“Fine,” Zane finally relented.

Julian broke into a wide grin, stepping eagerly forward as he was finally given reign to set his powers free. Devon seized hold of Julian’s arm before he went any further. He wanted Julian to grab hold of Zane, wanted to know what Julian would be able to learn from him. But Devon also knew that there was a possibility that Zane had become powerful enough to keep Julian blocked from anything that he didn’t want him to know.

Holding tight to Julian, he tried to make sure that he learned everything that Devon wanted him to know. Tried to make sure that Julian understood there was someone else that he must touch. Someone that Devon now controlled, and who would be unable to keep anything from Julian while under Devon’s command. Julian’s eyes widened slightly upon his, surprise, amusement, and admiration gleamed in his gaze. For a moment Devon was sharply reminded of how things used to be between them, how close they had been, how devious and cruel.

He was reminded of the fun they had once shared, not only while killing, fighting, and hunting for women, but also just with each other. They had shared many laughs, many drinks, and many nights simply enjoying each other’s friendship. They had been closer than brothers, far closer than Devon and Robert had ever been, and that was one of the reasons that Robert hated Julian so much.

A pain tugged at Devon’s heart, and for the first time he actually found himself wishing that they could go back there, that they could share that again. But he knew that it could never be that way again, not with everything that had passed between them, and not with Julian’s feelings for Cassie. Julian’s eyes glimmered briefly, something slipped across his features as he sensed Devon’s change of thought.

“I want to know why they want her to change so badly too,” Devon said aloud to explain his halting of Julian to The Elder’s, though Julian already knew this.

Julian’s gaze slid to Cassie, pain and longing bloomed briefly in his iced eyes. Then, to Devon’s complete and utter surprise, he grasped hold of Devon’s arm with his free hand, squeezed it tightly, and nodded to him. Though Julian didn’t say the words, Devon knew that he had just released any resentment toward him. Julian would not stand in their way, and he accepted what he couldn’t have, no matter how badly he wanted Cassie. In that moment Devon knew he had his friend again, that he didn’t have to worry about any of Julian’s intentions, and that he could rely upon him again.

Cassie turned toward him as Julian strode across the room. Tears glimmered in her eyes as she slid her hand into Devon’s, squeezing it reassuringly. He studied her, amazed by her strength and beauty. Touched by her unwavering love and understanding, no matter what he kept from her, or did to her. He was acutely reminded of the fact that she was too good for him, that she deserved better than this life. And yet this was all that he could give her.

One day he would make this up to her. When this was over, he vowed he would give her everything that she deserved, and more. His hand tightened around hers as he clasped it within both of his.

Julian reached Zane, grinning wildly as he stopped before the oldest Elder. They were the golden boys of The Elders, both fair and bright with disarming good looks. But that was where the similarities between them ended. Zane was refined, elegant, and thin with expensive clothes and even more expensive tastes. There was never a hair out of place, never a speck of dirt upon him. Julian however was wild, preferred beer to champagne, had never worn anything more expensive than cotton, and was never happier then when he was rolling around in the dirt getting drunk and causing a raucous. Their completely different personalities were only some of the reasons they hated each other. There were far more. One of the main reasons being that like Devon, Julian had never fallen into line with the rest of The Elder’s. He disdained their way of life, much preferring to be out in the world, reveling in it, instead of hiding and slinking through the shadows.

Zane had never allowed Julian to touch him before; in fact he had gone out of his way to avoid it every time they’d met. From the look on his face, he would not allow it now if it weren’t for the fact that he didn’t have a choice. And there was no choice; if Zane didn’t allow Julian to touch him then he would be admitting that there was something to hide. But if Zane did allow Julian to touch him, then there was also the possibility that he could somehow keep it hidden from Julian.

“This is to be quick. You get one brief chance to find what you are looking for and that is all,” Zane sneered.

Julian’s mouth quirked, distaste flashed through his eyes. “Don’t be afraid Zane, it doesn’t hurt. Much.” Julian taunted.

Anger sparked from Zane, but before he could retort or react, Julian grasped hold of his arm. Zane jerked back instantly, his arm flying up as he knocked Julian’s hand aside. “Thanks for the insight,” Julian murmured.

Zane’s eyes flooded red with fury, his jaw clenched tight, but he did not swing at Julian like he apparently longed to do. Julian moved down the line of Elder’s examining each one of them before stopping before Adon. Though Adon had one of the strongest abilities, he was also one of the two younger than Julian, and therefore unable to resist Julian’s probing. He was also under Devon’s firm control, and would be unable to withhold anything from Julian.

Before anyone could stop him, Julian seized hold of Adon’s hand. No one moved. Everyone remained frozen until Damon instructed Adon to react as he normally would have. Adon jerked his hand free of Julian’s grasp and delivered such a speedy round house that Julian didn’t have time to dodge it. His head snapped back, his teeth clattered loudly together as blood exploded from his inner cheek, spraying across the floor.

Releasing Cassie, Devon jumped forward. He knew that Julian was going to react badly to this, and now was not the time to fight. They were not prepared for it. Julian wiped the blood from his mouth with his sleeve, but to Devon’s surprise, he did not attack Adon. “That’s one, you won’t get another,” he growled.

Adon glared back at him, his hands fisted at his side. Devon didn’t tell Adon to back down, he couldn’t. Adon had to appear normal; they could not suspect that Devon now had complete control over one of their own.

“No Adon,” Zane said sharply. “We are not here for that.”

