by Ella M. Lee
Eventually, Claudius called us to order by clapping his hands once. The low murmuring in the room went quiet immediately.
“Daniel Shing,” he said, beckoning him forward. Daniel walked up the stairs, his head held high. Claudius clasped his hand firmly. “You’ve been vouched for by Nicolas Demarais. You’ve studied our laws and repeated your vows in front of the council. Are you ready to take this final step?”
“Yes, I am,” Daniel said.
I was so proud of him.
Nicolas took Dan’s wrist in his hand. From his intense look, I knew he was giving Daniel silent instructions. He walked Daniel close to the sanctum. Daniel stood on one side of the orb, Nicolas across from him on the other, and Claudius on the third side.
Nicolas gestured for Daniel to place his hands on the sanctum’s surface. Once he did, Nicolas covered them with his own. Claudius put his hands on the sanctum as well.
What happened next was well known to the twenty-one commanders in the room, but entirely incomprehensible to the rest of us. There was dead silence for close to four or five minutes. Daniel and Nicolas’s eyes were locked on one another’s, and I knew that Nicolas was guiding Daniel through this process.
Suddenly, Daniel let go of the sanctum, and it felt like the entire room shifted. His magic flared out, and it was more lovely and complete than I had ever seen it. Nicolas and Claudius were smiling. Daniel was absolutely radiant. It was like a new part of him had been unlocked. He was truly one of the most powerful commanders I had ever seen. He could give any council member here a run for their money.
He turned to face the room. He wasn’t nervous anymore. He looked calm and serious and competent. He would never be physically imposing—he didn’t have Nicolas’s height and broad shoulders, for instance—but there could be no doubt about how dangerous he was and that he had deserved this promotion.
We all applauded. Although commanders were sometimes at odds, all of us were part of Water Clan, and they were welcoming the birth of one of their own with approval. I was overjoyed to see his acceptance here. I had lucked into something amazing, with Nicolas as my first commander in Water, and Daniel as my second one.
Claudius embraced Daniel, then Nicolas did. Nicolas’s eyes were warm; he was incredibly proud of his protégé. Daniel sprang down the stairs and right at me. I caught him in my arms and hugged him tightly. Even my magic yearned for his, clambering within me to get closer to him.
“Congratulations, Commander Darling,” I said, kissing his cheek.
I followed a step behind as he shook hands and embraced everyone in the room, thanking them for their support. Many of them congratulated me on my promotion, as well. Nicolas had come to the base of the stairs but hadn’t moved beyond that, merely following Daniel with his eyes affectionately.
I detached myself from Daniel and went to stand by Nicolas. Among so many other commanders, he was his usual stern, withdrawn self. There was no way he’d do anything to indicate the depth of our relationship, although he still liked to show a certain amount of possessiveness toward me in public.
Nicolas, the commander who got whatever and whomever he wanted. My favorite show-off.
As if to prove that point, he took my hand in his and kissed my knuckles briefly, studying the tanzanite bracelet he had bought me in Singapore in November. I stared straight ahead as though the gesture meant nothing, unfazed by his attention.
I love that you know me so well, he said silently. Happy birthday, Fiona. I have a gift to give you later, but I don’t think it can top giving you a shiny new commander.
Nicolas and Daniel took us all out to dim sum after we managed to get away from the other commanders. We went to Yan Toh Heen Restaurant, which had an impeccable view of the harbor from its home in the Intercontinental Hong Kong. We were jointly celebrating Daniel’s new position, my birthday, and the start of the new year.
Everyone was in high spirits.
To my surprise, I received gifts from almost everyone in our two groups. Embarrassed and touched by their thoughtfulness, I put them all away to open later.
After the meal, Nicolas and I splintered off from the others, trading Nicolas’s shiny silver Tesla to Daniel and taking back the Audi R8. Nicolas drove us to Repulse Bay, where we walked hand in hand along the beach in the gorgeous weather and enjoyed coffee from a very posh café on the boardwalk.
I loved that Nicolas and I hardly needed to talk. We were content simply spending time together and soaking up each other’s company. I thought I couldn’t be happier than I was today, sitting in the sand with him, my back pressed against his chest and his arms around me. I closed my eyes, enjoying the warm sun on my face and Nicolas’s fingers idly moving along my body.
“What were you doing last birthday?” he asked me softly, the first time either of us had spoken aloud in almost an hour.
I laughed. “Trying not to freeze to death on a last-minute surveillance mission with Damon. It was brutally cold and windy, and we were stuck outside all night. It was possibly the worst birthday ever.”
“And how does this one rate?” he asked.
“Best birthday ever. Or close to it.”
He squeezed me. “I’m glad.”
“When is your birthday?” I asked. I was embarrassed that I didn’t know already.
“February second, but I don’t celebrate it.”
“No parties?” I asked.
“No parties, no gifts,” he said. “I’m not sure anyone knows when it is. Ryan might, I suppose. It doesn’t go with my persona to care about something as frivolous as my birthday.”
“I would normally fight you on something like this, but I know what your reputation means to you.”
“Yes, I believe I was quite clear with you about that when we first met.”
“You were horrifying,” I said, laughing.
