Cain's Identity(25)

“That’s understood,” Haven said, then scratched his head. “But how are you gonna explain why you were gone for a year? They must wonder what happened.”
Cain had already thought of that on his way back from the tunnels. “Don’t worry. I have a story for that too. I’ll fill you in on the way, so you’ll know what to say.” He motioned to the door behind him. “Let’s go. It’s about a half hour march to the palace.”
As he turned to the door, he noticed Thomas pulling Eddie into a hug and kissing him.
“Be careful,” Eddie said and ran his hand through Thomas’s hair.
Thomas winked. “You know me.”
Eddie rolled his eyes. “That’s exactly why I’m saying it.”
Cain opened the door and stepped outside, inhaling the humid night air. No foreign smells drifted to him, indicating that no other vampires were in the vicinity. John hadn’t returned in the meantime.
As Cain marched ahead, his colleagues following him through the wooded terrain, he hoped that he hadn’t misread the vampire who claimed to have been his loyal guard. He’d sounded so sincere when he’d spoken about Cain’s past, and so full of regret about having failed him. Had John failed him again?
Mentally Cain prepared himself for taking his old life back. His heart pounded in his chest, and for the first time in his life he felt nervous.
“What are you thinking?”
Cain turned his head to Thomas, who’d sidled up to him, while the two brothers walked behind them. “Just hoping that John didn’t betray us. For all our sakes.”
Thomas nodded gravely. “Everything still seems very unreal. As you know, I checked out all the information you gave me when you joined Scanguards, but I couldn’t find anything about you. Nor has anybody at Scanguards ever heard of this clan and a king. I’m afraid we have no idea what we’re walking into.”
“I’m aware of that. Nevertheless, I know I’m the king. I can’t ignore that feeling.” Nor the fact that he recognized Faye from his dreams and that seeing her in Abel’s arms had produced a bolt of intense jealousy. “The woman he claims was my fiancée . . .” He hesitated.
“You don’t have to say it. You recognized her. She’s the only reason Samson authorized this excursion. He spoke to Dr. Drake.”
Cain raised an eyebrow. “What’s that shrink got to do with it?”
“Drake believes that your dreaming about her is a sign that your memory is coming back.”
Cain shrugged. He had thought the same thing, but tried not to get his hopes up for fear they may be dashed again. “And that’s why Samson agreed to give me a few men to check things out?”
Thomas chuckled. “That and the fact that Samson is a big softy at heart and wants to give you a chance to reclaim the woman you love, if indeed you are the king and she your fiancée.”
Cain didn’t know how to answer. He wasn’t somebody to share what lay in his heart. One question taunted him: could a man without a memory love a woman from a past he didn’t remember?
“I’m grateful to Samson,” he finally said. “And to all of you for supporting me. I hope you won’t regret it.”
“I hope so, too.”
The rest of the way, Cain conveyed his plan of what to tell Abel and the rest of the palace about why he’d been away. Once he was satisfied that everybody knew what to say, they continued to walk in silence, mentally preparing themselves.
Cain’s thoughts wandered back to Faye. Disappointment swept through him. She hadn’t waited for him. Instead, she’d taken another lover—Abel, the man who would soon be king.
John had explained that the coronation would take place very soon, and Cain had found it odd that such a long time lay between the death of one king and the coronation of another. But this fact was to his advantage now. It meant that Abel wasn’t king yet and Cain would be able to take back his throne by returning to the clan before the coronation of the new king. It was as simple as that.
Winning back his fiancée could prove to be harder.
“Ambush!” Haven suddenly shouted from behind him.
No sooner had Haven sounded the alarm, several men were coming out of the thicket and charged them. There was no mistaking what they were: vampires who were protecting the palace’s perimeter which Cain and his companions must have breached.
One attacker had already jumped Wesley, and Haven was fighting him off his brother, slamming a fist into the attacking vampire’s face. Two other hostile vampires came from the other side and engaged in a fight with Thomas, who did his best to fight back the blows and kicks. Cain pulled his silver knife from its sheath and charged into the fray when a sound behind him made him swivel.