Against the Dawn

by amanda bonilla

  I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “Of course, here. Where did you think we’d train, at the YMCA?”

  He gave me a look, one corner of his mouth quirked in a half-smile. “Without your sharp wit and biting tongue, there’s been no one around to put me in my place, Darian.”

  This time it was Raif’s turn to roll his eyes. I could always count on him for a little solidarity. “Well, now that I’m home, I’ll be sure to tell you when you’re acting like a royal pain in the ass.” Pun intended.

  His gaze clouded over, the caramel depths of his eyes showing something akin to disappointment. I hated this. Hated that things had changed between us. I liked our antagonism far more than this I’ve-seen-you-naked-and-now-nothing’s-the-same awkwardness. A sigh built up in my chest. One that I refused to release. Why couldn’t I just kill bad guys and call it day? Emotions were too damned…messy. The double doors from the kitchen swung open right in the nick of time and the mood shifted with the arrival of dinner. As we exchanged polite dinner conversation, I was reminded of the rhythm I’d found while living here, and to be honest, this was the one thing I missed. The normal, almost domesticity of sitting down to eat with Xander and Raif. Like we were a family. A dysfunctional one to be sure, but a family all the same.

  “Have either of you heard of someone called Mithras?” I wasn’t quite ready to grill Xander about the daggers, so I thought I’d do a little work recon first.

  “As in the roman god?” Raif shot Xander an amused look. So happy I could be the dinner entertainment.

  I hated it when my ignorance showed. But in my defense, I’d grown up human, in a God-fearing Christian household. It’s not like I had the occasion in all of my lessons on etiquette and how to be a good wife to learn about the Roman pantheon. “Could be.” Knowing why my arms dealer had chosen a god’s moniker and a god’s vengeful attitude might be helpful in profiling him. “But how ‘bout a little background?”

  “I don’t know much,” Raif explained, “as the mysteries of his cult were kept very much a secret. I do know that Mithras is a warrior’s god, his initiates strictly male, and that his temples were always made in underground caves.”

  Sounded charming. “No girls allowed, huh?” Already I didn’t like him.

  Raif laughed. “Mithras is always associated with a bull. Or the killing of a bull. Something like that, anyway. According to legend, the god was born from a rock and was so feared that even the sun paid him homage.”

  That might justify the ego. Not to mention the callous killing of the reporter who had the nerve to investigate his illegal dealings. What a dick.

  “The cult died out some time in the fifth century if I’m not mistaken,” Raif went on. “Though I have to admit, I’d never encountered one of Mithras’s initiates, I’d heard talk of them as being fierce in battle as though possessed with a supernatural strength and cunning. Mind you, Darian, the worship of Mithras was a human religion as far as I know. Other than that, I have no other knowledge of the god.”

  Well, that certainly explained my mark’s god complex. He obviously thought highly of himself to choose such a bad-ass deity as his handle. Maybe it was an inside joke or something. Either way, it didn’t give me any clue as to who my mark really was or what kind of supernatural creature he was. “You don’t know of anyone in the city going by that name?”

  Xander leaned forward in his chair, eyeing me with suspicion. “No. Why do you ask? Who is this Mithras to you?”

  Yeah, I really didn’t need Xander going all nosey, over-protective on me. “Sorry, Xander, but that’s none of your business.”

  Anger mounted in his expression like storm clouds gathering. “It is my business,” he asserted. “You are my business. And I want to know who this Mithras is and why you’re so curious about him.”

  Sometimes I wondered if Xander’s mentality ever stepped into the twenty-first century. By now, he should have realized that the one thing that drove me to the point of violence was being treated like someone’s possession. In fact, I was starting to feel a little stabby. So I was pretty glad I’d decided to leave the daggers at home. “I don’t discuss jobs I take from you with anyone, so likewise I’m sure you can understand why I wouldn’t discuss work I take from others with you.”

  Steam practically billowed from Xander’s ears. “You’re working?”

  There he went, showing off that progressive attitude toward women again. “Yeah, I am.”