He laughed. “I know, lamb, but you survived.”
“Do you call me lamb because you’re the wolf who caught me?” I asked.
He laughed again, his chest rising against me. “I truly never thought of that, but it fits. I called you lamb back then because you were fragile and small and helpless. And because I wanted to rattle you and condescend to you in those first moments.”
“And you call me the incorrigible one,” I said, sighing.
Eventually, the sun dropped a bit on the horizon, and we left the beach. Nicolas took us to an early dinner at a cute Italian place in Central, Hong Kong’s main business district.
Although he often went overboard on extravagant dates, he knew I also loved tiny low-key places where I could relax. This restaurant was perfect, and I wondered when he would run out of new places to take me.
Daniel had wanted to spend time with me on my birthday, so he met us outside the restaurant after our meal. I had changed clothes into something more casual. With Daniel, I would no doubt be walking a lot; he never sat still for very long.
Nicolas touched my skin before climbing into the driver’s seat of the car. Don’t wear yourself out with Dan, he said in my mind. I want you later.
He kissed me deeply, and my breath hitched. Nicolas’s eyes fell on Daniel for a moment, and he seemed confused. He looked between us for another moment, brows furrowed. He blinked once, then again. I was about to ask him what was wrong when he smiled at me and ducked into the car without another word. I waved at him through the tinted glass.
“Where are we going today?” I asked Dan.
“Where have you been already?” he asked as we watched Nicolas drive off.
“Repulse Bay, relaxing.”
“Yeah, no,” he said. He had picked up that phrase from me and loved to use it about basically anything he didn’t like. Repulse Bay was too fancy for his taste. “How about we walk up through the Mid-Levels, and then maybe to the Peak?”
He pointed behind us, to the paths that could take you from Central up the side of the mountain to the classy residential area called the Mid-Levels, which looked out over downtown Hong Kong’s jung
le of concrete and roads.
Behind the Mid-Levels rose Victoria Peak, known as “the Peak,” which was the highest point on Hong Kong Island and had a gorgeous view of the region.
There were two ways up to the Mid-Levels: the never-ending stream of escalators that climbed ever higher, and the stairs that stood stoically beside them.
“Sure, if we can take the escalators up,” I said.
Daniel narrowed his eyes at me, smiling. “Only because it’s your birthday, Fi. Speaking of that, I have your gift with me.”
He pulled a small red bag from his pocket and offered it to me with both hands. I took it in both of mine, as was appropriate for a gift, and opened it and dumped the contents into my hand. It was a long braided rope in dark brown with clasps at the end. In the center of the rope was a flat piece of yellow jade carefully carved into an elegant dragon—my Chinese zodiac sign.
I had been horrified to find out that because my birthday was so early in the year, my zodiac animal was actually the dragon and not the snake, as I had thought my whole life. Daniel had assuaged my grief by telling me all the characteristics of the dragon: courageous, tenacious, intelligent, and possessing a sharp wit. He had also noted that the dragon paired well with the rat, Nicolas’s zodiac sign.
“And come on,” Dan had said, brushing off my complaints. “You’re a dragon. Look at all that fire. Now Nico has two dragons. That ink on his back… and you.”
I remembered those words and smiled down at the fierce little emblem. It was a perfect reflection of Dan’s simple style: well-crafted and understated. He always knew how to lend me strength.
“It’s a bracelet,” he explained as I held it up to the dying light. “It’s odd to me that you don’t have a piece of jade with your zodiac sign. It’s traditional here.”
I wrapped it around my right wrist. It looped three times before clasping, forming a beautiful crisscross on my pale skin.
“Thanks, Dan,” I said, touched. “I love it.”
He brushed his fingertips over it as I held it out. When his skin connected with mine, it sent a spiral of desire through me. I drew back, momentarily confused.
What the hell?
I met Daniel’s eyes briefly. They were smoldering, dark and bright at the same time. I shook my head.
That was weird.
“Shall we?” I said, looking away, trying to smile.
He offered me his hand. I took it hesitantly, but I felt nothing odd this time. He pulled me down the street, chattering about his afternoon absently.
As the sun set, we took the escalators up as far as we could go before hiking the remaining forty-five minutes or so to the Lion’s Pavilion on Victoria Peak. It was fully dark now, and the view over Victoria Harbor toward Kowloon Peninsula was stunning.
I leaned against the railing of the pavilion. It was a quieter night than usual, with less of a crowd. Daniel came to stand behind me and wrapped his arms around me, leaning in. I was hyper-aware of how warm and comfortable he was against me, with his hands on my bare arms and his breath on my neck.
“I love cities with skylines,” I murmured, studying the distant city lights and jungle of skyscrapers.
“I love cities in general,” Daniel offered, tightening his grip on me.
“I still can’t believe Hong Kong is my home. Also never would have imagined I’d be a lieutenant in Water,” I mused. “This is all really crazy.”
“Things can change quickly, can’t they? I remember feeling the same when Nicolas bought me.”
I turned my head to meet his eyes. They were black against the night, so dark that I didn’t get a hint of emotion from them. All of the sharp lines of his face were harsh and glorious. Suddenly I was looking at the most attractive man I’d ever seen.
