by Morgan Hawke
“On my way out of town, I met with Yaroslav and Master Antonius at the church, and that’s when Max tried to reclaim my package. Master Antonius gave chase, but the town was already on fire, so they were unable to pursue him.” She nodded toward Yaroslav. “Yaroslav figured out what I was carrying, and the package was turned over to the prince.” She smiled. “The end.” There, that should shut him up.
Belus’s finger tapped against the side of his cup, and he looked away, frowning. “I…see.” His frown deepened. “You had no idea what you were carrying?”
Thorn shook her head. “I’m not privy to the details of my deliveries. I just carry them.”
Belus’s gaze turned to Yaroslav. “But the count recognized what you had?”
Yaroslav smiled, showing teeth. “I do have some experience in recognizing…curses.”
Belus’s smile remained, but his eyes narrowed. “Of course.” He slouched in his chair and tapped his cup with a clawed finger. “So little do we know about this heretic and his beast.”
Yaroslav leaned back in his chair. “The beast is heavily flawed, so it can be surmised that the heretic’s knowledge is incomplete. His skills are very likely limited.”
Thorn shrugged. “We know he’s British.”
Belus turned sharply to stare hard at Thorn. “Do we?”
Thorn stiffened. Me and my big mouth…. “Well, yeah. Max is British, so the sorcerer should be, too, right?”
Belus eased back in his chair. “Not necessarily….” His gaze focused on the floor, and his finger continued to tap on his cup.
Rafael tilted his head to the side and gave a sweet smile. “Are you finally convinced that Thorn is not the plague beast, Senator Belus?”
The senator lifted his chin and then rose from his chair in a smooth glide. “I am.” He looked over at Thorn with a smile. “In fact, I am quite pleased that she is not.”
Thorn didn’t take one drop of comfort from his words.
Yaroslav frowned deeply.
Belus set his cup on Rafael’s desk and then straightened, pressing his fingertips together. “May I have leave to hunt this heretic, my prince?”
Rafael took in a deep breath and exhaled. “You have my leave to hunt.” He raised a finger and narrowed his gaze at Belus. “With the intent to capture the heretic for questioning.”
Yaroslav’s expression remained neutral; however, his cheeks seemed to pale.
The senator smiled, and he bowed very deeply. “Thank you, my prince.” He straightened and clutched the lapels of his robe. “I shall not disappoint.”
Rafael returned his smile a little sourly. “Try to contain your…enthusiasm, if you please? The idea is to end the casualties.”
Belus glanced away, plucking at a piece of lint on one sleeve. “I shall endeavor to be…sparing.” He gave Rafael a sideways glance. “And the beast?”
Rafael’s brows lowered, and his mouth became a taut, thin line. “The beast is under sanction; it is to be destroyed.”
The senator’s smile broadened, showing the points of two slender fangs. “Excellent.” He bowed to Rafael, nodded to Yaroslav, and left the room, swaying gently from side to side, with a cool smile on his lips.
Thorn’s skin crawled, and the hair rose on every inch of her body. There was no doubt in Thorn’s mind that Max was a dead man.
Rafael leaned back in his chair and wiped a hand down his jaw. “That was relatively painless.” He leaned forward, setting his elbows on his desktop, and picked up a paper. “Now, if only the rest of the senate were so easy to placate.”
Thorn did not want to sit in Belus’s vacated chair, so she strode around it to Yaroslav’s and perched on the arm.
Yaroslav raised his brow at Thorn. “You had not told me of your first meeting with Max.”
Thorn crossed her arms and shrugged. “I thought I had.”
Yaroslav scowled. “I do not remember such.”
Rafael rolled his eyes. “Now, now children….” He shook his head. “We have other things to worry over.” He set the paper on his desk. “Such as, what the senate plans to do to the human race in general for being so bold as to have developed a magus all on their own.”
Thorn leaned forward. “Do to the human race?” She couldn’t have heard that right.