  “If you’re taking jobs, I have to assume that your meddling Jinn has no problem whatsoever throwing you back into dangerous situations when you’re in no state to be taking jobs of any kind.”

  I should have known that this would come back around to Ty eventually. “I requested the job, Xander. Tyler has nothing to do with it.”

  “But he’s facilitated this assignment, which shows his total disregard for your wellbeing.”

  “No one’s in charge of my wellbeing but me, Xander. What did you expect me to do? I have to work. That’s what people without royal lineages do to earn money and put food on the table.”

  “You do not need for anything that I can’t provide for you.”

  Oh boy. Here we go. “Like, say, some fancy magic daggers?”

  I hadn’t meant to sound so accusing, but he was seriously beginning to piss me off. Xander’s concern always translated into overbearing and it made me rebellious. Whether I had a reason to behave that way or not. We just couldn’t help but push each other’s buttons, I guess.

  “What daggers?” Raif’s ears perked up at the mention of anything tactical. His lips thinned and he gave Xander a look. Almost as though he’d been caught giving away their mother’s antiques or something.

  “Yeah, how ‘bout you give us the skinny on those beauties you sent over this morning.” I loved to turn the tables on Xander and now I had Raif to help crank the screws.

  Like any king worth his salt, Xander seemed to thrive on adversity. His eyes glowed with a superior light and his self-satisfied smirk was enough to tell me that the daggers were more than simply an impressive gift. “I’d say an exchange of information is in order, don’t you? I’ll tell you about the daggers, and you supply me with the details of your latest employment endeavor.”

  He was a pro at redirection but he didn’t have me cornered yet. “I’ll think about it.” Curiosity over the daggers ate away at me, but I was still wary of their power and even if I knew what they were, I’d be reluctant to use them. And likewise, I wasn’t sure I wanted Xander to know anything about Mithras, or Lorik, or anything else. I’d be opening a door into my personal life, and Xander wouldn’t need much of an invite to walk right through. Until I knew where I stood with my own emotions, I couldn’t let him in.

  His eyes narrowed, but he sat back in his chair as though relaxed. “Gods, I’ve missed you.” His dark, smoky tone did all sorts of traitorous things to my insides. Xander’s voice was my kryptonite, which was why it was time to make a hasty retreat. Before dessert.

  “Well, far be it from me to eat and run, but I have an early day tomorrow.” Might as well use tomorrow’s training with Raif as a reason to get the hell out of there. “Thanks for dinner, Xander. It was delicious.”

  I didn’t give anyone room to respond, but that didn’t stop Xander from insisting to see me to the door. “I know the way out,” I said. For some reason, the thought of being alone with him for even a second made me break out into a cold sweat. “I don’t need an escort unless you’re afraid I’m going to lift one of those lovely decorative vases from the foyer on my way out.”

  He ignored my attempt to bait him and instead, swept his hand out in invitation. “After you.”

  I shot Raif a look, hoping he’d bail me out but he simply shrugged his shoulders and smiled. I’d make him pay for his betrayal in the gym tomorrow. Rather than walk beside me, Xander stayed behind my left shoulder, close enough that I could feel the heat from his body, and it took a hell of a lot more self-control than I thought I possessed not to take
a few quick steps to put some distance between us.

  “Were the daggers to your liking?” His voice sent a shiver up my spine and my step faltered. Xander loved to give impressive gifts, but for some reason, he always needed a little extra validation. As though flashing his wealth wasn’t validation enough.

  “They’re amazing,” I said, careful not to show too much emotion. “I’d feel more comfortable having them in my apartment if I knew what they were, though.”

  “You have nothing to fear from them,” he said. “I gave them to you for protection.”

  “Protection from what?”

  I reached the front door and grabbed onto the knob only to have Xander’s large hand close over mine. I refused to turn and face him. Mostly because I knew that’s what he wanted me to do. “From anything or anyone that means to do you harm.” His breath was warm in my ear, the words a languid caress.

  Well, that explained everything. The High King of Vague Proclamations among other things. My breath caught in my chest as he took a step closer and put his mouth against my ear. “Things are far from resolved between us, Darian. You can’t keep me at arms’ length forever.”

