Page 23 of Threads of Crimson 2

Benji promptly pushed them down his legs, then stood and put his hands on his narrow hips. “You need to get naked, too. I need skin on skin, Lysandro.”

The hint of vulnerability on his face reminded me that my actions hadn’t just changed my life. Becoming Ego’s father would impact Scotty and Benji, as well. While the three of them liked each other, there was no telling who might come out of the woodwork once I sent out an all-call through the Veil.

Holding his gaze, I undid the sash of my satin robe, letting it drop at my feet. Then I pulled him back into my arms and slotted our lips together in a soft kiss. “I don’t want you to worry about anything, okay? No matter what happens or who comes looking for me, I’ll keep you safe.”

He sighed, resting his forehead on my chest. “I know you will.”

He climbed into bed, and when I went to lay down next to him, he opened his legs and patted the mattress between them. “Let me hold you while you do this.”

“But you won’t—”

“I’ll be more comfortable if you’re in my arms. I promise. You going into this Dreamveil kind of freaks me out.”

He wasn’t kidding. It made me a little nervous, too. I’d heard stories about the Veil, and I’d had brethren who talked about it like it was going for a trip to the grocery store. My Mother had never had a use for it, though. At least not with me. I’d always been close, right where she wanted me.

Giving in to Benji, hoping it would ease both of our nerves, I crawled onto the mattress and sat between his legs, letting his warmth envelope me. He kissed the side of my forehead, mumbling, “Have sweet sleeps. I’ll be here when you come back.”

“I…thank you, my treasure. I truly don’t know how I’d have survived this without you.”

Benji hummed contentedly, and I closed my eyes.

Okay, this was wild. I didn’t know exactly where I was, but it didn’t look anything like what Ego had described. There was no stone bed or river, and it didn’t feel ominous.

It was actually quite lovely. Standing at the outer edge of a meadow, I glanced behind me and saw a mansion, rivaling the size of Ego’s mini-castle in the distance. The large structure was the only view obstructed by fog. Turning to face what lay before me, the rest of the meadow was surrounded by trees.

To the west, the moon hovered right above the horizon, as the navy and indigo sky began to brighten into pink and gold to the east. As I turned that direction, I heard the waves crashing against the shoreline and smelled the ocean in the breeze. It was so peaceful that I wanted to bring Benji here. I’d really been missing out.

Benji. Knowing that he waited for me, worried for me, propelled me to get down to business. I wasn’t sure exactly what to do, so this was where I had to believe that nature would take over.

“Children of Vesper. Those who called him Master, Maker, Creator, and Sire, I have news.”

It was as if those words were an incantation of their own. Silhouettes began to appear all along the tree line. Remembering I went to bed naked, I lifted my arms and looked down at my chest, relieved to see that I was in my Velvet Vein wardrobe—black on black.

I waited, hoping that all would answer the call. I knew from my own experience that they each felt the severing, but I wasn’t sure if they’d all felt the new connection as easily as Ego had. For all I knew, it had been our proximity or the fact that we’d already started developing a bond—even before I’d wanted that.

After a few moments, I scanned the area, completely horrified by the numbers. It had to be close to a hundred, if not more. Had all of these poor souls been turned without their consent? The thought of it made me sick to my stomach, and I wanted to bring Vesper to his final death all over again.

“Thank you, dear ones, for answering my call. I am Lysandro Moretti. Vesper, the one who turned you, was put to his final death by my hand. He confessed his dark wishes, his dreams of building an army with you all to dismantle the world as we know it.

“I promise you that cannot be done. He was surely sentencing you all to a most unpleasant second death. Unlike him, I do not wish to control or coerce you for my own evil intent. You are free, children. Free to go where you desire, free to find your own brand of peace.

“Since I took your Sire’s life, I’ve taken on his mantle. I might not have made you, but I will be here for you. If you should need to seek me, follow the cord that connects us. Let it bring you to me, and I will be here waiting. I will never act as your Master, but I shall be your guide. I shall be your friend. Forever.”

As the last words left my mouth, dozens of bloodlines snapped into place between me and those assembled. I didn’t expect to ever meet most of them again—if one could even consider this actually seeing someone—but I would come to the Veil and check in regularly. Make sure that they knew I meant it. Knew that I would always be here.

I woke with a start, finding Benji’s head propped on my shoulder as he slumbered. Moving a little, I kissed his temple. “And now we wait, my treasure. Now we wait.”

Chapter ten

Cassius

Vesper was dead. Was it possible? Could it really be true? I’d felt our connection snap, as had we all, but Elias had insisted it was nothing. That he hadn’t felt anything, and Vesper would be back. Yet, we’d all watched our Maker crawl into his coffin, and he’d never risen.

As the setting of the sun brought me back to wakefulness, I hurried to bang open my own sleeping confinement. My brethren sucked, and I generally didn’t even try speaking with them since I knew they had no urge to interact with me, but this was too important. I didn’t want to miss a thing.

Like we’d all had the same thought, the clang of lids being thrown up echoed around the chamber. Elias was already standing near Vesper’s golden shrine.

Voices murmured around me. Some were excited that Vesper was dead, while others looked as though they dreaded the unknown. A new Master who we didn’t know. We didn’t know yet how cruel he was. If he lied, or if his words were true.