Page 65 of Dante's Circle Reborn

“The Conclave isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

“You say that, and yet you have a realm that you’re safe in.” He lowered his hand and began pacing again.

She might not have one forever, but she didn’t mention that. “Were your people ever part of the Conclave?”

Misha shook his head. “Not in my time. Perhaps before, but the Conclave is relatively new. The elders aren’t. But how the governing body works now? It’s new.”

“The fact that the paranormal world just recently realized that they have a governing body sort of makes that apparent.”

“Yes, they were secretive for so long that I didn’t even know they existed until recently. How was I supposed to keep us safe if I didn’t know who to reach out to for help?”

“Show me your people, and then we’ll figure out what to do about the elders. Because it’s not right that you don’t have a voice. That you don’t have a home.”

“The elders have never liked the dead.”

“You’re not too cold to me. I don’t think you’re dead. I think it’s just a stigma, don’t you?”

“Perhaps.”

“Okay, where are we going?”

“Hold my hand, and I’ll take you.”

“How?” she asked, looking down at his hand and frowning.

“It’s glimmering.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I’ll take you from one place to another. Not all vampires can do it, and many need to be able to see where they’re going. But I and my cousin, Broderick, are two of the few who can do this.”

“Broderick?”

“He’s a good man. He has a mate, and a child. They’ll be where we’re going now.”

She looked down at his hand and then slid her palm into his. “I’m already jumping into fate as it is. Why not do this, as well?”

He squeezed her hand, and she felt the pulse through the bond. “You won’t regret it.”

She hoped that was true.

She closed her eyes and felt as if she’d been pulled through a vacuum, her whole body shaking. She landed hard, her knees hitting the ground as Misha tried to hold her up.

“Sorry about that, it’s been a while since I took a non-vampire with me.”

She stood, wiped her knees, and glared at him. “Next time, a little warning.”

“Cousin?” a deep voice asked. Caly’s head whipped up, her hands outstretched.

“It’s Broderick, you’re safe.” He kissed her temple, and she glared at him and noticed the widening of Broderick’s eyes.

“I sensed the bond between you two. Well, it sure has been an interesting few hours,” Broderick said dryly.

“Stop it. Don’t tease. Caly’s here to see our people. Hopefully, she will be a voice for us with the Conclave.”

“I hope that’s true,” Broderick said, looking directly at her. “Not everyone’s going to trust you, though.”

She raised her chin. “I’m Caly, Conclave member, and one of the representatives of the mer-realm.”

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