by Jami Gray
“And yet, he holds the favor of other Council members.”
No missing the jealousy in Ryder’s voice with that one. The mist in the barrier around her picked up speed.
“And?” DiMarcco’s one word question snapped with a frigid bite.
Jamie, either too stupid or too arrogant, missed the warning. “And that concerns you.”
“It won’t be a concern for long.”
Natasha filed away the implied threat under DiMarcco’s words. She’d have to make sure to warn Darius to watch his brother’s back. If nothing else, this disastrous night managed to clear all her doubts about Zayn.
“Is that so? What do you have planned for him?” Jamie didn’t even bother hiding his dark glee. A thin streak of black zagged across the barrier holding her from her demon.
“Nothing you need to worry about.” Decidedly unamused, DiMarcco dodged the question. “Perhaps you should explain why I shouldn’t walk away right now?” Metal gave a soft creak as someone shifted their weight. “Being seen with you is not in my best interests.”
And considering the cold heat weaving through DiMarcco’s voice, Natasha bet Jamie was teetering on a very shaky ledge with the Councilman.
“Trust me, no one of importance will know you’re here,” Jamie answered, blithely unaware of the danger he courted.
“When someone tells me to trust them, I’ve found it’s better to sever any and all ties with them from that point on.” Silky menace softened DiMarcco’s voice.
Chills raced over Natasha’s skin. In front of her mind’s eye, the dizzying mists slowed, catching her attention. As she watched, the mists seemed to thin. Taking advantage of the apparent flaw, she prodded the magic. For the first time, it seemed to give.
Realization flooded her. The spell’s weakness was Jamie’s emotional state.
“Why should you be any different?” DiMarcco’s quiet question left her holding her breath.
If the Councilman killed Jamie, she would stay trussed up like some stupid, virgin sacrifice. Some weird bit of mental hysteria escaped. Perhaps not virgin, but a sacrifice all the same.
Instead of Jamie’s answer, footsteps crossed the floor. A soft, rasping click preceded a flood of light against her closed lids as the mists around her pick up speed.
A sharp inhale followed.
“You wanted to break the back of the Northwest. I’m giving you the last straw.” Arrogant satisfaction dripped from Jamie, even as footsteps drifted closer. The magical barrier began to solidify, gaining strength with his confidence.
The air around her shifted, indicating someone was close. When a hand tangled in her hair, yanking her head back against the metal wall, she almost opened her eyes. Every bit of will went into not wincing.
“You like?” Jamie’s voice sounded right next to her.
Every part of her ached to attack. Only DiMarcco’s presence held her in check. And the chains still holding her to the damn wall. And the thrice damned spell.
More footsteps. DiMarcco had come a bit closer. “Is she alive?”
“For now.” Jamie ripped his hand from her hair, and she let her head fall forward, hoping her hair would be an added protection from DiMarcco’s scrutiny. The spell turned opaque.
“Do you understand what you’ve done?” This time there was no way for Jamie to mistake the cold fury in DiMarcco’s voice.
The spell fluctuated violently and Natasha used Jamie distraction to slip a thin line of her magic through, like a wire-thin needle. When it connected with her demon, the resulting power shock almost had her missing the rest of the conversation. Like a flood being forced through a straw, the ache of its return almost ripped her magical hold free.
“What is it you think I’ve done?” Jamie’s caution finally emerged.
He stood, the leg of his pants brushing against her shoulder. Light and shadow danced across her closed lids with his movements. She struggled to thin out her tenuous connection. If she could keep the energy signature low enough, Jamie would never notice.
DiMarcco took a step closer. “Set a pretty target on your back.” Then another one. “And by extension mine.” The last was a hissed accusation.
Natasha managed to get control of her link, just as the spell’s wall began to solidify around her. Foolish child was preparing to face down DiMarcco. “There will be no target.”
A wave of breath stealing power slammed into Jamie and, by extension, her. She choked back a groan at the oppressive weight. DiMarcco wasn’t done. “Then why her? Why now?”
