Starlight(Pact Arcanum 4)

by Arshad Ahsanuddin

  Lorcan frowned. “You mean your allies at Court?”

  William smiled. “No, my lord. I am referring to my daylight contacts. House Daviroquir has extensive commercial dealings with the human and Armistice communities, since we remain one of the only Daywalker Houses. I have found trade to be a very effective method of building bridges and influence.”

  Lorcan looked intrigued. Then he glanced back at Rory with a flash of guilt. “Perhaps another time, William.”

  Rory waved his hand in dismissal. “No, go ahead. You’ve been ignoring your Court duties long enough because of me. I’ll be fine.”

  Lorcan looked dubious, but he allowed William to steer him toward the other guests.

  Rory walked to the refreshment table, and poured himself a glass of Cerberus. It was a relatively new form of bloodwine, made from a blend of human, Sentinel, and Daywalker donors. The combination was synergistic, requiring even less actual blood in the liquor, so that the supply of freely offered blood could be stretched even farther as more vampires accepted the strictures of the Armistice Declaration. Rory found it to be a pleasant alternative to the more potent Sentinel bloodwine, Tiamat.

  “Rory.”

  Rory turned to view the familiar face. “Hello, Nick.”

  Nick examined him critically. “You look better than the last time I saw you.”

  Rory reddened. “I wasn’t at my best.”

  “You slammed the door in my face.”

  “I’m sorry. I know you were just concerned.”

  Nick took a sip of his drink instead of answering, watching Rory over the lip of his glass. “You looked pretty happy on Ruarc’s arm.”

  Rory blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

  “I wouldn’t have believed it, given how far down you were back in September, but spending time with Ruarc seems to have lifted your spirits.”

  Rory began to get angry. “He’s a good friend. What are you really asking?”

  “Is there something between you two?”

  “No, of course not!” Rory’s eyes shifted to red, and he hissed in rage. “Ruarc has helped me through the worst time of my life. That’s it. There’s nothing between us, and I resent your implication—”

  “Is that why?”

  Rory lost his train of thought. “Why what?”

  “Why you would accept his help and not mine? Because there’s nothing between you.”

  Rory stared at him, thunderstruck.

  Nick wrapped his free hand around the back of Rory’s neck with the ease of long familiarity and drew him closer. “If what we have together keeps you from letting me support you, then I’m glad you found your way to him. I love you both. There’s no one else I would trust to hold your heart until it heals.”

  “Oh, Nicholas,” whispered Rory, resting his forehead against Nick’s. “We’re just friends. Honestly. He’s been there for me when there was no one else.”

  “There was me. But you didn’t want me.”

  “I can’t—”

  “I know. But someday, when you’re ready for us to be friends again, I’ll be waiting.” Nick let go of Rory and stepped back. “Take care of yourself, Rory.”

  “You too, Nick.”

  Nick turned away and disappeared in the crowd.

  “What did he say?”

  Rory jerked his head around to see Lorcan standing next to him, his irises red and an expression of pure fury on his face. “Nothing. It doesn’t matter.”

  Lorcan snarled. “Then why are you crying?”

  Rory wiped at his eyes. “Ruarc, let it go.”

  “I will not. Where does he get off? After everything you’ve been through—”

  “He wanted to say goodbye.”

  Lorcan’s eyes shifted back to green in surprise. “What do you mean?”

  “He knew. I pushed him away because I didn’t want my feelings for Take to be tainted by my feelings for him. He offered to stay away until I was ready to be around him.”

  Lorcan chewed on that for a moment. “Fine. It’s almost midnight. Let’s go somewhere else right after, just the two of us.”

  Rory nodded, feeling the press of crowd all around them. “Can we at least get some privacy here?”

  Lorcan took his hand and led him back to the elevator. The doors closed behind them, and Lorcan pressed the button for the helipad on the roof. A minute later, the doors reopened, and they stepped into a deserted lounge with glass walls.

