Pure Destiny (PureDark Ones #12) - Aja James Page 0,68

new king by taking a Consort in one of the most powerful vampire queens of neighboring hives. As far as Aella knew, Mating among Dark nobles and royalty had always been about a consolidation of power. Unlike Pure Ones who could only join with their one Eternal Mate, a match made in love. Or punished by death without it.

But Ramses chose Eveline instead. A Pure One. And a librarian-fortune-teller at that.

Aella had grown rather fond of “Evie” over the past few months, during which their forced close proximity gave her a new appreciation for Eveline’s adorable quirks, wry sense of humor, understated courage and kind heart.

But still.

She never would have picked Ramses for Eveline and vice versa, especially since the Dark King was everything Eveline said she didn’t want in an ideal male.

Apparently, Fate had other plans.

“Come now, Alend,” Jade practically purred, making her startling sapphire eyes slumberous to peer at the Dark King through long, sooty lashes.

Aella was impressed. That cajoling look was melting her, never mind the male on its receiving end.

“You allow Eveline to sit beside you on the throne. You’ve shown your utmost preference for her before your Nobles. You no longer…negotiate with other female rulers. At least, not in the traditional vampire ways…”

“Should I be flattered you’ve made such a study of my dos and don’ts?” Ramses murmured.

“Civil unrest brews without your official declaration,” Jade continued, getting to the point. “The tides are building and turning against you.”

“And you think stating a position now would aid the situation rather than exacerbate it further?” Ramses snapped, no longer casual. “I have nothing to gain by forming a public Alliance with the Pure Ones and everything to lose.”

“You are wrong, Dark King,” Inanna inserted, stepping forward to address him.

That Inanna was a Dark One and used to be a member of the Chosen was probably why Ramses didn’t give her the same evil eye he gave Aella, though he joined the Hive after Inanna left it.

“Right now, we work together only as an exception to the rule. We don’t openly share information, though we try to alert one another if there are critical risks. With separate resources, we can only address part of the threat our enemies engender, never all of it and at once. If we work together, truly consolidate our strengths, we have a much better chance of defeating our nemesis—”

“Medusa is dead.”

The statement echoed with ominous finality, bouncing around the rafters in the high-domed ceiling of the throne room.

Aella held her breath.

Did he know?

If what Eveline deduced was true—that Medusa was actually his daughter by Queen Ashlu…

More importantly, did he care?

Out of a very strong sense of self-preservation and practicality, Aella was extremely glad she hadn’t been on the joint Pure-Dark mission to take down the Hydra. Just in case Ramses held a grudge against their forces for unceremoniously beheading his evil spawn.

“The Hydra is weakened—”

“You’re wrong,” Aella interjected softly, holding the male’s unnerving obsidian gaze steadily. Evil eye or no evil eye, she was here to lay out the facts.

“The Hydra is stronger than ever. Have you noticed any slowdown in Medusa’s original schemes for power and violence? Or have the chaotic, unsanctioned killings of humans by Rogue vampires increased? Your internal politics gathering like a hurricane, your enemies within and without growing bolder with each move?”

The Dark King regarded her in unreadable, silent nonchalance, but Aella knew that she had his full attention.

“You know, I’ve always listened to Evie’s theories with half an ear,” she mused, distracting everyone with her apparent non-sequitur.

“But I heard enough to recall some of her more far-fetched theories. Namely that in the End of Days there would be a King of Kings. A sovereign to unite all Kinds against a common foe.”

Jade and Inanna swiveled toward her in surprise. Guess this was the first they’d heard of this.

But Aella focused only on Ramses, watching for his minutest reaction.

Eveline might be a diviner of the past and future, and how they intertwined in the present, but Aella was the Pure Ones’ Strategist. It was her role to take the clues, the facts, the conjectures and put them all together to determine the best course of action.

They had to work together. It was the only way. Pure and Dark united. All of the Kinds allied.

Their nemesis had broken every rule to create abominations, ripped through the Balance with venom-tipped fangs and claws. If they continued to play within their designated sandbox, they were no better than sitting ducks waiting