  Maybe not forever, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to hash this out with him tonight. “I need space, Xander. If you can’t give me that, I won’t come around anymore.”

  “I can give you whatever you need.”

  “Patience isn’t exactly one of your strong suits.”

  He let go of my hand and took a step back. “When you come tomorrow, bring the daggers.”

  I turned the knob and walked out the door without looking back.

  I wondered why I allowed Xander to constantly maneuver me. I could have just as easily declined his gifts and his dinner invitation. Okay, I probably wouldn’t have been able to wrestle the éclairs out of Asher’s hands, but I didn’t have to keep the daggers. The truth of the matter was, I let Xander push me around until I was planted right in the position he wanted me in. It had to show some level of dysfunction that even though I didn’t want to be Xander’s lover, I was having a hard time not inserting myself into his life.

  I seriously needed therapy.

  Though I’d managed to further complicate my life tonight, I had planted a seed in Raif’s overactive brain. Our conversation about Mithras had piqued his curiosity and if anything, he’d be doing his own research. After all, it took balls to run around the city sporting the name of a god. Raif wouldn’t let that one slide without taking a closer look. If anything to make sure that no trouble came knocking on his brother’s door. And if Xander wasn’t ready to let go of our relationship, chances were pretty good his door knocker was going to get some heavy duty use.

  My hopes of going home and straight to bed were dashed on the rocky shores of emotional exhaustion when my cell rang not three blocks from my apartment. I checked the caller ID, ready to get to work, but why couldn’t Lorik have called say tomorrow, after I’d had a good twelve hours’ rest.

  “What sort of trouble have you managed to stir up tonight?” I asked by way of a greeting.

  “The lucrative sort,” he replied. “Meet me at Gas Works Park in fifteen minutes.”

  “I’ll be there.” Damn it. I could practically feel the mattress hugging me tight. It was a sad commentary on the state of my life that I yearned not for adventure or passion, but for memory foam and a good night’s sleep.

  “Good. And Darian,” Lorik said before he disconnected the call, “look the part.”

  Look the part? Did he assume I was going to show up in cutoff shorts and a tube top? With as much shit as Lorik had given me over the past week for my wardrobe choices, you’d think he’d be assured that I’d at least show up looking somber and ready to throw down.

  I made a quick detour to my apartment. The last thing I needed was to go unarmed, especially if I happened to get lucky enough to find myself face to face with Mithras. I grabbed my duster from the closet and slung my katana across my back. Lorik hadn’t given me much of a clue what to expect tonight. But since I knew he was bringing me along as muscle, I needed to arm myself to the teeth. So, in the spirit of overkill, I strapped a set of six throwing knives to my belt and slipped two daggers into sheaths at my thighs. The mahogany box containing Xander’s present seemed to call to me from across the kitchen, Darian! Take us, take us! Which not only made me a little uncomfortable, it made me question my sanity. Lovely.

  “Sorry, guys, you’re staying home tonight.” Yeah, I realized I was talking to inanimate objects locked in a box, but it seemed appropriate. It made me think that maybe I needed to get a cat, you know, so I wouldn’t be tempted to talk to magic knives.

  I left my studio swathed in shadow. Lorik was paying for the deluxe show and I was going to make sure he got his money’s worth. At night, Gasworks Park looked like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie or a steampunk novel. Not to say that it didn’t pull off the fantastical vibe during the day, but with the city shrouded in darkness, the old coal gasification plant appeared like a metal island emerging from a dark sea. Leave it Lorik to pick the weirdest spot in the city for a business meeting. What was wrong with a swanky restaurant or one of his favorite night clubs? Hell, even The Pit would have been preferable. I supposed he’d be disappointed in my outfit yet again, hoping I was wearing head-to-toe brown leather with an accoutrement of brass gadgets and Victorian-era weaponry.

  He was such a showman.

  Through the darkness, I spied a single form standing on a set of winding stairs that circled one of the main silos, and in my shadow form, I glided up and around to where Lorik stood, waiting.

