Page 81 of The Vampire's Thirst
“How do we know if the Americans have breached them?”
“We’ll leave all the addresses. Chicago’s main headquarters. New Orleans. New York. Seattle.” Dax removed paper and pen from the glove compartment and started writing.
“I hope you have a good memory, vampire.”
“Excellent.”
****
Cerberuskept his mind’s eye on several skirmishes happening now. But this interview was too important to delay. Disguised as a satyr, he sat across from a witch who it was said could trace ancestry from a taste of blood. First, he’d test her beliefs.
He crossed his legs at the knee. “Why have you joined a subversive group such as Arisen Dawn?”
The witch straightened her spine, obviously not expecting the question. Cerberus claimed he wanted to hire her to uncover his heritage. His query had nothing to do with her skills to perform the job.
She ran an assessing eye over his form, possibly guessing he was disguised. “Why do you ask?”
“Let’s say I am the welcoming committee.”
“How do I know? You could be here to trap me.”
“I could also be here to make you a valuable member of a team.”
“Let’s stop waltzing around. Why are you here, satyr?” Her eyes narrowed, lit with suspicion.
Cerberus brushed a speck from his pants leg. “I am here to assess your loyalty.”
She leaned back in her desk chair. “I am loyal to Aeternals and my breed. Too long we have been harnessed. Taught to control our powers. Taught moderation. I believe we were created to rule the world. It’s time we started.”
“Have you killed when you feed?”
“Killing while I channel power from another to cast a spell would be illegal on Scath.” She tapped her well-manicured nails together.
“Now who is dancing?”
“I believe in all Arisen Dawn stands for. I believe we should stay strong, each breed pure. I believe we should rule over humans. I believe we should feed from them until we are full. I believe I was meant to feed my powers however I choose. I believe.”
“Good. Now tell me, is it true you can trace ancestry through a taste of blood?”
She nodded.
“Then you shall hold a high office in Cerberus’s Arisen Dawn. You are just what he needs.”
****
Whenthey left I-90, emptying onto Main and following it downtown, Dax twisted around in his seat. “Here are addresses of Alliance offices. If Thorn and I don’t return, drive to one of these locations. If that place is shot to hell, go to the next one. Shifter, fork over all your cash.”
Tossing his money clip into the back, Thorn pulled into an empty space on the side of the street, both Aeternals jumping out the doors when the She Beast came to a full stop.
“I’m not leaving you behind.” Chiara leaped from the backseat, following Dax onto the sidewalk. “I’m pissed enough to kill you myself, but I won’t let someone else.”
“If we don’t come back in an hour, you and Fin get to the Covenkirk stronghold on Scath. They’ll keep you safe. Your only chance will be from an Alliance office. If that doesn’t work, you hide out. Maybe forever.”
Chiara tilted her chin into the air. “No.”
“Damn it. If I don’t come back, I’m dead. It’s the only thing that could keep me away.” He pinched her chin between his finger and thumb. “For once, do as I say. I can’t do my job if I’m worried about you.”
Thorn and Fin stood on the other the side of the truck, probably having the same argument. Dax hoped the shifter’s female was more reasonable.Wait. Did he just give a nod to the little witch as his female?
