In my head I had already flung the knife into her smug face, somehow I restrained myself. And more than a little of my annoyance was directed toward my twin. Could she really be so stupid as to promise these bitches anything?
Mischa’s large eyes widened even further. “No, you never said the task was for the dragon king. You said it was to help proliferate the supernatural race.”
Okay, apparently she wasn’t stupid, just naïve again … or maybe both. We needed to get her a keeper or something, because she was shithouse at making decisions herself.
“The rise of the dragon king will proliferate the supernatural race. He will bring about a strength and unity which has been sorely missing with all of the divided races.” Orange waved her arm in a circle. “Look here at the sanctuary, all different races existing together, all bound because of the mark we wear. That mark is our birthright, our loyalty to the king of all races.”
I held up a hand. “I’m going to stop you right there, because the crazy train has already left the station and I think you missed your seat.” I sat back down and turned away from them. “I’m done giving you any of my time.”
Lemon and Orange took a step toward me, but the growl and wash of power from my father had them pausing. Braxton hadn’t said anything, but together with his brothers they were more than intimidating as they stood side by side.
I continued watching the fruit twins, even though I was acting dismissive. They were examining the powerful members of my family. Then they straightened, and dialed back some of the dominance they’d been broadcasting.
“Mischa…” Lienda’s voice was soft but to the point. She held out her hand for her daughter to join her.
Thankfully the fruit twins didn’t have their slimy grip too tight yet, because there was barely any hesitation before Mischa crossed back to us. I thought for a moment Lemon was going to reach out and grab her, but she didn’t.
“We’ll see you both soon.” I got double grins of malice before the twins faded off.
I turned to Quale. “Tell us everything about those two before I smash you in the face.”
I slammed the tip of the knife into the table, lodging its blunt end in about an inch. I was not liking this place, or the freaking dragon mystics.
Louis rubbed a hand over his chin, interrupting before his brother could answer. “Jess, it’s not Quale’s fault.”
I swung my glare around to him. “Like hell it isn’t. It’s his fault and it’s your fault. Why the crap did you send us here? This is like a cult recruiting to raise the freaking evil king. And I’m apparently one of the four females required for the job.” Panic and betrayal swelled in my gut, my throat tightened. “Did you know about that? Did you send me here for that reason?”
He reached out to take my hand, but a hard glare from Braxton had him backing off. “No, Jess, I promise it was just about keeping you safe. The sanctuary is the one place the Four will never find you, and it’s only for a few more days. Once we pass the thousand year mark, we can make a new plan.”
I tried to think. “I have to leave. I can’t stay here. I can’t be in Romania.”
My father took my hand, trying to calm me. “If you’re not in the sanctuary or Drago at the time of the rising, you’ll die. I can’t lose you. If the king rises, we will deal with it.” Jonathon’s voice had a layer of ice over it. I recognized the tone, he was both worried and pissed.
I rubbed the back of my neck, the tension there becoming painful. “So … even if I don’t help them open the tomb or raise the king or whatever bullshit plan they have, I still have to be here or at Drago? All of the marked do?”
Quale spoke, “That’s the rumor, and there is no way to know until the final strike of midnight on the Day.”
He said “day” like that was its title.
“Tell me about the twins.” I was focused on him again. “How do they break into the prisons?”
Quale looked around, I think to determine if anyone was listening in. I was pretty sure lots of supernaturals were listening in. We were in the middle of a freaking restaurant.
“I’m not totally sure, they keep their secrets very close to their chest. I have guessed at a few skills: they can sense dragon marked supernaturals – which makes it easy to find them hidden in the prison – and they can also influence the minds of males. Mostly those who are weaker, but still, in every prison they have found someone to help them.”
Influencing minds, like controlling other supernaturals? That was both wicked and scary as heck.
“Why don’t Mischa and I have cool powers like that?”
Louis answered me. “They’re old and have had a long time to develop their abilities. You and Mischa are young, and your powers have been blocked and bound for most of your lives.” He turned to my shell-shocked twin. “Mischa’s marked powers still are.”
I lowered my voice. “Do they have a large dragon mark too?”
There was a few confused looks around the table, but not from Louis. The damn sorcerer always knew everything. Well, clearly not everything, we still had a crap-ton of unanswered questions. But he was on point most of the time.
I explained for the confused. “From what I’ve seen the supes in here have small dragon marks. Mine is like half my side and back.”
Quale shrugged. “I’ve never seen the twin’s marks, and the other mystics haven’t either, but I can tell you that there have been none to enter in the last few hundred years which have a large mark.”