  Rory pushed through the glass doors at the other end of the lounge, into the open air. Ignoring the mid-winter chill, he walked through the accumulated drifts of snow until he reached the guardrail and looked down on the city lights. Only then did his heart slow down, and he gulped the freezing air.

  Lorcan kneaded the muscles of Rory’s back, feeling the tension ease. “Are you all right?”

  “Give me a minute.” Rory slowed his breathing and concentrated on bringing his emotions under control until he felt calm again.

  “He upset you, didn’t he?”

  “I refused his help without reason. I’m not surprised he came up with his own explanation. I just never expected him to get it completely right.”

  Lorcan sighed. “Nick can be perceptive sometimes, at least when it comes to other people’s problems.”

  Rory reached into his pocket and drew out a sterling silver pocket watch. He cracked open the case and checked the time. “It’ll be midnight in less than a minute. Do you want to go back to the party?”

  “William can handle it without me.”

  Rory turned to face him. “I never thanked you for being there, that night in the crypt.”

  “You’ve had other things on your mind. I understood.”

  Rory glanced down at his watch, and snapped the case closed. “Happy New Year, Ruarc.” He leaned forward and kissed Lorcan on the lips.

  Lorcan responded automatically for a second, then pulled away. He raised an eyebrow. “What was that for?”

  Rory grinned at him. “Tradition.”

  Lorcan laughed. “Good tradition.”

  Rory sobered. “You’re a good friend.”

  Lorcan snorted. “I’m the best.”

  The two of them remained there for another hour while they talked, completely unaware of the security camera above the door that recorded their every move.

  CHAPTER 4

  February 2083, House Tervilant Embassy, Court of Shadows Council Chamber Complex, Alexandria, Egypt

  “I don’t understand,” said Lorcan. “This was settled.”

  Javier Magister Tervilant shrugged. “I changed my mind.”

  “Prince Javier, you already agreed that you would allow free passage to those members of your house that wished to seek the Grace. You can’t just change your mind.”

  “I disagree. My house will not subsidize the Daywalker alliance that you have created, Imperator.”

  “Why not? Half of your people have already accepted the Grace. Developing ties to the other daylight houses only benefits your position and security.”

  Javier scowled. “I have no objection to such ties. We will pursue them on our own. But we will not accede to your orders as leader of the alliance.”

  Lorcan sat back in his chair, stunned. “This is about me?”

  “It is. We cannot accept your dishonor without compromising our integrity.”

  Lorcan blinked. “What dishonor?”

  Javier sneered. “If you do not already know, then you are even worse than I had believed. I have nothing left to say to you.” He stood from his chair. “My Praetors will show you out.”

  Lorcan reviewed the conversation over and over again as he walked back to the House Diluthical Embassy. What am I missing?

  Lorcan entered his study and keyed a request for a video conference into his computer terminal. After a few moments, a virtual screen opened above the desk, showing William’s face. The other Daywalker frowned at him. “Imperator. What can I do for you?”

  “Javier just pulled out the Daywalker allianc
e, citing my dishonor. Do you have any idea what he’s referring to?”

  William’s frown deepened. “Of course, I do. Prince Javier is a Daywalker.”

  “So?”

  “My lord, did you honestly think the Children of the Dawn would tolerate your behavior toward the Redeemer?”

  Lorcan stared at him, completely taken aback. “What are you talking about?”

  William snorted in exasperation. He typed a few commands on his terminal, and a second virtual screen opened above Lorcan’s desk.

  Lorcan felt his heart skip as he saw the image of Rory kissing him in the snow on New Year’s. “Oh my God. Where did you get that?”

  “From the security camera on the roof of my fortress in London. One of my soldiers discovered the footage a week ago and disseminated it to all the Daywalker Houses. Bad enough the two of you would carry on an illicit affair, but for you to become lovers while the body of his Leshir is barely even cold? It’s indecent.”

  Lorcan found his voice. “William, we’re not—”

  William’s eyes shifted to red, and his fangs extended. “Don’t you dare try to claim innocence. The images speak for themselves. You dishonored him in my stronghold, making me complicit in your crimes. The Redeemer is young, and impressionable in his grief. For you to take advantage of his bereavement to serve your own base desires—”

  “I am not sleeping with him!” screamed Lorcan.

