Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 118860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
He kept his attention on Gustov. “You say this weapon your master seeks is in pieces. How does he know where to find those pieces?”
For the first time Gustov looked annoyed. “He refused to say, only that he knew the ancients had such a weapon and that it was made from material that fell from the sky several thousand years ago.”
We know that meteorites have been used by the ancients for everything from jewelry to weapons, Tomas informed his brothers. He was the accepted scholar in the family, but all three shared information constantly. What one knew, so did the others.
“Did your master give you his name?” Tomas ventured. More and more it sounded as if Justice had made a wrong turn. No one could blame him. He’d lived a legendary life and sacrificed for his family, condemning himself to the underworld in order to keep his family out. He’d been there for centuries, locked behind gates. Carpathians kept him there. That alone would be viewed as a betrayal after all he’d done for his people.
Gustov looked crafty again. “There is no need for names; he is legendary.”
For one moment, Tomas felt every year of his long life on earth. Justice. He hadn’t allowed himself to really believe the man had turned against his people. It wasn’t just that it would be nearly impossible for a lone hunter to bring down a man with Justice’s centuries of fighting experience; it was that Tomas had held out for far too long. If a man as strong as Justice had succumbed to the dark side, did anyone have real hope? He knew Ferro still felt those stains, the scarring on his soul that even his lifemate couldn’t remove. Was it really too late for all of them?
Tomas knew he continued to evolve just as his brothers and the other ancients did. Was Ferro still changing despite having a lifemate? Was that a curse given them because they had lived far too long? Hunted too many? Killed so often?
Gustov shook his head. “We do not speak his name. We do not take the chance that hunters will go after him until he is ready. At long last we have the ability to destroy the Dubrinsky and Daratrazanoff lines. You must join us, Tomas. You can see how we will triumph.”
“The weapon is in three parts and the master knows where each of those parts is located?” Deliberately, Tomas used the term “the master” instead of “your master.” Gustov would take it that he was persuading Tomas to his side.
Gustov frowned, shaking his head slightly. “He knows locations but not exactly where the pieces are. He was very vague deliberately. I questioned him, as did others when he brought us together to tell us his plan. But I am certain there is such a weapon.”
Sadly, Tomas believed there was such a weapon as well. More and more he was coming to believe that Gary Daratrazanoff knew such a weapon existed. The prince had to be protected at any cost. If he was killed along with his lineage, the Carpathian people would eventually cease to exist. For Tomas, it was the only logical explanation for Gary’s behavior toward Elisabeta. He suspected she knew about the ancient weapon. It would have been Gary’s duty to ensure the safety of the Carpathian people, no matter how repugnant the carrying out of that would be. Gary had a strict code, and endangering a female Carpathian, especially one whose lifemate had claimed her, would have been a terrible dilemma. Gary had to feel as if he were betraying that code and that he was without honor. Tomas would have.
He doubted if there was more information he could get from the master vampire. Gustov was beginning to exhibit signs of becoming irritated with him. It was clear he had been given the assignment to recruit others to the cause of his master—and acquiring ancients would be a huge coup—but Gustov had to work at patience. Few vampires had much in the way of patience, even during a fight to the death.
He sighed as he regarded the vampire. Gustov had put himself within striking distance, close enough that he should have known better. Clearly, he believed he had lulled Tomas into a false sense of security.
“Do you know what a phantom is, Gustov? The true definition?”
Gustov was taken aback by the sudden question. “Why should I care?”
“I just thought it would be pertinent for you to know in the next few minutes. You’re gearing up for an attack, but you seem to have forgotten why my brothers and I are referred to as phantoms. Just to make it clear, our dragons are as well.”
Gustov gave a snort of disdain. “Dragons. You conjure up dragons and think they are invincible. You think you’re invincible.”