Alex sighed.“Use your connections, Lizzy.I’m willing to make a deal.”
“Whatever it takes?”Lizzy asked.
“Whatever it takes.You have my word.”
Lizzy nodded.“I’ll do my best.The leader of the Greek coven is my cousin, I’m sure I can convince her to help us.”
“I’m going with you,” Grant said.
Lizzy looked like she was going to protest at the idea of a vampire following her to the meeting.
“No arguments, love.I’m not letting you go alone and defenseless.”
Lizzy nodded.Grant followed his mate and the two of them went to broker a deal with the coven.
While we waited for Lizzy and Grant to return with word from the coven, the building shook like we were getting bombed in an active war zone.
At this rate of destruction, the demons were going to leave the Earth a scorched, barren land within the week.This couldn’t go on for much longer.We had to make a deal with the witches to close that portal.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Lizzy and Grant returned.An elegant, statuesque woman with flowing black hair down to her waist followed behind them.Her emerald green satin robes brought out the green specks in her opal eyes.This must be the leader of the Greek coven.She was not a crone like most witches who earned the coven leader position.To my eye, she was at most in her mid-thirties.
“This is Cassandra, the leader of the coven here in Athens.”Lizzy stated.
Alex nodded at her in acknowledgement.There was too much mistrust on both sides for anything more.
Lizzy turned to Cassandra.“Alex is the master vampire of the Diamantis clan.He would like to propose a truce in exchange for your help in closing the portal.”
Cassandra scoffed.“I know what you want.You must think I am a blind fool to agree to any deal with your kind.Bloodsucker.”She spat out the last word like it was poison in her mouth.
“I understand your distrust,” Alex responded.“But surely, you can see that the current situation cannot go on for much longer.It is in both of our interests to defeat these creatures and close the doors between our worlds before they turn Earth into hell.”
“What difference does it make if everything is burned to ash?The last several years have already been hell for humankind thanks to you.This way, we can finally have peace in eternal rest.”
Alex let out an aggravated scowl.“Fucking witches.Then we will all burn together.”He swore as he turned away from Cassandra.He took no more than two steps before Amanda placed a gentle hand on his arm.She brought his hand to her lips and kissed his knuckles before placing his hand on her stomach.
Whatever she said to him through the bond worked.He sighed and came back to Cassandra.The anger that flowed through him earlier was replaced with resignation.
“Whatever you want.Name your price.”
Cassandra examined him with cool indifference.“My coven will help you close the portal if you agree to give us the orb so we can destroy it.”
“You can’t be serious,” Alex snarled.“We will have to go into hiding.”
“Exactly.”A cruel smile graced her face.“Your kind will disappear back into the shadows.The world will once again belong to the living.That is the price I demand.”She glanced at Amanda.“I assume you are willing to pay for the future of your child and mate.Are you not?”
Even as Alex fought with the decision, I already knew he was going to agree to the deal.
“I agree to your terms, on one condition.”
Cassandra quirked an eyebrow and waved her hand imperiously in a gesture for him to continue.
“You will wait until the portal is closed and the demons are defeated.My men will need time to find shelter before the sun comes out.”
"I accept your terms, vampire.Cassandra withdrew a sacred dagger hidden in her waistband and uttered an incantation before slicing her palm.She handed Alex the dagger and he repeated the same actions on himself.
“An agreement bound by blood.The first to break the contract will be condemned to eternal damnation.”
Alex repeated the same words before grabbing her hand.A pale blue glow surrounded their hands as the blood flowing from their wounds melded.