by Young, S.
Niamh frowned. “No, it wasn’t. It’s always been in them.”
Kiyo shook his head. “Not the one I saw last time.”
She considered this. “Actually, I think you’re right. But it was in the first one I ever got. What does it mean?”
“The gardens belong to the house I was renting in Osaka back in the 1800s when I was taking my revenge against my mother’s rapists. I was cursed in those gardens.” His grip on Niamh tightened unwittingly as he remembered. “The jade pendant belonged to Mizuki Nakamura. The miko who cursed me.”
Niamh pushed away from him. “Then we have to go to Osaka. Kiyo … that pendant.”
Something like panic clawed at his gut as realization struck. “It’s a talisman.”
And I’d bet my eternity that it holds your curse within. Destroy it and … She clung to him now, fear pouring from her.
“Best-case scenario, I become mortal. Worst-case scenario … I die.”
Which was exactly what Astra wanted.
A fierceness overcame Niamh with such strength, her eyes bled gold and strands of her hair lifted of its own accord. Electricity crackled around her. “That’s not going to happen,” she vowed, her voice sounding different.
“Komorebi …” He reached for her, his tone calming. “The show, while arousing, is unnecessary. We’ll find the pendant.”
Just like that, the surrounding energy flamed out and her eyes were aquamarine again. She looked at him in wonder. “What did you just call me?”
“We need to get back to the hotel. Can you do your thing when no one’s looking?”
“Answer my question first.”
“I called you Komorebi,” he answered impatiently. “Now can we go?”
Niamh stepped into his waiting arms, smiling up at him like he’d just given her the whole world. “You told me Komorebi means a beautiful forest with sunlight peeking through the leaves of the trees. And you think of it every time you ready for a run through the woods.”
“Yeah,” he muttered, feeling too much. Way too fucking much for it to be comfortable.
She slipped her arms around his neck. “Trust you, my darling, my brooding wolf, to give a woman the most romantic endearment on the planet.”
His grip on her tightened but he just grunted in acknowledgment.
Niamh leaned up to whisper across his lips. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.” She pressed her mouth to his, and he felt a strange disorientation.
When he opened his eyes, they were standing in the middle of their hotel room.
31
“Finally!” Niamh cried. She lifted her head from the tablet they’d borrowed from the hotel staff. “I’ve got a hit that sounds promising.”
Half an hour ago, she’d started googling Osaka and Mizuki Nakamura. Considering Mizuki was an old woman when she’d cursed Kiyo in 1898, he wasn’t hopeful they’d find much on the internet. While Niamh searched, he’d stewed in restless anger over the fact that he’d just assumed Mizuki had used a human sacrifice to curse him. She’d brought a young girl with her to the gardens that night. Mizuki told him she was the most impressive miko she’d encountered in years. Both he and the girl thought she was there to help Mizuki deal with him.
Instead she’d killed the girl, siphoning her energy to curse Kiyo.
In the morning, when he awoke after being knocked unconscious by the curse, the gardens he laid in had begun to die.
All of that pointed to the fact that Mizuki had channeled her power through nature.
He’d never suspected that she’d used a powerful talisman to contain her spells and curses for longevity.
Feeling impatient with self-directed anger, he strode across the room and Niamh handed him the tablet.
“It’s a blog entry from a travel blogger in the US.”
Wondering at the relevancy, Kiyo read the paragraph Niamh pointed to.
Of course, I can’t write a post on Osaka without mentioning the atmospheric and creepy tavern my sister and I stumbled upon on our last night there. Buried within the Sakai ward near the port of Osaka Bay is the home of the WEIRDEST experience Lucy and I have had since arriving in Japan. We’d been talking with a local girl about how fascinating the miko culture was. For those who missed my post on that, mikos are shrine maidens. Or female shamans to you and me. They’re pretty respected in Japan, and Lucy and I love anything with a hint of supernatural or occult to it. Anyway, our new friend told us that a famous family of miko lived in Sakai and the latest generation owned a tavern.
