"Do not dilute my blood?" Brandon said, his brows drawn together in a confused line. "I do not get it. Is he so eager to share the same blood with the monster who could have done this to him or what?"

Conaan looked over Matthew again, his lips slightly pursed. "You think the blood is that important?"

"What do you mean, Your Highness?"

Conaan said nothing for a while, only letting his fingers run the marks once more, like he was trying to make certain of the message embedded in his skin.

"This was written by fire. Probably because there was nothing else. Do you not think that if he...