Rafael shuffled through the papers on his desk. “There are a great many reasons why humankind was forbidden magic.” He tugged a paper from the pile. “Most of those reasons begin, and end, with mankind’s creativity when it comes to wanton destruction.” He tapped the paper before him with a long finger. “Because of this, there is a strong movement among the senate to remove all governmental control from the human race altogether.”
Thorn shook her head. “You mean so the senate can rule the world?” Like the villains in the penny novels?
Rafael smiled. “It is childish in the extreme, but, then, those proposing this plan have no idea what it’s like dealing with a human population.” He set the paper aside.
Yaroslav shook his head. “Humans are much too independent to allow any but their own chosen rulers and far too prone to rebel at the slightest excuse.”
Rafael sighed. “It is simple ignorance. Unlike vampires, who begin their lives as ordinary humans and are made into vampires, the majority of the senators were born the beings they are.” He smiled sourly. “They were never a part of human society, so they don’t see human society as having value.”
Thorn frowned. “You’re saying they don’t see people as people?”
“Correct.” Rafael tapped on another sheet of paper. “Which is why they also propose that the plague should be allowed to run unchecked….”
Yaroslav stiffened. “What…?”
Rafael turned a tight smile on him. “They seem to feel that the plague would be a simple way to thin the population to a more controllable size.”
Yaroslav scowled. “Thin it? It is more likely to destroy the human population utterly!”
Rafael sighed. “See what I mean by childish?” He lifted another paper and scanned the text. “This faction here wishes to put a halt to scientific development.”
Thorn’s mouth fell open. “Why would anyone want to stop science?”
Rafael waved a hand toward Yaroslav. “That is your area of expertise.”
Yaroslav folded his arms across his chest and looked away. “It is possible that magic could result from purely scientific inquiries, if pursued within…certain areas of knowledge.”
“But stopping science…?” Thorn frowned. “Isn’t that a little…extreme?”
“As you can see, humans are not the only ones prone to panic.” Rafael tugged out yet another paper. “It is this, however, that troubles me the most.” He frowned at the writing. “It is a plan to control the number of humans that develop into magi.”
Yaroslav curled his lip. “Magi are born such. This cannot be controlled.”
Rafael nodded. “Yes, of course. This is why families of magus descent, no matter how distant in the bloodline, are already under watch.” He set the paper flat on his desk. “However, it is a known fact that magi occasionally develop spontaneously, born to those of no magus blood whatsoever. This faction is proposing that a court representative with attaché be assigned to each human country with the purpose of monitoring for magus ability.”
Thorn frowned. “You mean like a police force?”
“More like an assassins’ guild.” Rafael tapped the paper. “This faction wishes to see all such humans destroyed.”
Yaroslav growled. “That would mean the slaying of children.”
Rafael smiled tightly. “Something I will not condone.” His smile faded. “Unfortunately the majority of the senate feels that the appearance of magi among the greater human population is going to continue.” He leaned to the side to grasp the handle of the coffeepot. “And I am forced to agree.” He filled his coffee cup.
Thorn slid off the arm of Yaroslav’s chair to stand. “You’re saying magi are going to start popping up
all over the place?”
Rafael sipped at his coffee. “Probability versus such a large and diverse population as the world currently insists that the appearance of maguskind is unavoidable.” He leaned back in his chair. “Therefore it is only a matter of time before yet another disaster, such as this plague, is unleashed by yet another unknown and unchecked power.”
Yaroslav leaned forward in his chair. “That cannot be allowed to happen.”
“Agreed; something must be done.” Rafael wiped a hand down his jaw. “But what?”
24
Standing before the desk in Rafael’s library office, Thorn glared up at Yaroslav. “What do you mean, I have to stay here?”
“Exactly as I said.” Yaroslav leaned over to cup her shoulders. “The prince and I must attend a very private meeting.” He pushed, gently forcing her to step backward. “It is best if you remain safe in here.”
