Drake cut a look at Vero. “I was going to bring you in on this.”
Vero was silent. Interesting. Hope watched the interplay. Paxton had no doubt made the claim just to see if Vero knew anything. Apparently, Drake had not shared his concerns about Ulric.
“Have you figured out how to kill Ulric?” Drake asked when his cousin didn’t reply.
“Not yet,” Hope admitted. “We know it’ll take the blood of the Keys and probably the Lock, but we haven’t figured out if that will do it. We think maybe if we get a bullet of the stuff down his throat, it will mingle with his blood and destroy him.” She perked up. “Do you have any ancient texts or legends that would give us more info? We’ve found some recently, but I was thinking there might be a lot more.”
“We have a few,” Drake said shortly, focusing once again completely on her. “We’ve always been more of an action-oriented society, not one of books. I could start sending scouts out, but we’re stretched a little thin right now with my faction fighting Ulric’s. There are more Kurjans joining the Cyst than I would hope.”
“So you want to take him out,” Paxton drawled. “That seems rather disloyal of you.”
Hope searched Vero’s expression for any hint as to what he was thinking, but he had learned to mask his thoughts well. “What’s your plan?” she asked, hoping Drake had one.
He smiled. “A temporary treaty with the Realm, of course.”
Excitement started to drum through her. If she could negotiate a treaty between the two nations, she would have fulfilled at least part of her fate. Anything temporary could turn into something permanent. This was good. She smiled. “All right, what are your terms?”
“They’re simple,” Drake said. “One, you kill Ulric and then give me a year to consolidate the power of the Kurjan and Cyst nations. Two, immediate acceptance into the Realm and everything that entails. If we’re attacked, we have your full defense behind us. Three, full access to all Realm satellites and data regarding the Kurjan nation and the Cyst. Four, all information regarding all enhanced human females in the world shall be shared. And five—” His gaze warmed. “We commingle our peoples in the same way treaties have been cemented in the past. You mate me, Hope.”
Paxton instantly stepped in front of her. “The last one’s a no go. Probably the third one as well.”
“That’s nonnegotiable,” Drake said.
Hope cocked her head to the side. “You and I have a deal, remember?” She ignored the way Paxton’s body stiffened. “Find out what drugs are in Pax’s system and get me a cure. Then I’ll mate you.”
Drake lifted one powerful shoulder. “You and I have been destined from the moment you were born. I think you know that. Treaties have been consolidated by matings for much longer than any of us have lived. That part is nonnegotiable.”
“No,” Pax growled. He glanced at her over his shoulder. “No way will I allow you to mate this guy.”
She couldn’t help it. “It’s not like you’ve asked me.”
“That’s it.” He clapped his hands hard, and the dreamworld disappeared.
Hope sat upright in her bed.
He stood, all angry demon male. “What the hell was that?” he snapped.
Both Zane and Janie moved off the loveseat.
“What happened?” Zane asked.
Pax spared him a glance and looked back at Hope. “Are you kidding me? I’ve wanted to mate you since I was two years old. It has always been my plan. I’ve been waiting for you to show up.”
“Why didn’t you ever ask me?” she asked, knowing full well she could have asked him.
“Because I didn’t want to hear you say no,” he growled even lower, making his tone demon hoarse. “You’re still thinking about sacrificing yourself for this damn nation. It’s ridiculous, and those thoughts need to stop now.”
Anger trilled through her, and she shoved herself out of the bed, stomping across the room to poke him in the chest. Just who did he think he was? “Now listen here.”
Before she could get another word out, the air tightened and exploded outward. The comforter flew off the bed, and the books plummeted down from the bookshelf. Even the papers on her dresser whirled away.
Paxton turned. “What the—”
Drake suddenly appeared in the room out of nowhere.
Zane yelled and lunged for him.
Drake grabbed Hope and clapped a hand on Paxton’s arm. “Thanks for being here,” he hissed.
Then they plummeted through time and space into absolute darkness.
Paxton’s head felt as if his skull had caved in and then blown out. Through the overwhelming pain, he tried to focus and force his eyelids open. There was only darkness and air and heat. Even so, he reached for Hope, knowing she was close. Just as he closed a hand around her biceps, a blinding light pierced his eyes, and he landed hard on icy packed dirt. Going on instinct, he yanked her against him, flattened her against his body and rolled, trying to protect her.
Then silence.
She was ripped away from him, and he growled, leaping to his feet. It took him a moment to focus. He was in the middle of what appeared to be some sort of camp, complete with wooden cabins and a large, handcrafted log lodge, covered with snow. Although dawn had arrived, there was still a bright spotlight shining down, illuminating the center of the camp. Forestland surrounded them, mountains rose high in the distance, and a river bubbled nearby. He smelled pine, dirt, and oil. They could be anywhere.
Kurjan soldiers surrounded them, all with weapons at the ready and trained on his body.
Drake held Hope, who was pale, her eyes blinking as she obviously tried to focus. The sight of her starting to fight the hands holding her nearly threw Paxton into a rage. He took a deep breath, centering himself so he could fight.
“Shoot him,” Drake ordered.
Hope cried out in protest, and Paxton reacted on instinct, his fangs dropping low and fire blowing through his blood. Almost instantly, darts of all kinds struck him from head to toe, followed by lasers that turned into bullets with piercing agony. He flew back against a cage surrounded by iron bars. The pain was excruciating. Even so, he ducked his head and tried to get to Hope. She was the only thing that mattered in the entire universe.
“Lock him inside,” Drake said with a casual flick of his wrist, looking around the area.
Hope fought him, kicking back and turning to punch him in the stomach. But she was no match for the Kurjan. He easily subdued her, grabbing both of her wrists and twisting her around to face Paxton while yanking her up against his body. Her head shot back in a spurt of temper, and she blinked, the corners of her eyes wrinkling in pain.
Drake didn’t seem to notice she’d headbutted his chest.