Hed always had the sense that hed made a dire mistake when hed first taken off the pendant. Not the night he and Mackenzie made love in the hotel room, but years before. Hed been barely eighteen and had slept with a much older woman whod admired the pendant. And like an idiot, hed ignored his grandmothers warning. Hed set in motion something terrible and irrevocable that night.
What? He stared at Malik, stunned. You were watching then, too?
I was. His lips turned up. You were a young man trying to impress that older woman you fucked, letting her try the thing on. As soon as it left your hand, I made certain to sever its hold on you forever. It will protect the wearer now, as your grandmother said, but without draining the persons life force if removed or given away.
So, a few weeks ago you forced me to give away the amulet to my . . . my friend Mackenzie. But you did so knowing I wouldnt be harmed by removing it.
Except by Malik himself, of course.
As I told you, I knew one day you would belong to me. He paused. I would have saved you from that harsh life years ago, when you first removed the pendant, but I didnt act quickly enough.
Kalen narrowed his eyes. I thought you said you didnt rescue me because I wasnt ready.
You werent. But I would have anyway. He sighed. There. Now you have a confession of one of my failings.
He wasnt so sure. Was Malik lying, or telling the truth about his part in everything? Or confusing him with half-lies, half-truths? God, if that was the case, Malik was succeeding.
That missing piece of the puzzle, the part of the story Malik wasnt yet telling him, nagged at him like a sore tooth. But he knew nothing would be gained on that score tonight even if he pushed. Instead, he brought the topic back to the original purpose of the visit.
You wanted to show me something. To prove that you understand me and will stick beside me.
Indeed. Malik paused, studying him intently.
He gave a humorless laugh. Pardon me if I dont believe your bullshit.
Why do you assume its bullshit, as you say?
Really? He gaped at the Unseelie, incredulous. You kill people.
So do you, and so does your whole team for that matter, Malik pointed out. I suppose that makes you all evil to a man.
Well, no, of course not! Youre the bad guy!
Me? Why?
Are you serious? Man, you keep shifters and humans in cages so the scientists whore working for youor for Kerrigan can figure out how to splice their DNA and create super-shifter soldiers!
I dont keep my test subjects in cages. Theyre strictly volunteers.
I cant believe you said that with a straight face. He shook his head, pushed angrily to his feet and paced a few feet away to put distance between them. I saw with my own eyes two of our team members being held in cages. Theyd been tortured and experimented on, one of them for months!
Malik stood, looking troubled. Ah. Youre referring to Orson Chappells and Dr. Gene Bowmans unfortunate decisions. They became a bit fanatical in their approach.
You dont say, Kalen mocked. And you didnt seduce or coerce them into performing the heinous shit they did in the name of science, Im sure.
I didnt, not that I expect you to believe me.
I dont. You had to know what was going on.
Whether you believe me or not doesnt change anything. And it certainly doesnt change my goal, which I must say is a worthy one.
To create this perfect breed of super-shifters.
Yes. The Unseelies eyes lit with excitement. What if we could perfect a soldier whose supernatural abilities far exceed any of the humans weapons in existence? What if humans were no longer the top of the pyramid of intelligent life on earth? Can you imagine being a part of implementing the greatest fundamental change to civilization in the history of the universe? The soldiers would work for you and me, and the planet would belong to the Fae, shifters, vampires, and every other creature whos had to live in the shadows for centuries. Like you and I have been forced to live.
Thatll never happen. Powerful men in history have
tried shit along those lines and ended up with their heads on pikes.
Men have tried. Never an Unseelie king.
Tired, he rubbed his eyes. Show-and-tell time, Malik. Lets see what youve got or Im leaving.
I was getting to that before our little debate about what constitutes evil . And I happen to know that a bit of sacrifice is necessary for the greater good. He held up a hand before Kalen could voice further argument. Well put the super-shifter issue to rest for the evening. Follow me.
Where to now? he muttered.
But the other male didnt answer. Kalen followed the Unseelie through the house, turning over in his mind all the stuff Malik had told him. He still couldnt grasp, well, any of it.
Jesus fuck, he was Fae. Like Sariel, Maliks half Seeliehalf Unseelie son and the Packs good friend. Maybe he could trust the guy to answer some questions for him discreetly. Once Sariel recovered and got over the fact that Kalen had been seduced into letting the witch loose, who then almost killed Sariel on his daddys orders. Yeah, the Fae prince would be happy to have a heart-to-heart with Kalen, become best buddies.