Well, we had to go, right?! So we found the entrance to the tavern down a very narrow alley between a bunch of buildings crammed together. We’d never have known it was there if our newbie friend hadn’t told us.
Kiyo sighed with impatience. “Does she get to the point anytime soon?”
“Yeah, keep reading.”
As soon as we stepped inside, it was like the dark little place was charged with electricity. It’s hard to describe. All I can say is that the bartenders were the least friendly people we’ve met while being in Japan. It was like they didn’t want us there or something!!! And the clientele … off the charts CREEPY. The whole vibe was very mystical and goosebumpy.
“Goosebumpy? Really?”
Niamh laughed. “So she’s no Shakespeare. Just keep reading.”
When we asked the lady bartender about the so-called family legacy, she said if we didn’t get out, she’d CURSE us! Lucy and I almost stayed just to see if it would happen but, seriously, guys, we freaking believed her. Call us crazy all you want, but you’ll understand what we mean when you visit. And for an authentic mystical Japanese experience, you HAVE to visit Nakamura Izakaya in Sakai to hang out with the descendants of the überfamous Mizuki Nakamura, the most powerful miko in the history of Japan!
“Shit,” Kiyo breathed, not believing what he was reading.
“It has to be her, right? Sakai is the area she lived in?”
Kiyo nodded. “The Nakamuras lived in the Sakai ward. Their men were involved in trade.”
“Then I guess we’re going to their tavern to ask a few questions. If we’re lucky, they might have a jade pendant hanging on the wall as a souvenir.”
He threw her a wry look. “Yeah, it’ll be that easy.”
“It’s our only lead.”
He exhaled heavily, dropping the tablet on the sofa. “Then I guess we’re going to Osaka.”
“What about Sakura’s fight tomorrow?”
“We’ll return in time for the fight … and hopefully we’ll have the pendant and we can get the hell out of Japan and go somewhere Astra can’t find you.”
* * *
Tokyo Station was busy but nowhere near as crowded as it would be in a few hours when it was rush hour. Upon checking which type of shinkansen would get them to Osaka the fastest, they bought tickets on the Nozomi. That bullet train would get them into Osaka in two and a half hours. Despite the gravity of the reason for the trip, Niamh was openly excited about getting to ride on a bullet train for more than a few minutes.
“And first-class tickets that cost an absolute fortune,” she said gleefully. “You didn’t have to do that.”
Kiyo slid his arm around her waist, pulling her into his side as he guided her through the station toward their platform. “Did it make you like me more?”
She grinned. “I like you enough as it is. If I like you any more, I’m likely to succumb to the affliction.”
He shook with laughter, understanding completely.
But his amusement died instantly when he saw five wolves pushing through the crowds toward them.
“What the hell?” Niamh tensed. “What now?”
Kiyo tightened his hold on her as they found themselves encircled by the werewolves. Passengers gave them a wide berth and the station guards turned their backs, recognizing the high-ranking members of Pack Iryoku. Kiyo glared into the familiar light brown gaze of Kobe.
He sneered at Kiyo and asked in Japanese, “Going somewhere
?”
“What’s it to you?” Kiyo answered in English.
“Arufua-san commanded your presence in the city,” Kobe returned in English, his eyes bouncing between Kiyo and Niamh. “Neither you nor the mahoutsukai can leave without permission. We thought this was made clear to you.”
“No. I have a deal with Sakura that I’ll fight for her tomorrow night. That’s where our deal starts and ends. You can’t tell me where I can and cannot go.”
“You come with us. Sort this out with Arufua-san.”
“We have somewhere to be.”
“Yes, you do.” The wolves moved in closer.
Kiyo, let’s just go with them, Niamh spoke in his mind. Let them think we’re doing what we’re told. I can get us on that train afterward.
He squeezed her waist in acknowledgment but kept his eyes on Kobe. “Fine. We’ll go back to our hotel.”
