I laughed. “Who doesn’t? She makes me laugh daily.”
Indy shook her head. “It’s hard to believe we didn’t realize the Imps weren’t predators. And their sense of values... well...”
I leaned toward her. “You just love the fact that Kenji thinks females are dominant over their brothers.”
Indy smiled. “There is that.”
We exited the elevator and walked to Kenji’s suite. Daryn knocked slightly before he entered, and Kenji was sitting on her bed in a pink dress when we entered. I had to admit she was a beautiful child. Even knowing she was a thousand-year-old demon didn’t curb her innocent appearance.
Her pale eyes darted between us. “Where is Kaine? He promised me a surprise the next time he visited.”
Indy grunted. “He will be here in a minute. Can we ask you a few more questions?”
Kenji pointed to the chairs in her room. “Please. Kenji always happy to help beautiful Indy.”
Indy smiled at the Imp before sitting down. The door opened as she crossed her legs and Kaine entered with a white stuffed lamb.
He passed it to Kenji. “This is for your collection.”
Kenji buried her face in the soft stuffed animal. “It is so soft. Like a real lamb.”
Kaine nodded and sat down on the arm of Indy’s chair. “I thought you might like it.”
Kenji squished the lamb to her face. “You may not be ready for a mate, but you are kind, like your sister. Your parents must be very proud of you both.”
Kaine’s and Indy’s smiles fell at the same time. Nobody brought up their parents. It was a tough subject despite them losing them so young.
Indy touched Kaine’s knee before she spoke. “Thank you, Kenji. Our parents died when we were very young. They didn’t get to see us grow up. Our grandfather raised us.”
Kenji looked down, but the hurt in her eyes was palpable. “I am sorry for babies Indy and Kaine. I did not mean to cause you pain.”
Kaine placed his hand on Indy’s back. It was unusual to see the emotional bond between the Frost twins. They were very careful to appear glib in front of others, but there was no denying that connection as they stared at Kenji. “It’s okay, honey. I am sure they would have been very proud of my sister.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Don’t tell her I told you, but she is actually pretty good. Almost as good as me.”
Indy grunted, but laughter reflected in her eyes. “Don’t listen to him, Kenji. I am a much better hunter. And I am way better looking.”
Kenji glanced up from her lamb with a smile. “I think you are both special. But I agree you are the most beautiful.”
Kaine retracted his hand at the same time Indy dropped her hand. “Don’t tell her that. Her head is large enough. If it inflates any more, I won’t get her noggin through the door.”
Indy rolled her eyes. “He is so full of it. Kenji, we need to ask you about the hybrids. We encountered three tonight, but the demons are killing them. Is there any way to transfer the king’s essence without the prince or some other type of conduit here?”
Kenji nibbled her lip. “There were rumors of a transference artifact, but it is supposed to be in the underworld. I have never seen it so I cannot confirm it still exists. But when the king drinks mead, he tells me things he doesn’t mean to. The king’s ability to... underestimate me was the reason my father assigned me to the king’s palace. It is the only place the king drinks.”
Indy leaned forward. “What is this artifact called?”
“The Transference Icon. I do not know what it looks like. The king has shared many stories, and the descriptions don’t match. I can’t even confirm this item exists as the king likes to lie to hissubjects. Nobody knows the truth about that artifact except the Dark Witch.”
“That’s okay. Do you know how it works?” she asked.
“Not really. It can only transfer to one person at a time and there is a ritual involved, but I do not know where it is.”
“Do you know when it was used last? Did it create a hybrid?”
Kenji nodded. “In your world. It was only once used by the Dark Witch to absorb the king’s essence. It was reported that he took the artifact after he... infused her. This transference made her... breedable.”
Indy blinked. “The Dark Witch used the artifact on herself?”
Kenji nodded. “She created it. The Dark Witch was the first hybrid.”