Fated

"How is she?"

Dimitri's desperate curiosity was already peeked, but it was absolutely locked in now. He knew who Hyperion was inquiring about.

"Ah, I see," he muttered then sighed wearily. Dimitri's heart clenched. "Murdoch, keep me updated. We should be arriving sooner rather than later. The jet just landed."

The moment that Hyperion ended the call, Dimitri pounced upon him with series of questions about Dove. He could tell by the grim expression on Hyperion's face and what he heard that the update wasn't positive, but he still needed to know the truth.

"She's barely surviving," Hyperion admitted, pausing for a moment. "They're trying to keep her from succumbing to death before you arrive."

Dimitri squeezed his eyes shut at that. She needed his blood. She wasn't going to make it without it. He growled, shaking his head. His eyes flicked to the jet finally making its way to the hangar. They would be arriving in Las Vegas, Nevada in no time, but it felt like forever just to get to her.

"She's a Nightingale," Hyperion murmured, drawing Dimitri's attention. "Nightingales have the uncanny ability to persevere."

Hyperion's amethyst eyes snapped to his and Dimitri slowly nodded in agreement. History detailed the long line of Nightingales. They would pass the torch to the next gatekeepers like the Keys did. A lot of the Nightingales actually went on to be Librarians or Open Books. Their lineage had a specific magic granted to them blessed by one of the Keys.

"I hope so." Dimitri looked back at the jet. "Most of them aren't subjected to daggers and poison."

Hyperion shrugged. "Not everyone has a stomach to be a Devereux and the Firm," he threw out there. Dimitri chuckled at his old friend's response. "It's about time the revered prince of the Vampires found his mate." Dimitri glanced over at Hyperion watched the jet being prepared. "She'll make a good queen -- a better one than Lady Olivia for certain."

Dimitri sucked in a sharp breath. Lady Olivia Raleigh would've made an enchanting queen of the Vampires, but she was tricked by the Darklings after her parents were murdered. She turned her back on his brother and hunted vampires until she was hunted by the powers that governed forcing her to lay low. It was a shame, because his brother and her would've made a remarkable pair and would've ruled fairly.

"She still would've made an amazing queen," he told Hyperion.

Hyperion sighed. "I wish she believed King Sylvain." He shook his head. "Now he's dying and she might never know. Do you think if she knew he was dying that she'd come?"

Dimitri didn't answer. He would hope she would, but realistically, why would she? She was still convinced that vampires were to blame for the murders of her parents and she didn't forgive easily. She was stubborn and loyal to the ones she loved even against the ones she loved. This was a woman that turned her back on her heart and was fooled by her mind. Did she even care that his brother was dying?

She'd probably welcome the likelihood of his death if she knew. She hated Sylvain and the entire vampire population.That sobering thought pained him, because he viewed her like a sister before fate stepped in and wrecked everything. When she left, she had taken Sylvain's heart with her.

Evidence had been dug up to prove the Darklings were behind the attack against her parents' murders. By then, she had been long gone and it wasn't common knowledge about their findings. Only the higher ranks of the militia and royals knew.

"She'd come to finish off what death was delaying," he mumbled grimly. "Perhaps, it's best if she remain unaware of such matters. Sylvain has death chasing him. He doesn't need the past and the forbidden haunting him as well."

~

"Your uncle is the King of the Vampires of all the Elysiums," Ruby remarked, drawing both Orion and Caramia's attention. "History seems to repeat itself. Your mate is a Phoenix from the same bloodline as your uncle's intended. It seems like fate wishes to right the wrong done by the Darklings. The pairing of King Sylvain and Lady Olivia Raleigh would've silenced the uprisings in the Elysiums."

Orion raised an eyebrow. "Elysiums? There is more than one?"

"They're reminiscent of your provinces," Alessio explained. "In fact, your entire government is mirrored by ours. Prince Dimitrius and the Devereuxes oversee the overall function of your world."

The blond smirked. "There are seven elysiums in total. We are from the Skye Elysium," he told Orion, locking eyes with him for a moment. "There are monarchies sprawled across the elysiums, but all creatures no matter their station are governed by the Keeper of the Keys."

"Keepers of the keys?" Caramia repeated in a whisper. Like his mate, he was also mystified by this whole new world and structure. "What are those?"

"Powerful faes who are chosen by their respective temples to be gatekeepers and enforcers of ancient wisdom provided by their forefathers," Alessio explained. "They protect our world and all the worlds connected."

Orion raised an eyebrow at all this information. "This a bit..."

"Hard to take in?" Ruby finished with a small smile. "Darklings are otherworldly creatures that are against the Keys and their allies. King Sylvain is one of their allies and upholds their rule as most of the otherworldly creatures do. The Keys enforce total peace over the entire population. The temples of wisdom don't allow overzealous enforcers. They instill powerful enforcers that are fair and have hearts of gold. Not one Key has ever been power hungry or caused ultimate destruction due to selfish greed."

"The Darklings are getting anxious," Alessio informed with a sigh. "The turning of the tide is amongst us when the new Keys replace the old Keys. The veil of protection between our worlds and Earth realm becomes thinner. The Darklings wish to be rid of the Keys influence and wish to be free from their rule. They'll do anything in their power to break the cycle and create chaos including attacking the strongest leaders of creatures."

"They're behind King Sylvain's mysterious illness," Ruby muttered, shaking her head. "The vampires are already being swayed more and more to join the Darklings. If our King is taken down and there isn't a suitable and powerful leader to take his place, it'll give them more reason to join the Darklings."

That didn't change, Orion thought to himself, knowing Caramia could hear his inner musings. We gravitate to the most powerful and beneficial.

Caramia's eyes went to his. For a moment, he was once again in awe of the fiery rim around her pupil embedded in emerald green. Her eyes as he was certain now his eyes were quite mesmerizing. It spoke of supreme power.

"Just like lycans and werewolves," Ruby muttered, forcing their attention to refocus their attention on the three vampires around them. "We aren't governed by just loyalty by sentiment. We are primarily governed by the ones most powerful which is why we respect the Keys, because we've benefited both from their rule, their fairness and kindness, and their strengths."

Caramia cocked her head to the side, curiosity painting upon her tanned face. "Have you ever met the Keys?"

"No. I never was blessed with an opportunity," Ruby admitted. "Both of you probably will due to your position of leadership."

Orion watched Caramia's eyes widen in shock before darting to him. He winked at her and she blushed at his attention. He was so glad that it was her that he went on this new adventure with. He wanted the quiet life for her to adjust to life with him, but perhaps, this was just an added blessing in disguise since it was new to the both of them.

If all of this true, the world was much bigger than he originally believed. Worlds attached to worlds. His father would explain how this was all possible, right? He would tell him why he kept this from him and Persephone. Persephone! Were the Darklings after her too?

"Are you searching for my sister too?" he asked, searching for answers in their eyes.

"Yes," Alessio told him. "We were fortunate that we found you. Hyperion is with your father and Persephone should be in Apollo Devereux's care fairly soon, but there are others like us looking for her just in case."

Orion released a breath of air he was holding. Persephone would be fine. Apollo had been in the original meeting about Persephone's disappearance with their fathers and his brother. Wait! Apollo knew? Hyperion knew? The Devereuxes mysteriously appeared and disappeared. It made sense, didn't it? That was why they were so mysterious. Did they live in the elysium? They really did move between worlds. That was also why they didn't concern themselves much with vampire politics and society. That was why his father had grown thoroughly exhausted by it and merrily handed over the reigns.