Page 123 of A Debt of Darkness

“We should hear him,” Ryan says, tilting his head and letting a vicious amusement laces his tone. The kind a cat has when it plays with a mouse before the kill. “After all, we’ve got nothing to lose. We may as well hear what the cunt has to say before we end his pathetic life.”

Matt growls and closes on the priest, who now looks considerably less sure of himself. He’s facing three highly skilled, powerful vampires and none of us is in the mood for games.

“You remember the schism?” he says, quietly. We nod in unison, recalling the bloodbath that resulted when he seized control of the Brotherhood after some zealots tried to take charge. “After I took control, I eradicated most of the problem priests.”

Ryan snarls, aware the Brotherhood claimed all had beenexecuted.

“One or two escaped, and they attempted a second schism. One that almost succeeded and we do not openly discuss.” Emmanuel sinks back, collapsing his weight onto one of the chairs. “The reason has nothing to do with the Brotherhood or our reputation. Or mine before you ask.”

He turns back to the painting and I wonder what he’s thinking now. Maybe he’s searching for the calm that obviously evades him, finding none as his body tenses and his breathing hitches.

“There’s a prophecy, Henry.” His voice trembles and his composure breaks. “Those I failed to kill and their followers believe you and Ivy fulfill it. That’s why they’ve been keeping such a close eye on you. It’s why they helped Rowan when he moved against you.”

“I don’t believe in nonsense.”

“You may think it’s drivel, but that’s irrelevant to the Brotherhood. It won’t affect whether it comes to pass either. I assume the dissenters thought they could discern if you fulfilled it by observing the pair of you, and then decided it was easier to kill one of you than risk letting things fall into place.”

He’s right.

Infuriatingly, undeniably, unwaveringly right.

It doesn’t matter what I think. Or Ivy. Or any of us in this fucking room. It matters what the cunts who are trying to take over the Brotherhood think—and they won’t stop hunting Ivy until they’re sure she’s no longer a threat.

“What’s the fucking prophecy?” Ryan asks.

“I can’t…”

Ryan moves faster than I’ve ever seen him move in all our years together, and his hand grips Emmanuel’s throat. His claws are millimeters away from severing his carotid and hewon’t release him until he has his answer.

“You’re in no position to negotiate, priest.”

Emmanuel pales and the terror of death invades his consciousness, surpassing all his power gifted by the gods. He’s powerful and will age slowly, but still mortal, and his love of life will overcome his loyalty to any oath he’s sworn. Fear weakens even the strongest souls and his crumbles as Ryan’s grip tightens and he nods, acquiescing in silence.

“A mortal heart will entwine with one of eternal night, and a child of both worlds will rise. The child will mark the dawn of change, and the fate of those who walk the night and serve their gods will be in their hands.”

“That’s as specific as shit.” Matt slams his hand onto my desk.

“That’s the nature of prophecies.”

Anger rises from the pit of my stomach and heats my chest, burning hot enough to obliterate the infernos of Hell. “You think Ivy is the mortal heart, and we will have a child?”

Emmanuel nods.

“It isn’t possible,” I snarl, aching as every part of me wishes it was. My life was stolen before I had a child, and turning mortals isn’t quite the same. “I’ve lived long enough to know, Deacon.”

“The prophecy says otherwise.”

“It’s vague at best.” My hands clench into fists.

Ryan releases his grip and Emmanuel splutters, finally taking proper breaths as his lungs burn from their ordeal. “The child will have the power to bring about the Brotherhood’s downfall, Henry. That’s why they’re hunting Ivy. Rowan’s using this situation to gain power and take out an old rival.”

Of course, the cunt is using this to his own advantage.

“I propose we ally, Henry. All our resources will be at your disposal. We will help protect you and Ivy, and in return, you will help us find and kill the zealots who wish to see this prophecy undone.”

Matt slams his hand into the desk again. “No.”

A beat of silence passes before another takes hold, waiting for Matt to control himself and finish his fucking thought.

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