“My father died when I was eight, Andrea,” Toby said quietly. “People grieve in different ways. Some people rage against fate; some push away the things that matter to them.” He laid his hand over hers. “Some find solace in familiar things.”
She didn’t face him, instead following the other guests with her eyes. “What did you do?”
“Music was my shield. I threw myself into learning the hardest instrument I could find, and I refused to fail.”
She nodded before turning back to him. “All he cares about is work now. If he had any decency, he would forget about this re-election campaign and take care of what he has left. I’m beginning to think I don’t know him at all.”
“I know the feeling,” said Toby with a humorless smile. “I thought my father was a salesman who died in his sleep. A simple and uncomplicated story. Turns out it was all a lie, meant to keep me safe. He was a retired Sentinel with a distinguished war record. That’s something I would’ve liked to have known, growing up.” Toby pushed back the pain and anger that had become all too familiar companions since he had learned of the true circumstances of his father’s death. She doesn’t need to know about that.
Andrea didn’t let it go. She looked at him curiously. “I didn’t think Sentinels ever retired.”
“He gave it a shot,” said Toby bitterly. “The Triumvirate drafted him for one last operation, and he died heroically from what I understand. I’d trade the truth for the lie in a heartbeat, if it meant I could have grown up with him there.”
She digested that. “So you think he’s pushing me away to protect me?”
“Maybe,” Toby said in a noncommittal tone. “Grief plays with your head.”
“Yes,” she said softly. “Yes, it does.”
“What are you going to do now?”
“Back to school, I guess. I’m a month behind. It will be hard to make up time, but I’ll find a way.”
Toby smiled grimly. “Then maybe you and your father have more in common than you realize.”
She frowned at him and then chuckled. “Maybe we do.” Her eyes flicked to Nick and her father when she saw them re-enter the room. “It looks like they’ve finally decided to rejoin us.”
Toby followed her gaze. “Well, bully for them.”
She smiled at his acid tone. “You really do understand.” She stood from her chair and looked down at him. “If you’re ever in Oxford, Toby, be sure to drop by. Consider it a standing invitation, if you ever get tired of being your brother’s emotional punching bag.”
Toby said nothing. He just stood and faced his brother and the President, who made their way toward them.
* * *
Nick caught Toby’s flash of resentment as they approached, but was surprised to see it mirrored so completely on Andrea’s face.
Andrea looked at her father. “Hi, Dad. Finished your secret meeting?”
President Daniels sighed. “Yes, dear.” He presented her to Nick. “Nicholas, may I present my daughter Andrea. She was a big fan of yours once.”
Nick smiled, opening up his vampire senses a little to read her emotions. “I remember leaving an autograph for her after our first meeting.”
She smiled wistfully. “It certainly made my day at the time.”
Nick’s expression turned serious, seeing that while she was interested to meet him, she didn’t ascribe any particular emphasis to it. Ah, well. Fame is fleeting. Sic transit gloria mundi and all that. “Everything changes, Miss Daniels. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person.” He held out his hand.
She grasped it lightly. “Call me Andrea.”
Nick studied her for a moment after he released her hand. “My friends call me Nick. I have a feeling we’re going to be seeing a lot more of each other.” He faced her father. “Kevin, about that matter we discussed earlier? I’ll set it up immediately.”
President Daniels was too canny a politician to show his surprise. He simply smiled and accepted it. “Excellent. Let me know the details when everything is squared away on your end.”
Nick turned back to Andrea. “Please accept my condolences, Andrea. Catherine was a very special person, and she will be missed.” He addressed Toby. “I think it’s time we were going.”
* * *
Andrea watched the two of them walk away. Then she turned to her father, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Set what up?”
* * *
As they walked down the stairs to the exit, Toby extended a tendril of thought to Nick and felt his brother open a shallow psychic link between them. “What was that all about?” he asked silently.
“What did you think of her, Toby?”
Toby shrugged almost imperceptibly. “She’s got a good head on her shoulders, and she’s not so wrapped up in her grief that she can’t see how much they’re neglecting each other. Otherwise, we didn’t have much of a chance to chat. Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
“I want the two of you to become friends. You’re going to be spending a lot time with her from now on.” Nick’s tone was harsh.
Toby frowned. “Explain that.”
“Daniels thinks our enemies are about to move against us again, this time politically. He essentially offered to take our side if we arrange metahuman protection for his daughter when she leaves the Armistice Zone.”
“Won’t that just make him look more biased?”
“That’s why we’re going to do it covertly. Congratulations, you’re her new best friend.”
Toby glared at him. “Don’t I get a say in this?”
“You’ll get as much of a say in it as she will.”
“Why me?”
They left the building and walked into the crisp night air.“Because I trust you, little brother. This just might be one of the most important jobs in the Armistice right now.”
“You honestly think someone’s going to hurt her? Why bother? The Nightwalkers don’t target high-profile humans unless there’s a significant payoff, and Daniels might be out of office in January. There’s no reason for anyone to go after her.”
“That’s almost a year away, and I’m not worried about her father’s enemies. I’m worried about her own enemies.”
