Dark Obsession (Vampire Royals of New York #3) - Sarah Piper Page 0,56
it was time to let her in—fully. “Based on what he’s told me—reading behind the lies, of course—and additional information we’ve recently discovered in my father’s personal effects, I believe Chernikov has always wanted to be king. Not just of the demons, but of all supernaturals and humans alike.”
“What information?” she asked.
“Nikolai Chernikov helped my father slaughter House Kendrick in England—the first play in what I now realize is a very long game.” He sipped his scotch, resuming his position next to Charlotte. “As long as vampires remained the most powerful of the supernaturals, Chernikov knew a demon would never be recognized as a king—not without an army backing him. So he needed my father to ascend and come to America, where he could establish the Redthornes as the ruling supernatural family, and install Chernikov in a position of power. Together, they forged the Shadow Accords, carving out territory for demons, establishing just enough ground rules to keep supernaturals from killing each other or revealing us to the humans. And then, he bided his time.”
“Sounds like his time is coming,” Aiden said grimly.
“He still needs the weapon,” Dorian said. “All the tech in the world is still just that—tech. And tech has multiple points of failure.”
“But we have no idea what the weapon is, or when he’ll acquire it,” Isabelle said. “At this point, it’s just a rumor passed on from dark witch to dark witch. Frankly, we don’t even know if the weapon exists, or if it’s just another trick Chernikov conjured to keep his own people in line.”
“It exists.” Dorian drained his glass, then rose from the chair, extending a hand to the witch. “Isabelle? How would you like a tour of the crypts of Ravenswood?”
Chapter Twenty
The eerie magic of the Book of Lost Souls illuminated the dim cavern as Isabelle inspected its pages, her eyes shining with the same endless curiosity as Colin’s.
“I thought it might be a demonic grimoire,” Colin told her. “But I’ve only a passing familiarity with demonic symbology.” He looked even more wild and disheveled than when they’d seen him earlier, and the blood bags Dorian had brought him remained untouched.
Dorian fought back his worry, reminding himself that Colin was a medical doctor—one who’d been practicing in one form or another since they were children spying on their father. He certainly knew how to take care of himself.
“You’re not far off the mark,” Isabelle said. “It is a sort of grimoire, as well as a personal accounting.”
“Whose person?” Dorian asked. “Azerius?”
She glanced up at him, her gaze reflecting the book’s silvery-blue light. “The Book of Lost Souls tells of his descent into madness and corresponding ascent to power.”
“Always a good combination,” Aiden said.
“The demon Azerius,” Isabelle whispered, shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe it. “All this time, I thought the book and the blade were myths. At the very least, long-forgotten relics never to resurface again.”
“You’re familiar with him?” Dorian asked.
“Oh, yes,” she said. “He’s venerated as a god by many demonic factions, including Rogozin’s organization.”
“Rogozin’s… Bloody hell. The tattoos,” Dorian said, recalling the demons he and Gabriel had tortured. “Some of the Rogozin demons had white birds tattooed on their inner forearms. They must’ve been ravens.”
“The Great White Raven is allegedly one of the forms Azerius takes in dreams,” she said. “Your father mentioned it in his notes.”
“So he’s a Russian demon, then?” Colin asked.
“Not exclusively. Stories of Azerius cross hundreds of magical and cultural traditions, though the Russians likely feel a close kinship—their soldiers were the last humans known to wield the blade.”
“The blade of the Bessmertnym Soldat,” Charlotte said.
Isabelle looked impressed. “You’re familiar with the history, then.”
“The human history, at least,” Charlotte said. “All this demon stuff is new territory for me.”
“Perhaps we can trade stories over tea one night.” Isabelle smiled warmly, then turned her attention back to the book. “Azerius is known by many names—King of Blood and Ravens, He Who Slaughters the Blood of his Blood, He Who Drinks the Blood of the Fallen, He Whom Before All Mortals Weep.”
Aiden rolled his eyes. “I bet he’s fun at parties.”
“By Azerius’ own accounting,” she continued, “his father was a disgraced god who devoted his life to starting human wars. He fathered seventeen sons, including Azerius, but lived only in service to his own bloodlust. Eventually, Azerius got fed up with the neglect. To secure his father’s elusive attention, he slaughtered all sixteen of his brothers and their families, ensuring he was the very last of his