Warrior's Hope (Dark Protectors #16)(62)
“What then?” Hope asked.
“Then he dies,” Paxton said, his tone hard. He wasn’t going to start lying to her now. He took a deep breath and rested his head again. “All right, everybody be quiet,” he told the room at large. “It’s time to go meet the Kurjan.”
Chapter Twenty-Six Hope finally dropped into sleep and wandered through different worlds until she reached the one she wanted. Instead of choosing an ocean or a river, she chose a nice quiet lake this time. She wondered why she always needed water in the dreamworlds, but she didn’t want to force a change. There was something about water that calmed her.
The lake was a deep aqua, the sky a burnished gold, and the sun beautiful and bright. She decided to make the trees all cedar, and their delicious scent wafted around her. It was as calm a place as she could create. Pressure built from outside the world, fierce and strong, and she allowed Paxton inside. “Give me a minute. I was setting up the place.” She threw up her hands.
“If you’re in here, I’m in here.” He scouted the area, his body on alert. “Pretty lake.”
“Thanks.” He was lucky she had brought him in wearing jeans and a black T-shirt. “Knock it off, or I’ll put you back into jean shorts and a cutoff shirt.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m glad you have a better sense of wardrobe these days.” He looked around, no doubt for a weapon.
“There’s nothing that can be used here, Paxton. That’s not how this works,” she said, although she probably could create a knife out of nothing if she wanted.
She blinked twice, and Drake and his cousin Vero instantly appeared. Vero was a couple of years younger than Drake, but he stood tall. He’d filled out in the last few years, and all pudginess was long gone.
He looked around. “Ah, come on. Why am I in the dreamworld again?”
“Sorry.” Hope studied him.
He was an anomaly in the Kurjan nation, with his blue eyes and completely black hair, absent any red tips. She had felt sorry for him before because he’d always seemed a little lost. Now, he flanked his cousin, his gaze fixed on Paxton.
Drake’s gaze traveled Hope’s form, and then he looked at Paxton, not hiding the hatred glowing in his eyes. “I meant the truce until we kill Ulric, and then I’m coming for you.”
Paxton lifted his chin. “Any time and any place.”
“I want you at full strength when I kill you.” Drake growled. “You’re looking very pale. Is it from the drug that Ulric shot into you?”
“I’m fine,” Paxton said shortly.
Hope jolted and looked over at her friend. He did look pale. She had gotten used to the change already, and yet he was almost as pale as Drake. “Are you feeling all right?” she asked.
“I’m fine,” he repeated calmly.
She had to take him at his word, although she figured he wouldn’t show any weakness in front of the Kurjans.
“Did you find out anything about those drugs?” she asked Drake, ignoring the tension momentarily.
“No, sorry.” He kept his gaze on Paxton. “You really don’t look well.”
Vero hadn’t moved his gaze from Paxton and looked prepared to take any measure necessary to protect Drake. It was interesting that he was now the guard dog. He had seemed so sweet and sensitive before. Besides, Hope didn’t figure Drake needed protection.
“So you want to fix the world?” Pax drawled. “I guess you’re ready to kill Ulric.”
Drake cut a look at Vero. “I was going to bring you in on this.”
Vero was silent. Interesting. Hope watched the interplay. Paxton had no doubt made the claim just to see if Vero knew anything. Apparently, Drake had not shared his concerns about Ulric.
“Have you figured out how to kill Ulric?” Drake asked when his cousin didn’t reply.
“Not yet,” Hope admitted. “We know it’ll take the blood of the Keys and probably the Lock, but we haven’t figured out if that will do it. We think maybe if we get a bullet of the stuff down his throat, it will mingle with his blood and destroy him.” She perked up. “Do you have any ancient texts or legends that would give us more info? We’ve found some recently, but I was thinking there might be a lot more.”
“We have a few,” Drake said shortly, focusing once again completely on her. “We’ve always been more of an action-oriented society, not one of books. I could start sending scouts out, but we’re stretched a little thin right now with my faction fighting Ulric’s. There are more Kurjans joining the Cyst than I would hope.”
“So you want to take him out,” Paxton drawled. “That seems rather disloyal of you.”
Hope searched Vero’s expression for any hint as to what he was thinking, but he had learned to mask his thoughts well. “What’s your plan?” she asked, hoping Drake had one.
He smiled. “A temporary treaty with the Realm, of course.”
Excitement started to drum through her. If she could negotiate a treaty between the two nations, she would have fulfilled at least part of her fate. Anything temporary could turn into something permanent. This was good. She smiled. “All right, what are your terms?”
“They’re simple,” Drake said. “One, you kill Ulric and then give me a year to consolidate the power of the Kurjan and Cyst nations. Two, immediate acceptance into the Realm and everything that entails. If we’re attacked, we have your full defense behind us. Three, full access to all Realm satellites and data regarding the Kurjan nation and the Cyst. Four, all information regarding all enhanced human females in the world shall be shared. And five—” His gaze warmed. “We commingle our peoples in the same way treaties have been cemented in the past. You mate me, Hope.”