“Forget that!” Thorn shoved back, but it was like shoving against a tree trunk. Her slippered feet slid on the carpet. “Damnit, vampire, I’m not made of glass! I don’t need to be kept safe!”
Yaroslav continued pushing, urging her backward step by step. “No, glass you are not, but you are very precious to me.” He pressed her through the doorway and into the sitting room she’d awakened in. “Antonius will watch over you.”
She shoved harder and continued to slide backward on her flat-soled slippers. “No, damnit!” He was immovable. Had he always been this strong?
They reached the small room’s center, and he stopped. “I will return soon.” He dropped a kiss on her brow. “Do not leave this room.”
Thorn felt something dark and smoky coil tight within her mind. Her breath caught. “Vampire, what did you just do?”
“You should rest.” Yaroslav turned and strode for the door.
She bolted after him. “Yaroslav, this is bullshit….” She stopped cold before she could enter the office beyond. She sucked in a sharp breath. “What…?” She pushed to go through, but her hand wouldn’t cross the threshold. Nor would her foot or her knee or her shoulder…no part of her would pass through the doorway. Her body just wouldn’t do it.
She was trapped.
Yaroslav strode through the office, headed for the far door.
“Vampire!” Thorn leaned against the door frame to stare after him. “Don’t you dare leave me like this, you bastard!”
He grasped the doorknob and did not face her. “Thorn, you have escaped one too many times to be trusted to your own devices.” He opened the door. “Sleep well, my love.” He closed the door behind him.
He’d left her behind.
Thorn’s heart pounded, and a cold sweat broke over her body. The howl tore from her throat. Don’t leave me!
Yaroslav’s thoughts brushed gently against hers. I will return soon.
Thorn continued to howl. She couldn’t stop herself. The wrenching pain in her heart wouldn’t let her.
Thorn dropped the shredded remains of what had once been a green brocade pillow. The ragged scraps of fabric landed on the carpet atop a clump of duck feathers. The entire room was a mess of shredded fabric and scattered feathers. She sighed and wiped with clawed hands at the feathers sticking to her skirts. So much for keeping her temper.
Dragging her wolf-padded-and-clawed feet, she walked across the room. She sighed heavily and flopped facedown on the graceful chaise longue, leaving her bare feet hanging over the side. Now that she could think past her temper, she was very glad she hadn’t torn it apart—just the four matching pillows.
She took a deep breath and willed herself back into human form. The shift was blindingly fast and took hardly any effort at all. Whatever Yaroslav had done had made it much easier to move between forms. She wasn’t exactly sure this was a good thing. She really didn’t like the idea of suddenly sprouting ears and a tail every time her temper got the best of her.
She groaned and pressed her face into the cushions. It had been years since she’d had such a blinding fit of rage, and it had happened so fast. One second she was completely human, and the next she was a fanged and howling half beast. Somehow her dress had survived, but her toe claws had torn right through her pretty slippers. Damnit.
When she was about halfway through shredding the second pillow, Antonius had come in to check on her.
She’d given him a faceful of screaming fangs and then thrown the remains of her slippers at him. She’d snorted. She might not be able to pass the threshold, but her slippers had gone through to smack against his fancy chest armor just fine.
Antonius had stared in complete shock and then said something. She had no idea what; she hadn’t been able to think past the need to rip something apart to relieve her anger. Unable to get to him, she’d raked the hell out of the door frame with her claws, leaving shredded wood all over the floor.
Antonius had jerked back and left after that.
She rolled over onto her back, shoved her hair out of her face, and threw her arm over her eyes. “Stupid vampire….” How could he leave her trapped like this?
Scent tickled her nose. She frowned. Why did she smell…snake?
“Is something wrong?” The voice was melodious and very familiar.
Thorn jerked upright on the chair and stared.
Senator Belus stood at the door in a black robe of fine velvet. He glanced around at the falling feathers, and his brows rose. “My, my…I see we do have a bit of a temper.”
Thorn scowled. “What do you want?” And where was Antonius? Wasn’t he supposed to be watching over her?
