Bane of Tenebris (Wolfgods Book 2), Blaise Ramsay [best young adult book series txt] 📗

in your eyes that you have many questions. The biggest one being what I want from you, correct?” Barghast ran the blood-soaked claw of his thumb down Kain’s jaw. “I want you, Kain. Well, more simply, your body as my vessel. Anthony was an experiment to see if I could inhabit a physical form. Clearly, things have gone awry.”

Kain’s surprised gaze prompted a fanged grin from the dark god. “Does this surprise you? You have power, Alexander. Much more than any of your predecessors. None of them have lasted so long against me. Now, knowing you, I know I will not be receiving my vessel, so I am willing to take the next best thing.”

A hard knot formed in Kain’s throat at what alternative Barghast would propose. For as long as he’d known the Shadowed One, he always hinted at wanting one thing.

“Your soul, Alexander.”

Thoughts spun in Kain’s mind like a blood-soaked carousel. He kept trying to hold on to the promise the sun goddess made to spare him from Barghast’s rage and yet did nothing when it came to Tala being hurt.

If he surrendered his soul, Barghast would be able to torment him even after death in ways worse than in life. On the other hand, Kain thought of Tala. She’d been innocent in this war between Kain and the dark god but he’d targeted her anyway.

“What guarantee do I have you will release her once the bargain is struck?” Kain bluntly asked.

Barghast dropped to one knee. “A soul such as yours is worth more than that of a mere woman, Kain. Give it to me and I will spare her life.”

Kain clenched his teeth, eyes closed tight. “You must swear any damage will be taken from her.”

Barghast gave his word, releasing Kain from the chains binding his wrists. The Shadowed One reached out, asking for Kain to give him his hand.

Barghast burned a mark to seal their bargain. “So be it. Your woman is now free and you, my dear soldier, are mine once you breathe your last breath.”

The mark felt like a cold fire in the palm of Kain’s left hand. He hissed through his teeth, clasping his wrist against the pain.

Kain’s eyes shot open to find Zane staring at him.

“I’m getting you out of here. Anthony’s been quarantined in his office. He’s lost his mind. I’m not sure what happened and in truth, I don’t want to know. Dante and Steele will be taking you to a guest house at the coven in Big Timber. Damien has been called and will meet us there.”

Shaking his head, Kain looked at the mark on his hand. Again, Barghast manifested in the physical plane. When the experience began, Kain swore he’d been dreaming. A sense of lingering pain stung Kain’s hand. “Zane, did you get the remaining information we needed?”

Zane nodded, informing Kain he’d gathered the time the nobles from Europe were set to arrive and the floor plans for Crimson. If the lycans needed to get in unseen, the plans could help them do so.

He led Kain to his waiting car where Steele sat in the driver’s side, Dante in passenger’s seat. When Kain looked at him with a puzzled look, Zane only smirked, raising his brows and gesturing his head in a nod.

Kain got into the backseat where Zane ordered him to lie down in the floorboard so no one could see him. He went onto to assure his fellow vampires he’d make sure the gate stood clear for them to pass unhindered.

“Keep him safe. Desdemona will have my head if he’s hurt,” Zane said sarcastically.

Dante and Steele snickered. They rolled up the windows, pulled out and proceeded to drive down to where the automatic gates lie patrolled by guards.

Without turning around, Steele said, “Relax, Zane’ll do what he says. Many of the guards are loyal to Desdemona and the old Cardoza regime. It’s mostly the human hired hands who serve the Don.”

Kain thought about the power Zane had in the Cardoza household. “You trust him greatly.”

“With my life,” Steele replied.

Steele and Dante’s loyalty to Zane reminded Kain of some of the lycans he served with back in the Blood Wars. His command followed him without question even if the mission they were on looked too dangerous.

One of them, a young lycan named William, looked up to Kain like his father. They’d been sent to try and take Demetrius Stone down only to nearly have the whole pack destroyed when Rayes showed up. Had it not been for Jill, Kain would’ve died that day along with his command.

Images of the bodies of his fallen comrades ran through Kain’s mind. He’d argued with the commander of the lycans’ pack but lacked the influence his father had in the commander’s eyes. The result haunted him well into the centuries.

The lingering fear that Damien and his pack could meet the same fate brought about a feeling of unease. He asked Steele why he agreed to go along with Zane even when it appeared impossible.

Both Dante and Steele laughed which baffled Kain.

“Because sometimes, as soldiers, you have to go on blind faith, even when things don’t make sense.” Dante commented. “Zane’s made mistakes that’ve gotten some of us killed but he doesn’t let it stop him. He’s kind of the vampire equivalent of you, in a way.”

Dante’s reply didn’t come as a shock. Despite Zane’s youth, his experience as a Marine instilled confidence in those who followed him. In their many times together, Kain could see moments when Zane second-guessed himself, but he did what he needed.

The thought of being compared to a vampire made Kain snicker to himself but it made sense as to why Damien trusted Zane the first time they met. It was Damien’s confidence that led to Kain’s easy acceptance of the vampire as an ally.

As Zane promised, the guards at the gate opened the opened it without stopping the car or asking any questions.

Chapter Twenty-Three

As soon as Steele stopped Kain’s car in front