“No. You come with us.”
He tensed, ready to fight.
No, my darling. Let’s just go with them. If we can get out of this peacefully, we must try.
Realizing she was right, Kiyo reluctantly allowed Kobe and his men to escort them out of the train station.
Bloody déjà vu, Niamh muttered in irritation in his head.
* * *
This time when they strode into the pack’s hotel, Kobe led them to an office on the thirtieth floor. To Kiyo’s surprise, Daiki awaited them. He pushed out of a leather chair situated behind an impressive walnut desk. His bruises and injuries from their fight were long gone.
After he gestured to the two seats in front of his desk, Kiyo stared impassively at him. “I think we’ll stand.”
The door to the office closed, the other wolves outside. Kobe stood guard at the door.
“Where’s Sakura?” Kiyo sighed. “I was so sure she was behind this power play.”
“She is.” Daiki sat on the edge of the desk, looking far more relaxed than when they last saw him. “Apparently, she does not like your mahoutsukai.”
“So you’re doing her dirty work for her.”
Daiki shrugged. “It is part of the job of being her mate.”
“You seem awfully chipper for a bloke who got his arse kicked,” Niamh observed, her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“What does this chipper mean?” Daiki sneered at her.
Kiyo tried not to chuckle. “Niamh merely means that you seem in a surprisingly good mood.”
“Oh. Well, I was not at first when Sakura said you had turned up at Tokyo Station and we needed to stop you from leaving. Then she reminded me of all the money we will make when you win that fight tomorrow, and I felt my mood change.” He crossed his arms over his chest and sighed dramatically again. “But still I was not happy that I would have to see you and be the one to offer a warning that if you try to leave the city before the big fight, we will find you and cut you into little pieces and make your mahoutsukai watch us. Then we will allow the boys to have her for as long as they want. When they are done with her, they will kill her too.”
Kiyo lunged at him.
But Niamh was fast and strong, holding him back, murmuring reassuring words in his ear. Slowly, he calmed. But he wanted to claw that smug look off Daiki’s face.
“And that”—he gestured to the two of them—“is why I am in such a good mood. As soon as you walked in the room, do you know what I scented?”
He and Niamh tensed.
Daiki grinned. “Your scents are one. Kiyo. Of all the poor bastards in the world it could happen to, it would be you. How many supes actually discover the true-mate bond? One or two percent? And it happened to you.” He chuckled madly.
“Why is he laughing?” Niamh stared at the alpha like he’d lost his mind.
Kiyo wasn’t sure he hadn’t.
Daiki eventually stopped, wiping tears of amusement from his eyes as he straightened up on the desk.
“What’s so funny about it?” Kiyo asked.
“Oh, you can give me that cool tone like nothing affects you, but it is too late. I know what she”—he indicated Niamh—“means to you now. And so will Sakura. And that is why I laugh. Finally, she can let you go knowing you are forever out of her reach. It is a good day, Kiyo.”
“Can we go, then?” Niamh asked.
Daiki considered her. “I admit I have never seen the fascination with mahoutsukai. I prefer the sensuality of a wolf. But I can see the appeal in yours, Kiyo. There is something about her that makes a wolf want to howl. And her scent … that must draw the vampires, hai? I do not envy you the bond with one such as her. You will never have peace.”
If you understood what I had with her, the jealousy would eat you alive. “We’re done here.” Kiyo took Niamh’s hand and turned toward the door. Alpha energy pulsed from him and Kobe immediately slipped into a fighting stance.
“No need for that,” Daiki said behind them. “Let them go on the previous warning of mutilation, violation, and death if they try to leave the city before the fight. And as you have seen, we have cameras everywhere.”
Thirty minutes later on a bullet train to Osaka …
Niamh turned her head as she settled into her seat and grinned mischievously at Kiyo. “Not everywhere.”
32
It was the water garden from her dreams.
