His heart pounded. In anticipation. Disbelief.
He was back. In the human realm.
Between the inches.
He had no idea what’d possessed the Watchers to allow him to return. But he’d gladly taken the reprieve. And he had every intention of rocking this Compulsion the way he had so many others.
Even if it meant finding a way to create the very thing that’d killed him.
Some kind of fucked up irony or justice? He wasn’t sure which. When he succeeded, he figured it had to earn him some serious leverage with the Watchers for deciding his future. Maybe this sojourn into the human realm didn’t have to be a one-time thing. In spite of the enormity of the task he faced, and the limitations that’d been imposed upon him, he allowed himself to smile.
Wiping a hand over his mouth, he leapt to his feet and stuck his head around the side of a potting shed. Glen and Claire’s shed. Across from Sean and Charlotte’s place. My second home. A streetlight’s sulfuric beams cut through the fog and shone on the sign he knew he’d see. Willoughby Avenue. It mesmerized him now, this detail, one of many he’d taken for granted in the Keepers’ network.
Dev gripped the Vitality stone around his neck. Always, he’d felt naked without one in the Watchers’ realm. He hadn’t needed it to cross. He did to survive in the human realm.
And survival started with the clan. The Watchers had shared the reason for his return with Nick, but Dev alone had all the details of the Compulsion. Ever since Haenus had used Similitude to intercept Compulsions, the Keepers and the Watchers had worked together to permanently alter the way they were transmitted, encrypting them with an additional layer of energy.
However, crossing realms was a seismic event that would cause an unavoidable spike in the network, essentially broadcasting his return to the Keepers.
And the Betrayers.
Mataeus had warned him about it, and he’d deal with it, head on. Tracking across the lawn, he jerked to a stop beside a Suburban in the driveway. He bent to look into one of its side view mirrors.
Even in the dim glow of the new day, he could see his eyes didn’t reflect light.
They weren’t silver. They were green.
I have green eyes.
He’d almost gotten used to it. Almost. Leaning in, he studied his reflection. Mataeus had delivered. The Watchers had done a bang-up job of restoring him to his old Keeper self. Hot damn. He turned the corner, stood on the street, and took it all in. The houses. The cars. The rising sun. His memory hadn’t done it justice.
Thick, unhurried nostalgia rose up, smothering him. Mataeus had warned him about this too. Nothing much had changed. And everything had. He drew in a breath of the morning air and forced himself to focus.
He had a Compulsion to carry out. And that started right now.
A screen door slapped open, two houses from where he stood. Dev whipped around, locking eyes with the man on the porch.
And grinned.
Nick.
Not just his cousin. The brother he’d never had, who’d become one through the worst of circumstances, and perhaps, the best of fate. Dev strode toward the house he’d helped renovate. His heart squeezed, and he let out a whoop. Inclining his head, the gesture spoke the words he didn’t trust his voice to.
Nick hadn’t changed a bit. However, Dev’s memory hadn’t prepared him for the details he’d seen a thousand times, and only noticed today. His scuffed work boots and ripped jeans. The union carpenter’s ball cap he wore like a uniform. Another day, heading out to the job. Sweet familiarity nearly flattened him.
Nick tugged on the bill of his cap. “I’ll be damned. It’s really you. I’m not hallucinating.”
Dev thought his smile might split his face in two. “Yeah. It’s me.”
“You don’t look any the worse for wear.” Nick grabbed him in a bear hug and hung on with a ferocity that slammed into Dev’s heart.
He forced himself to laugh. “Hey man, people are gonna start talking.”
Nick let go, slapping him on the back. “Shit.” He hooked a thumb in the belt loops of paint-spattered jeans. “The clan knows you’re here but I wanted a chance to talk, just you and me. Plus, figured you didn’t want a crowd.”
“You figured right. Thanks.”
“It’s not too often the Watchers send someone across realms. Dad’s known it to happen. I know that . . .” He sighed. “How long?”
