by Lexi Ander
"I have been searching the Magi living on the ranch for compatible links to Gregori and Juan. I compared magical energies, believing like would call to like. But I got to thinking perhaps he needs something different to help him maintain a balance. We've been assuming his circle, however big it is, will be comprised of only Magi. What if we're wrong? What if the type of gift he's hiding from us needs a broader range of specialties to balance him? I haven't been working on the issue for long, but while you were gone, I tested my hypothesis, and discovered the energy of all five Cimarron brothers were compatible to not only Gregori but Juan as well."
"I thought so, too. Nacht and I noticed how easily Gregori befriended the eldest, Ace. I'm not keen on inviting a True Blood into a Magi circle, especially when I still question their allegiance to Prince Tristan."
"Did the meeting with King Ignatius not end well then?"
I glanced into the rearview mirror to see Devlin's eyes round with worry. "The meeting went fine. My concern is that we had to meet him in secret because the Goddess Inanna has her claws dug so far into the True Bloods they cannot breathe without her knowing. We know virtually nothing of the brothers, and have no way to get any idea of what their motivations are." Exiting the state road leading to Clearwater, I reduced the speed of the car.
"Perhaps. In the end, the decision isn't ours to make. The only thing we can do is keep trying. In the meantime, instead of looking for ties to Gregori, I'll concentrate on Juan. I'm beginning to think he is the key. Have you noticed there is something about him that speaks of water magic, yet different than Magi water energy? I think he might be a half-breed like me." Devlin said the last with unrestrained excitement.
I had noticed a difference in Juan, his scent always one of loamy soil intermingled with salty water. But one didn't ask after the ancestry of another unless an open invitation was given.
"The question would be how to introduce the two and get them to spend more time together…" Nacht interjected.
"Actually, I think that might be the easy part. Gregori is planning to destroy the caverns where the God Mithra was caged. Perhaps we could persuade him to take Ace along." Devlin met my gaze in the mirror. He'd been giving this a lot of thought.
"All right then. We'll ask Prince Tristan for permission to take Ace off the ranch." I didn't know if I should hope Ace was a willing match or not.
Chapter Five
Gregori Borchetta
I narrowed my eyes. Nacht was the only one of the Triad who looked innocent, and it wasn't really innocence he portrayed but a blank mask of someone who knew how to hide what he was thinking. Fortunately, Devlin and Jynx didn't have the ability. The three of them were up to something, and when I glanced behind them to Prince Ace Cimarron, I thought I knew what. Prince Ace's expression was curious, taking in the surrounding woods and then the door covering the steps leading down into the underground caverns.
"You want to try a different cover story?" I grinned to take the sting out of my words. Judging by Jynx and Devlin's barely suppressed excitement, whatever they were up to wasn't intended to be negative.
Prince Ace met my gaze and shrugged his shoulders as if he didn't know what the Magi planned, maybe he didn't.
Jynx pulled me to the side, and I would've remarked on his rumpled suit if not for the worry in his eyes. He knew, or at least guessed, my secret. Damn. Even though Tristan hadn't yet announced their appointment as the new college Triad, Jynx, Devlin, and Nacht were the only three people I was responsible to, after Tristan. I felt guilty for not confiding in them. When Tristan had offered the leadership of the college to me, I'd turned him down; these three were natural leaders, even if they sometimes doubted themselves. Besides, they were an established triad and I had only one partner.
My own path wouldn't be easy, and I was reluctant to burden others with the abilities I hid. My father never missed an opportunity to remind me of how dangerous I was. If I lost control, others would, at the very least, be hurt or at the most, killed. Father's grueling lessons ensured I never caused harm to anyone. The one and only accident I'd ever had killed my mother. Father never forgave me. Hell, I never forgave myself. And as such, I was loath to bring another into my hidden reality and bind them to me. Juan had left me no choice; he spent months wearing me down until I finally gave in to what we both wanted. It was bad enough he bore the brunt of stabilizing my energy, but I knew I'd need more people in my circle. Being a bond brother was more intimate than taking on a mate, even if physical intimacy wasn't involved. As the current ruling Triad over the Magi College, Jynx, Devlin, and Nacht were responsible for my safety. I had an idea they'd been looking for others who'd be compatible with Juan and me. That they deemed Prince Ace one of those possibilities didn't surprise me.