  William laughed. “And when faced with proof of your guilt, you deny the relationship, giving up the opportunity to honorably acknowledge his status as if he were a two-bit whore. You are despicable.”

  Lorcan sputtered with rage. “You think … How can you … I would never—”

  “Actions speak louder than words, my lord, and your actions are clear.”

  “William, I swear on the Grace that Rory and I are just friends. I’ve just been helping him through his grief.”

  “Is that what you’re calling it now? How quaint.”

  “For God’s sake! Will you listen to me? Rory and I are not lovers. Ask him!”

  “Perhaps I will, if only to convince him that he deserves better treatment than this. Where is he?”

  “He’s in Dublin. We were going to meet for a drink, then go to a play…” Lorcan trailed off as he realized what he was saying.

  William looked disgusted. “So you have a date. On Valentine’s Day. And you’re not lovers.”

  “Oh, Jesus. Look, we’re both single, and not looking for anyone, so we thought we’d spend the evening together. William, you have to believe me!”

  William shook his head. “No, my lord. I really don’t.” He broke the connection and the virtual screen closed.

  February 2083; House Diluthical Stronghold, Dublin, Ireland

  Rory slipped his suit jacket over his shoulders and adjusted his tie. Suddenly the door slammed open, and Lorcan stomped into the room. “We have to talk.”

  Rory raised an eyebrow. “Sure, but we have to get going or we’ll miss—”

  “We’re not going.”

  Rory saw the depth of his agitation. “All right. You want to tell me what’s going on?

  “Do you remember New Year’s? When you kissed me?”

  Rory frowned. “Of course.”

  “Well, we were caught on camera, and it seems like everyone in the world has seen the footage except you and me.” Lorcan began to pace back and forth, like a caged animal.

  Rory watched him with alarm. “So what? I’ll admit, when taken out of context, it might be seen as in somewhat bad taste—”

  “Rory, we’ve spent almost every waking minute together for months.”

  Rory felt the bottom fall out of his world. “They think we’re lovers.”

  “Specifically, they think I seduced you when you were vulnerable after Take died, and now you’re my kept boy.”

  “That’s ridiculous.”

  “Oh, yeah. I’m surprised the Daywalkers haven’t started beating down my doors, but I guess they hope I’ll take the moral high ground and declare you my Leshir.”

  “Jesus. Can’t we just deny it?”

  “It wouldn’t do any good. They’ve already made up their minds.” Lorcan’s expression turned miserable. “Sean, I know I said I would always be there for you, but this … you have to leave.”

  “Why should I leave? It’s all lies.”

  “Lies become their own truth if they’re repeated enough. You’re the Redeemer. You have to leave while the scandal is falling all on me. Otherwise the Great Work will be dragged through the mud, and you’ll be set back a hundred years in your efforts.”

  Rory smiled, a glacial calm descending. “There is an alternative, you know.”

  Lorcan stopped pacing and turned to face him. “What alternative?”

  “We tell them it’s all true, and you formally acknowledge me as your mate.”

  CHAPTER 5

  “You can’t be serious.”

  Rory crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall. “I’m perfectly serious.”

  Lorcan sat on the bed and faced him. “A formal mating lasts for life. We’d be bound forever. If you wanted to seek another mate later, that person would have to accept second rank in your house. Do you understand what that means? He or she would never be your Leshir, never be your equal.”

  “I could do worse than you.”

  “Sean … what about Nick?”

  Rory’s smile slipped and he looked away. “Nick will understand.”

  “You know he won’t.”

  “Maybe not, but he’ll accept it.”

  Lorcan stared at him, then shook his head. “No. There’s no way I will force you into an arranged marriage for the sake of sparing myself some political fallout.”

  “Stop making it about me,” snapped Rory. “Once the Nightwalkers get ahold of that footage, don’t you think there will be the same pressure on me to legitimize our relationship to protect the office of Huntmaster from dishonor?”

