Read Vampires' Consort: Magical Menages, Book 2 for Free Online Page B

Oxanna.
    Valarian took a sip of his wine and carefully set the glass down before he continued. “I can’t change the things I’ve done or make up for them, no matter what good I do now, but I’m going to keep trying. Part of that includes fulfilling this prophecy, which is where you come in.”
    Akila exhaled. “Ah, yes, my mysterious and vital DNA.”
    “The prophecy claims the daughter of Ra and the lost son of the Khan will join together to create a leader who will save the world from darkness, despair and torment. I can show you a copy of the text. The original book is in the protection of a sisterhood so ancient and secret they have no name. Those who know of them merely refer to them as the Sisters.”
    “That’s original.”
    “When a pair of these ladies approached me out of the blue and informed me of my destiny, I thought they were crackpots at first, but they convinced me.” He felt a chill remembering the horrific images that had flashed through his mind. “They showed me visions of two possible courses the future might take. One was bright and the other, to put it mildly, was not good.”
    “Visions, huh?” Akila sat back in her chair and folded her arms over her chest, her body language rejecting the preposterous idea.
    It was time to use the strongest weapon in his arsenal: his charisma. Valarian gazed at her, beaming his vital essence. A strong enough dose could hypnotize a person into voluntarily exposing his or her neck, but he wasn’t giving Akila the full court press, merely a nudge. He wanted her to be able to make up her own mind.
    “I believed them,” he said. “These women were the real deal.”
    “If this blood union is so important, why didn’t the Sisters come to me and show me the visions? Why leave it to you to track me down and convince me?”
    “I don’t know. Maybe it’s part of a pre-ordained pattern for how this is meant to play out.” Valarian glanced at Jacob, who stared with brooding intensity at his wine glass. “My part was to find and bring you here. Jacob is to be the child’s physical progenitor, and you will be the vessel to carry the savior of the human race. It sounds pretentious, but that’s the truth. It takes all of us to bring this child into being. In fact ‘the new life begun from the union of three’ is one of the phrases in the text.”
    The silence that followed this statement was so complete the trilling tree frogs resounded from outdoors. It was dark enough now that Valarian could go out. Perhaps he should suggest after-dinner drinks on the veranda.
    “If I don’t want to do it, will you really let me go?” Akila’s voice suddenly cut through the silence. “If this is as important as you say, I don’t see how you can.”
    “I would not coerce you, but I’ll do everything in my power to persuade you. It is that important.” He wondered if it was time to mention the incentive of money again, or if that would only offend her as it had earlier. He hadn’t meant to suggest a lack of integrity. It was simply his experience that a large enough sum could convince a person to do just about anything.
    Jacob spoke up for practically the first time throughout the meal. “Valarian is right. The prophecy is real and we all have a part to play. I haven’t been very supportive of the idea until now, but I see I can no longer deny my duty. Nor should you. Please, Akila, consider this matter deeply before you come to a final decision.”
    Valarian was glad he hadn’t mentioned the money. Jacob’s integrity would go a lot further toward convincing her. His weighty words hung in the air and he could tell Akila was considering them. It was so quiet he heard her soft intake of breath before she spoke.
    “What about afterward? If I decided to have a baby, I wouldn’t just give it to you to raise.”
    “Of course not,” Valarian assured her. “But you won’t be alone in this. Both Jacob and I will be right beside you, supporting you in every way.