Burn the Night

by Jocelynn Drake

  I waited until the naturi party had begun to head toward the tunnels before stepping away from the lycanthropes and walking toward the center of the cave. The nightwalkers that unexpectedly joined the party had been considerate enough to wait at the far end as I checked over the health of my people. We were all battered, bruised, and cut, but nothing that wouldn’t heal with a little time.

  As I reached the center of the cave, Danaus joined me, standing just a step behind my right shoulder. His breathing had evened out and I could feel his powers sweeping around me in great waves as he prepared to protect me. And for once I appreciated his overprotectiveness. I didn’t know these nightwalkers. I had never sensed them in my area before. Hell, I had never sensed them before at the coven or throughout my travels in Europe. The only thing I could tell for sure was that they were old. Very old.

  And then a human stepped out of their midst and bowed deeply before me. My bodyguard Matsui! I knew then that members of the Soga clan stood behind him. I’d had a feeling this day would come, when I would finally meet the Japanese nightwalker clan that he had spent years protecting. Unfortunately, I did not expect it to be under quite so dire circumstances. It wasn’t heartening to know that not only was Jabari lurking around my territory, but that there now were unknown nightwalkers within my domain.

  “It’s a surprise to see you here, Matsui, considering that neither you nor Gabriel was summoned to my side,” I started, trying to maintain my confidence despite the fact that we’d been getting our asses kicked before they arrived.

  “Visitors from the Soga clan have come to speak with you,” he said, bowing his head to me. “We did not mean to intrude, but only wished to help in your struggle against the naturi that have also been causing the clans in Japan some problems. Would you allow me to introduce the head of the group that has come to your domain?”

  “I would be honored,” I said with a nod.

  Matsui stepped to the side and motioned for a nightwalker to step forward. He looked to be in his mid-twenties, with hair cut short and somewhat fashionably spiked. In contrast, his traditional dress was completely black, allowing him to easily sink into the dark shadows of the caves.

  As he came to stand before me next to Matsui, I bowed deeply to him, placing my hands flat against the sides of my legs. I bid him both welcome and thanks in Japanese. It was all I knew of the language, but he seemed pleased enough when he bowed slightly back at me with a smile on his face.

  “I am called Hideo,” he said in a low, soothing voice. “Matsui has told us many great things about you, and it is I who is honored to meet you.”

  I held back a frown, struggling to keep both my face and tone neutral. “While I am pleased to hear that Matsui has reported back positive things, it was my understanding that he had left his place within the Soga clan and was exclusively my bodyguard. I didn’t realize that he was also acting as a . . . scout for the nightwalkers of Japan.”

  It had been on the tip of my tongue to call him a “spy,” but it would be stupid and rude to immediately pick a fight with a group of nightwalkers that had just come to our aid, especially when each of the four was older than me by many centuries. One surprise battle a night was my limit.

  “We apologize for any confusion,” Hideo replied. “Matsui is your bodyguard and will remain so as long as you wish him to be at your side. He is an excellent fighter and will die protecting you if it comes to such a thing. However, he was sent into your domain with the intention of procuring more information about the infamous Fire Starter before we made the trip ourselves. If one wishes to form an alliance, is it not best to get as much information as possible about the person with whom you may be placing your life?”

  “I understand. Matsui has performed admirably for me and I have been very pleased to have him working as one of my bodyguards,” I said. Matsui had knowingly acted as a spy while under my employ, and now I had to decide whether I would keep him. I didn’t like being spied on. It was bad enough that the coven was keeping tabs on my activities. I didn’t need to worry about a bunch of Japanese nightwalkers half a world away.

  Heaving a great sigh, I shoved my hands into my pockets and relaxed my stance. We were on my turf now and it was time to push formality aside. We had all been through enough tonight already, and I had a feeling my night was far from over.

  “While I am grateful for your impeccable timing tonight and your assistance in dealing with the naturi, I have to wonder why you have chosen now to come into my domain,” I said. “In fact, for as long as I can remember, the nightwalker clans of Asia have shown no interest in the occurrences of the West.”

  “True,” Hideo conceded. “Many centuries ago we struck a deal with your coven Elders that my people were to be apart from their rule. We had our own structure, our own lifestyle that did not fit within their world. Unfortunately, it now seems that the problems of the West have leaked into the East.”

  “The naturi,” I muttered with a shake of my head. With the many doors that had opened around the world following the sacrifice at Machu Picchu the past fall, I had little doubt that even Japan was now seeing its share of problems with the naturi. In truth, I hadn’t given it much thought since Aurora had made her base here in the West, but the repercussions of our failure in Peru were being felt everywhere.

  Hideo nodded as he folded his arms across his chest. “Yes, those earthbound creatures that you call the naturi have been attacking our clans both day and night. We have never had such a problem before, so we came to you after Matsui told us of your many battles with their type.”

  “But why me?” I said, shaking my head, as I hoped to dodge responsibility for this lonely group looking for a little direction. I had enough of my own problems without adding an entire new set.

