Dark Possession - Aja James Page 0,60
in his own thoughts.
Maximus knew that there was hardly anything to see outside as they sped down the almost entirely deserted roads. Even with their vampire vision that sharpened in the night, they were moving too fast to see anything distinctly.
But Ramses continued to stare out the dark tinted windows unblinkingly, as if mesmerized by the scenery.
Maximus turned back around to face the front, exchanging a concerned look with his Mate.
It was fortuitous that they’d arrived back at the Cove from their intel gathering just as Ramses was heading out. As such, they caught their king leaving the Cove by himself, without the escort of even one Sentry. Maximus was immediately livid at the danger Ramses put himself in without thought to consequences, but Ramses brushed it off.
After that, it had taken sheer stubbornness on Maximus’ part to convince the king for him and Ariel to attend him. Less as “protectors” than observers. If things went to hell, at least they had the upper hand of being able to transform into their animal forms—a panther and a tiger—to make a speedy getaway into the surrounding woods.
As for Ramses himself…
The king seemed determined to stand and fall on his own merits. He would not be making any kind of getaway regardless of outcome.
On the bright side, Anya had indicated that she would only be bringing two attendants herself, her Champion and her Second in Command. She wanted to keep this Challenge on the downlow, she said. But Maximus understood from Devlin that she’d issued it brazenly in front of half of the Dark noble houses and several other North American queens.
Taking precautions, as soon as the three of them had settled into the armored SUV, Maximus had requested, through digital channels, that several loyal Dark houses and their guards be on standby at the scene of the Challenge. In addition, he alerted Rhys and Anastasia to return to the Cove as soon as possible. Their ETA was about an hour after Maximus’ group had left. Ryu was still abroad, so he couldn’t come back fast enough. He’d been briefed on the Challenge, however, and knew to be on alert for any news.
Just to be triply safe (because Maximus took his role as Commander extremely seriously, especially when he had a kamikaze king on his hands), he notified his father’s enclave in the Yukon Territory as well. The Tiger King was too far away to join in the fight if all hell broke loose, at least not this particular battle, especially since he chose the hinterlands for his Kind to stay out of such intrigue. But Maximus knew that if he ever needed his aid, Goya wouldn’t hesitate to lend it.
Maximus was certain that Anya would have her own contingents observing the event. If things didn’t go her way, these observers might decide to join the fray and take matters into their own hands. He needed to be prepared.
After all, it wasn’t every day that one vampire ruler Challenged another.
Records must be made.
History must be witnessed.
Maximus just prayed that the Fates would be on the side of the righteous this time.
*** *** *** ***
Ramses couldn’t get the dream out of his head.
He seldom recalled the night he Claimed Ashlu as Mate. His mind knew to erect shields around this particular memory.
It was his greatest triumph and his deepest shame.
He’d won, but he’d done it pretending to be someone else. As such, his victory had been hollow and bittersweet. Over time, he would learn that the sweet was ephemeral, while the bitterness lasted an eternity.
When Ashlu had discovered his deception, she’d been implacably wroth. She’d torn into him verbally, physically, drowning him in vitriol. He’d let her; it was her due. He’d bled for her on the battleground to win her, and he bled for her in their private quarters, letting her cut him, bite him, hit and kick him to act out her fury.
He thought he could wait her out. Eventually she’d tire and realize that though he’d lied to her, their Mating was for the best in the end. Because no one would ever love her, support and protect her as well as he could.
He was right in this, but he was also wrong.
He learned the hard way over the millennia that followed, that just because he remained faithful to Ashlu, loved her and did everything in his power to appease her, she did not return his feelings. And because he betrayed her by tricking her into Mating a Fallen, she