It only took her a moment to notice the swiftly healing slash down his left cheek. “What happened?” Had she ever seen Brandon injured? It made her stomach hurt. “How did you get that?”
He took her hand and pulled her toward him, oblivious to everyone else. “We should talk.”
They did need to talk. About what they’d done in the bathroom at Underbridge last night. What he’d confessed to knowing about. How, despite the pressure from Natalie and his own instincts, he’d let them take Ram.
“I don’t think there’s time,” Penn murmured from behind her. “We made it past the door. Now we only have five more hours to worry about.”
Aziza’s eyes widened. “Five hours?” she hissed. No one had told her this would go on for five hours. “Help.”
Brandon bent down to murmur in her ear, “Aziza, he’ll expect me to escort you in.”
The Alpha will expect it. Did that mean it was the last thing he wanted to do?
She took his arm. “Let’s do this then. Once it’s over you can tell me about that cut.”
The musicians were still playing softly in the background, but all the voices stopped and every head turned as soon as she entered the room. Nostrils flared and eyes widened.
Gotta love a werewolf party, she thought to herself with a sigh. At least I put on clean underwear.
Brandon escorted her through the room with her hand resting on his outstretched arm as if she were a debutante. Royalty. She even had the entourage behind her. Devil and Hillary. Greg and Penn. She’d never been so uncomfortable in her life.
And the cherry on the top of her happiness cake? The Alpha was standing expectantly at the end of the long room. Oh joy.
She needed to find Blade’s killer, not go to prom. This will help, she told herself firmly. This would allow her to find out where they were getting their intelligence and how they arrived on the murder scenes so quickly. This would stop the Alpha from punishing anyone who helped her.
“My honor.” The Alpha placed his arm along his waist and bowed formally. When he straightened, he raised his voice for the gathering to hear. “Our honor, to welcome the Vessel of Fire into our midst.”
The crowd clapped until he raised his hands. “She is the embodiment of all we have stood for over the centuries. A balm to our old souls, reminding us to be unwavering in our quest for justice.”
Aziza glanced up at Brandon, wondering again how they could share the same DNA. The elder Nash was milking the crowd with a bit more enthusiasm than she’d been expecting.
“Think of it. Now, in this time, with all of us to witness it, she appears from legends of smoke and fire to lead us all to victory.” The Alpha placed his hands behind his back and lowered his head. “But we know what this means, don’t we? What there can be no victory, no winning of the day, without?”
The crowd murmured nervously, riveted on the Alpha.
“The Vessel comes to warn us of war,” he droned on. “To let us know there has been, or soon will be, a violation of the treaty. A violation by the very same unnatural abominations we have spilled our blood, and that of our children, to expel from our soil.” He let his words sink in with the perfect timing of a stage actor. “I’ve spent many sleepless nights with the archivist since my son saved the new Vessel from the evil laying in wait to take her from us. I have pored over ancient texts going back to a time we have all but forgotten. A time when we weren’t bound to serve out our tours as Enforcers. When there were no laws but instinct and primitive passions.”
He pointed to Aziza and lifted his voice again. “The Vessel made us who we are. Shaped us into her army. Gave us purpose. Guided us to make our pacts with the royal families of humanity, those pacts we still hold to this day, giving us the ability to protect our homes. She did all of this. Created the foundations of our thriving society so that we may aid her as she cleanses the Shiners and demons alike with fire and judgment.”
His gaze turned beseeching and Aziza desperately wanted to take off her shoe and throw it at his head. She understood why Brandon’s arm had become so tense it felt like it was made of stone.
His father was a tool. Mocking her. Mocking them all. Stirring them up. Couldn’t they see it?
“How do we thank her? How can we express our gratitude for her return and the renewed vigor she will bestow upon us with her powers? Guests, fellow family leaders…we must put aside our own pride, our own selfish need for status and wealth. We must know her. Humble ourselves before her. We must all willingly leave our lives behind and become Enforcers again, young and old alike. For, according to our own records, her return signals nothing less than that. According to our history, the Vessel is the true Alpha. The last Alpha.”