Adon remained unmoving, his slender five foot four frame as taut as a bowstring. Aside from Annabelle, he was the smallest person in the room, and had what was now commonly referred to as little man syndrome. His temper was infamous and fiery, but it had supposedly been in check ever since he had nearly been lynched by a mob two hundred years ago. The humans had discovered what he was after he had gone on a drunken rampage in a tavern. It was only the interference of Zane, and Robert, that had kept Adon alive.

Devon was honestly surprised that Adon had survived as long as he had, but he supposed living away from society for long periods of time had probably attributed to that. Though, Adon looked as if he still wanted to pounce upon Julian, his eyes slowly returned to their dark mocha color as he took a small step back. His dark hair fell across his cheek. Adon was of Greek ancestry, but years spent out of the sun had faded his olive complexion.

Julian turned slowly away, nearly bumping into Devon. “Wasn’t expecting that,” he muttered, wiping away the remaining blood that trickled down his lip.

“Nor I.”

“Did you find out what you wanted to know?” Zane demanded, obviously irritated with the situation.

Devon glanced toward Julian, who nodded briefly. “I think we can trust them,” Julian said softly. “Though they do not like this union, they are accepting of it because they feel that Cassie will be a powerful ally, an asset.”

“Asset?” Cassie inquired sharply.

Devon recognized, and disliked, the rebellious fire in her eyes. “The Elders,” Julian said disdainfully. “Mistakenly believe that every vampire created belongs to them. That every vampire is meant to do their bidding, and to serve them. They think that they will have ultimate power over you.”

Zane smiled coldly at Julian. “We may not control you, but we do have ultimate power over you. We all serve the same purpose, we all want the same things in the long run, and that is to keep our own kind safe. Cassie will be a great aid in that.”

“And if things go wrong?” Cassie demanded, obviously irritated that they thought they would have any control over her. Her arms were folded tightly over her chest, her eyebrows drawn sharply together as she tapped her foot impatiently.

“Everyone in this room knows that you will have to be dealt with if it comes to that. No one disagrees with that fact.”

Cassie’s gaze came slowly toward Devon; her eyes were hopeless and lost. Devon ached for her, but he could not disagree with Zane’s statement. If something went wrong, they would have to both be destroyed. There was no getting around that fact.

“I want every one of your friends to agree to this arrangement, aloud and separately so that Bernard can read them. If there is no agreement, and if he feels any kind of betrayal or lie from you, there will be consequences.”

Panic flared through Cassie’s eyes, but before she could protest, Julian seized hold of her arm and bent low to her ear. Though Devon could not hear what he said, Cassie’s mouth clamped shut. Around the room people slowly responded. Julian continued to hold her arm as Cassie bent her head, listening silently as everyone gave a soft yes. Devon remained a few feet from them, his eyes focused on Bernard as he read each response, nodding slowly afterward.

Chris was the last, and the slowest, to respond. He hesitated, his silence deep within the crowded room. Cassie finally lifted her head, turning to look at her best friend. “Chris,” she whispered.

Chris licked his lips nervously. “I agree with the change, but I will not help to destroy you.” His gaze flickered to Devon. “Either of you.”

Devon tilted his head, studying the boy who had come to be his friend. “Understandable,” Devon said softly.

The scent of Cassie’s tears was sharp in the room as she hurried to Chris, enveloping him in a tight hug. Chris buried his head in her shoulder, clinging to Cassie. “Odd,” Zane murmured.

Devon turned slowly toward him, despising the tone of his voice. “What is?”

“I would never allow Anastasia to hug another man.”

“No dear, you allow me to do so much more,” Anastasia purred, licking her lips eagerly. The last time Devon had seen her, her black hair had been floor length. It was now cut into a sleek bob just beneath her ears that showed off her refined, aristocratic features. Her vivid dark blue eyes stood out sharply against the pallor of her skin, and the midnight of her hair. “Because I love it when you catch me.”

Devon’s stomach twisted in disgust and revulsion. The two of them had been together for over four hundred years. Their love was strong, fierce, and completely sick and twisted. They did things to each other, and other people, that had repulsed him even when he had been at his absolute worst. Though, there had been a time when he had thought that what they shared was the only kind of love a vampire could have. A time when he believed that if he did find a mate, their relationship would be exactly like Zane and Anastasia’s. He was thankful to know now that he had been completely wrong. Their love was wrong, and completely tainted. Their relationship was so twisted and dark, because they were so twisted and dark.

Zane and Anastasia exchanged a look that made Devon’s lip curl in disgust. He glanced behind him to make sure that Cassie was not watching, or listening, he did not want her to witness this sick exchange. She was still hugging Chris, and Luther and Melissa had now joined them; they spoke softly as they clung to each other.

“What is your assessment Bernard?” Julian inquired obviously just as disgusted by the exchange as Devon was.

“They tell the truth,” Bernard said softly. “They may not like this arrangement, but they will agree with it. If we do not betray them, they will not betray us.”

“Wonderful,” Zane said eagerly, licking his lips in anticipation. “We have all come to an agreement! Now we must decide how to proceed with these creatures, but that can wait till tomorrow. We are all tired, it has been a long trip.”

“You will not be staying here,” Devon told him when Zane looked around the room.

“Oh?”

Devon folded his arms over his chest, bracing his feet wide as he faced off against the lead Elder. “We may have a tenuous truce, but we will not pretend to like, or respect each other. You will not be staying here.”

“But we must discuss plans.”

“Tomorrow.”

“Hmm,” Zane nodded. “I suppose you are correct, we should not push our boundaries.”

“No, you should not.”