Absolution of Fate (Fate Series Book 3) by S. Simone Chavous Page A

door before Chloe could so much as sneak a peek into his mind. She put her hands on her hips, frowning as she scanned for Kaleb’s stream of consciousness. It was easy enough to find him but, unlike normal, he was resisting her. She wanted to be cross, but they both knew she could gain access if she really wanted to, and she could sense his playfulness in keeping this little secret. It was a side of him she had seen very little of, but she wanted to see more. Having traversed the deepest corners of his mind, sharing his darkest memories, Chloe knew all too well the horrors of Kaleb’s life and she was utterly amazed by the good, the strong light of who he truly was, that he’d manage to hold on to in spite of the darkness that had surrounded him from the day he was born. It’s easy to be a good person, or at least to behave like one when you’ve known nothing but love and kindness in your life, but to have your character tested every single day, to fail more often than you’ve succeeded to fight the darkness, yet somehow keep trying to hold on to the light, that is true goodness, and that was why Chloe fell in love with a man she’d never even touched.
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    “Asana, what a lovely surprise; though I can probably guess why you’re here,” Lucias said as he moved out of his playroom into the hallway where she was waiting. He ran a hand through his freshly-washed hair, the smell of soap mixing with the lingering traces of blood and sex to create his overall scent. Asana schooled her features to hide her disgust; a skill she’d mastered over the years. Lucias’s mood was more cheerful than she had ever seen, which made her all the more nervous about what she had to tell him.

    “Thank you, Sire. As you instructed, I came as soon as I saw something. It’s about Chloe, and your human, Molly.”

    “Yes; shall we continue this discussion in my office?” he said, gesturing in that direction. In a matter of seconds, Asana was seated in one of the chairs across from his desk. “Please continue.”

    “Of course, Sire. I believe Chloe can do the impossible. I have seen her turn a human into one of us; more specifically, I saw her turn Molly into a vampire. So long as—”

    “And when exactly did you see this?” Lucias interrupted.

    “Not long ago, Sire. I came searching for you as soon as I recovered.” Of course that was a lie, but it was true that her visions were often a great physical strain; at times so much so, that she would pass out.

    “I must admit I’m disappointed, for this is information I already possess. Molly’s transformation is complete; I have seen,” he said smirking as he raised his fingers to his nose,” and touched the magnificent creature she has become. Nonetheless, I am pleased. This is far beyond my wildest imagination of the girl’s power. I am eager to learn how her blood will change me once we are mated. I believe the time has come at last.”

    Asana shifted nervously, attempting to prepare for the wrath she was certain to incur for delivering bad news. “Sire, I’m sorry; but there was more to my vision. Chloe’s power, this ability to transform humans, it is based in her blood. If she completes the mate bond, the power will be destroyed.”

    In a blur, Lucias was directly in front of her, his eyes full of rage as he leaned over her. “Tell me exactly what you saw. Do not leave out a single detail,” he demanded with a hiss.

    “I, I saw Chloe with the red ribbon on her wrist, it was a mating ceremony, and then I saw her with another human on the verge of death, she gave the man her blood, just like Molly, but he died. And then there was another, a woman, who was healthy as far as I could tell and she drank from Chloe’s wrist, but did not change either. But then I saw a battle; we were gathered before The Elite, your army as it is now and hundreds more, humans turned by Chloe, still unmated.”

    “So if I take Chloe as my mate, I must give up what is perhaps her