Above her, Jamie snarled as he struggled under DiMarcco’s magic. “She was getting too close. There’s no way either of us could afford for her to put the pieces together.”
“You left loose ends?” The Councilman’s voice became softer, almost kind, in direct contrast the increasing magical pressure.
“No.” Jamie’s denial emerged in a harsh gasp.
“Then how is she getting too close?”
Natasha held on to the thin connection through sheer strength of will, hiding her fierce joy at reestablishing her link to her demon. In front of her, Jamie’s battle played out, the spell’s haze dissipating as he struggled to hold his own against DiMarcco.
“Division.” Jamie’s one word answer emerged through gritted teeth.
“Humans,” DiMarcco spat, “are easily dealt with. This mistake you’ve created. Rectify it. Now.”
“This is not a mistake.”
Stunned, Natasha could barely believe Jamie was still arguing. For once, she agreed with DiMarcco. Jamie made a critical error in taking her. How could the boy not see that?
A short bark of laughter followed. “Do you really believe the other Northwest leaders won’t put two and two together and come up with your name?” DiMarcco’s power receded. “And if they manage to add mine to it, you better pray someone else finds you first, because it won’t come close to what I’ll do to you, boy.”
“You need me.”
Tiny fissures ran through the spell surrounding her, Jamie’s doubt weakening his hold.
“No, you need me.” Utter ruthlessness laced DiMarcco’s response. “Shall I remind you? I did not come to you, you came to me.”
The scramble of feet over the ground preceded Jamie’s accusation. “Without me, the humans would’ve never come to the table and your grand plans would be nowhere.”
The sound of flesh impacting flesh filled the air, followed by a choking sound. “Did you think you were my only agent in this?”
“Nnn—no.”
A body hit the ground and someone, probably Jamie, dragged in air with greedy gulps. The idiot still managed to get out, “But I am the most valuable.”
If his betrayal hadn’t made her reconsider his intelligence, that last comment certainly did.
“Valuable? More like liable.” Footsteps moved away, and the door opened with a groan. “Clean up your mess, Ryder. All of it.” DiMarcco’s words drifted back crystal clear even as his footsteps faded into the night.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Silence crawled back in and settled around Natasha. A half a minute passed, then, “I know you’re awake, Natasha.”
Her bluff called, she lifted her lids slowly, giving her eyes time to adjust. Harsh light from the bare bulb above fell around her. She blinked a few times, hoping to clear the shadows veiling Jamie’s face as he stood in front of her. “Was that little display for my benefit?”
Jamie dropped into a crouch until their faces were level, his arms balanced on his knees, hands dangling from his wrists. The distinctive red rings of the Amanusa flared around his brown eyes, yet the rot within didn’t show on the boyish face. “It shouldn’t have come to this.”
Ignoring the now dull ache from her jaw, Natasha forced her lips into a mocking smile. “This? Where your greed and ambition have made you the perfect tool for the Council and their agenda?” She leaned forward, pulling against the chains. Their rattle followed her movement, even as Jamie instinctively leaned back. “
Your choice to take us here, pet.”
He shook his head. A small, sad smile accompanied the glimpse of pity in his gaze. “Not my choice, yours. The Council is the only one who will keep us safe.”
“Safe?” There was so much was wrong with his statement. She didn’t bother hiding her scorn. Not that he’d recognize it. He was too far gone in DiMarcco’s game. “From who?”
“The humans.”
The depth of conviction behind his answer stunned her. Slowly she sat back, thinking. “There are worse things than the humans, Jamie.”
Anger darkened his face. His hands curled into fists. “Like you?”
Had he expected her to agree with him? If so, he’d be waiting a damn long time. “No.” Would he admit the truth, even if she gave it to him? “Why don’t we start with the master you serve?” Catching his flicker of unease, she pushed. “You do realize he’ll kill you as soon as he gets all he wants.” And knowing DiMarcco’s conniving ruthlessness as well as she did, if she didn’t kill Jamie, it would be a matter of hours before death came for him.
