Chapter 1

Kaige

I scanned the crowd of nocturnes, searching for my prey. My fangs descended, pulsing with the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

Hunt.

The word held more meaning since my primal instincts had been dragged closer to the surface by that one decision. It had changed my life. Irrevocably.

Correction, she changed my life.

A rainbow of soft lights from ornate gas lamps flickered across the marble walls, highlighting the silver veins. The multicolored flames created by the alchemists were pretty and yet unnecessary like so many things in this club. Synth and sweat permeated the air, swirling with an array of perfumes and smoke.

But his unique scent still lingered. I followed him through a back entrance, losing his thin form amongst the twisting bodies on the dance floor below.

He was here somewhere.

I slipped through the nobles drowning in opulence and luxury. They relaxed on velvet chaises and drank synth and wine from crystal goblets. Any one of them could be responsible for the human blood bags I sunk to the bottom of the lake.

And maybe none of them at all. Were they just as clueless as I’d been a few days ago?

Images of brilliant green eyes I couldn’t forget bombarded my mind. My lips burned with the memory of hers. Her scent. Her taste. All of her had been branded into my soul.

When a Collective plane crashed near the border of Draconis, I had no idea my life would be turned upside down and shattered by the little human inside. I couldn’t know giving her my blood to save her would form a blood bond between us. There was no way to guess the feelings she would free from the usual hard exterior surrounding me.

Those same feelings needed to disappear because if I let them consume me, it could trigger the prophecy that would kill every human and nocturne in New Isos.

We didn’t know how or why. Just that it would be brought about by the love between a human and nocturne.

I shook my mind clear, forcing her to the dark recesses where she was supposed to remain. I had to stay focused on the task at hand. I’d screwed up, and my only way back to normalcy was to capture this criminal.

My back pressed against the cool wall on the second level, my body shrouded in shadows. No one noticed me. They’d stare if they had. I wasn’t one to frequent the club. This was Xander’s world. Not mine.

Which was exactly why he thought he’d easily take down the thieving taranoi before I could. Xander didn’t shy away from the attention and was already announcing to every group of nobles he was looking for a wanted criminal. I was surprised not to hear his voice over the loudspeaker demanding the taranoi surrender.

Hopefully that wouldn’t happen. I needed to be the one to bring the thief in.

The king was furious I was MIA for two days. I spent those two days safely escorting my little human back to Imera where she belonged.

A lump rose in my throat. Was she all right? Was she in trouble? Was she keeping her promise not to search for answers?

Did she miss me?

Gods. I was pathetic. Instead of forgetting the last few days, I was wallowing in the absence of something forbidden.

The bond was still there, for now anyway. With the distance, I couldn’t sense her emotions. Only a low hum resonated in the background. Her presence. I wasn’t sure how much longer it would last. Every second felt like a countdown to the moment this connection would finally sever.

It was for the best.

Those words had crossed my mind a dozen times since returning to Draconis. I’d read the prophecy over and over to remind myself of the danger just knowing Solaris posed.

But why should I believe the two of us had anything to do with the prophecy? She was a human and I was a nocturne. So what? That didn’t automatically make us the ones the prophecy spoke of. I already kissed her, and our worlds didn’t implode.

I dragged my fingers through my hair, pulling on the roots. Then again, could either of us really take that chance?

The raucous laughter of two men caught my attention. One of them had spilled an entire bottle of synth. The taranoi serving them smiled and quickly began cleaning it up. I could see how much she hated them in the tightness of her jaw.

The taranoi were given a certain amount of synthetic blood to live on as were nobles and royals. The difference was, nobles and royals could afford to buy plenty more sold in this club and other places in the city. Synth was expensive and taranoi didn’t make much money.

Over a hundred years ago there was no such thing as synth. Like our vampire ancestors, nocturnes drank human blood back then.

A shiver tattooed a trail down my spine as images of crimson filled bags flashed behind my eyes. The briny liquid had been as mesmerizing as it was terrifying.

It shouldn’t have been on that plane in the first place. Drinking human blood had been outlawed after the prophecy was foretold, but someone had been expecting a massive shipment of it from Imera.