A green pond. Arched stone bridge that led to the small but beautifully crafted pagoda. Cherry blossoms were in full bloom. Lush greenery surrounded the beautiful pink flowers. Exquisite Japanese maples with spaghetti-like branches and orange leaves. Plants she had no name for that dripped and hung and hugged the garden in a variety of shades of green. The sweet, intoxicating scent of jasmine surrounded Niamh.
Why was she here?
“There she is.”
Niamh whipped around at the familiar voice, but no one stood on the large stepping stones that led across the pond to the traditional Minka house in the distance. Niamh squinted. It seemed blurred at the edges.
The whole garden was blurred at the edges.
Where was she?
Why was she here?
Hadn’t she just been with Kiyo?
“This is where he was staying.” Astra’s voice echoed around the garden.
Niamh’s pulse raced. “Where are you?”
“I am everywhere, sister. You’ll never escape me. Not even your immortal mate can stop me.”
Niamh’s let out a shuddering breath, searching through the quickly growing darkness for the fae. “You don’t want to come at me again, Astra. After what you did to Kiyo, you’ll be lucky to walk away.”
“Don’t taunt me with your anger, Niamh. It gets my hopes up.”
“Where are we?”
“In your head,” Astra’s omniscient voice answered. “In your dreams. I came to ask you where you are, thinking I might catch you unaware, but your defenses really are back up again. He’s healed you.” Her tone was mocking. “How quaint.”
“So you don’t know where I am?”
“I’ll find you. Eventually. But your scent seems to have changed since the mating bond, so I can’t get a read on you until I see you again.”
“You can follow me by scent?”
“Only if we’re close enough. I got busy and distracted while you were getting busy and distracted by your dog. Next thing I knew, you were gone and your scent trail was gone.”
“What a shame.” Niamh smirked. Mating bond for the win.
“I wouldn’t be smug, sister. Now that the bond has snapped into place, you’re one step closer to being what I need you to be.”
Remembering Kiyo’s words from earlier, she threw back her shoulders and called out into the now-dark garden, “Even without him, I will never walk away from who I really am.”
“You say that now, but once he’s dead—and when I’m done, make no mistake, he will be dead—you won’t be able to contain your grief. It will swallow you in its darkness and you’ll need me to pull you out. I’m the only family you’ll have left.”
Thinking of Rose and Th
ea, Niamh shook her head. “You’re wrong.”
Astra sighed wearily. “Only time will convince you otherwise.”
“Astra.”
“Yes, sister?”
“You underestimate my mate. He’s ready for you now. You come at him and he’ll tear you to shreds with his bare hands.”
“Mmm, how savage.”
Niamh narrowed her eyes. “But he’ll leave you for me in the end. I’ll be the one to put the iron in your heart.”
“And add another patch of darkness to your soul in doing so.”
“Oh no.” Niamh shook her head. “Killing you will be saving the human world. That, my dear psychopath, keeps me on the right side of good. Your end won’t blacken my soul.”
An animalistic snarl flew at her from the pagoda. Niamh raised her arms to defend herself and—
She flew upward out of her seat, letting out a gasp of fright.
“Niamh.” Kiyo pulled her toward him.
Her skin was damp with sweat, the blood rushing in her ears as she tried to orient herself. She was on the bullet train with Kiyo, heading to Osaka.
Panting, she took in her mate’s concerned countenance and slowly calmed down. The woman across the aisle peered at her curiously.
Niamh slumped back in her comfortable chair.
“Was it another nightmare?” Kiyo asked, smoothing her hair off her forehead as he leaned into her.
She reached for his hand, slipping her fingers through his. “No. It was … Astra invaded my dream.”
“What?” he bit out quietly. “How the hell can she do that?”
“She said she was trying to manipulate me into telling her where I was. But good news”—she smiled wearily—“she might be able to get into my dreams, but she can’t manipulate me in there. And she was tracking me through my scent, but the mating bond changed it. Apparently, she was off doing villainous things while you and I were giving each other happy times. When she got back, we were gone, and my scent trail with us.”