"You know we must try." Jynx said, bringing me back to the present conversation. He glanced back to the group. Juan had moved to Prince Ace, speaking to him quietly enough I couldn't hear what he said.
"I know but…" I turned away, guilt swamping me again. I didn't have the mental strength to push the emotion away. If the abilities I was cursed with burned me out, that I could handle, but if I hurt another…
"No, you don't know. We see you, Gregori. You need our assistance. Juan helps, but your power has been unaided and unbalanced for far too long. We refuse to lose you. If you believe we'd sit by and watch as you implode—"
"No, I don't, but the… the… power within me is too strong for only three, or even six, and the time needed to cultivate the relationships and test for bonds—I don't know if I have enough time. Already I worry Juan will be caught in the—"
"Stop. You're right. Juan shouldn't be caught in such a tragedy, and that is why you should be searching as hard as we are for your bond brothers. They are out there. You will know them if you are open to connections. If not for yourself, then for Juan, who'd sacrifice himself to protect you."
Jynx was right. I knew and hated it at the same time.
Seeming to sense my unspoken acceptance, Jynx grinned. "We think your circle needs to be as large as twenty-one."
"Twenty-one?" My suspicion rose. He could be guessing, but he seemed certain he'd narrowed down the long list of obscure Magi abilities to the one I hid.
"Yes, twenty-one." Jynx's smile was positively smug. "When you're done here, why don't you and Juan stop by for dinner? If you're comfortable, perhaps you'll finally explain to us what you've been hiding." He clapped me on the shoulder, the worry flitting through his gaze only tempered by an expression of resolution. I nodded, not looking forward to the conversation.
We joined the others, Juan glancing between Jynx and me. Once I was close enough, he slid his hand down my spine to rest in a proprietary way on the small of my back. "I was explaining to Prince Ace what happened in the caverns."
Light pink tinged Prince Ace's cheeks. "Please, just Ace. I am only the bastard son of the king, and according to my people, not fit for the throne. The title is not meant for me, nor do I want it." Ace shifted his feet, as if the topic made him uncomfortable.
I pressed my lips against the sharp retort perched on my tongue. If I hadn't already known Ace came from a royal bloodline, I could have guessed. Even though he wore plain clothes, the way he held himself spoke of majesty. The red in Ace's face darkened under my prolonged gaze. He swept his chestnut hair from his brow, his golden eyes not dropping away from mine.
"I hope you don't mind if I come along. From the description Juan gave me, I believe I've seen something similar before." With a friendly smile in place and his hands stuffed in his back pockets, Ace waited for my response.
I glanced at Jynx, and grinned at his raised eyebrow. I was going to start calling him 'Dad'.
"Sure, come on. You might notice a difference when we enter the tunnels. All the Lycans who've entered lost the ability to change into their wolf. If you can't touch your animal, don't panic."
Ace gave me a wry grin, almost as if placating me for suggesting he wasn't made of stern stuff. I shrugged.
It was the warning I gave to everyone new to the tunnels. We'd see how closely connected the True Bloods were to the Earth. Taking the lead, I carried a lantern and made sure a lighter was tucked into my back pocket. Someone had sprinkled sand on the stone steps to keep them from becoming too slick. I hated entering the caves without a team lighting the sconces beforehand. The place spooked me. The glow of the solitary light didn't dispel the terrible feeling twisting in my gut. Once we stepped into the hallway, the sense of the Earth was immediately cut off. My wolf was there, but I couldn't touch him no matter how hard I tried.