Dev cleared his throat. “Seven days.”
The screen door slapped open again and Libby appeared, her curls tumbling around her shoulders, wild from sleep. “Dev,” she whispered.
“Hey, beautiful. Nice going with Haenus.”
“Thanks.” She swatted at tears. “Seven days,” she repeated.
Dev could only nod.
Libby gathered him into a hug, sniffling. “Then we’ll make the best of the time we have.” She opened the door. “Get in here and have some breakfast.”
Nick slid an arm around her, tilted her chin with a thumb, and kissed her. “We’ll be there in a minute.” He swatted her rear end right before the door closed behind her.
A wave of jealousy for what they had, for what he’d never have, swiped at Dev.
Nick turned, his expression serious. “I know you’re the one who sent her back to me. I owe you.”
The past stretched out between them, taut as wire. “Way I look at it, I finally repaid you.”
“Well, then.” Nick held his gaze steady. “Can we agree, officially, we’re even?”
“Yeah,” Dev said. We’ll never be even. How can I ever repay him for what he did, so long ago?
“Dev.” Nick raised his hands in a helpless gesture. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get to you.” He ground out the words. “You don’t know how sorry.”
“Don’t. It’s not your fault.” Dev set his jaw. “We’re not going down that road. You hear me?”
“I gotta tell you. I’m used to the Watchers’ ways. Or sometimes I think I am. But you, being here . . .”
“Yeah.” Dev had no words. “For me too.”
“I have a lot of questions. We’ll get to that. I guess I wonder, have you been able to look in on us?”
“No. They don’t let you do that. Not right away.” Dev understood Nick’s curiosity, and that he didn’t want to bombard him. As connected as the Keepers were to the Watchers, they had limited knowledge about what happened when one crossed realms permanently. Hell, he didn’t know much and he’d been there for nearly ninety days.
“So. I gotta ask.” Nick looked him up and down. “What the hell’re you wearing?”
Dev grinned. “Screw you. I’ll tell you what I’m going to be wearing. Something of yours. That’s what.”
“I think I can spare a few things.” Nick’s grin faded. “So, you’re a Working Watcher? I’d hoped it for you.”
“That’s what they tell me.” When Keepers crossed from one realm to the other for good, they either joined the ranks of Working Watchers, or the chain. To his knowledge, that choice was made by Mataeus and company.
The last three months charged through Dev’s mind like a hailstorm. He was indeed a Working Watcher. And for the next seven days, as far as he was concerned, he was a Keeper. He had no desire to ponder it further. Not now. Too many damned emotions for him. And he was anxious to escape the pity and sadness he saw reflected on his best friend’s face. Time to steer this onto the matter at hand. “So.”
“So.” Nick’s mouth set in a fierce line. “The Watchers are doing this thing, then.”
“Looks like.”
“We’ve been waiting. It’s the right step to take. The only step to take. It makes sense. To rid this realm of Similitude, we have to know how it’s created, so we can hopefully reverse the process.” Nick rocked on his heels. “Hel
luva tall order, and in seven days.”
“I’m up to the challenge,” Dev said confidently. “Bring me up to speed on your end, and I’ll tell you what I know.”
Effortlessly, it seemed, they slipped back into their easy, familiar habits. And if Dev ached with that familiarity, he ignored it. The beginning of another day glowed soft and orange on the horizon of the ‘Burgh.
Nick yanked the ball cap from his head and scrubbed a hand through his hair. “The Betrayers haven’t tried using the Similitude to drain Keepers, not since Libby killed Haenus.” His mouth twisted in a grim smile. “They don’t know how she did it. That pretty much translates to, they’re not sure if all of the Keepers have the ability to stop the drain of Similitude. Plus, none of us walked away from that battle unscathed. Our network took a serious energy hit. Restoring it fully, or as fully as is possible while Similitude exists, required time. The Betrayers lost their brood master. And the Watchers’ realm needed time to heal.”
