Intent on His claim (Beauty and the Beast #3)

Chapter 65

I turned to Jared as soon as Warren and Dane left. "We need to talk."

Jared nodded and gestured for me to follow him. He took me down corridors that led into the courtyard at the back.

I marvelled at the gardens around us. "You said this place doesn't exist, right?"

"It exists," he corrected, "just not like this in your time. It's been preserved on different plane."

Okay, so I didn't get any of that. I just decided to enjoy the scenery instead. Jared led me into the garden and I shielded my eyes at the bright sunshine, and the brilliant colours of the flower gardens and bushes.

"I thought we could sit out here while we talk."

"Oh, wow," I grinned at the lovely garden chairs and table that he led me to. It was set for only two people with platters of fruit set out.

When we sat down, I enjoyed the breeze that was blowing through the gardens. "It's really lovely here. Do you live here?"

"Oh no," he laughed softly, picking up a slice of pineapple. "This place is purely ceremonial. I actually live in a cute little villa in Italy."

"Of course you do," I laughed. "So how did you become the Oracle?"

"How did you become the Seer?" he returned playfully.

"Are you actually going to give me any answers?"

"When you start asking the right questions."

I sighed. "Fine." The bag that I'd summoned from my room using my powers flew into the garden and straight into my hand. "Let's start here."

He raised a brow while I rummaged through the bag. "You figured your powers out quick. I was a little worried that you wouldn't get the hang of them in time."

"Which means they're important to what I have to do," I surmised while laying out the amulet and the dagger on the table. "We'll get to that. What are these for?"

He sat back and assessed me. "You know what they are?"

"The eye of Ra," I pointed to the amulet, "and the dagger that killed me in my first life."

The same one Seth used to commit suicide. I shook my head to clear it of the dark memory.

"Yes, the most deadly weapons ever created against shifters. Ever wondered why they were in the possession of vampires?"

"Who else has it in for us?" I deadpanned.

"Yes, but they were preserved for this time. They aren't just weapons to use against one or two shifters at a time. Belle, this amulet can immobilize whole packs at a time. It's range is incredible. And working together with this dagger in the hands of a single vampire, the losses would be unfathomable."

Oh. Wow. "Have they ever been used before? On such a large scale?"

Jared sat forward and linked his hands on the table before him. "The vampires could never corner us, could never get enough shifters in one place for it to truly matter. Until now."

"Why, what's happening now?"

"Have you heard of the prophecy?"

"The one you gave? About me being born?"

He laughed softly and shook his head. "No, the one of the greatest battle of our kind."

"Battle?" I asked. My heart skipped a beat.

A battle had been the last thing I'd been expecting. Wouldn't that be dangerous to people? To Warren?

To me?