He jerked upright, his lips curling in a sneer as he glared down at her. “You’re not the biggest or baddest power out there.”
If he really believed that, she hadn’t been doing her job. An oversight she’d be sure to correct. As much as she wanted to leap to her feet and get in his face, the chains made the move impossible. Not to mention the fact she wasn’t exactly at her best.
Instead, she forced her muscles to relax and leaned back, as if seated in her office chair, and not sprawled on the unforgiving metal floor. “You aren’t paying attention then.”
Jamie’s eyes narrowed, even as the red brightened and bled over the brown color. “But I’m not the one chained to a wall, missing a rather vital piece of myself, though, am I?”
Choking out a carefree laugh, she hoped it distracted him enough to not notice her testing the damn spell again. Or the slowly strengthening link between her and her demon. Just a little bit longer. “If you think that what makes me dangerous is my demon, darling, you are not as smart as I thought.”
The magic holding her fluctuated as her taunts found their marks and his emotional status began to crumble. His gaze shifted just that tiny bit, revealing his worry, even as he tried to mask it. “This spell, Natasha, it’s not some simple thing.”
No, far from it, but the strength of the one holding it in place was no match for her—with or without her demon’s presence. However, if he would give her another minute, she’d be happy to prove it to him. “I never mistook the spell that killed Ryan or Sullivan as simple.”
He lifted his chin at her comment, his smile full of vicious satisfaction, creating a chilling contrast to his boy-next-door look. “No, those were pieces of fucking brilliance.”
Needing to crack his composure and weaken his hold, she held his gaze, letting every ounce of contempt and disgust she felt for this twisted child shine through. “Which is how I know you had nothing to do with creating either of them.”
Her dig did its work, a little too well.
Jamie’s face went startling blank. He moved, too quick for her to react, and backhanded her.
The dull thud of her head crashing into the metal wall behind her was lost under the explosive echo of his hand meeting her face. Copper burst on her tongue as her teeth cut the inside of her mouth, almost enough to mask the wrenching in her shoulders as her body jerked against the chains.
Jamie’s harsh breaths fell over her.
She smiled despite her cut lip and burning cheek. Slowly, deliberately, she turned her head toward him, full-fledged fury burning bright under her cruel amusement. “Temper, temper, Jamie.”
The cracks in the surrounding magic widened, bringing her two halves a little closer.
“Shut the fuck up, Natasha!” he spat. “Those spells were mine.” He leaned closer. “All mine!”
Undaunted, she called his bluff. “No they weren’t.” She curled her lips, ignoring the sting of the cut and the slow slide of blood. “The magic that killed Ryan had nothing whatsoever to do with you. That was all DiMarcco.”
Jamie dropped in front of her, slamming his hands into the wall beside her head.
She didn’t flinch.
He leaned in, crowding her and dominating her field of vision. “DiMarcco didn’t have the balls to go after Mulcahy.”
Undaunted, she strained forward until mere centimeters separated them. “And you did?” Did he really think she believed Ryan was his intended target? Perhaps she over estimated his intelligence. “Tell me another lie, Jamie. Ancient and powerful are not two words I’d associate with you. Now, DiMarcco, on the other hand…”
The sound of metal shredding under nails screeched across her eardrums. Fury brought Jamie’s demon to the surface, further signaling his loss of control.
“Ryan was never the target. Not for DiMarcco, and not for you.” She continued to bait him, hiding her relief as the first stirrings of her demon’s answering rage found its way through the spell.
“He’s still dead,” he snarled.
“Not because of you.” You demented bastard. The pure wave of malice swept away any lingering traces of pain. Oh yes, her demon was making a comeback. Fury, rage, and a need to destroy the one in front of her clawed against her relentless control. She couldn’t afford for Jamie to know just how close she was to breaking through.
She relaxed. leaning back to put a bit of breathing room between the two of them. “Whether it was luck or planning, it doesn’t make a difference.”
Her ability to read what lay in his blood rode the magic holding her and found its way to Jamie. Idiot had used his own blood to set the spell.