  “Besides your personal experience with the naturi, Matsui informs us that you recently achieved a position of Elder on your coven, Fire Starter,” Hideo carefully said. He was good. He was not only calling on my fighting experience but also using this as an opportunity to formally address a representative of the coven. And as if that wasn’t all, he was invoking my position in the nightwalker world as the Fire Starter. Yep, I was screwed.

  Do you think they would help us? Danaus whispered in my brain.

  Against Aurora?

  It seems they can handle themselves in a fight, and taking down Aurora could ease their problems at home.

  But would they accept an alliance with their enemy? I wondered to myself. It was something I was still struggling with, and I wasn’t sure that I would be able to sell such a plan to a group that already shunned its own kind under most circumstances.

  “We have much to discuss, and I would prefer to spend that time in more comfortable quarters,” I announced, loudly clapping my hands together. “Matsui, will you please bring our guests to me in one hour? That shall give Danaus and myself time to clean up here and check on a few matters before we have our meeting. They will be able to sense my location, I am sure.”

  “Is there anything we can assist you with?” Hideo offered, but I quickly waved him off.

  I snapped my fingers and a small teardrop flame appeared above my hand. “Most of what needs to be done can be finished in a flash. I just need a little time to freshen up.” And develop a new game plan, I thought.

  For now, Daniel and the Daylight Coalition were forgotten. Cynnia and her troubles with Aurora had slipped away. Even my struggles with both Jabari and Nick had fallen by the wayside. The mysterious Soga clan was in my domain, and I was certainly not the best emissary for my kind here in the West. For once, I wished the damned sun would finally rise.

  Sixteen

  Danaus bade me to stop pacing for a third time, but I wasn’t listening. My mind kept turning over the fact that I was suddenly being thrust into talks with a clan of Japanese nightwalkers; a significant and completely unexpected event. I was a fledgling the last time a member of the Far East nightwalkers appeared before the coven, and the meeting did not go well. After
centuries of silence, I knew that the naturi were the reason for their appearance. But did they also know that I was partially to blame for the failure to prevent their return?

  To further complicate matters, I was now aligned with members of the naturi in hopes of killing their queen so I could place a different naturi on the throne. And the best part: I was expected to play nice with the naturi that had been trying to destroy me for most of my existence. How had things gotten to be so bad so fast?

  Leaning against a tree at the edge of the clearing, Danaus watched as I swung my katana through the air, slicing at the wind that was beginning to stir. After a brief trip to my house, where we took the opportunity to rearm with an assortment of blades, we traveled out to the clearing the Savannah pack used during the full moon for its meetings. Out here, we were hidden from the view of humans in the event that this conversation went as poorly as their last visit to the coven.

  “Are these Japanese nightwalkers really that tough?” Danaus inquired as I carefully slid the sleek sword into the sheath hanging across my back, then ran my hands down over the knives strapped to my sides.

  Keep your voice to yourself. You don’t know how close they are. They could be listening.

  A little paranoid, aren’t you? Danaus asked in a mocking tone. But his sense of humor didn’t keep him from being just as prepared as me. The hunter had grabbed his favorite sword with the rune inscribed along the blade, as well as a collection of knives that were secreted about his person.

  They are in a foreign land and may be looking for an advantage over us. It’s enough that they had to step in and save our hides from the naturi. They need not hear our private conversations about them as well.

  Why are you so concerned?

  I finally stopped pacing and stood in front of the hunter. Because I am completely unprepared for this. I don’t know what they want. They’ve not spoken to anyone outside Japan in centuries. These nightwalkers are also centuries old. Ancients! I’m half tempted to go track down Jabari since I know he’s still lurking in the region, but I fear he would make a bigger mess of things.

  We’re better off without him.

  I— The words halted in my brain as I felt a swell of power drawing near. A car had stopped less than a mile away from the clearing. They weren’t attempting to cloak their appearance any longer. There were three nightwalkers approaching, along with one human I could only presume was Matsui. A ball of anger flared. I had trusted my bodyguard to protect me. I have to admit that I had always suspected he was a spy, but I’d hoped I was wrong. After I was finished with the Japanese nightwalkers, Matsui was getting on a plane with them. Gabriel would have to find another replacement for my poor Michael.

  Unfortunately, I was also coming to the realization that I would never find a replacement for my fallen bodyguard. Michael and Gabriel had been the perfect combination. Their experience, wisdom, and just general common sense allowed them to survive at my side for several years. Finding another that would protect me with his life and wouldn’t betray me was proving to be difficult.

  Danaus sensed our approaching company as well and pushed away from the tree to slowly walk out into the clearing. With a wave of my hand, a large fire sprang to life in the center of the clearing, deepening and pushing back the shadows to the surrounding woods. Several other fireballs burst into existence around the clearing, hanging in the air like oversized fireflies. We all had perfect night vision, but I wanted nothing to be hidden here. I wanted to remind the Soga clan exactly who they were dealing with. The Fire Starter.

  The hunter came to stand beside me, a frown pulling at the corners of his mouth as his hands rested on the hilt of two knives strapped to either side of his waist. “You’re right. They are old. Ancients at least as old as Jabari, if not older.”

