With steps as light as thistledown landing on the ground, I treaded back into the room. Xander was still asleep. I reached to my back, slid the katana from the scabbard, barely making a sound as it came free. And just as silently and quickly, I returned to the terrace.
The sky was illuminated in varying shades of gray. Before I’d discovered just how dangerous this hour could be, it had been my favorite time. A stillness hung in the air that wasn’t present at any other moment, save twilight. What I used to consider a peaceful time had become fraught with unseen dangers. A Lyhtan waited somewhere close; I could smell it.
I didn’t want to fight on the terrace. There wasn’t much room. But I didn’t feel like I should venture too far from Xander either. If it was an ambush, he’d be left unprotected while I fought from somewhere below—or above. The smell grew stronger, and I crinkled my nose in distaste. As the air around me became heavy, I looked up and froze in shock at what dangled several feet above my head. Hanging upside down, like a mutated fruit bat, the Lyhtan clung with its feet to the terrace above me. My enemy swung its elongated body, releasing its hold on the iron railing, and dropped. God, I hoped it was one of the Lyhtans that had attacked me. Gripping the handle of the katana until it felt like it was a natural part of my hand, the blade an extension of my arm, I waited.
“The Enphigmalé will see to the end of your kind,” myriad voices said as the Lyhtan straightened to its full height. “Tell your king that.”
“Come a little closer and tell him yourself,” I whispered. “You’ll only have to get through me to do it. Or are you afraid to face me in the gray hour, Lyhtan?”
A sharp and mournful shriek rent the peaceful morning. Poised and ready to fight, the Lyhtan dangled a jagged blade, rusty and neglected, unworthy of battle, from its hand.
I glanced at the sky, hoping I had enough time to kill my enemy before the sun crested the horizon. Bad timing, but I couldn’t help but wonder where the hell I’d put the bottled shadows Raif had given me. Too late now.
“What’s your name?” I asked the creature, which wiped at a trail of saliva running steadily down its chin.
“Why do you need it?” the Lyhtan said in its many voices.
“So I can engrave it into the blade of my sword after I kill you.” It was big talk, but I needed something to hike up my confidence level. Memories of lying in bed, covered in welts and raw, seeping wounds didn’t help bolster my courage. I had to win; I had to kill this thing before it could get to Xander. My pride demanded it.
“All you need to know, Shaede, is that I am Death.”
The Lyhtan lunged at me, teeth bared and sword at the ready. I parried the thrust and swung the katana wide toward the creature’s head, missing by mere inches. Its cackling laughter only served to increase my determination, and I swung again, using all my weight as I came around, this time swiping at its knees. It jumped, easily avoiding the blade, threw its head back, and howled into the ever-brightening sky.
I’d never faced an opponent this way. An assassin doesn’t go into battle or fight one-on-one. An assassin relies on her stealth and cunning and takes her victim’s life before he is ever aware danger is present. My heart pounded against my rib cage, and though I tried to control my breathing, the air came into my aching lungs in heavy drafts. I needed a clear and level head. I needed to keep it together. I needed to focus.
It came after me and covered the space between us in one long stride. Swinging with wild abandon, it aimed for my waist and then my throat, slicing through the air with the jagged and rusty blade. The Lyhtan growled in frustration and swiped a clawed hand at my face. I pulled back just before its talonlike nails could dig into my flesh.
With preternatural speed and precision, it attacked. As fast as me, if not a little faster, its blade rang out against mine over and over as I parried each thrust or cut. The serrated metal made a clean break difficult. More than once I became hung up on the rusty barbs and had to move too close for my comfort in order to free the katana. I gave silent thanks to Raif and my training as I fought, glad to have the stamina required to stand against this much stronger foe. It hissed and uttered unintelligible words as it struck over and over again, hungry for blood and intent on my death.