In my mind, I smiled when Ace grunted his surprise, but didn't goad him. I was too on edge to joke around. Being cut off from the Earth caused the fire I kept banked to push at the boundaries I'd set. For me, walking the caverns was an exercise in control. I couldn't stay too long without needing to return to the surface, resetting the walls surrounding the flames that threatened to consume me from the inside out.
I wanted to rush down the hallway, but every six feet I stopped to light the sconces. If it had been just Juan and me, I would've shucked propriety and hurried. I doubted Ace would appreciate me pushing him in and out without allowing him to see what horrors were once held here.
"I do not like this place." Ace said under his breath. I found myself nodding.
"I'll be glad when this unholy monstrosity is finally destroyed," Juan replied.
We entered the main cavern with its high ceiling and support columns. The layout reminded me of the Grecian temples of old. So many people had tromped in and out, seeking all the underground routes to block them off. They also searched for anything to explain what else the place had been used for, other than keeping a couple of Gods from the outside world. Ushna wanted the caves destroyed so they couldn't be used again. We'd attempted several different methods, from flamethrowers to breaking the tiles, to dismantling the walls. We'd used everything from sledgehammers and industrial jackhammers to explosives, and nothing so far had put a dent in the white interior. We discussed blocking the entrances, but those could be easily re-opened if someone had the right resources and knowledge.
Before I asked the Magi to devise a concealment to block the various entrances, I'd try one last thing. If my fire held the key to the destruction of these cursed caverns, then I'd do my duty to ensure no others could use this vile place again. But I was terrified to wield such a dangerous ability, especially since I didn't have a circle. Too much could go wrong if I lost control, and I didn't even have the stability of the Earth to lean on.
Juan walked with Ace, talking about what he'd witnessed the day they'd entered the tunnel searching for Prince Tristan. The shackles that once held the God Mithra chained to the wall had been removed after a set of keys were found. Those, along with a bevy of dangerous and mostly magical items that shouldn't be out in the world, had been confiscated. I'd taken custody of the lot, placing them in a secure location only a handful of people knew about. Eventually, what we found there would be added to the coffers of the King's Tomb.
"Your prince survived all that?" Prince Ace's voice held a note of awe, catching my attention. I was more than a little surprised a True Blood could admire Tristan's strength and resilience. Sure, his aura spoke of Ace being a good person, one powerful in his own right, but I'd come to expect a certain amount of derision from the True Bloods. Those who had been captured were vile, spewing hatred as if it was a valuable commodity while I interrogated them. The Cimarron brothers were a study of contrasts against them.
"He and the men who came with him freed two Gods, but there was a high sacrifice for such bravery, Prince Ace." Juan's tone was grave, his eyes filled with remembered horror.
"Please, just Ace."
"Sorry, habit." Juan gave a rueful grin.
I moved to join Juan and Ace where they stood next to the spot where the God Mithra had been chained. "Why do your people not honor you or your birthright?"
"I'm not the heir to the throne." Ace's blush deepened, looking as if the subject made him uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"
"No, it's okay. People will find out soon enough. My youngest brother is heir to Father's throne." Ace scratched the bridge of his nose. "My brothers and I, well, the ones who came with me, are considered bastards. Our mother was human, not a True Blood, and only the pure inherit the throne." Ace shrugged unemotionally. Did it really not matter to him?
"So he sent you and your brothers to infiltrate Daniel's band of merry men, and if you happened to die then it meant one less person to contest the throne?" For some reason, I was beyond incensed. Sure, I had a low tolerance for injustices, but Ace was a True Blood. His people had spent centuries attempting to wipe out my people. Ace and his brothers proved that assumption wrong. Was this prejudice what caused the tinge of sorrow in his aura?
Appearing flustered, Ace said, "No, please, don't believe that. Father loves all of us very much."
