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the entire vampire nation."
"A king? That didn't make sense. Vampires lived in individually run broods. To my knowledge they'd
never served under one master.
Thad nodded. According to this, Ortolon ruled over all the vampires in this country, and at the time of
his death was working hard to unite vampires the world over. Seems he was trying to eliminate a band of
rebel traitors when he was killed."
I remembered Kalimus's answer when I asked him what happened to his parents.'That's one mystery
you'll have to solve on your own, Carter Denton. I wet my lips. How did Ortolon die, Thad?"
Thad read a little bit further. When he looked up at me this time, there was a trace of pity in his eyes.
Ortolon's own brother betrayed him. He murdered Ortolon, then slaughtered his wife and son. Thad
closed the book. Afterwards, the brother tore Ortolon's kingdom apart, reducing it into the broods we
see today. He gave me an apologetic smile. I'm sorry, but there's no mention here of anyone named
Kalimus."
"That's okay. I'd already filled in the blanks, myself. I stood. Thanks, Thad. I'll see you around."
Before I'd made it halfway to the door, Thad stopped me. Carter?"
"Yeah?"
"These dreams... Thad seemed to be measuring his words. They concern me."
Concerned the hell out me, too, but there didn't seem to be a damn thing I could do about it. Don't
worry, I lied. They're probably just the result of too much junk food before bed."
Thad didn't look convinced. When's the last time you saw your grandfather, Carter?"
Too damn long, but that was the old man's choice, not mine. I tried to hedge. He and I don't exactly
see eye to eye these days, Thad."
"Maybe not, but there comes a time when family ties must be renewed. Thad locked eyes with me. I
think you should go see him, Carter. Today."
An eerie cold washed over me, and for one odd second I got the feeling that someone had just walked
over my grave. I scrubbed my hand over my face. Yeah, well ... I'll think about it."
Thad opened his mouth as if to argue, then closed it tight again. I used his silence as an opportunity to
get the hell out of there.
* * * *
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My next stop was Kalimus place. I dismantled the wards, then used a similar spell to undo the
protections Tina had put in place. I knew Kalimus would be asleep, still, but I meant to talk to him the
moment he woke up.
Just as I'd thought, he was lying under the covers in the center of the big bed, literally dead to the world.
It always scares the shit out of me to see a vampire sleep the way their chests skip the whole
rise-and-fall routine. I settled onto the settee to wait, but I was so damn tired from the near-sleepless
night before, I fell asleep. The dream followed soon after.
I was standing in the same throne room as the night before. Okay, so maybe standing isn't the right
word. Stretched out on the floor dead is more like it. Kalimus was hunkered over my body, tears spilling
from those clear green eyes.
I awoke with a start to the realization that someone was standing over me. I opened my eyes to see
Kalimus's hand coming toward my face.
"What are you "
"Hush. His voice was hard. Just lie there and let me do this."
I closed my mouth as Kalimus's calloused fingers began to explore every ridge and line of my face. Took
him a good ten minutes to do it, and by the time he pulled away, my entire body was covered in goose
bumps.
"Itis you, Kalimus accused. He took two steps back, as if trying to put distance between us. What the
hell are you doing here, and why are you in my dreams?"
"Your dreams? My anger was rising, and that wasn't the only thing. Seeing Kalimus dressed in nothing
but a pair of low-slung jeans wasn't helping to cool my blood. I've been dreaming about you for over ten
years, pal. I think I'm the one who should be asking the questions."
"Ten years. Kalimus sank onto the bed. I thought I was the only one. His voice was thin. Until I felt
your face, I couldn't be sure, but now... He was shaking. I dreamed you were dead, and I was
standing over you. He pushed his hair back from his face. When I awoke and felt your presence, I
knew that you were the man I'd been dreaming about. I don't know how I knew, but I did."
"Shit. I sat down beside him on the bed. That's the same damn dream I just had."
He shook his head. That's impossible."
"As impossible as two men who've never met spending the last ten years dreaming about each other, you
mean?"
Kalimus didn't say anything, but I hadn't really expected him too. I cleared my throat, making the
decision to change the subject to the reason why I'd come to him in the first place. I know about your
parents."
"Then you know why Jenson wants me dead. Kalimus stood, his movements jerky. Where is my
shirt?"
I picked it up off the floor and handed it to him. With you gone, no one will challenge his claim to rule
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his brood."
"It's more than that. Kalimus pulled the shirt over his head, making me sorry to lose the view. As long
as I'm alive, there's a chance I'll be able to continue the work my father started."
"Uniting vampires the world over under one central rule."
"Yes."
I thought about that for a minute. That's no small task, my friend. You're going to need some help, and
it's obvious to me that I'm meant to be involved somehow or else we wouldn't be dreaming about each
other."
Kalimus sat back down beside me. Your dreams ... were some of them..."
"We're talking hot and heavy, full-on dream porn, I said. No sense in beating around the bush. You
too, huh?"
"Oh, yes."
I was quickly becoming hot and bothered, but I couldn't act on it. Not until I knew what the dreams
meant. It was then that I remembered Thad's words about visiting my grandfather.
I coughed into my hand, my throat suddenly tight. My grandfather ... he's something of a seer. God, I
hated what I was about to suggest. It's possible he might know what to make of this."
"You're reluctant to speak with him. It wasn't a question. Guess I'm not as good at disguising my
emotions as I thought.
"Yeah. He and I have had our share of problems. I sighed. Might as well spit it out. He's ashamed of
me."
"Why? Kalimus sounded shocked.
"Grandfather wanted me to be this high and powerful witch. I shook my head. I think he was hoping
I'd turn out to be the next coven leader. I let out a sarcastic laugh. Grandfather thinks I was destined to
be a great hero of our people until I turned my back on it all."
"You disagree with him."
"I'm not the hero type, I said. I have as much self-esteem as the next guy, but I know my limitations."
"I don't know about that. Kalimus grinned. Some of the things you did to me in those dreams were
pretty damn heroic."
I felt an uncomfortable tightening below my belt. You keep talking like that and we'll never get the
answers we need. I came to my feet. Let's get this over with. The sooner we talk to the old man, the
sooner we find out what the hell is happening to us."
* * * *
My grandfather lives in a mansion. I'm not talking about just a big house, either. I'm talking servants,
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