Darkest Risings by S. K. Yule Page A

heart.
    “The
uprising of the drifters that is happening was prophesized many years ago…by
Ragnor, King of Vampyre.” She tried hard not to look into the puzzled faces of
her sons.
    “I
knew about it from the start, and I have gone to great lengths to stop it. The
prophecy will not come to pass until all of the Aleksandrov offspring find
their mates. Once that occurs, the wheels will be set into motion. But there is
so much more.” She took a deep breath and continued, thanking the gods that
they remained quiet. “I thought if I could keep one of you from finding your
mate, it would stop the prophecy.”
    “Doesn’t
make sense. How in the world could you keep any of us from finding our destined
mate? If it’s going to happen, you have no control over it. And why does a
prophecy revolve around us?” Ashe sat rigid behind the desk.
    “No,
I may not be able to keep any of you from finding your mates, but I could keep
your brother from finding his by keeping him prisoner. And to answer your other
question, the reason the prophecy revolves around the Aleksandrovs is because
you are the only true bloods left. Ragnor, the Vampyre King, the last of the
true bloods, not only foretold the prophecy, but he is also your father.”
    “Do
you hear what the hell you are saying? It’s crazy. Are you trying to pull a
prank on us or something? Did Aiston put you up to this?” Aldin glared at Aiston.
    “Stop!
I’m telling you the truth. You have a brother that you’ve never met. His name
is Uriah. I concealed my pregnancy from you all. After he was born, I hid him
away. I locked him up and have kept him a prisoner since his birth. I thought
if I kept him from the world, he’d never be able to find his viata amant . I thought by doing this, I
could save all of you. Instead, by interfering with Fate, I am probably the
reason your sister is dead.” Marilena sobbed and Ragnor tightened his grip on
her shoulder.
    “This
is absolutely insane,” Aiston said after standing.
    “It
is the truth,” Ragnor said.
    “And
exactly who are you?” Ashe asked.
    “I’m
Ragnor. Your father.”
    The
whole room became deathly quiet for several minutes.
    “Our
father was burned by vampire hunters hundreds of years ago.” Aldin spoke.
    “Marcus,
the father you knew, yes. But I assure you that I am the one who sired you. All
of you, including your brother Uriah. The one you have never met. The one who
only found out he had brothers yesterday.”
    “Ragnor
is only a legend,” Ashe whispered.
    “Why?
Because no one has seen me? I didn’t want anyone to see me. After your mother
left me, I wanted nothing else to do with anyone. She took everything I loved
away. I allowed her to do it because she was scared, and I loved her enough to
let her do what made her feel safe. I now realize I was a fool for doing so. I
missed out on too much.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Aldin’s
head reeled with the aftershocks of the bomb his mother had just dropped on him
and his brothers. And the man standing beside her? Was he Ragnor? Was he his
father? He took a closer look at the man. While he appeared to be in his
fifties—which was a great illusion if he was the Vampyre King—the only thing
that made him look that old was the sprinkle of salt in his dark coppery-brown
hair and fine lines around his eyes.
    Any
doubt Aldin had about his mother telling the truth was squashed as soon as he
looked into the man’s eyes. While it was true that Marilena, too, had turquoise
eyes, no one could mistake the even stranger, almost beguiling, turquoise color
of Ragnor’s eyes. They seemed to shimmer with hints of green, blue, and gray in
perfect accord with one another.
    “How
is all of this possible? We have another brother? We are true bloods? We are
the sons of the Vampyre King? We are the key to the uprising involving the
drifters? Why?” He muttered more to himself in disbelief than to anyone else.
    “It
is a lot to wrap one’s head around, but it is true, and