Belus smiled. “I came to bring you a bit of news.” He went to set his hand on the door frame, only to pull it back, staring at the deep gouges left by her claws. “I am guessing that you are…confined within this room?”
Thorn snorted. “Good guess.”
Belus sighed, a trifle dramatically. “A great pity. I wanted to invite you to see the stars from the observatory.”
Thorn almost laughed. There was no way in hell Yaroslav would agree with her going anywhere with Senator Belus. “I’m sorry, but as you can see, I am…” what was that word? Oh, yeah…“indisposed at the moment.” She smiled sweetly, which took some effort. For some reason, her body practically hummed with the urge to change, but she wasn’t afraid. Something else was urging her to change. But what?
She lifted her nose. Belus smelled like a common black rat snake. Their bites would make you a little dizzy, but they were far from poisonous. And the wolf rather enjoyed eating them. She stilled. It was her wolf side. Her wolf wasn’t afraid of the senator at all—that wasn’t why she wanted to change. She was…hungry. The wolf wanted to eat Senator Belus. It was kind of funny in a twisted way.
Belus tilted his head, his lips curved upward in a smile. “Well, then, since you cannot come out, might I come in?”
Thorn let a small sneer escape. “I really wouldn’t do that, if I were you, senator.” She gripped the cushions under her. “I’m having a small amount of trouble controlling my…wilder nature.”
“Is that so?” His gaze focused on her, and his smile sharpened. “I’d like to see this…wilder nature. Would you show me?”
Thorn licked her lips. Her mouth was watering. “I really don’t think that would be a good idea right now.” The wolf was very hungry.
Belus eased past the door’s threshold. “I’m afraid I must insist, as I am rather pressed for time.”
Thorn’s gaze focused on the man-shaped snake that had moved into her territory. Her eyesight abruptly sharpened, the shadowed room brightening to near daylight. Her control was slipping. She dropped her chin to hide her lengthening teeth. “Senator, I really think you should leave.”
Belus sidled a bit farther into the room. “There is no need to be afraid. I have no desire to harm you.”
“Oh, I’m not afraid at all.” Tall ears rose from her hair and turned toward the senator with complete attention. She rose from the chair to stand on clawed feet. Her tail uncoiled from the base of her spine a
nd slid down one leg of the full trousers under her skirt. She opened clawed hands. “That’s why I really think you should leave right now.”
Belus tilted his head to the side, his long mane of fine feathers whispering with his movements. “Ears, claws, downy fur…how fascinating. Does your change go any further?”
“All the way to wolf, senator.” She stepped toward him and listed to the left. Her balance was off. She stopped, and her ears flattened briefly in annoyance. It was her tail; it was caught in her pants. She turned away to grab at her skirts. She needed to free her tail….
He lunged at her, his hands outstretched.
She saw the movement and leaped to the side.
He slid right past her, another whole body length of snake trailing behind him. His hands slammed into the carpet where she had been.
Off balance, she fell, sprawling on the carpet.
He turned swiftly, drawing his snake’s body under him. He rose from the floor with grace. The hem of his robes lifted from the floor to expose a tight, writhing coil of a gigantic black serpent.
Thorn came up into a crouch and stared with interest. It appeared he didn’t have legs at all. “With all due respect, senator…” she looked up at his face, “what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Belus smiled, baring two long, thin fangs. “My apologies, but as I said earlier, I am pressed for time.” He dove at her.
Thorn lunged straight for the base of his coil, passing under his outstretched hands. His claws caught in her skirt in passing, ripping the fragile silk. Thorn grabbed the thick, black snake coil, sinking her finger claws into him. The bastard had torn her dress! She bared her fangs, but he was too broad across to get her teeth into him.
Belus shouted in pain and twisted sharply, his coils bucking from her grasp.
Thorn was thrown off the sleek, scaled body, her claws tearing free to leave shallow furrows in his flesh. She rolled across the carpet and landed on her butt and her trapped tail. She yelped.