Aziza watched in horror as the people around the room began to kneel, cocktail dresses, tuxedos and all. No. This was not happening. The man who’d forbidden any werewolves to talk to her or work with her, the man who’d been responsible for Brandon’s absences and treated her like she was a brainless twit, had not just gotten this crowd to fall on their knees like she was their new Messiah.
She remembered what Shev had said about his loyalties. What kind of game was this man playing now? What was it he wanted from her? Did he actually think this was what she wanted? To get a badge that said Honorary Alpha and lead them off to victory? From what she’d always understood, war was what her line had been created to avoid. She was meant to ensure it never happened again—she wasn’t meant to bring it about.
She looked up at Brandon, but he was no help. His attention was focused like a laser on his father who, when he made sure all his other guests were on their knees…fell to his.
Now that was a son of a bitch.
Aziza looked around at all the faces watching her with everything from wolfy adoration to skepticism to barely veiled contempt and wished desperately for a drink. There were so many ways she could go here, all of them no doubt disastrously wrong. Too bad she couldn’t text the Queen and ask what she’d do in a situation like this.
For an instant she could see herself ending the Alpha’s game and simply walking away. Or incinerating him where he stood. But he had just returned all of them to active duty. And Enforcers en mass and in chaos would only make the Jiniyrs’ lives easier and complicate her relationship with Brandon even more.
She put the ball back in the Alpha’s court. “It is my honor to be here in the home of the Alpha,” she told him with a nod and a gracious smile.
When he got to his feet again, the others followed suit and began to murmur amongst themselves. The Alpha straightened his jacket and smiled charmingly as he walked toward her, his hands outstretched to cup hers.
“Aziza Stewart.” He bowed his head and gripped her hands tightly. “The rumors of your beauty did no justice to its reality. I understand why Brandon is so bewitched.”
“Thank you for the invitation.” She lowered her voice. “Did I do that correctly? Do you approve?”
He winked and moved closer, ignoring his son’s sound of protest. “I do now. I thought I’d scared you at our last meeting. I suppose I should have known better. Call me William, my dear.”
Devil stepped up behind Aziza and muttered, “Billy, what exactly were you—”
“Devlin, I did not give you permission to speak and you did not kneel before the Vessel.” William was still smiling, despite his disturbing tone. “This is not the night to test me with your disrespect.”
Devil stepped back reluctantly. Obediently.
She didn’t want to throw her shoe at his brother’s head—she wanted to stab him in the throat with her pointy heel. “Devil doesn’t have to kneel to me, Alpha. Never. He is one of the most honorable men I’ve met in my life. He, Brandon and Hillary saved me from the Jiniyr.”
He hadn’t released her hand, but she could see how her words affected him. He did not like his brother.
Usurper.
“Devil will obey his Alpha in all things,” he informed her. “Word of advice, you should be particula
rly pleasant to the Egyptian Alpha tonight. Do you know his full title is Ruler Where the Vessel Dwells? He’ll have to change all his stationery.”
William Nash smirked and Aziza knew he enjoyed showing up the other Alpha. He’d obviously like nothing better than to rub the other guy’s face in the fact that she was here in England.
Looking up at him with an innocent enthusiasm that was entirely feigned, she said, “I’d love to meet him. My father was Egyptian. In fact, I believe I am the first generation of his line to be raised in America. May I ask, is there an American Alpha here tonight?”
William’s lips tightened. “She’s here.”
“She?” That was promising. The testosterone in the room was overwhelming.
“The families in America have always been scattered at best. Independent to a fault and uncivilized, with no royal ties to speak of beyond their Native legends.” William looked down his nose in a way that made her long to punch it. “In the last fifty years they’ve begun to organize themselves into a true family under an Alpha. I’m sure she’ll find you before the evening ends.”
“And your guest from Jordan? The one you said would be here?”
Brandon’s grip on her arm tightened again and she glanced up to see his eyes narrowed on his father.