Toby frowned again as they walked toward the front gates. “I don’t understand. What are you talking about?”
“I read her with my senses open, Toby. I could feel her Gift the moment she touched my hand.”
Toby’s head snapped around to look back at the White House. “Jesus. She’s a Sentinel? Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. And she’s not just a Sentinel; she’s Air latent, and her Gift is probably even stronger than Rory’s.”
Toby inhaled sharply. “Are you saying she’s the Wind of Air?”
Nick nodded. “We’ve been waiting for the Winds to arise in this generation for years. The fact that they haven’t should have clued us in to the fact that they might be residing in the Armistice Zone and just haven’t been exposed to any unshielded Nightwalkers. We know the Wind of Fire has already kindled; we just don’t know who it is. If she’s the Wind of Air, then we need to track her movements so she can lead us to the rest of them.” He sighed. “In every generation, the Winds have always found each other, but individually they’re vulnerable. She needs protection and guidance until she identifies the other Winds, or she’s going to find herself on the front lines of the war without any allies.”
Toby swallowed, working through the implications in his mind. “Are you going to tell her?”
“I’ll tell her father first. Then the shit is really going to hit the fan.” He turned his head to stare directly into Toby’s eyes. “If Daniels is already willing to compromise his principles to protect her, then what will he do when he finds out that she’s going to be at the top of the hit list of every Nightwalker outside the Armistice Zone?”
CHAPTER 2
The White House, Washington, D.C.; The next day
President Daniels just stared at him. “The Wind of Air?”
Nick nodded as he dropped into the chair across the desk from Daniels. “Until she opens her eyes and can defend herself, she’s in significant danger if she leaves the Armistice Zone. Random events tend to play out in a coordinated pattern in the presence of the Winds, in order to bring all four of them together so they can link up and reach their maximum strength. Wandering around free in Court territory will almost certainly result in the endangerment of the other two latent Winds that will eventually cross her path.”
“Shouldn’t there be three other Winds?”
“Ana felt the mantle of the Wind of Fire fade a few months ago. The new Wind of Fire is awake and out there, somewhere, but we don’t have a clue who that person is, and he or she hasn’t contacted us. The Wind of Fire will also be drawn to the nascent Winds, so it remains a mystery how the strongest spellcaster of this generation will react to meeting Andrea. There’s no guarantee they will be allies. I suggest you find a way to keep her in the country.”
Daniels stood from his chair and glared at Nick. “I will do no such thing. She has her life to lead without your damn war taking center stage. She doesn’t need this on top of everything else she has to deal with.”
“She doesn’t have a choice, Kevin,” Nick said patiently. “No more than any Sentinel has had a choice since Narissa signed away their free will back in the First Age. Sooner or later, she’ll open her eyes and see the world that waits for her.”
“No!” yelled Daniels, slamming his fist on the desk. “I forbid it!”
“It’s not up to you, Mr. President,” Nick answered, with more of an edge to his voice. “This is her destiny, and there’s no escaping it.”
“Like hell. Don’t you dare go filling her head with that bullshit, you understand me?”
Nick sighed. “Kevin, I went through the same thing with my brother. You can’t protect her from this. Unless you’re willing to lock her up in the Armistice Zone for the rest of her life, there’s nothing you can do to keep her from this path.”
“Find another solution,” Daniels said. “One that lets me give her the space she needs right now without piling on this load of crap.”
Nick considered his options. Careful. Just enough pressure to get him to agree. Push him too hard and he’ll turn on you. “If you’re not willing to keep her here, then obviously we can’t tell the Court that she exists or every Nightwalker in England will be gunning for her,” he said, choosing his words with deliberate care. “There’s no target more prime than a latent Wind. They’ll do anything to stop her from coming into her own. Lorcan won’t be able to save her, and his authority would crumble if he even tried.”
Daniels gritted his teeth. “So what do you suggest?”
“We augment her protection detail with undercover Armistice Security agents.”
Daniels shook his head. “The Secret Service is a closely knit group, Nick. There’s no way I could sneak a group of outsiders into their midst without someone catching on and investigating.”
“That’s why you’re not going to do it covertly at all. I’ve discussed this with Takeshi, and he’s willing to assign Jack Anderson to be her bodyguard, on furlough from Armistice Security. He used to be Secret Service before his Gift kindled, so we’ll just say that he’s had a change of heart and wants to go back to his old job.”
“One bodyguard isn’t enough to hold off the entire Court of Shadows.”
Nick shrugged, affecting nonchalance. “A full detail of Sentinels would attract too much attention, and no one wants that. One bodyguard will cause a stir, but it might slip under the Court’s radar.” Hook. He leaned forward and braced his hands against the desk. “Andrea and Toby made a connection at the wake. I’ve asked him to drop in on her periodically, as well, with an eye toward an extended visit. He can lay some protective magic on her and maintain those wards indefinitely, so long as he keeps renewing them every so often.” Line. His eyes shaded toward red. “Of course, this would all be moot if you decided to be honest with her.” Sinker.
“Don’t tell me how to raise my daughter, Nicholas,” the President said, white-lipped with anger.
