Page 176 of Eternal Surrender

“I know he’s joined with Dominion.”

Lucas frowned. “Who told you that?” Then he realized. “Sunaria believes that?”

“Is it true?”

He ambled over toward the Champagne and lifted it. “So many luxuries that we can easily afford. . . but not partake in.”

“Is Paradom joined with Dominion?” I asked again.

He dropped the bottle back into the cooler. “No.”

“Is that another lie?”

Silence filled the room and I let it, hoping that he too would feel the weight of those words.

He slumped down onto the edge of the bed.

I gripped both of his wrists and pushed him back. “I need the truth. And I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get it.”

“You’re hurting me.”

“Have you been spying on me for Jacob?”

“Guarding you. Protecting you.”

“You need the scrolls for Paradom, not for me.” I said.

He shook his head. “For you. Of course for you.”

I tightened my grip. “Is Jacob still a member of the Stone Masters?”

He held back for a moment and then whispered, “Yes.”

I was stunned.

“Both Fabian and Jacob believe that mortals and vampires must rule together,” he said.

“Are you a Stone Lord?” I let him go.

“My directive comes from Fabian. My orders were to protect you at all cost. You discovered it was mercury that Sovereign was using on us. You saved us, William.”

I took a step back.

Lucas stood up. “I understand that you don’t know who to believe.”

“Sunaria warned me that if I didn’t kill Dominion, she’d kill Ingrid.”

“Dominion’s our only hope.” Lucas closed the gap between us. “You must see that?”

“Vampire and mortal rule seems an obvious answer. But I need to talk with Dominion—” I shook my head. “—Paradom. I need to find out his agenda.”

“Paradom isn’t Dominion,” he said defiantly.

“Why am I being led to believe that?”

“Because Sunaria’s connected the dots wrong.”

“Then how should they be connected?”