Digon sat alone in his study, staring at Micah Black’s application, his fingers laced together under his chin. Rule had intercepted Micah’s interest form personally and brought it to him. Now he had a decision to make.
He stood and paced toward the window facing the eastern horizon. A new day had come. A new era was dawning. One in which he would reveal his true identity. He couldn’t remain hidden any longer. Micah and Cordray were getting too close. Not that he couldn’t hold them off. He could. He just didn’t want to anymore.
He’d always said he would know when the time was right to reveal himself. And the time was now. For so long, he had remained hidden behind his alter ego, but he could no longer stay silent. Too much was at stake, such as the survival of his race.
He closed his eyes, acknowledging the cold anguish in his heart.
If only he could go back in time, he never would have let the situation escalate the way it had. All that had happened in the past thirty-five hundred years was his fault. He alone had held the key to ensuring that events wouldn’t unfold as they had, but he’d been too ill-equipped, too weak to do what had to be done. Of course, doing so would have resulted in civil war, but at least he would still have his daughter.
Now he would make those who had taken her from him pay. He would set right all he had allowed to go askew so long ago.
And Micah and Cordray would help him. He would make them understand, and they would have no choice but to join him. And with them would come King Bain’s royal alliance. He would need that connection to make things right.
“Digon?”
A quiet tap on his door brought his gaze around.
Rule cautiously stepped into his office.
“Yes, what is it?”
Rule’s gaze traveled to Micah’s application. His shoulders lifted proudly. “What do you want me to tell him?”
Digon regarded the application then met the gaze of his closest confidante. No, Rule was more than that. He was family. Just like Sonia, who eased open the door and joined them a moment later, her red hair falling past her shoulders in waves. Eyes so like her father’s expectantly met his and held. She and Rule were a testament to how much he’d grown since single-handedly lining up the greatest tragedy vampires and drecks had ever endured. He had succeeded with Rule and Sonia where he had failed before, and now the three of them faced the toughest test they would ever come up against.
Turning back toward the window, Digon breathed in the smell of freedom.
“Invite him. Tonight. I want him here tonight.” He paused, and a faint smile touched his lips. “The time has come, my friends.” He looked over his shoulder at them. “Time for us to step out from the shadows.”
He could feel the hope and excitement bubble around them.
He returned to his desk and pushed Micah’s application toward Rule. “Soon I will talk to King Bain. He needs to know about Micah, as well.”
Rule rolled the application into a paper tube and held it in his loose fist. “What if he already does? After all, he is the king.”
Digon arched an eyebrow at Rule. “Then we’ll have a lot to talk about, now won’t we?”
The time of Digon was at an end. It was time for his true self to reenter society.
Time for Argon to rise again.