I withheld an ugly snort. "Being a True Blood is no different than being a Lycan. Just because a parent is human doesn't mean the children are any less Lycan; the wolf always breeds true. The Gods told us the True Bloods were the same. The only time it differs for your people is if one of the parents is Lycan, which would result in a Lycan offspring. Your human parentage shouldn't disqualify you from the throne. Even the so-called 'pure breeds' have human in their makeup—we all do. In the beginning, mating with humans was necessary for genetic diversity, and we still find Twin Flames among them today." Ace's expression of gratitude halted my tirade. Juan leaned into me, pressing his smile to my temple as I blushed.
"I apologize. It isn't my place to say such—"
"No. I'm honored the Sami of the Magi, a Lycan of your bearing and stature, would be compelled to stand up for me and my brothers when you barely know us. Thank you for your generosity." Ace blinked quickly several times as he bowed to me.
Ack!
Quickly going to him, I pulled at his shoulders until he stood. "As you come to know me, you'll understand I despise titles myself. And I hate it when people bow and scrape to me. I know some formality can't be helped, but please don't feel as if you have to."
I needed to shut up. Why I felt compelled to have Ace regard me as a regular person—well, as normal as I could be—I didn't know.
Ace's smile was bright and toothy. "As you wish. In return, I ask you not to judge my father on the practices and customs of our people. Besides, I'm the one who suggested joining Daniel to steal the mirror the Goddess searched for. My brothers joined me out of loyalty, and against Father's protests, believing that if they didn't come with me I'd get myself killed. I'm glad they accompanied me, because they were right: I would have died helping Prince Tristan against the Servants if I'd been alone."
There were many uncharitable things sitting on the edge of my tongue, begging to be said. I would have called Ace's father an asshole and a bastard, but perhaps not aloud where Ace could hear. What I really wanted to know was that, if Daniel found out that Ace and his brothers protected Tristan, how would King Ignatius explain their treachery? Would he remove himself from association with his bastard children? He'd likely need to in order to stay in power. Ace had to understand such a thing could be a possibility, especially if Inanna's agents were as watchful as we were led to believe. The only silver lining would be that at least Ace wouldn't be present to hear his own father disown him.
Juan broke the growing silence. "I don't know about the two of you, but I'm ready to head out."
Ace looked down at my empty hands. "Jynx said you'd destroy the tunnels, but you didn't bring any equipment with you. How are you going to achieve it?"
I flexed my fists as I thought of what I'd need to do. "With a very hot flame," I replied, looking up at Juan. "Perhaps you and Ace should head to the surface now. I'll follow after I start the fire."
Juan shook his head in denial before I even finished speaking. "No, you know I can help you."
"I can, too," Ace interjected. "I'm half
witch and Mother taught us well."
"Aren't you blocked from touching the Earth?"
"Well, yes, but a witch's magic draws from our life force, not from the world around us." Ace grinned. Did he know how many questions I suddenly wanted to ask? "Come on, I'm with Juan. This place creeps me out, and I don't like that I can't touch my animal."
"I would rather the two of you left now. If I lose control, you'll be hurt. I will not allow that to happen." Juan looped his arm around my waist, pulling me back against his broad chest. I leaned into him, thankful for the way his soothing touch made it easier for me to hold back the flames as they battered at my internal barriers.
"I have the ability to protect myself." Ace's brown eyes, soft a moment ago, turned hard and he crossed his arms, looking quite mulish.
I'd offend him if I insisted he return to the surface. I didn't want him to believe I didn't have confidence in his power or considered him inferior; the bit of camaraderie we'd cultivated up to this point was nice. I already hated that Juan carried the responsibility of stabilizing me by himself when he should have had others to lean on. I huffed. I needed to learn to trust people, didn't I?
Turning to glance up into Juan's hazel eyes, I searched for an answer. He flicked a lock of his glossy black hair over his shoulder, giving me a barely perceptible nod.
"All right," I said, holding Juan's gaze. "But if I lose control, you leave. I can shield the heat so it won't harm bystanders—" I shivered at the memory of what could happen if the flame escaped.