Bane of Tenebris (Wolfgods Book 2) by Blaise Ramsay (i love reading books txt) 📕

Zane left Kain to go find Desdemona. The matriarch sat entertaining multiple guests and drinking what looked like champagne. Damien and Cade met Kain at the foot of the stairs.

“Are they looking into getting Stoker?” Damien asked, keeping his back near the wall.

Kain instructed him to be patient. “For now, we can stay here.”

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this, Kain.” Damien added.

“As do I,” Kain replied.

The night waned on with various awards being given, extravagant dancing and speeches by various high-end representatives—both human and vampire. From their appearance, Kain assumed they were crime lords, drug dealers, corrupt CEOs and government officials. He hadn’t personally handled any vampires who dabbled in the human underworld, but he knew many of them knew the existence of lycans.

The Cardozas truly have a magnificent reach. Kain thought back to the words Anthony said in his impromptu visit to the pack’s house.

Fighting such power with traditional ways would only bring about the lycans’ downfall.

Upon seeing Anthony, Kain asked Cade to take Damien over to where Desdemona and Zane still sat at the table. It was as safe as he could make them amidst such numbers.

“Did you think I wouldn’t recognize such a powerful wolf behind the mask?” Anthony’s darkened voice whispered from behind Kain. “I’m flattered you accepted my invitation, Kain.”

“I already knew you were aware of who I was. Stop the melodrama and tell me why you have been slinking around all night.” Kain didn’t bother turning around so he could keep his eyes on Damien and Cade.

Anthony burst out laughing, keeping it contained to avoid drawing attention. He invited Kain to his private office, warning Kain against his initial instinct to tell the Don of Great Falls to shove it.

Kain turned to glower at the vampire. Their difference in height dwarfed the noble. “Am I to take that as a threat?”

Anthony took a cup of champagne, placing it Kain’s hand with a daring smirk. “A recommendation. Tonight is for both of our races. The night of monsters and myths. Thirty minutes. Don’t keep me waiting.”

Thirty minutes later, Kain joined Anthony upstairs in his office.

Anthony stood against his mahogany desk. A devilish and prideful smirk played across his face. “Such good breeding. Rather than being late, you’re early to our meeting. Nice to see such common courtesies haven’t been truly lost in our races.”

“Enough, vampire. I doubt you requested my presence to flatter me.” Kain snapped.

Anthony moved towards a table with wine glasses and a glass pitcher with what looked like scotch or bourbon in it. “You’re as business oriented as the legend says you are. Very well.” He poured two glasses and walked back over to Kain to hand him one. “At least let me offer you a drink. We can do business like two respectable creatures of the night.”

Kain refused the drink, making Anthony laugh. “Alexander Kain, you insult me. I wouldn’t end a life as powerful and iconic as yours with such crude methods as poisoning. Oh no. For you, I would end it as you lived. A figure worth respecting and fearing.”

The more Anthony spoke, the more Kain saw of the madness Zane spoke of. His hand shook when he poured the wine.

At the corner of his mouth, Kain saw a slight tremble. It made Kain sick to see what was happening. He’d known the sensation all his life. His hand still stung like shards of ice or the heat of a flame.

The dark god’s influence radiated from Anthony like a thick miasma. Its presence slowly devouring him and driving him insane.

Anthony took a drink. “I’ll get to the point. So far, I’ve waited for your stubborn pride to break in response to the threat of delivering body parts to your door.”

The vampire got into Kain’s face, ignoring the lycan’s ability to snap him in two should he wish. “Now, I’m done waiting. Surrender both yourself and the item we both know you have in your possession. If you should refuse or keep me waiting past seven days, I will drop a body at your doorstep every single day it takes you to do what I say.”

Kain’s fangs grew behind his lips. “Cardoza, do not be a fool. I know what plagues you. What has he promised you? Power? You just declared an open war you will not survive.”

Rings of red replaced Anthony’s usually blue eyes. “It’s you who are the fool, Alexander. Hunting you gives me such a rush. The difference is I hold influence in all three worlds. You will do as I say, or the deaths will start with your fellow pack mate. I believe his name is Nathaniel. Continue and maybe it’ll be Damien’s children or Damien since you care about him so much.

“I do hope you enjoy the gift I prepared. It gives me chills to know how you will respond.”

A wide-eyed look of concern formed in Kain’s eyes. Anthony no longer held control of his body. Barghast spoke through him, genuinely anxious. Kain imagined Jillian’s face if she lost her children or her mate. He imagined what he would do if he lost Damien or Tala. Anthony could get to any one of them anytime he wanted.

Regaining his composure, Anthony picked Kain’s mask up from the chair and handed it to him. “Seems like you’re beginning to realize how powerless you really are, Alexander. Seven days. Call it a gesture of my generosity.”

Kain took the mask trying to keep his anger under control. He turned and left the room to meet Zane outside of the door. He shoved past the vampire and stormed down the hall with Zane on his heels asking questions.

“Not now. Do you have Stoker?” Kain’s voice sounded strained even to him.

“Yes. Magnus and Steele are holding him in the alley behind the casino. Damien and Cade are already there with Dante.”

Kain nodded and the two went the back door behind the stairs into the alley.

Kain arrived to find