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“So when the Kaly slices are here, what then, exactly?” his father asked.

“Balthazar will literally change their minds. Basically, he will make the slices’ minds mirror Caemorn’s. They will all be in agreement,” Julian finished. “That will allow Caemorn to integrate them seamlessly.”

“It’s a clever plan,” his father said.

“But not an easy one,” his mother pointed out.

“Nothing worthwhile ever is,” Daemon said.

Seeyr stiffened slightly and suddenly turned towards them. “King Daemon… it istime.”

Balthazar froze. Christian kissed him and took a few steps away to stand by Arcius and his parents. Christian met Julian’s gaze. He felt the touch of his best friend’s mind.

Moonfall. Remember Moonfall, Christian sent.Caemorn was fully Kaly then. This will work.

Yes, it will work. It will,Julian agreed even as he tightened his grip on Daemon’s hand.

Julian’s gaze slid to Caemorn. He had turned towards them. His silver eyes were fixed on Daemon.

Daemon nodded. His red eyes went unfocused as he stared straight ahead. “It is done. All gates into the Ever Dark are open. Fiona… it is time.”

That last was sent mentally to Fiona who, along with her people, were already on Earth.

We are linked. My power linked to theirs will get them all through… now,Fiona answered.

“Incoming,” Caemorn murmured as the first Wyvern Vampire phased the first Kaly slice into the room.

The Kaly slice was a Weryn Vampire who immediately burst into a cauldron of bats that proceeded to fly in every direction. Balthazar let out a laugh.

“Oh, c’mon, this just makes youeasierto control,” Balthazar snorted.

“Eyros,” Caemorn stated dryly.

Balthazar lifted up his hands. “Sorry. Sorry. I’ve just worked myself up into a lather here and it’sbats.” With a snap of his fingers, all the bats fell to the ground as if a gigantic hand had slapped them out of the air. “Now. Back to one form.” The female Weryn Vampire appeared. “And now you’re happy to be here. This is what you’ve planned all along.”

The female Weryn’s eyes were unfocused, but then her gaze snapped to Caemorn. She smiled broadly.

“We’ve done it. Home,” she said as she scrambled to her feet.

She reached for Caemorn. A small, sad smile graced Caemorn’s handsome visage.

“Yes,” Caemorn said. “Home.”

And she collapsed again. Julian leaned forward. He had not exactly seen the transfer of the soul from her body to Caemorn’s, but maybe he had.

“Amazing,” his mother said.

“And terrible,” his father added in a whisper.

More Kaly slices appeared then. Fast and thick. The skies above Nightvallen crackled with terrible storms as several Horys Vampires were teleported in. Lightning ripped the skies apart. Thunder boomed. But the clouds hardly had time to form before Balthazar had them down on the ground then back up again with bright, smiling faces before they collapsed once more.

Mirryr Vampires tried to fade into the crowd, taking on the faces of their Weryn captors or Balthazar or Caemorn. And it was when they did this last one that Balthazar would freeze them. Somehow, wearing Caemorn’s face as they willingly gave themselves over to Caemorn seemed appropriate.

The Syrin Vampires screeched, which had Julian grimacing and covering his ears, but their voices were cut off in mid-cry. One reached up to his throat as he realized he had lost his weapon and glared at Balthazar. Balthazar actually laughed.

“This is rather fun!” Balthazar swelled with pride.

“Do not become cocky, Eyros,” Caemorn reminded him. “Even a slice of me is dangerous.”