Page 39 of Depths of Desire
“No,” I correct. “Giving him intel.”
“Then what makes you think Malrick blew up the freighter?” Renzo presses again.
“Because the Blood Orcs told me they were here to take me to Malrick. The same ones that broke into Nico’s place.”
“Blowing up the freighter is pretty...intense. Calls unnecessary attention to us,” Nico growls.
“Definitely something Malrick would try,” Luca finishes, nodding. “But I can’t see him doing it unless he’s absolutely sure he’s got a lot of backing. He has to know he’s starting a war with us.”
Renzo glares at me. “Just how long has your father been selling—pardon me—giving secrets?”
“As I said,” I clarify, “since before I was born. He’s been pushing my father harder the past few years. Pressuring him for more details.”
Nico’s head tilts. “So Malrick’s coming for us.”
I nod. “That would be my guess.”
Renzo confirms again. “Why is your father complying with this? What does he owe Malrick? Why not come to us? If he’d just told us, we could’ve taken Malrick out years ago. Put him in his place.”
I bite my lip again. “It’s not that simple.”
Nico growls, “Then perhaps you should explain. In detail.”
I try to remain calm but sweat breaks out across my back and palms. I can feel the weight of all the vampires’ stares—but mostly Nico’s. And I know, at any given moment, he could kill me faster than I could blink.
“My father made a deal with Malrick years ago,” I begin. “I don’t know how he found out, but both my parents knew about the magickal realm. The deal with Malrick... was for me.”
“I don’t follow,” Renzo says. “What do you mean, for you?”
“My mom couldn’t get pregnant. Malrick said he knew a witch who could help. I didn’t learn any of this until I was in my teens. Anyway, my father took my mother to this witch, and she got pregnant with me.
“Malrick said that for his part in the deal, my father would have to give him intel on the family. Back then, I don’t think my father realized your family would be involved. But over the years, as it became clearer that Renzo was rising, Malrick’s relationship with my dad became more... important. Anytime my father hit a wall, he leaned on Malrick. It’s part of what made him so good at his job. What made Mia’s father promote him to second-in-command. Along with Pippa’s dad. To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if Malrick created a lot of those problems only to ‘help’ my father ‘fix’ them later.
“And? I feel quite sure there’s more,” Nico says in a steely voice.
“At some point... my father made a further deal with Malrick. For me.”
Pippa gasps softly. “So that’s what you meant. Your father made a deal with Malrick that when you were of age, you’d marry him?”
I nod. “That was the payment.”
“But why?” Luca asks. “Not that you’re not obviously beautiful and intelligent, etcetera... but why you specifically?”
I sigh. “Because of the witch. Because of how I was conceived... I have an ability.”
Everyone goes silent.
“I can identify magickal creatures. They all have a glow around them. A halo. Malrick wants me because with me at his side, he can’t be tricked. That’s what he thinks, anyway. He said as much to my father. No one can approach him without me knowing what they are. So far, at least, I’ve never failed to spot a magickal creature, no matter what spells they’ve used. Malrick tested me several times.”
“But you didn’t see Nico?” Luca asks.
“Vampires don’t glow,” I say. “I don’t know why.”
Nico taps his fingers on the desk. “Because we’re not magickal creatures. We didn’t come from the magickal realm. We evolved here, like humans. Everything else? Blood Orcs, witches, elves—they all came from that realm. We didn’t.”
“That makes sense,” I admit. I don’t add the thought that came to me earlier—about how I’d assumed vampires didn’t glow because they were evil. I’m damn glad I kept that to myself. “So, where do we go from here?” I ask quietly.
“That’s the question,” Luca mutters.