I sensed a movement from inside the room, and my eyes darted to the side. The Lyhtan followed suit and looked toward the open window. The sky reflected off the glass, almost blue with hints of muted orange washing over it like watercolor. I used the opportunity and took a quick step forward, bringing the blade down with all I was worth. It sliced into the Lyhtan’s chest and the creature screamed and thrashed, clutching at the wound. I pulled back and swung full circle, the blade singing as it cleaved the air, cutting across the creature’s throat and severing its squealing head.
The vile thing rolled and came to a stop at my feet while the Lyhtan’s body convulsed in a macabre display before falling over the railing. I heard it land with a thump, followed by utter silence. My sword hung limp at my side, covered with the rusty orange blood of my enemy. I turned toward the east and watched as an explosion of light was born out of the gray morning, coloring the sky with a brilliance that caused me to shield my eyes. The Lyhtan’s head, which rested still at my feet, shimmered like it had been covered with a thin layer of early-winter frost. The effect intensified, and soon the disjointed orb glittered in a golden-red light and disappeared.
“It has gone into the light,” said a voice from behind me.
I turned to find Xander standing in the doorway. He had a reverent expression on his face, and he bowed his head. If you ask me, not very fitting for a king. But I didn’t bother to point it out as he paid me respect for services rendered.
The sound of frantic footsteps came rushing up the stairs, and Raif burst into Xander’s room at a full run. He skidded to a halt just feet from his brother and looked from me to him and back again before sheathing his sword.
“Is everything all right?” he asked.
“Yes,” Xander said. “The fight was over before I even knew it had begun. She’s a credit to your training, Raif.”
Raif smiled and inclined his head to his brother. Moments later, several Shaedes entered the king’s suite, many of them dressed in the weird ancient costume that Raif was fond of. Anya came a few minutes after that, and in the commotion, Xander was led from the room, leaving a trail of nervous worshippers behind him. Only Raif and I were left to watch the sun rise to a giant yellow orb in the sky.
“Were you scared?” he asked me.
“Shitless,” I said.
“Good. Fear is what keeps you alive in a fight. Was it alone?” he asked, looking over the balcony to where the Lyhtan’s body had landed.
“As far as I know,” I said, joining him at the railing. “I felt the presence of only one.”
Raif raised a curious brow and then looked away. “You are full of surprises, Darian.”
I didn’t ask him to explain what he meant. He’d probably give me enigmatic answers anyway. “Raif, what’s an En-fig-mal-ae?” I said, enunciating the word the Lyhtan had spoken.
“Some say they’re an order of humans with too much time on their hands, but I’m not so sure. I haven’t heard the name in centuries. The Enphigmalé are a legend, a rumor without detail started to incite paranoia among conspiracy theorists.” Raif said with disdain. “Why?”
“The Lyhtan said the Enphigmalé will see to the end of our kind. What did it mean?”
Raif shook his head and looked away. “I don’t know.” He turned and strode back into the room. “I’m taking a team out to secure the perimeter. We need to make sure this place is locked down tight. I don’t need another security breach like this one. Also, one of our point men didn’t check in this morning. I’m afraid there may be a casualty. Will you be all right if I leave you here?”
I can’t say I wanted to go with him on his scouting expedition, but it did sting a little that Raif didn’t ask. I shrugged and nodded. “I can take care of myself.”
>
His chest moved with silent laughter. “That was obvious the first time I laid eyes on you. Xander won’t be back this morning. They’ll have him under lock and key until it’s time to leave. This may be an attempt to keep him from attending the Summit, or it may just be a coincidence. Are you rested?”
“Rested enough.”
“We have a long day. You can use Xander’s bathroom to clean up,” he said, looking at my blood-spattered attire. “A change of clothes is on its way up for you. I’ll have it left on the bed.”
“What’s on the agenda?” I didn’t think Raif had a day of embroidery planned.
“Today is the Summit. Delegates from all of the ruling bodies will be in attendance. It’s more or less a gathering of political blowhards.”
I laughed. “Not much different from human politicians, I gather.”