They’d never get it.

And I’d try my best to forget I’d ever seen it.

An ache twisted my stomach, fearing my little human wouldn’t be able to forget it. She was too daring for her own good. Looking for answers to this secret could get her killed.

A couple staggered toward the wall I was leaning against. I cursed and slinked further down. My brother came into view several feet away talking to Tessamia, a female noble who wanted nothing more than to be queen.

This was the first time I’d seen my twin since saving Solaris from him. Searing heat bubbled through my chest like acid. My hands curled into tight fists, wanting nothing more than to crush every bone in his face. He drank her blood only a few days ago, but I could detect the little pep in his step it still gave him.

Inside he was probably still burning for more.

My fangs pulsed. He’d never get it.

I crept along the wall, searching for disturbances in the crowd. Taranoi typically wore drab colors that could easily be spotted amongst the glittering nobles. This one had on gray pants and a dingy white shirt unlike the solid gray uniforms of the club workers. His blonde hair was also shaggy and unkempt, framing his face in greasy waves.

He was spotted stealing synthetic blood from a truck making a delivery to a noble family’s home. He’d given the Royal Guards the slip. The king assigned his capture to Xander and then included me when I returned.

It was a test under the guise of training. I’d only just returned when Anders called me into my father’s study. The king was furious at my disappearance. He was ready to chain me in the dungeons for it.

Lies I’d practice during my flight across the Shadow Lands fell from my lips.

I took the plane out for training and had engine trouble. The radio wasn’t working, and I had to land, nearly tearing a wing off in the process.

The scrapes along the gray steel were proof something had happened.

It took me a while to clear a spot for takeoff again. I returned as soon as possible.

My father didn’t know what to think. I’d always been the perfect, obedient son. Why would I suddenly start rebelling now?

This was his way of assessing my commitment to the trials. He’d already sent Xander to capture this criminal an hour ago, a task normally reserved for the guards. The winner would prove to be a better tracker, a better hunter.

But much more was at stake than that.

Even with Xander’s head start, if I failed, I’d slip from the king’s good graces. He wouldn’t excuse any more odd behavior, and he wouldn’t favor me over my twin.

That couldn’t happen.

If my brother thought for one second the king didn’t blindly trust my word, he would spill what I’d really been up to the past few days. He would tell the king I’d had a human in Draconis. With no evidence I could deny it, but I’d be punished regardless. It wouldn’t be a simple slap on the hand either.

A squeal echoed from the crowd dancing below. My pulse spiked as I finally caught sight of the taranoi.

Unfortunately so did Xander.

He dashed across the room and vaulted over the iron railing, landing on the bottom floor. Nocturnes clapped, and he took the time to bow, lapping up the attention.

I rolled my eyes. He couldn’t keep a low profile. Not ever. It gave me an advantage though. While he put on a show, I was able to survey the taranoi and anticipate his actions. He made a mad dash for the employee door in the back and Xander followed.

But before the taranoi slipped through, his eyes cast toward the very upper left of the building. Moonlight illuminated the outline of a window. That was his way out. He’d lead Xander through a maze in the back and then find his way up to the rafters.

I melted into the shadows again, slinking against the wall. A commotion was unfolding downstairs, laughter and whistles resonating through the crowd. The young nobles thought this was funny.

It left a sour taste in my mouth.

When the window was directly above, my knees bent, and I jumped. My fingers clutched a hefty iron hook in the wall used to hold lights during special events. I swung myself up, grabbing onto a solid steel beam.

My legs dangled, the air cooler in the darkness. I pulled myself up, my feet balancing on the flat edge. I was already several stories high despite the building only being two levels. A fall to the bottom would be long and end painfully. I leaped higher and pressed myself against the wall next to the window outside the shaft of moonlight streaming in. Not a soul could see me.

The nobles continued partying as if they didn’t have a care in the world. Not like me.

The phantom feel of gold silk slid through my fingers, and the scent of honey and jasmine saturated the air. Soft lips pressed against mine, hungry and terrified at the same time.