Dev flexed his fingers as he pondered this for a moment. “So, Similitude is weakening the network. How do you keep a handle on that?”
“First of all, I think when Haenus was using it, it was as if he threw a boulder into a pond. Big ripples. Big drain on the network. Time has passed. Since they’re not using it, it’s still weakening the network. Though the ripples are smaller now. They’ve dissipated, if you will.”
“Makes sense.” Dev motioned for him to continue.
“Three months later, Compulsions are almost back to normal. Curtis monitors the energy in the network around the clock. There have been a few dips and spikes in that amount of time, but nothing to indicate they’ve created more Similitude. We’d know. The network would take a hit.”
“We’re assuming it’s only a matter of time until they do.”
“Right.”
Dev paused. “They could resort to drastic measures, in the meantime.” Both had lived through that, more than once.
“The gods know it wouldn’t be the first time. But they haven’t. Yet. Although the Similitude is its own kind of drastic.” Nick sighed heavily. “We’ve never experienced a situation like this before. Things are unpredictable, to say the least. Back to the Similitude. We’ve never known how many Vitality stones the Betrayers stole during the Rebellion. They hid a lot of them. They could be anywhere around the globe, in the possession of other broods. Or not.” Nick lifted a shoulder. “Abel is the head of the Pittsburgh brood now. Kemp is his second in command. In any case, the other brood masters have no doubt joined forces. And if they have stones . . .” He lifted a hand. “They know you’re here.”
Dev blew out a noisy breath. “That they do.”
“I’m sure they weren’t able to intercept the Compulsion. They have to know you’re here to take care of unfinished business.” Nick rubbed the heel of his hand against his chest. “I hate saying this. You being here, it’s almost a double edged sword.”
Dev snorted. He’d thought the same. “Story of my life. You’re worried my being here puts the clan in danger.”
“I wouldn’t be much of a clan leader if I didn’t. They’re going to come after you. And us. We’ve been preparing. I like to think we’re ready for anything. But we don’t know what they’re capable of.” Nick’s lips thinned. “Energy is all about balance. You know that. I’m unsure of the consequences for your time here. And there will be consequences.” He paused. “If you’re successful in creating the Similitude, we don’t know if, or how it’ll compromise the network.”
Dev crossed his arms. “Agreed. But it’s a risk we have to take. The Watchers were willing to. You said it yourself. As long as the Betrayers don’t know how Libby stopped them, they won’t try draining us. Plus, they have to consider what the ramifications would be of attacking a Keeper again. They’re not ready to start a war. Not yet.”
Nick leaned against the porch railing. “Even so, we have to find another way to fight the Similitude. Since Libby has joined us, we’ve consulted the clan Scrolls, with the aid of other clans. Even tried to run simulations. However, they didn’t come close to what Libby was able to do. Without confronting the real deal, it’s impossible to know. I can’t allow her to be the only defense we have. I won’t.” He shot a look at the house, a muscle flexing in his jaw. “I almost lost her. Never again.”
Dev’s stomach tightened in dread at what Libby had faced. “No. She gave us a start. We build on that. I take it from here, with this Compulsion. At the same time we’re trying to find a way to render Similitude, I’m hoping we can find a different way to stop its drain.”
Nick nodded. “My thoughts exactly.”
Dev pressed his lips together. “Good. Now I’ll get you up to speed on my end.” He yanked the leather pouch Mataeus had given him from his pocket. Opening it, he withdrew two of the three stones for Nick to see. He pointed to the black one. “This one belonged to Haenus. It’s from the Rebellion. Seems only fitting I should have the bastard’s stone, since he drained me and stole mine.” He held up the Vitality stone. “And this one belongs to Libby. He stole it from her when they fought in the park. But if you don’t mind, I’m going to hold on to it for a while. We might be able to use it.”
“She told me what you said, when she was in the Watchers’ realm. That we were right about Haenus, your stone. Everything.” Nick’s eyes bored into his. “Dev. You’re not going to like it. I’m asking you anyway. I have to. Do you think you can handle this?”