“True.” Raif smiled. “It’s a clearing of the air, I guess you could say. They come together once every three months, and Xander’s going to use the opportunity to rally support, in the event our troubles with Azriel escalate into all-out war. It’s best to line up our allies now, while we have the chance. And he wants you in his entourage.”
Great. The fun times kept rolling. “How long do I have to get ready?”
“Thirty minutes,” Raif said with a smile in his eyes. “Is that long enough?”
I answered with my first real smile of the day. “I’ll be ready in fifteen.”
Chapter 18
A change of clothes had been left on the bed, waiting for me, when I got out of the shower. Raif spared me the embarrassment of making me wear one of his Lord of the Rings outfits. Instead, he’d left a black ensemble draped across the coverlet of Xander’s bed.
I left Xander’s suite and met Raif at the foot of the stairs in the foyer. Again, he stood at Xander’s right side, something I’d only just noticed, whispering in his brother’s ear. A collective murmur ran through the small crowd as I stepped from the final stair. I got the impression I’d been the topic of conversation—the Lyhtan slayer, something new and exciting to discuss. I was greeted with plenty of approving nods and even a couple of smiles. However, the expression that made me take pause came from a pair of violet eyes.
Anya stood toward the rear of the entourage, her eyes narrowed into hateful slits. If looks could kill, I’d have been dead a million times over. I flashed my most winsome smile. She turned, her long braid whipping out behind her like a huge length of rope, and headed straight for the door.
I paid Anya’s display little attention, and instead, focused on the King of Shaedes. Xander stood a few feet away, looking over the heads of his advisers at me with a fixed and serious expression. He didn’t look like his cocky, carefree self. The weight of a kingdom sat atop his shoulders, and I could tell it was a heavy weight to bear. His drawn face looked too tired for having slept through the night. The sparkle was gone from his eyes, which now appeared dull and lifeless.
Several cars waited at the front of the house, and the king’s entourage moved as a collective hive through the door. I took up a place at Xander’s left shoulder, trailing behind him, hyperaware of my surroundings.
Something caused a traffic jam in the flow of moving bodies, and another murmur ran through the crowd. A few words reached my ears, such as wish and Jinn, and I said a few of my favorite curse words under my breath.
“Who is he?” Someone demanded from the front of the queue.
“He is my bodyguard’s . . . bodyguard.” Xander said in an exasperated tone.
Raif turned to me, a deadly expression planted on his face. I was in deep shit for this one. I shrugged; it was the only thing I could think of doing. I’d told Tyler to stay put, but I guess without the words I wish to precede the order, the command carried little weight.
The crowd parted, and Tyler stopped just to the side of the king, giving him a clear view of me. Without making eye contact, he bowed slightly in Xander’s direction. But he locked his gaze with mine.
“You were in trouble this morning.” It was more of a statement than a question.
I kept a stoic countenance. “Tyler.” His name came out sounding a little strange because my teeth were clenched. “This is business. You remember business, right?”
“Your safety is my business,” he said. “You remember that, right?”
A thousand acts of violence against Ty flashed through my mind. Embarrassed to the point of nausea, I wanted nothing more than for the ground to open up and swallow me whole. Heat rose to my cheeks, and a wave of anxiety—or was that excitement?—rippled through me. If he was this protective of me at the mere notion of trouble, I could only imagine how he’d behave if I were truly in danger. “Tyler, I’m fine. If I were in any real trouble, you’d be the first to know.” I did nothing to correct the hard line of my lips. Exciting alpha-male moment aside, I was still pissed, or, more to the point, embarrassed , and I wanted him to be one hundred percent aware of it. “I have one more place to be today, and we’re going to be late. We’ll talk about this later.”
Tyler smiled, a knowing expression, like he’d put me in checkmate. “It just so happens I’m representing my delegation at the PNT Summit as well. Mind if I ride along?”
Oh, great.
He turned his head in Xander’s direction but didn’t bother to look away from me. The king shared a silent exchange with Raif and sighed. He stepped through the parted crowd and climbed into his car.
