“Why do I feel like I’m being buried alive?” she whispered. Tatiana gripped Dominic’s arm tighter. “Please tell me you can open that again, and get us out of here.”
“You are perfectly safe, Tatiana.” Dominic captured her gaze, and his eyes flickered to their clan form. “I would never let anything happen to you, and you are among friends.”
Looking into those intense amber eyes, she knew he meant every word, but she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that he might be wrong. What if they weren’t all friends, and there was indeed a traitor among them?
The four of them descended the steep marble stairs together with Matt still passed out through the whole thing. When they reached the floor of the arena, she was able to make out the rest of the space. However, every thought rushed from her head when she looked up and saw a starry night sky. The walls and door they entered through were gone, and if she didn’t know better, she’d say they were nowhere near Montana anymore.
There were five sets of enormous marble platforms lining either side of the arena, and it looked as though the floor, platforms, and steps were carved from one mammoth hunk of snow-white marble. At the other end of the pristine space, opposite from where they stood, there were two more platforms. The air was cool and comfortable, and the scent of pine lingered.
“Time for our boy here to wake up.” Dominic set Matt on one of the platforms to the right and threw a quick look over his shoulder to Tatiana. “He’ll be fine, but if you’re worried, I’m sure Steven can have a look at him.”
Tatiana pushed past Dominic and knelt down next to Matt. She closed her eyes and tried to tune into his energy the way she did with the animals she treated. Matt moaned, and when she opened her eyes, he was awake and looking confused. He rubbed his face, and she helped him sit up, but the instant he saw the others, his face drained of color.
“Holy shit,” Matt breathed. He flicked his gaze between them, and his voice quivered. “I didn’t dream all that stuff, did I?”
“No.” Tatiana shook her head and sat next to him on the large marble platform. To her relief, he didn’t shy away or flinch but looked at her wide-eyed. “I promise that I’ll explain everything, Matt.”
Seconds later, Richard and Salinda, with baby Jessica in her arms, materialized at the center of the arena in a rush of static electricity. Matt stiffened and leaned against Tatiana but didn’t make a sound as they approached.
“Thank you all for coming.” Richard waved his hand wide. “Verto.”
Tatiana watched in awe as a round table and chairs, also carved from white marble, materialized in the center of the room. She had heard about the visualization skills that the pure-bloods had, but she had never seen it in action until today. Some hybrids could do it too, but from what Layla said, it wasn’t an ability that came easily.
“I’m sure we’d all be more comfortable sitting here than in the traditional Council seating,” Richard said, jutting a thumb toward the large platforms. “Especially since this isn’t an official Council meeting. The others will arrive momentarily.”
As the last word slipped from his lips, the space flickered with static again, and three more couples materialized.
In addition to Layla and William, there were two other couples, neither of whom Tatiana had never met. To the left of Layla stood a strikingly handsome pair, and while the man was unfamiliar, the woman was immediately recognizable—Kerry Smithson’s face was seen in pictures all over the world, and she was even more stunning in person. Tatiana remembered Layla saying that Kerry was a hybrid from the Panther Clan, and she had the gift of sight—one touch and all your secrets were hers to tell.
The other couple was eye-catching and gorgeous in the way that all Amoveo seemed to be. The man was handsome with an unusual air of intensity. However, he definitely was not an Amoveo—not a pure-blood or a hybrid. His energy signature was distinctly different, and she could tell that he wasn’t human either. He stood with one arm protectively around his mate, who was very pregnant—the poor woman looked ready to pop.
All of them took their seats around the large table with Matt staying close to Tatiana and sitting to her right. Dominic sat on her left, watching every move, and occasionally glowering at Matt. Steven and Courtney sat together but remained quiet, and Tatiana noticed that Steven barely took his eyes off his wife.
Tatiana kept her focus on Richard and couldn’t stop wondering why on earth they had to meet here… wherever here was.
“Before we begin,” Richard said solemnly. “I’d like to thank you for joining us. I realize you all have lives outside of Amoveo business, but your prompt attention to the latest development is greatly appreciated.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be on a photo shoot somewhere?” Tatiana asked her sister.
“I’ll get there.” Layla winked as William took her hand in his. “William and I want to make sure everyone is safe before we head out. I was able to postpone it for a few days. Family first, right?”
“Tatiana and Matt.” Richard’s voice filled the cavernous space effortlessly. “You already know Layla and William, but I have yet to introduce the others.”
“I’m Kerry,” said the stunning brunette. “And this big hunk of hottie is my husband, Dante. I’m a hybrid—Panther Clan—but my baby here is all Fox.” She winked at Tatiana and smiled at her husband as he draped one arm over her shoulder. “Good to meet you, by the way. I just wish it was at a spa for a girl’s day out and not more of this everyone-wants-to-kill-us bullshit.”
“Tell us how you really feel, princess.” Dante chuckled and kissed her hand, which was linked with his.
Kerry exchanged a look with the prince and nodded. She rose from her seat and walked around the table until she stood next to Matt. She extended her hand.
“Nice to meet you, Matt,” she murmured as her eyes shifted to her clan form.
Matt looked to Tatiana for reassurance.
“It’s okay, Matt.” Tatiana rubbed his back. “She’s not going to hurt you.”
“I’m only going to put everyone’s minds at ease.” Kerry smiled sweetly. “If you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to fear.”
“O-okay,” Matt sputtered.
Placing his hand in hers, Kerry’s body jolted as the link was made. After a few minutes, her eyes fluttered open, and she dropped Matt’s hand. She flicked her glowing gaze to Tatiana, and a wide smile cracked her face.
“Other than harboring a serious crush on you, the kid is clean.” Kerry breezed back to her seat as Matt rubbed absently at his hand and blushed. “He didn’t shoot the horse, and as far as I can tell, he’s got no connection to the Caedo.”
“Thank you.” Tatiana nodded and let out a sigh of relief. “It’s very nice to meet you, Kerry.”
“This is Pete Castro and Marianna Coltari.” Richard gestured to the expectant woman and her unusual mate. “You may have noticed that Pete is not Amoveo.”
“Yes.” Tatiana swallowed hard and flicked her gaze to the intense man with the pale blue eyes. “I picked up on… something.”
“Vampire and part demon,” Pete said with a shrug. “I promise I won’t suck your blood. Up until a few months ago, I was human like you… well, except for the whole demon lineage, but to be fair, I didn’t know about it so it doesn’t really count.”
“Vampire?” Matt whimpered and put his head in his hands as he rocked in his seat. “This is fucking crazy.”