Page 6 of Destined for Dreams
“We’ve not seen each other in nearly two centuries, but I assure you that we were once very close, and I come here in peace. It is not my intention to harm you.”
Melena glanced at Cori. “He’s telling the truth for whatever that’s worth.”
Actually, it made her feel a little better. No one could tell a lie around Melena with her abilities. Some could skirt around the truth, but Caius was being rather direct.
“Why come to me?” Cori asked.
“I met with Bartol first, but he will not listen, and this is a matter of grave importance.” He glanced at Melena, his gaze a little less unfriendly toward her. “It has to do with Zoe of Chalcis.”
The sensor cursed. “Don’t tell me she’s up to more trouble.”
Caius grimaced. “She isn’t, but there is another who may soon become a serious threat.”
“Who?” Cori asked, narrowing her eyes.
“Zoe knows more details than I do, but there are reports across Europe of a demon on the rise. One who plans to use the Gregorian stones to keep anyone of notable power from stopping him.” He took in their doubtful gazes. “I assure you that I have checked into this with my own sources and believe it to be true.”
Melena narrowed her eyes. “I believe you believe this, but how can you be sure that Zoe isn’t in league with this demon? It wouldn’t be the first time.”
Cori recalled a story the sensor had told her about when Zoe tried to raise a demon prince named Stolas from Hell a few years back. There had been signs of demonic activity all over Juneau, Alaska where the rising was to take place. It had taken a bloody battle with dozens of supernaturals to stop the prince from breaking loose, and even that wasn’t enough. An archangel had to step in at the last moment or else they would have all died in the fight. If this new demon had obtained Gregorian stones and gotten strong enough, he’d be unstoppable.
“She would not ally with a demon—not with her daughter here now,” Caius asserted. “She has tried getting messages to you and others in the supernatural world with no success. None of you will speak to her or her messengers, which is why she sent her vampire minion to get your attention. She believed if you saw the danger of the stones when used against you, you might be more inclined to hear her out. But you didn’t, and she eventually convinced me of the problem so I would come speak with you.”
Melena processed all of this in the same few moments as Cori. “Where exactly is this demon now?”
“I haven’t been able to pinpoint a location yet, other than I believe he may be in Eastern Europe at the moment based on the strength of the omens from mystics and other magic users. Zoe claims to know a lot more, but she insists someone from Fairbanks must come speak to her—and bring her daughter.”
Cori rolled her eyes. “Should’ve known there’d be a catch.”
“She has angel contacts,” Melena argued. “She should pass on the problem to them.”
“They will not listen to her without more reliable confirmation. Apparently, that would be someone from here.” He glanced between Cori and Melena as if they had that kind of pull.
“We aren’tthatsignificant to the angels,” the sensor muttered.
“This is stupid. Can’t they just figure out these things for themselves?” Cori asked.
Melena lifted a brow. “In case you haven’t noticed, they don’t ever interfere on Earth until something becomes a major problem—our mates being the apparent exception to the rule. The last time we had a demon on the rise, it took me dying for a few seconds to get their attention and even then it was because it was Lucas’ sworn job to keep me alive. Remiel showed up to punish him when he realized what was happening.”
“Good grief.” Cori didn’t think she’d ever understand the angels’ way of thinking and doing things.
“Exactly.” Caius nodded. “Which is why I’d hoped Bartol could come speak with Zoe. She has no issues with him, and he can freely travel.”
“But he won’t come with you, will he?” Cori surmised by the frustrated look on the nephilim’s face.
“I need you to convince him.”
She snorted. “I haven’t even seen him in nearly a month because he won’t see me or talk to me. You’d have better luck finding Lucas and seeing if he can get Bartol to come out of hiding.”
“Why would he not see his own mate?” the nephilim asked, perplexed.
“It’s a long story,” Melena replied. “But let’s just say his stay in Purgatory has made him less than sociable and asking him to leave his cabin is a chore, much less going out of the state or country.”
Caius worked his jaw. “You have to try.”
“Why should we?” Cori asked, lifting a brow. “Is this going to be dangerous?”
“Zoe will not hurt him,” he promised. “All we need right now is to find out what she knows so that we can begin searching for the demon and stopping him. I assure you that your mate is the best one for this job.”