My fists clenched and I fought the urge to punch a hole through the marble behind me. I had to stop thinking of her. I had to forget her name, forget everything.

We would never see each other again. Never.

My nostrils flared as warring emotions crashed inside like battling tides in the ocean. One wanted to cast a spell to make me forget Solaris. The other wanted to take a plane and steal her right out of Imera.

A flicker of movement suddenly caught my eye. The taranoi I’d been chasing landed on the ledge in front of the window. Adrenaline spike through me again, washing away Solaris’s image.

My arm shot out, grabbing his in an iron grasp. “Where do you think you’re going?”

His dark brown eyes widened. “How did…” he trailed off, quickly recovering from the shock. A hard expression morphed his features.

“Don’t even try to fight me,” I warned as his body tensed. “You won’t win.”

A snarl curled his lips, revealing a pair of sharp fangs. “I’d rather go down fighting than surrender to any of you greedy royals, Prince Kaige.” He spat my name as if it was poison.

My silver eyes reflected in his. “Fine.” I shot onto the stone ledge, my arm quickly securing around his neck.

He struggled against me. “You royals and nobles are all the same. Choking on synth while we starve. It doesn’t matter which one of you rules. You’re all selfish and merciless creatures.”

Did all taranoi think that of us? The crime rate had increased, most cases involving the theft of synth. Could I really blame them for wanting more food? Maybe if I talked to the king—

My thoughts were cut off as the club around me disappeared. The music, the taranoi, the scents, it was all gone.

A dull gray cement wall came into focus illuminated by harsh white lights.

What the hell is going on? Where am I?

A familiarity began to creep through my mind moments before pain exploded across my nose.

Red haze flashed through my vision, and I was back in the club, struggling with the taranoi. He’d slammed his head into my face, cracking my nose. Curses tumbled from my mouth, garbled by the blood leaking down my face. I should have just compelled him the moment my fingers curled around his arm.

My grip loosened so I could spin him around to do just that. His shoulder rammed into my chest, and his foot slipped on the stone ledge. Glass shattered against my back.

The stars appeared above and cold air rushed over my body as we both fell from the window, the hard cobblestone street far below.

Chapter 2

Solaris

My eyes snapped open and harsh white lights blinded me. I blinked, trying to bring the room to focus. A dull gray cement wall boxed me in.

Dammit. I’d hoped it had all been a terrible nightmare.

I sat up and scooted to the edge of the cot, still squinting from the bright lights overhead. This had to be some form of torture. I glanced at my watch; it wasn’t even 5am yet.

After getting captured sneaking back into Imera last night, I’d been transported to the OrderComm detention facility. The weirdest part was that Turstan didn’t say a word to me the entire ride over. His soldiers handcuffed me then escorted me to their Hummer. After they dumped me in this cell, I expected a visit from my favorite Collective leader, but instead it’d been radio silence ever since. Not even Malcolm came. My chest tightened.

What if they’d done something to Malcolm because of me?

I shook my head, trying to chase the dismal thoughts from my mind. Everything would be fine. No one would ever find out I’d been in Draconis. I’d had a lot of time to think while hiking with Kaige through the Shadow Lands, and I had the lie ready to go.

Kaige.

My heart flip-flopped just thinking about him. I hadn’t had much time to focus on him since my arrival in Imera. It hadn’t exactly been the homecoming I’d imagined.

He should’ve been back in Draconis by now safe and sound. Preparing for the trials or doing whatever princes did when they weren’t hiding fugitive human girls.

I rubbed at the middle of my chest, a spot just under my collarbone. I could still feel him, but it was faint. He was alive, but his emotions were dulled. Like mine without him.

I exhaled a slow breath. I had to let go of the prince of darkness; I’d never see him again. We’d tempted the prophecy more than enough over the past week. Not seeing him was for the best—for everyone.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor, and I jumped to my feet. I positioned myself by the door and stared as the handle turned.

The door jerked open with a whoosh and Turstan stepped through, his cold gray eyes piercing right through me. I could’ve sworn the temperature in the cell dropped by ten degrees when he entered. He buttoned the top button of his high-collared pale blue suit, covering the scar at the base of his neck.