I shouldered my way past Ty and ducked my head into the backseat of a sleek, black limo along with Raif and Xander. Before I could close the door behind me, Tyler jumped in and slid beside me, to make an already uncomfortable moment unbearable. He and I faced Raif and Xander, and not a single one of us spoke.
The king glowered at Tyler, and it should have burned a hole right through him. Raif seemed merely amused, while I opted to stare out the window and watch as we negotiated traffic. I’d been utterly embarrassed, and I didn’t think I could look any of them in the eye again. The car rolled along the city streets, while its company sat brooding. I was having an internal argument with no end in sight.
I didn’t know if I loved Tyler. At the moment, I didn’t even know if I liked him. Aside from his constant proclamation of I’m yours, I had no clue whatsoever to his true feelings. What the hell was that supposed to mean anyway? I’m yours. My what? My slave, my guardian angel, my own personal pain in the ass? Of course he cared about me. You don’t just give your life over to someone that you’re not particularly fond of. But what was this between us? I knew about as much about tender feelings as I did about my own Shaede nature. Would I even recognize love if it slapped me in the face?
“Darian, did you hear me?” Raif asked.
Shaken from my thoughts, I looked at Raif. “Sorry. What did you say?”
Tyler snickered beside me. I wanted to punch him in the face.
“I will sit beside the king and you will be posted at his left shoulder. Most of the representatives present will have security personnel, and they’ll be standing, like you. In the past, you would have been referred to as a shield bearer. It’s a formality for the most part, a long-standing one, and not usually performed by a king’s champion. But after this morning’s near miss, I think it’s better to be safe than sorry by having a formidable warrior stand at Xander’s back.”
“What near miss?” Tyler interjected before I could ask Raif what in the hell a king’s champion was.
“Mind your own business,” I said.
“You are my business.”
“Darian killed a Lyhtan attacker this morning,” Raif said, ending the discussion. “She stood like a true warrior and sent her enemy’s soul into the light. I might add, with no help from you, Jinn.”
I couldn’t help but smile that Raif thought so well of me. Tyler sank into the leather seat, pissed and pouting like someone had taken his lollipop.
Xander didn’t speak the entire ride. A couple of times I caught him staring at me, but when I met his gaze, he loo
ked away. He might have been nervous about the Summit or upset that Tyler had tagged along. Whatever the reason, he was in a darker mood than I’d ever seen him, and I didn’t like it at all. He tapped his foot impatiently and folded his arms in front of his chest. A deep sigh escaped his lips and he glared in Ty’s direction.
We drove along the waterfront to the Industrial District, near Xander’s warehouse. The heavy, sea-tangy scent of Puget Sound made me think of Azriel. He loved the almost-musty odor, too thick for a deep breath. Where had he been hiding these past few months? He could’ve been right under my nose the entire time, for all the attention I’d paid. Because of his lies and misinformation, I’d all but lost myself in the populace. A virtual ghost, wary of making contact with anyone or anything, lest my true nature be discovered. But thanks to Raif and his obsessive-compulsive training tactics, I was ready. And when I got my hands on him, he’d damn well wish he’d stayed hidden.
Chapter 19
Not far from the building where I’d trained for nights on end with Raif, we arrived at the location of the Pacific Northwest Territories Summit. The commercial-sized warehouse looked like it had at one time been a storage facility for the large metal shipping containers sometimes seen on tankers. A few of the steel boxes remained, stacked neatly to the sides and rear of the complex. A chain-link fence, topped with curls of razor wire, guaranteed the place would be left alone. A metal mesh gate slid open on electronically controlled wheels, and the limo crept through the entrance, depositing us just outside a gaping maw of a door.
Rows of lights illuminated the central space of the building, and four long tables had been set end to end, forming a large square. In the center of the square sat a great, round brazier. Inside the shallow bronze bowl, bright orange flames danced and frolicked. An assortment of bodies milled around the warehouse space, some with their own entourages hanging unobtrusively behind.
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