The Alpha nodded to a passing couple, a beaming “vote for me” smile on his lips. “Oh, Ahmed. Yes, shame really. He was detained.”
“Detained?” Brandon spoke before she could.
The Alpha’s smile altered subtly. “These things happen, Brandon. Perhaps if you’d informed me of my old friend’s arrival, I could have made arrangements. But each day that we live, we learn from our mistakes.”
Oh, the evil little bastard. She tried to find a ladylike way of removing her hand from his, but she was at a loss. Why was he still holding it? Was there a custom she wasn’t aware of? “William, if you’ll excuse me, it was a long drive and I need to powder my nose.”
“Of course. Just past the kitchens.” Reluctantly, he let her go. “Brandon, you will stay. There are matters I must discuss with you.”
Shrugging out of Brandon’s hold, she did an awkward curtsy and spun on her heel, grabbing Greg’s jacket as she passed.
“Whoa. Okay, I can powder my nose too.”
She saw several waiters carrying trays laden with full champagne glasses. “Grab one, Greg.”
“What? A glass?”
“A tray.”
Greg didn’t hesitate. “On it.”
After they passed the bustling kitchen, she pushed Greg ahead of her into the every-woman’s-fantasy powder room. Only when she’d closed and locked the door did she take a breath. “Everybody is thinking it, but I’m going to say it again. That is not Brandon’s father.”
Greg set the tray down and handed her a glass. “That’s only true if this is a fairy tale…or a soap opera.”
She tilted her head back, chugging until the glass was empty, and then held out her hand for another. “I’m serious. How can he be? He’s so…so…” She took another drink.
“Pompous?” Greg offered helpfully. “Arrogant? Overdramatic? A stereotypical dickhead, not unlike our stereotypical evil villain Razia?”
“Yes!” She set down her glass and reached for a third, whacking his hand when he started to reach for one. “Get your own tray.”
“There are nearly ten on here, Aziza Jane.”
She sighed. “Maybe that will be enough.”
“Enough for what? Alcohol poisoning? Did you notice how much you drink around werewolves? Not that you were a teetotaler before.”
She sipped the fourth glass more sedately. “I’ve noticed. I also noticed that he made sure Brandon’s friend from Jordan didn’t come, and within five minutes of my arrival made me personally responsible for everything ever done by or to his species and turned them into an army.” She paused. “I want to set him on fire.”
Greg leaned against the door. “That would be rude, babe. He hasn’t tried to hurt anyone, plus we’ve only just arrived and he’s already made you Alpha over all you survey.”
“Sneaky.”
“I agree.” He shook his head. “I know you’re not allowed to pick sides or anything, but I already hate him more than I ever hated Ram…and that ass actually took over my body for a minute.”
“Shev called him a prick.”
“Ram?”
“The Alpha.”
He smiled. “I miss Shev. Chiye does this thing that reminds me—”
“Five.” Aziza chuckled.
Greg frowned. “Five what?”
She took a drink. “Five minutes before you dropped Chiye’s name into the conversation.”
“Says the woman who only knows how to say two words, Ram and Brandon.” He reached for a glass of champagne, daring her to bat his hand away. “I can’t help it, Aziza Jane. She’s…well, she’s fucking adorable, isn’t she?”
“And she’s not a dominatrix, so that’s a plus.”
His hazel eyes darkened. “No, she’s not. Not at all.”
She nodded regally. “Then you have permission from the Alpha of the Universe to make beautiful acrobatic babies.”
Greg laughed. “As my Alpha commands.”
Aziza saw a telltale shimmer and tensed. Instead of feeling nauseated or seeing the dark-eyed Niyr bending over her, she found herself looking into a luxurious den with large pillows strewn across the floor and four—no, five people huddled close together. A sixth joined them as she watched, this one as beautiful as she was familiar. She moved toward the opening and came through.
“Shev.”
“Did someone mention my name?” Shev studied Greg with hungry eyes, her hand tracing the low neckline of her dress as she moved closer. “Did you say you liked me? Well, I like you too.”
She seemed like she was back to her old self, Aziza mused fuzzily.