I blinked.
What the hell was wrong with me?
I was with Nicolas. Nicolas, Nicolas, Nicolas. Perfect, amazing Nicolas who was attractive, attentive, brilliant, rich, fantastic in bed, and who had given me everything. I shouldn’t be fantasizing even a little about my best friend. Yet, for some reason, I couldn’t help it.
It was true that Daniel was great. He was handsome in a delicate, angular way. He was thoughtful, funny, and sweet. But we had bonded ourselves into friendship months ago. He had put his hands on me a million times and I had never once thought of it as anything more than friendly playfulness. We spent hours of the day alone together, and never before had I wanted to kiss him.
Our lips were scant inches apart in this position. I leaned in further.
Stop.
My voice was loud and commanding in my mind. I froze. Daniel looked frozen, too—frightened, but also eager.
I pulled back from him. He let me go immediately, awkwardly, almost tossing me away. When I met his gaze again, his eyes were narrowed in thought and a little disoriented.
“Should we, um, take the tram back down into the city?” I asked, my voice shaking a little.
My tone seemed to snap him back to reality.
“Yeah, okay,” he said.
He glanced back at me several times as we walked from the pavilion to the tram station, but he didn’t touch me again.
Absurd.
There was no way I had just developed feelings for Daniel. Not when I’d known him for months, not when I had the most perfect boyfriend in the world waiting for me at home. Just thinking about Nicolas sent shivers down my spine. As much as I loved Dan, he paled in comparison.
I had never felt about anyone the way I felt about Nicolas.
This couldn’t be a thing, and it wouldn’t be a thing. I was just really happy for Daniel, and myself, and our group, and overwhelmed by all that. Definitely. Obviously. I needed some sleep, and this would make sense later.
I would forget it ever crossed my mind.
As I watched Daniel on the tram ride down, it seemed like he was thinking the same thing.
I shook my head. I had to stop thinking about this. I definitely had to stop thinking about it before Nicolas read it in my thoughts. I would just pretend it had never happened. I was being stupid. I loved Daniel, and I honestly couldn’t wait to work with him in our new group.
That was all there was to it.
By the time I got home, I had talked myself out of my momentary lapse in rational thinking. I showered, changed, and headed to Nicolas’s apartment. He took me into his arms the second I was through the door.
“How is your birthday? Still one of the best ever?” he asked, running his hands over me.
“Definitely. I got to spend time with the group, got to see my commander’s promotion, and now I get to end the night with you.”
He smiled, tipping my chin up to kiss me. My heart pounded.
I love you, I thought to him.
And I love you, he replied silently, his fingers touching the sensitive skin of my midriff.
I leaned against him as his hands continued to explore me, breathing him in, memorizing him all over again. His fingers paused at my right wrist. He held it up, examining my bracelet curiously. He smiled.
“Daniel has good taste. He knows what you like.”
“Well, he is my best friend,” I said, laughing.
“How do you feel about him as your commander?”
“I think you did a good job with him,” I said. “Daniel gets a lot of credit from everyone for being a genius, but I know he feels indebted to you for what he has and who he is. As do I.”
“You’re too good to me,” Nicolas said graciously.
He led me to the couch. I sat and pulled him down toward me. He kissed me deeply enough to make my stomach drop.
“One moment,” he said, holding up a finger to stop me.
He went into his bedroom and came back with two boxes. One was long and flat. The other was small. He handed me the smaller one first.
“This is just a little something beautiful for you,” he said.
I unwrapped it carefully.
“Only you consider a gift from Tiffany to be ‘jus
t a little something,’” I said, laughing and opening the box.
Inside was a delicate pair of earrings with large aquamarine gems set in diamond halos. I held them up to the light. They were beautifully clear and light. I knew immediately that he had taken inspiration from my eyes.
“Doh je,” I said. Thank you.
“Ah,” he said, holding out the other box, “but this is the real gift.”
I lifted the box’s dark lid to reveal a worn notebook. The cover was a rich brown leather. I glanced at Nicolas, confused.
He smiled. “You generously opened up to me on our Christmas trip. I very much appreciated the chance to get to know you. I know it was hard, revisiting aspects of your life that you’re not part of anymore.” He paused. “I thought you might like the opportunity to understand me. This is a journal of my time right after Ryan and his sister rescued me from Smoke and brought me here.”
My eyes went wide. “Nicolas, are you sure…?”
His expression was solemn. “I’m sure I want you to understand me,” he said carefully. “There are a lot of emotions in there that were hard for me to deal with at the time, a lot of insights I discovered as I wrote, many things about myself I needed to accept and let go and change. The person I was back then? Not so admirable. But I do want you to know all of me, even if it’s difficult. Even if you’ll have questions and concerns and possibly… Well, possibly second thoughts about me.”
My eyes flicked back up to meet his. “I doubt that,” I said, trying to smile, but I faltered at his serious look.
I took the journal in both of my hands. I flipped through it, my eyes scanning the neat rows of Nicolas’s writing. Most of it was in English, but occasionally there were passages—especially near the beginning—in Chinese and French. I returned to the first page and studied the elegant Chinese characters.