  Lorcan sighed. “It’s not the same. You can’t die. It would be suicide to challenge you to honor combat.”

  Rory pushed away from the wall and sat next to Lorcan on the bed. “Ruarc, if you’re so worried about me, then it doesn’t have to be mutual. To avoid censure by the Daywalkers, you need to be mated to me. I don’t technically have to be mated to you, unless you want me to be.”

  Lorcan grimaced. “Don’t be ridiculous. The Firstborn wrote the law that way so they could keep harems from their followers and prisoners of war.”

  Rory grinned at the thought. “Not to mention that you’d be my kept boy, not the other way around.”

  Lorcan gave him the ghost of a smile. “There is that.” He looked away. “Sean, I don’t know about this. It seems so unfair.”

  “It is unfair, and you’d be the one getting the short end of the stick. But it’s a solution to your dilemma, if we can’t find another way out.”

  Lorcan rubbed his palms together nervously. “If we do this, and that’s a big if, we’ll need a witness and a guarantor.”

  “Layla would make a good witness.”

  “She would.” Lorcan hesitated for a moment. “How do you feel about Nick as guarantor?”

  “I … I suppose so. He’d certainly be zealous about his duties.”

  “Yeah, I think so, too.”

  “Is there another reason?”

  Lorcan’s face remained expressionless. “I always thought if I said the words again it would be to him. At least this way he’ll still be a part of it.”

  Rory put his arm around Lorcan’s shoulders. “I really screwed you with that kiss, didn’t I?”

  Lorcan chuckled. “It was a good kiss.”

  “Was it worth losing your freedom over?”

  Lorcan slipped his arm around Rory’s waist. “If it was to anyone other than you, I’d say no. But, if I have to be bound, at least it’s to someone I trust. I know you won’t take advantage.”

  “And I know you’ll be faithful, even if we’re n
ot lovers. I just wish you didn’t have to be.”

  Lorcan took a deep breath to calm his nerves, then got to his feet. “We might as well do this right.” He went down on one knee before Rory and bowed his head. “Sean Rory Brennigan Magister Jiao-long, will you guard my heart until the sunrise claims me?”

  “Ruarc Magister Diluthical, I accept your heart, to defend against all enemies, until the sunrise claims me.”

  Lorcan looked up at Rory, his expression sad. “Then welcome to House Diluthical, Leshir. I hope you enjoy your stay.”

  CHAPTER 6

  February 2083, Anchorpoint City, Colorado

  “You did what?” asked Nick, looking like he’d been hit on the head with a shovel.

  “I asked Sean to be my Leshir,” said Lorcan, controlling his irritation.

  Layla frowned. “And this is a political mating? Hardly the best reason to join your lives together.”

  Rory raised an eyebrow. “I never figured you to be a romantic.”

  Layla’s eyes shaded toward red. “Blame it on my age.”

  Rory wisely didn’t respond to that. “Layla, we’d like you to act as witness.”

  She nodded. “I would be honored.”

  Nick dropped into a chair. He stared at Rory and Lorcan in disbelief. “Guys, think about this. I saw the New Year’s video. It looked pretty bad, I’ll admit, but you’re innocent. Why take it so much to heart?”

  “It’s the appearance of impropriety,” said Lorcan. “As long as this scandal hangs over me it interferes with my job as Imperator, and makes me a liability in the Great Work.”

  “Our partners in the Daywalker alliance are at each other’s throats,” said Rory. “We have to take steps to head this off, or we’ll never recover. If that means we make a personal sacrifice—”

  “It’s Ruarc that’s making the sacrifice, not you,” snapped Nick.

  Lorcan sighed. “Nicholas … we’d like you to stand as our guarantor.”

  Nick’s eyes widened. “Are you kidding me? It’s an arranged marriage. I’m not going to kill you if you cheat!”

  “It’s symbolic, Nick,” said Rory. “House Luscian is a senior member of the Alliance. It would enhance the psychological impact to the others if you were part of the formal ritual.”