Dark Possession - Aja James Page 0,59
her head to clear it.
Even if she didn’t know all the answers, she knew one thing for certain:
The Challenge must be stopped!
“A Fallen Pure One is the most pitiable thing. A Pure soul housed in a vampire’s body. A creature of night that survives on the blood of other beings. Like a parasite. So base, the Fallen is like an animal, but worse. Animal spirits are noble and pure. But a vampire is conniving and spoiled. It is a Pure One’s greatest shame to turn to the Dark side. Death would have been the wiser choice…”
—From the Zodiac Scrolls
Chapter Eleven
“This must be a trap,” Maximus said for the nth time, scowling at Ramses in the rearview mirror as they sped along the highway from NYC to the American Falls in the deep of night.
In a black, armored vehicle without lights, cruising at one hundred and twenty miles per hour, they would reach their destination within the next thirty minutes.
“So you’ve said,” the Dark King responded with nonchalance, his face turned in profile toward the side window as he sat casually in the luxurious leather backseat.
“Why are you allowing Queen Anya to dictate the rules?” the Commander persisted. “She is the Challenger. You have the right of selecting the time and place, as well as first choice in weapons.”
“It doesn’t matter,” came the same monotone response.
Pissed off now at his carelessness, Maximus turned his body around in the front passenger seat to glare at his king while his Mate, Ariel, glared along with him through the rearview mirror as she drove.
“You are not invincible, Ramses. I’ve seen you fight. You are a seasoned warrior badass motherfucker, I’ll give you that, especially with the scimitar. And while you’d probably kick my ass in humanoid form, you wouldn’t be guaranteed to win if I took animal form.”
Ariel growled in her black panther voice in agreement.
“We don’t know what Anya has planned. How can you be so complacent? Do you have a death wish?”
Ramses continued to stare out the window, but a hint of white teeth flashed in the dark.
“I’m touched by your concern for my wellbeing, Commander,” he said softly. “Death is not such a bad thing, after all. Some might say I should have chosen it long ago.”
Maximus’ look turned quizzical. What the fuck was he talking about?
“Besides,” Ramses went on, “if I finally departed the mortal coil, you and the Chosen are well capable of keeping things in order for the New England Hive. You would make a great king, Maximus.”
Now it was Maximus’ turn to growl in frustration.
“Fuck that. I have no desire to rule. You’re staying on the throne. I’ll make sure of it.”
“You’re not fighting in my stead,” Ramses reminded him.
“That depends on the Challenger.”
“No matter the Challenger, I fight my own battles.”
“Said the stupid dead king.”
“Who is still your king, and therefore orders you to shut the fuck up.”
This was where Ariel interjected in her low, husky voice, “Give my Mate a break, Ramses. Can’t you tell how worried he is? My Maximus never curses. Stop making him fret like a virgin before a herd of rampaging Centaurs.”
Maximus speared his Mate with a pointed look, taking issue with her analogy.
Ariel bared her panther fangs and purred back.
“He worries for nothing,” Ramses responded. “But you must be on alert for Anya’s schemes. The less exposure the Chosen has, the better.”
Hence, Ramses only allowed Maximus and Ariel to come with him. Devlin wanted to ride along as well. Even Eli suggested that perhaps Devlin and himself switch roles for this purpose so that the Hunter might stay at the Cove to guard the base and its residents, while the more powerful Lord Wind could escort the king.
All of the other Chosen were still away on missions. Ramses could have waited for their return, issuing a different Challenge date, but he’d opted not to do so. If he had his wish, he’d deal with Anya entirely alone.
“Whereas it’s perfectly fine for our king to fall?” Maximus interjected again, his usual stoic demeanor cracking under the weight of his frustration.
Ramses glanced into his Second in Command’s eyes briefly with a small smile before turning back to gaze out the window.
“Such loyalty in such a short time. You honor and humble me, Maximus.”
The Commander grunted something unintelligible. Might have been another “fuck you.”
“I never wanted to be king,” Ramses murmured quietly, as if to himself. “All I’ve ever wished for…”
He trailed off and was silent again, simply gazing out the window, lost