Dev scowled. “Why? Because of what happened? Or because I’m trying to find a way to create what killed me?”
“Both. That was almost twenty years ago,” Nick said, his voice low. “You’re past it.”
Dev glared at the one person he’d have a conversation with on this topic. “Way I see it, someone has to do it. Might as well be me. And if they didn’t think I could, they wouldn’t have sent me.”
“C’mon, man. I know that. And I also know a little something about mixing business and personal matters.” He jerked his head in the direction of the house. “This is me and you. Not the Watchers. Not the Keepers. If you can’t handle it, I’m here. The whole clan is, plus a few other leaders. Zane and Saxon are on their way from Chicago and Atlanta. We’re all with you.” He paused. “You got me?”
Dev held Nick’s stare. He’d always known Nick had what it took to serve as clan leader. However, he hoped that truth—inconvenient as it was at the moment—didn’t bite him in the ass in the next seven days. “Yeah. I hear you.”
“I’m just saying.” Nick stared out across the lawn, at streetlights winking off. “If it was me, I’d want to kick some Betrayer ass.” He glanced at the horizon. At Dev. “Maybe even get revenge.”
Don’t endanger your fellow Keepers.
The condition, one of three Mataeus had stipulated he follow, swept through his mind. Dev said nothing, but he knew what Nick meant. The clan came first. And he didn’t blame him one bit.
“That would be stupid,” Dev said, keeping his tone flip. “Taking revenge could put the clan in danger.” So, he’d make sure it wouldn’t, if and when the right opportunity presented itself. And he wouldn’t blame himself one bit. He grinned. “I can handle it. I’m here for seven days. I’m here. I’m gone. Right? I have it under control.”
Nick held out a fist and bumped it to Dev’s. “How do we start?”
“I actually need Curtis’ help.”
“Ah. Something of a technical nature. He was out on a Compulsion.” Absently, Nick handled the stone at the base of his throat. “He’s on his way back now.”
Dev grinned. “Good. I miss the slug.”
“So what kind of info do you need him to dig up?”
Dev straightened, all business, rooted in the pouch, and produced the third stone Mataeus had given him. Recalling the Watchers’ instructions, he scowled. “I need his help finding
someone. A human. Meda Gabriel. This Vitality stone is for her.”
CHAPTER 3
Meda closed her eyes and breathed deeply, then held it, focusing solely on the oxygen filling her lungs. She exhaled, this time targeting nothing but the breath she blew out. The sounds of lower Manhattan drifted through the studio apartment’s open window. These she pushed away.
Instead she embraced air still cool from the night, dancing across her body, not yet tainted by humidity or pollution.
Again, she breathed. In. Out. She was aware of his presence in the doorway, aware of Tan’s movements, his warmth, his fur, an arm’s length away. Pushing aside all other distractions and thoughts as she’d trained herself, she didn’t react, but gently returned to her focus. She pictured the breath filling her body with oxygen and light. Purity. Calm. Control. In. Out.
Her hands, resting on her bare thighs, tingled. Her eyes flew open. The candle she’d lit flickered. The scent of lavender intensified. Flexing her fingers, she licked dry lips. Still she stayed where she was on the hardwood floor, her legs tucked beneath her. Trembling, she squinted in the early morning light filtering through the slats of the blind, illuminating her less-than-three-hundred square feet of efficiency apartment living. Her pulse thrummed. In stark contrast to the even rhythm she’d just achieved, her breath hitched.
This, whatever this disturbance was, rocked her. Strong, harsh. She swayed. Pressing her chin to her chest, she groaned. Her long hair cascaded forward, covering her face. Gray dots danced in her vision. Tan whimpered, and though his back legs gave him more trouble than not these days, he limped toward her and rubbed his nose against her thigh. My protector.
Automatically, she stroked a hand over his ears. “It’s okay, sweetie,” she murmured. The humidity made his legs ache even more. “You’ll feel better once the storm passes.”
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