Page 126 of Blood Red Rage

“Only generally.”

“Generally?”

“And hydrate.”

“Viking Dragic.” There it was my full name. Danger. I put both hands up.

“Before you kill me, remember you're carrying my children.”

“That is the only reason you're alive.”

“Fair.” She turned toward the hall and I followed, of course I fucking followed. She made it five steps before reaching back without looking. Her fingers found mine, my entire chest tightened. That was us now, argue, threaten, love, repeat. It worked most days.

The others had found their balance too, we all had. Roman spent less time pretending Layla didn't know exactly what he was doing. Lucien remained a fucking menace. Volken had learned not to hover directly behind Runa unless he wanted another fork wound. Draugr remained unmated and therefore continued telling the rest of us how insane we'd become. He was right, nobody cared.

We'd built a rhythm around the war. Nights were strategy, violence and blood. Days were family, children, meals, arguments, sleep. Bryn, always Bryn. I no longer ran toward every threat. That had taken work, a lot of work and several conversations that were less conversation and more Bryn shouting while I stood there realizing she was right.

I still wanted Ceasar dead every second of every day. I still dreamed about tearing his heart out, but I didn't chase him. We were making him come to us, slowly, carefully, one cut at a time. His network had shrunk, his money routes were dying. Two of his major demon supply chains had been destroyed.

Three vampire houses once loyal to him had switched sides. One demon commander had disappeared entirely after Draugr spent four nights hunting him. Draugr never explained what happened and nobody asked. And now, for the first time in months, we had something better than another body. We had information because Kosta waited in Roman's office when I arrived that evening.

Roman sat behind his desk. Lucien leaned against the windows looking out. Volken stood near the fireplace and Draugr was in the corner, naturally, because apparently chairs offended him. Kosta looked tired. That alone caught my attention because the man could spend three days hunting without blinking.

“What?” I asked.

Roman gestured toward the door. I closed it behind me as Kosta placed a thick folder on the desk. “I found the monastery.”

Lucien straightened. “What monastery?”

“The one in Montenegro.”

Roman's eyes narrowed. “The records?” Kosta nodded.

I looked between them. “What records?”

Roman leaned back. “We've been tracing Malakai's movements before his supposed death.”

“Supposed?” Kosta looked at me.

“That part is now confirmed.”

Silence.

I frowned. “Confirmed how?”

“I found records.”

Lucien laughed once. “Demons have records?”

“This one did.”

“Why?”

“Because he wasn't buried by demons.” That quieted everyone as Kosta opened the folder. “Eighty-one years ago, Malakai was wounded during the siege at Vatra Pass.” We knew that part, everyone did. “He disappeared afterward,” Kosta continued. “The assumption was that he survived.”

“Ceasar certainly acted like he had,” Volken said.

Kosta nodded. “That assumption was wrong.”