick.”
Sobbing, Mac fled Block R. She didn’t know where she was going at first, only that she had to get out of there, now.
Help. She had to get help. She’d get Melina and they’d give him the sedative after all. At least he’d be unable to carry out his father’s orders.
“Oh, no. No!”
She’d lost the man she loved to the evil that had stalked him all his life.
And had finally won.
* * *
Nick and Jarrod sat in Nick’s office at half past two in the morning. Unable to sleep, they’d talked for hours. Something was going to happen, and soon.
The storm was on the way.
As if to punctuate this knowledge, lightning flashed and actual thunder rolled in the distance. Miles away yet but speeding toward them. He should’ve known the end would come with a real storm to add to the mess, not simply a figurative one.
“I can’t get a reading, no inkling at all of a vision beyond what I’ve told you,” Nick said in frustration.
“And that doesn’t help much. We know there’s a great war and Kalen is there. He’s the impetus of the catastrophic event.”
“Yeah. And we don’t know which side of the fence he comes down on.”
The cell phone on Nick’s desk buzzed and he glanced at it in surprise. Then the chill of foreboding gripped him even before he saw the name on the screen. “It’s A.J.,” he told Jarrod. Then he answered. “What’s up?”
“Boss, it’s Kalen,” the younger man said breathlessly. Nick was out of his chair and moving before the guy spoke again. Jarrod ran after him. “That Unseelie creep got into his head again, and—and you shoulda seen it. I think he’s gone, boss. Like ‘the Kalen we know doesn’t live here anymore’ gone. He’s raving about killing all of us!”
“Grant and I are on the way.”
“God, it’s going to devastate Mac if . . .” The man couldn’t finish.