Page 93 of Always Eros

“Yes. The blood king feeds his people his blood in small doses. It allows him to have a level of control over you, while also conditioning you to be one of his trusted soldiers. Disciples, I believe, as you called them. You probably had it in all your drinks and meals. It increases over time until he’s ready to turn you.”

Justice pales, his expression one of shock and disgust. “Is that true?”

“That’s how I found you. Hale too. We can smell it on you.” Callias’s voice is raspy as his fangs descend even more. “It’s how we found everyone.”

Hale rubs his forehead. “I have no idea what happened. I was attacked too. My memory erased. I had no idea I was part of this cult before meeting Justice.”

Callias nods. “Ah. So the rumor is true. We heard the blood king had some of his coven hidden away with the intention of bringing them back after the uprising, which he intended to win. I couldn’t tell you why he never went back for you. Perhaps he simply changed his mind.”

Justice looks shellshocked, as does Hale. After a moment, it’s Yves who asks the next question.

“This cult still poses a threat to the sanctity of our species?”

“According to some of those we’ve discovered who were… encouraged to tell us the truth.” He slumps slightly. “Can I have a drink please?”

Bowie steps forward, offering a cup of blood to the vampire, holding it to his mouth. Callias takes a few sips and nods.

“Thank you. I didn’t know how much had changed,” Callias continues. “When we were freed and found the area so populated with vampires, we assumed the blood king’s plan had been a success.”

“And you didn’t think to check into it before you went on your massacre?” Yves asks, his tone hard. “You broke the honor code, Callias. You should die for that.”

“Yes, I know. I accept my fate, but please, allow me the opportunity to see the blood king’s destruction. Then I will offer my heart to you and accept your stake.”

Justice shivers. “But how? How do we even find him?”

Callias shifts his gaze to Justice. “I know where he is. We had planned to burn the compound down, after we took his head of course. We’ll kill everyone there.”

“No,” Justice says, standing. “I have family there. Friends too.”

Callias, with his dead eyes, merely shrugs. “Our species is not safe if any of them subscribe to his views.”

Justice stomps over to the vampire, his chest puffed and eyes full of fury. Thorn grins and Syn looks at me with surprised eyes. I only shrug in response.

“You listen to me, vampire killer.” He leans down to get close to Callias’s face. “None of us even know about vampires. Until I met Eros a whole whopping week ago, I thought that was a myth. No one there knows what they’re part of. Maybe the disciples do, but I guarantee the rest don’t. You can’t just kill innocent people because you have a revenge kink.”

Thorn snorts a laugh and Yves slaps him on the arm.

“Well, he’s spicier than we knew,” Raphael says beside me.

“Than even I knew.”

“What’s your plan then, boy wonder?” Callias taunts.

I’m about to defend my mate, but Justice is all over it.

“My name is Justice, dickhead. My plan is… well…” He huffs, turning to me. “My plan is to listen to people with more experience than me.”

Yves smiles at Justice. “I have an idea.”

Chapter Forty

JUSTICE

Eros pulls me onto his lap as Yves begins sharing his idea.

“We get Vivienne to provide a glamour spell that will mask our essence to other vampires at the compound,” Yves begins. “We show up there with the staged intention of joining.”

“No,” I say. “That won’t work. No one just shows up to join. They have to be recruited. They won’t buy it.”

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