Nick growled in a barely audible rumble. Caught. Now reel him in. “She’s not just your daughter anymore, Mr. President. She’s a future general of the entire Sentinel race, a voice that will someday wield more power and influence than any human can fully comprehend. We’re placing her at risk by keeping her in the dark, and that decision will have consequences.”
Marina District, San Francisco, California
Toby woke to the smell of bacon frying. He focused his eyes on the bedside clock. Seven a.m. What the hell? Did Mom make a surprise visit? I’ll have to make sure Layla doesn’t come by today. So far, he’d managed to keep the two of them apart, but eventually he’d have to let his mother in on who he was dating. Then we’ll see some fireworks, once she realizes she won’t be getting a grandchild from this son, either.
Toby climbed out of bed, pulled a pair of track pants and a T-shirt out of a drawer, and dressed hurriedly. “Strings,” he said softly, “where is Layla right now?”
“I believe she’s down the hall and to the right, Tobias.”
Toby froze. Then he cautiously walked out of his bedroom and made his way down the hall to the breakfast nook next to the kitchen. He stared at the bizarre sight in front of him: Layla Magister Curallorn, called Nemesis, the Prince of Wrath, the Triumvirate Council Speaker for the Dawn, standing in his kitchen, wearing a formal white silk evening gown, and making pancakes.
“Good morning, Tobias,” she said without turning. “Have a seat. This will be done in a second.”
Toby shuffled into the room and sat at the small table in the corner. “Since when can you cook?”
Layla lifted a pancake out of the pan with a spatula and placed it on a plate with a stack of others. Then she turned off the stove and put the plate on a serving tray already laden with orange juice, coffee, and bacon. She picked up the tray with one hand and laid it on the table in front of Toby. “I learned to cook from my mother when I was mortal, although the components of a meal in that time were quite different. My people were seafarers, so we tended toward the bounty of the ocean.” She sat across the table from him, looking at him expectantly. “It was not so difficult to adapt those skills to modern practices, but I seldom cook for other than myself since I entered the third life.”
Toby hesitantly picked up a strip of bacon. Carefully, he bit off a piece and chewed it, not taking his eyes off his lover. He swallowed and put the bacon down. “It’s good, Layla. Thank you.”
“You are welcome, Tobias,” she said with smile. “Happy birthday.”
Toby took another bite of bacon while he looked over the tray. “There’s plenty here. Would you like to join me?”
“I have already fed this morning, but I would be pleased to watch you enjoy the meal.”
Toby nodded and helped himself to the pancakes. “I appreciate the gesture.”
“But you are wondering if there is a catch to it.” She smiled again. “A reasonable suspicion, I will admit.”
Toby sipped at the coffee. Hazelnut dark roast—my favorite, just like the pancakes and bacon. She certainly did her homework this time. Nick must have told her, because the two of us never really lingered over breakfast together. Sure, the sex was fantastic, but neither of them was that emotionally invested in the relationship. At least, he didn’t think so. “I wouldn’t call it a suspicion. I’m just surprised. I never pegged you for the domestic type.”
Her eyes flashed red for a second, and she scowled. “And that was very wise, Tobias.”
Toby gulped down a sip of coffee, too fast, and burned his tongue. He set the mug down on the tray and tried to salvage the moment. “I didn’t mean it in a bad way. It’s just a side of you that I never expected to see.”
She snorted in amusement. “Perhaps you never will again.”
Toby picked up a knife and fork and cut into the stack of pancakes. He took a bite and regard
ed her thoughtfully. “That’s a shame. You’re a good cook, from what I can taste.”
She said nothing, just watched him finish the meal. “I have another gift for you, if you’re ready.”
Toby swallowed the last of the orange juice. “You didn’t need to get me anything, Layla.”
She picked up a small, flat jewelry box he hadn’t noticed from the kitchen counter and slid it across the table toward him.
Toby opened the box, finding a crucifix made of filigreed white and yellow gold. “Wow. It’s beautiful.”
She lifted the box from his hands and gently removed the cross, dangling from a thick gold chain. “Let me put it on you.”
Toby sat still while she stood and walked behind him, drawing the chain tight so that the cross hung just below the hollow of his neck. As she fastened it in place, he felt a whisper of magic, just for an instant, and then it was gone. His head snapped around to see her watching him with an unreadable expression. “What did you just do?” he demanded, his tone sharpening.
“Nothing that should cause you any distress, I assure you.” She stepped back to her seat. “Just a small spell to activate the charm.”
Toby lifted the cross away from his chest enough so he could focus his senses on it. Holy crap. It was so densely layered with magic that he couldn’t separate out the spellforms. “What the hell is it?”
She sat down across from him. “It is the strongest amulet of protection that I possess. I want you to come back from this assignment in one piece.”
The Fire Sentinel scowled, studying the shape of the spells he could make out. “This is Sentinel magic, worked at a higher level than I’ve ever seen. A Wind of Fire made this, and it’s certainly not Anaba’s signature. Where did you get it?”
She sighed at his harsh tone. “Does it really matter? I just want you to be safe.”
Toby angrily reached across the table and grabbed her wrists. “Tell me where it came from, Layla.”
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