Page 10

T he kiss was short and sweet, not heated like our previous one, but it left me breathless and dazed just the same.

Xaniban cupped my face amid cheers and the excited flutter of wings. “You are a blessing from the Gods, truly. Never have I encountered such a remarkable female.”

“Oh…” His words, his kiss, the public display of affection–I was at a loss for what to say.

“A female who can fight,” he went on, gaze holding mine, “fly in the sky without wings of her own, put her own safety at risk for others who would never know of her sacrifice, resist a temptation few have not given into… I would not believe such a female existed, had I not seen her in action. Had I not smelled the sincerity in her every word.”

I blushed. He made me sound remarkable, but I was not.

My actions at the day of the outbreak hadn’t helped anyone, and for months I had believed my project was to blame for the zombie apocalypse.

I still wasn’t completely sure the anti-wrinkles cream was innocent, since I hadn’t been involved in every phase of its production.

“Why did the zombie king choose my workplace to start the apocalypse?” I asked, gently removing Xaniban’s hands from my face. “You mentioned earlier that it was there he began making his new army?”

“Yes, he personally marked the beginning there.” Xaniban replaced the touch of his hands with tailed caresses along my back as he spoke, and I found those too soothing to move away.

“But around the same time, his generals started creating mindless flesh eaters in big human cities across the continent. It was a well-planned operation that made it hard for us to pinpoint ground zero, and hence find him and nip this war in the bud.”

“But would killing the king have made much difference? Wouldn’t one of his generals have taken the crown and continued the operation?”

There was amusement in Xaniban’s eyes at my many questions. He took my hand and led me back to the head chair, where I returned to his lap without making a fuss. I didn’t want to interrupt him when he was so willingly sharing crucial information.

“Flesh eaters can be given purpose only by the king. His generals are intelligent on their own, as such is his royal gift, but they cannot control other flesh eaters, just pass on the curse. Only the king can control them, for the curse in his blue blood links him to all his creations. Kill him, and the flesh curse dies with him. His generals, along with the mindless minions, would rot away within a couple of months.”

I couldn’t believe it was that simple. All the effort the authorities had put into containing the zombie outbreak before humanity went to hell, and the solution had been Kill Bond, Kill the Apocalypse .

“Our ancestors fought him more than once,” Xaniban told me, “but he always got away. Went into hiding until the right time would come to try and build an army again. The last time he vanished, he was gone for so long we assumed he had been killed without our knowledge. But he was hiding in plain sight and planning a large-scale attack the likes of which has not been seen before.”

“I still don’t understand why he chose a cosmetics company’s party to start all this,” I reasoned out loud. “Does he have a bone to pick with the industry? For all the makeup he had to wear on screen?” I joked. Mostly.

“We will probably never know.” Xaniban patted my thigh.

“The reason is of no importance at this late stage of his plan. His generals–humans who have accepted the king’s curse onto themselves willingly–have already taken control of entire cities on your continent.

And now that the remains of Dracula’s army have joined him, the situation on the ground will aggravate. ”

Splendid. Zombies and vampires were close to achieving dominion over Europe. The aliens were next in line. What chance did we humans have?

Xaniban turned to fully face his soldiers.

“We should seek the flesh eaters’ king at the coordinates provided, my brethren.

If he is no longer there or his forces far exceed those who volunteer to join me for yet another risky attack on the enemy’s stronghold, I would suggest finding an ally of our own as Plan B. ”

After a flap of wings from everyone in the room, he specified, “I strongly believe the Elves should be our first point of call on the ground. With them guarding the green territories between human settlements, they are already preventing flesh eaters and blood suckers from moving freely. It will be risky to negotiate with the Elves and hard to convince them to hunt beyond their territories, but we must try.”

More flapping of wings.

“Word shall be spread,” a warrior said through a growly rumble. He was that monster of a gargoyle who was too big for his chair. “The warriors’ vote will be known by sunrise.”

Voting? Volunteering? Wasn’t this an absolute monarchy?

“Good, Ris. We shall examine a map of Europe now.”

With that said, Xaniban looked back at me, gaze lingering.

I gave him an innocent smile. “Don’t mind me, I’m just sitting here and keeping my mouth shut.

” I needed to learn more about the agenda of the different species from the second apocalypse.

Why had these creatures revealed themselves to humans now, and not centuries ago?

Why all at the same time, and with murderous intent?

My smile was wasted. “It is time for you to retire to my chambers,” I was kindly informed. “Samuin will escort you and give you whatever you need to prepare. I shall join you soon.”

“But–”

He got us on our feet and flapped his wings in a way that produced a loud whoosh.

“Xaniban, I–” Dammit . Samuin was already flying in through the upper door.

“Yes, my liege?” he asked while in the air.

“Please take care of my little blessing,” Xaniban said with an affectionate smile directed at me.

Now it was him who was wasting smiles. Cute nicknames as well. “I will not be so easily dismissed. I want answers, as we agreed,” I reminded him. “If you won’t give them to me, have me taken to my community. Unlike you, they need me.”

Xaniban shook his head, still smiling. “Your desire for knowledge is admirable. Whatever questions you still have shall be answered. Whatever needs your community has will be discussed. Later.”

“But–”

He held up a clawed finger. “We’ve lost enough time on our first night together. You shall go with Samuin now and leave us to discuss battle strategies.”

“Why can’t I participate?” I insisted, grasping for anything that could postpone the inevitable. “Let me see where those coordinates are. I might know the place better than you–”

He exhaled loudly through his nostrils, and I tensed up. Would I be thrown over Samuin’s shoulder again?

Xaniban caressed my arm with his tail’s tip. “I wish you not to be bored of war planning,” he rumbled softly, “but clean and dripping wet for me while waiting in my bed.”

I bristled. “Wish whatever, you jerk.” I drew back from his tail’s touch. “The only wet thing waiting for you in the bed will be a wet dream. Because in reality, you’re going to get one fat nothing from me.”

“A challenge?” He sounded intrigued, and the warriors flapped their wings in excitement.

“I love challenges. Here is my promise to you, playful little human.” He tipped my chin up with a cocky smile.

“The one to have wet dreams is you. Because once I have claimed you, you will be too exhausted to resist sleep. At the same time, you will miss my touch so much that you will be dreaming of me.”

I raised an eyebrow at his arrogance, which came so naturally to him that it sounded more like a mere statement of fact. Then I gave him a withering look, but its effect was ruined as I was flown out of the war room, sack-of-grain style again.