  “You should never have come,” I whispered, angry with myself for not considering it sooner. His life had already been at risk when we faced the naturi that evening. I didn’t need to add to it by pitting him up against a trio of nightwalkers that were significantly stronger than me. I should have handled this alone.

  “Don’t start this now,” Danaus growled.

  “I’ve risked your life enough tonight. You should be home—”

  “Doing what? Baking a pie in the kitchen? Your laundry?”

  “This is nightwalker business—”

  “And as your consort, that makes it my business as well,” he snapped. “I was handling nightwalkers long before we met, Mira, and I’m going to continue to handle nightwalkers regardless of whether we are involved. You have to stop trying to protect me.”

  Clenching my teeth, I closed my eyes for a second while I dragged in a deep breath through my nose and released it through my mouth. He was right. I was being overprotective. If there was anyone among my acquaintances that could handle himself in a fight, it was Danaus. Since taking him as a lover, it had become easier to forget that first and foremost he was an efficient killer.

  “Stay behind me,” I grumbled, refusing to vocally acknowledge that he had a valid point. That didn’t stop him from chuckling softly at me as he took one step back so he hovered just behind my left shoulder.

  Hideo was the first to step out of the shadows and enter the clearing. He raised one hand to shade his eyes against the bright light of the dancing flames that filled the immediate area. The ancient nightwalker was followed by two of his companions, on either side of him. Matsui stepped around them and briefly bowed to me before turning back into the woods. I could only guess that he was going back to wait at the car. My greatest concern, however, was the one missing nightwalker from their group.

  “Thank you for agreeing to meet me here. I thought the added privacy would be most beneficial to our talks,” I said, forcing a smile onto my lips.

  “We are honored that you have agreed to speak with us during this most trying time. We are sure that you are quite busy with your own troubles,” Hideo stated with a nod of his head. He glanced around the clearing and I could hear him sniffing the air. “This is an interesting location.”

  “This is actually the meeting spot for the local lycanthrope clan. Since the full moon has already passed, I thought it would be the one remote location in the city where we would be undisturbed.”

  “And the scent in the air . . . ?”

  “Yes, it is human blood,” I confirmed. The smell of dried blood lingered. Considering that we spent centuries hunting down and ingesting the delicacy, it was no surprise that most nightwalkers could easily discern between human blood and the blood of other races simply by smell, even if it was a day or two old. “During the full moon there was an altercation between the lycanthropes and a group of humans determined to hunt them down. Members of the Daylight Coalition.”

  “I fear we have not heard of them.”

  “You will,” Danaus grimly interjected, drawing a frown to Hideo’s mouth. I saw him cock his head ever so slightly toward the nightwalker on his left as if he were listening to something the nightwalker was silently saying.

  “I was unaware that one of your companions was injured in the battle,” I stated, changing the subject to the more important topic of the location of the missing nightwalker.

  “Not injured,” Hideo corrected with a wave of his hand. “I hope that you don’t mind, but it was a very long journey here. He was in need of sustenance. I apologize for not seeking your permission first.”

  It was an excuse. Not a particularly good one, but one I could not argue with at the moment. I held up my hand and smiled at my companions. “Please say no more. I understand your situation and you are welcome to feed in my domain so long as you abide by the coven’s rules of discretion and protection of the secret.”

  “Of course. Thank you,” he agreed with a slight bow of his head. He then turned his attention to Danaus, who was just behind me. I could easily imagine the grim, disapproving expression etched in the hunter’s hard face. I had little doubt he was also disturbed by the missing nightwalker. “Despite
the lycans’ recent problem with the humans, we find it reassuring that you have chosen to keep a human close to you in the form of a companion, as well as the human bodyguards that you keep on staff.”

  “Apparently you have not been fully informed. Danaus beside me isn’t a companion. He is my consort on the coven,” I replied with a growing grin that allowed my fangs to peek out. I was waiting for their shock but was ultimately disappointed.

  “Matsui had mentioned his increased importance in your life,” Hideo admitted. “We have long seen it as essential to have a strong relationship with humans. It’s reassuring to see the West adopting a similar mentality.”

  “Mira remains very unique in her stance toward humans and their place in her life,” Danaus said blandly.

  “But as an Elder, she could represent a positive influence for others,” Hideo countered with a small confident smile.

  “I hope so,” I said.

  “Please allow me to introduce my companions.” Beside Hideo on the left, a nightwalker who appeared to be about the same age and yet felt several centuries older stepped forward. “This is my second in command, Tetsuya.” The nightwalker quickly bowed to us and then stepped back behind Hideo’s shoulder again while the other nightwalker stepped forward. “And this is my close advisor, Kojima.” The final, remaining nightwalker at least had a few flecks of gray in his hair, but his face still looked relatively young and fresh. However, Kojima felt as if he were the youngest of the trio.

  “It is both an honor and a surprise to meet you,” I said. “If my memory serves correctly, I was but a weak fledgling when an emissary from the East met with the coven, and the purpose of that meeting was to break all ties with the coven and the nightwalkers of the West. If you’ll forgive my bluntness, why the sudden break from the silence?”