“Difference in what?”
“The depth of your betrayal.” She tilted her head and dropped her lids partway, hoping her thick lashes would veil any revealing red tint in her eyes. “Or did you think it was just me you had to deal with? Did you happen to forget the other Wraiths? You killed their captain. They’re not ones to take betrayal lightly. Maybe Gavin will make an example out of you. Oh, what I wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall when Raine gets her hands on you.” Keeping her mental touch delicate, like the whisper of spider’s silk, she wove her way deeper into Jamie’s mind, ferreting out his secrets.
“Gavin and Raine? Please.” The low rumble of Jamie’s snarl vibrated between them. Then he rocked back on his heels. “Those two think they’re hot shit. They have no idea what’s coming for them.”
“And you do?” She kept the question soft as she worked. Her first goal, patiently unbinding the metal on one of the chain links even as she kept Jamie talking. Unfortunately, her demon was done waiting around. She let her eyes close briefly as she shoved her more primal wants and needs back. Intellect, not instinct, was needed now.
Jamie grabbed her chin. “Look at me!”
She slitted her eyes and yanked her chin free, keeping her face turned away.
Undeterred, he duck walked until he was at her side. “Do you understand what’s coming?” He spat each word. “The Kyn won’t survive if they don’t stay true to their natures.”
Fairly confident she’d beaten back her demon, for now, she finally raised her gaze.
Satisfied he had her attention, he continued. “Messing around with magic and genetics doesn’t make them better, it makes them less.”
She arched an eyebrow. “I’d have to disagree.”
“You would.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You want these ‘new’ powers because it gives you something no one else has.” He stopped and waited, his expression expectant.
She didn’t bow to his ploy and kept her mouth shut.
He gave her a small smile. “Weapons to use against the Council.”
It was too hard to navigate Jamie’s twists and turns of deluded logic while picking apart his touch with metal. She let him ramble on as she unraveled the magic holding the chain together, grateful when the metal showed signs
of weakening.
“You think DiMarcco is blind to how much you hate him?” Jamie tapped her nose, his unusual move startling her.
Her gaze jumped to his.
“Ah, don’t worry, Natasha, you hid it well,” he crooned in a voice full of false sympathy. “It took me years to figure it out. But once I realized you’d never turn against Mulcahy and take what was yours, I went around you to the next best thing.”
“Next best thing being DiMarcco?”
“He has no problem rewarding those who serve him.”
“You think DiMarcco’s going to share with you?” She laughed. “He doesn’t share. Ever. He didn’t get to be the head of the Council because he shares, you idiot.” She shook her head. “Did you miss the whole liability thing, Jamie?”
“He’s not the only one with sharing problems.” He shoved to his feet and spun away, running his hands through his hair in a visible struggle to regain his slipping temper.
Taking advantage of his turned back, she got to her knees, using the movement to pull, with slow and steady pressure, against the chains. The weakened link gave, just enough to spike her pulse and ignite a predatory anticipation. She stilled when he stopped.
“Why couldn’t you just give a little?” he asked his back still to her.
She gave an inelegant snort at the plaintive note in his question “Oh, please, you’re not going to start whining how it was all my fault now, are you?”
He spun around on his heel, the skin of his face pulled tight over his skull, the wavering apparition of his demon rising like mirage at high noon. “Don’t.” He stalked closer. There was no more brown left in his eyes, just pure crimson fire. Jamie’s demon teetered on the crumbling edge, right where she wanted it.
The spell holding her shifted. The fractures she manipulated widening. Jamie’s darkest desires bubbled to the surface. Endless craving for power. A driving need to dominate. An addiction to violence writhing underneath it all. She needed just a little more. “Don’t, what?”
“Don’t twist this back around.”
“Oh, I’m not the one twisting things around, pet.” Her muscles coiled. The roiling energy of her enraged beast flooding her, filling all those empty spots with a pure, incandescent rage. That rage grew as it consumed more and more of Jamie’s hidden desires. “That’s something you’re doing just fine on your own.”