“So glad to see you’re awake, Ms. Levant.” His upper lip twisted into a sneer. “I take it the facilities were satisfactory?”

I crossed my hands against my chest, and the soft fabric of the top Kaige had given me glided over my skin. Crap. If anyone noticed it, they’d know something so fine could never have come from Imera. I glanced down at the flowy purple material. It was wrinkled and dirty. Hopefully no one would give it a second glance in its current condition.

“Yes, they were fine,” I finally answered. “Why are you keeping me here?”

“Careful, young lady.” He raised a finger, his yellow brittle nail making my skin crawl. “I’m the one asking the questions today.”

I gritted my teeth to keep my mouth from exploding a slew of curses.

He walked toward me, grinning like the Cheshire cat. His white mustache moved with his lips, the ends pointing upward. “Let’s put aside for one moment the fact that you stole Collective property, a crime that alone could imprison you for the rest of your life, and focus on where you’ve been for the past week?”

“Collective property? I thought that was your personal jet?”

“Everything belongs to the people of Imera. You know that.” His words slithered from his thin lips like molasses.

I grunted. “Of course. How could I forget?”

“And? Where have you been?” he hissed through clenched teeth.

“Wandering around the Shadow Lands trying to make my way back here.”

He furrowed his unruly white eyebrows. They were permanently arched, giving him the appearance of always looking surprised. “And the plane?”

“At the bottom of some lake.” I grinned. The only good thing about losing that magnificent jet was the look on Turstan’s face right now.

“You crashed my—the Cessna?”

“It wasn’t my fault. The whole system shut down. I was lucky I made it out alive.”

He huffed. “Yes, you’ll have to tell me how you managed that without a scratch.” He pulled a chair from the corner and moved it next to the cot. He eyed it with disgust before lowering himself onto it. “Sit.” He pointed to me then at the makeshift bed.

I shuffled over and slumped down.

“Tell me everything. Do not leave a single detail out.”

I went through the whole story, using most of the real facts. Those were always the best lies; the ones with as much truth as possible. I, of course, omitted the part about Kaige and the blood bags.

“So the entire plane caught on fire?” he asked, glaring.

“Yup.” I swung my legs back and forth. “Right before it rolled into the lake.”

“And you never saw any border patrol as you neared the wall on your return?”

“Nope. I looked for them, but didn’t see any soldiers. I remembered hearing about that secret entrance so I went for it.”

He stood and paced in front of me, his fingers twisting the ends of his mustache. “Now, Ms. Levant, did you see anything in the plane before you took off or perhaps after you crashed?”

“See anything? I was kind of preoccupied with other things like getting away and saving my butt.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why? Are you missing something?”

He scratched at his beard, the sound like nails on a chalkboard. “Hmm? Oh yes, I believe a few personal effects may have been on the jet. I was hoping they didn’t end up at the bottom of the lake as you so eloquently described.”

I tapped my foot on the cement floor. “So can I go home now? I’ve told you everything.”

An unexpected chuckle burst from his lips. “Can you go home?” He approached me, his frosty eyes narrowing in. A chill slithered up my spine. “Do you have any idea how much trouble you’re in?”

I gave him my best smile. “Oh come on, Head Minister, can’t you cut me some slack like usual?”

His jaw twitched. “I believe I’ve done that too often now, Ms. Levant. And for the wrong reasons. Your mother’s death can only excuse you so many times.”

A pang sliced through my heart, it was like a hot knife through butter. Somehow I always knew that was the reason Turstan had looked past so many of my prior transgressions. It wasn’t just because of Malcolm’s undying loyalty. And there it was; he might as well have admitted it.

A far, dark corner of my brain knew the reason why. No one would admit it, not even Malcolm, but I was certain. Now more than ever. Turstan hadn’t just overseen my mother’s execution, he’d been the cause of it.

I wrapped my fingers around the metal frame of the cot, squeezing so not to scream as Turstan marched out.

Not only would I prove he was behind the blood bags being sent to Draconis, I’d also find out why he had my mom killed.

And then I’d kill him.

* * *

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