  “Can you believe they salvaged this place? I thought for sure someone would have torn it to the ground years ago.”

  “Out with the old and in with new?” I regained my corporeal form on the step above him in order to have the best vantage point. I still didn’t trust Lorik, or his motives in returning to Seattle, and watching my back was my top priority. “Someone in your position should appreciate the preservation of things that should be long-gone from the face of the earth. Wouldn’t you agree, Lorik?”

  “If I didn’t know you better, I’d take that as an insult. Or a threat,” he replied, placing a hand over his chest.

  “What makes you think you know me at all?”

  He turned to face me, eyes narrowed. “You might be hiding behind a cold, bitchy exterior now, Dariana, but I know the real you. It could be that you don’t know yourself very well. Perhaps you’ve bought into your own dour act.”

  Damn. I really couldn’t argue with his logic. It was years of detachment, more emotional baggage than I could carry, and the need to not feel a goddamned thing that prompted me to hide behind a mask of apathy. Maybe I’d hidden too well and couldn’t find my way back. “Your boy’s late.” I wasn’t interested in letting Lorik double as my therapist. I just wanted to meet with his contact and go to bed.

  “He’ll be here.”

  “Okay. When?”

  “Now.”

  A voice spoke from the darkness, accompanied by the echo of boots on the iron steps. I felt for anything out of the ordinary, something that might spark some sort of clue as to what kind of supernatural our mystery man was. Strange. He didn’t send out any distinct vibe that would indicate he was anything other than human. Just like Lorik. Which either meant I was losing my touch, or this guy was as mundane as he appeared. Right now, I was fifty-fifty and I had to assume that Mithras would be packing some heavy duty supernatural mojo if he was as big a player as Ty thought he was. So I was left with only one other option.

  “Who are you?” I took two steps down the stairs, placing myself between Lorik and his contact. The quarters were tight, so I pulled a dagger from its sheath and brought it up in a defensive stance. Better to err on the side of caution.

  “I’m Mithras.” A cocky, enigmatic smile played on his lips.

  “No you’re not.”

  Chapter Eight

  He only wished he was Mithras. My guess
was he was a low-level employee the big boss was using as a decoy to check us out. A lot of heavy-hitters used decoys, so I wasn’t so much surprised as I was disappointed. Dealing with a middle man was an indicator that I was going to have to do a lot more leg work before I came face to face with my mark. Which was okay for now, it would give Ty more time for reconnaissance, and I was counting on Raif to dig something up, too. So for now I was on my own with Lorik and whatever goons Mithras decided to throw our way.

  “I’m going to ask again. Who are you? And if you tell me Mithras, I’m going to introduce you to the pointy end of my dagger.”

  I waited patiently as the middleman sized me up. He was human. Had to be. Even so, he was impressive. At least six-six and all two hundred and thirty pounds or so of him was sculpted muscle. His dark eyes didn’t give anything away and though he wasn’t completely relaxed, his confident stance let me know that this wasn’t the first time someone had threatened to poke him with something sharp, and likewise, it didn’t bother him all that much. If I had to guess, he was pretty high up in the organization. Maybe the number two man. The silence stretched on, his face an impassive mask and I found myself mesmerized by the way the moonlight played off his presumably shaved and shiny bald head.

  “Let’s go,” I finally said to Lorik. I was tired and not interested in playing games tonight.

  “You can’t really expect my employer to come in person before your associate has been properly vetted?” Baldy asked as I tried to push past him and make a path for Lorik down the stairs.

  “And what makes you think my employer wants to meet with someone who has no power to make offers just for the sake of your boss’s paranoia? He came in good faith. You however—”

  “Came prepared to speak on the behalf of Mithras. You should consider any offer from me as good as an offer from him.”

  Lorik put a hand on my arm and urged it down. My night hadn’t been stellar, it might have cheered me up to stab Mithras’s lackey, but apparently Lorik was ready to talk business. “After this meeting is concluded,” he said in a tone that would tarnish metal, “you can tell Mithras that I don’t appreciate his deception. The risk is equal to both of us and I was man enough to come in person.”