Page 141 of Eternal Surrender

“I’m going to hang out here for a while.” Ingrid sat again. “Just need to gather my thoughts.” She reached for Blake’s hand and pulled it from beneath the sheets.

Even my unspoken words felt out of place.

Blake reappeared from beneath the sheets. “Can I have my hand back before you break it?”

She cringed. “Sorry.”

I left and gave them the privacy they needed.

Within minutes of entering the library, I was met by a worrisome Alex who seemed as equally anxious about being in the same room as Ingrid as she was with him.

Sebastian, Marcus and Anaïs were riveted, waiting for me to answer his question.

I said at last, “Yes, Alex, we can trust Ingrid.”

The table was stacked high with books, some opened at random pages, some waiting their turn to be read or follow in the same fate as others and become discarded and thrown to the floor.

I picked up one of them, reluctant to step over it. “Careful, some of these are antiques.”

“There’s more at stake than your beloved library,” Marcus said.

“Jadeon’s library,” Alex mumbled.

I peered down at the table, wondering how long it would take for us to read all of them. “We need to search for anything to do with the name Dominatio,” I said. “Fabian believes he will end the annihilation of vampires.

“Ingrid’s agreed to help us?” Anaïs asked, raising an eyebrow.

“How do you know she won’t use everything she learns against us?” Alex asked.

“Because I do,” I said flatly.

“She’s invested in helping Blake,” Marcus reassured Alex.

“That’s great!” Sebastian opened his hands. “Isn’t it?”

“Are we still friends?” I asked Sebastian.

He changed his stance. “Is there anything else you’re keeping from me? I mean, it’s hard to keep up with all your fanciful secrets, William.”

“I’ve told you everything, Seb, you have my word.” I addressed the others. “We all proceed with complete honesty from here on in, understand?” I put down the book and reached for another. “Any mention of Dominion in any of these?”

“None,” Anaïs answered.

“What if Fabian is Dominion?” Marcus shook his head.

“He’s not,” I said. “Apparently, Dominion was in his twenties when turned. Fabian insisted the answers could be found here.”

“No other clue than that?” Alex asked, astonished. “Why is Fabian always so elusive?”

Sebastian asked the obvious question. “Why doesn’t Fabian find Dominion?”

“He’s asked us to,” I said.

Ingrid entered and headed straight toward us. “What’ve you got so far?”

“Books,” Marcus said. “A library full.”

“I’ve got a feeling we won’t find the answer here.” She rested her fingers on her mouth, thinking. “What about those books in the anteroom?”