Then Shev stiffened. “I’m an idiot. Aziza, touch us both and call Mayet’s Witness. Now, before I’m eaten by wolves.”
Aziza dropped her glass and reached for them both. Stop. Her palm and forehead burned and she wove a little on her feet as she reached up to trace the mark out of habit.
Shev started to pace the bathroom. “I don’t know what I was thinking, I wasn’t paying close enough attention, I suppose. When I heard my name I just thought, why not? I know better than this. Or I used to.”
“Are you off probation now? Are you back to Qarin instead of interim observer?” Feeling affectionate, Aziza wrapped her arms around Shev’s waist from behind. The champagne was definitely kicking in. “It doesn’t matter. I’m just happy you’re safe. We were worried.”
Greg lowered his sandy brows in confusion. “We were? I wasn’t worried. I didn’t know there was anything to be worried about.”
“Gee, thanks.” Shev glared.
“I mean, why would I worry? You’re Shev. You’re kickass.”
Aziza shook her head. “Keep digging that hole, Greg.”
“Who was worried, Aziza?” Shev stepped out of her embrace and turned to grip her shoulders. “Is there something I need to know?”
Aziza held out her hand and Greg automatically placed a full glass in it. She loved Greg. “I’m worried, Shev. I’m Alpha of fucking everybody and I’m worried.”
Shev frowned. “William Nash declared you the Alpha? Sounds like a trap to me. I really hate werewolves, no offense to you or your aunt for your taste in bed partners, but they are either big, dumb and mean, or manipulative, sly and mean. They can throw as many parties as they like, own all the land in sight, but nothing will truly make them civilized.”
Aziza lifted her lips from her glass and nodded. “There was another trap, but you’re okay so they must not know Ram and I know.”
Greg took her drink away. “Aziza Jane, you drank too fast. You aren’t making any sense at all. Shit, Brandon is going to kill me.”
“What trap, Aziza?” Shev held up her hand to shut Greg up. “I’ve been thinking about Ram tonight. I know it�
�s crazy because our connection is broken, but it felt like something bad was happening to him. Did something happen to him, Aziza?”
Aziza sucked her lower lip between her teeth. “Someone slipped a book about blood rituals and soul casting into the knapsack you gave me. Ram said, ‘Shev wouldn’t do that, she’s perfect and this is from a vault’ or something like that.”
Shev slapped Aziza’s cheek. Hard. “Focus.”
“Fuck. Shev, fuck!” Aziza glared at her, tempted to return the favor with a flaming palm.
The Jinn shrugged. “If you pass out drunk, your power goes to sleep as well. And I can’t leave until I know what you’re talking about. It’s important, Aziza. I know it hasn’t felt like I care, but I’ve been with you as much as I could. Sober yourself up. You’re in a house full of werewolves who would kill Ram or me in a heartbeat and not care that the head of the Nash family bent his knee to you.”
She lifted her hand to her cheek. “Ouch. Fine. Book. Blood ritual. Soul casting. Locked away for a thousand years. Better?”
“No.” Shev was pale. “That’s impossible. The bag never left my sight. The only other person near it was Ram’s sis— I have to go.”
“What?” Greg gripped her arm as Aziza looked on in surprise. “I don’t know what the two of you are talking about because once again I’ve been left in the dark, but what are you about to do, Shev? I don’t like that look in your eye.”
Shev looked dangerous. “Someone in Qaf wanted that book smuggled out. Smuggled here. The knowledge is beyond forbidden, beyond dangerous. Which means at some point recently I was up close and personal with a Jiniyr spy. And I’m going to find out who it is.”
She disappeared before Aziza could stop her. “Shit.” Now there really was something to worry about. “Shit.”
She focused on the fading hourglass and noticed how spinny the room had become. How sick she was feeling. “Greg? I think I had too much champagne.”
A knock sounded on the door and Greg spun around to unlock it, backing up just in time to avoid being hit when the door slammed against the wall.
Brandon.
Make Me Burn: Fireborne, Book 2 Page 24
