Champion of Midnight

by Debbie Cassidy

  Juno’s jaw tightened, and her eyes flashed. “Yes. So did I. So did I.” She glanced our way. “If you know what’s good for you, I suggest you steer clear of the coves for the next few days. Just a friendly warning.”

  They bounded toward the ocean and were gone too quickly, slipping beneath the waves.

  I looked to Cassie. “Who’s Leo?”

  “Juno’s mate. I was surprised he wasn’t with her,” Cassie said.

  “She looked upset … scared.”

  Cassie pressed her lips together. “Something is wrong. We need to go back and speak to Killion.”

  “I agree there’s definitely something going on between the kelpie gangs, but it doesn’t pertain to our case.”

  Cassie’s jaw tensed. “The case can go jump. If something’s wrong with Killion, if shit is about to go down, then I need to know.”

  I sighed. “Fine, let’s pay Finlay another visit.”

  Drayton’s phone buzzed. “Hello?” He started walking toward the car.

  Cassie and I followed and reached Drayton just as he hung up the phone. “There’s trouble at the fete. Order of Merlin. Ryker and Orin are on their way, but the event is huge, so we need to go in as backup.”

  A fete? They were having a fete?

  “It’s MED jurisdiction,” Cassie snapped, clearly annoyed it was taking us away from the kelpie intrigue. She growled in exasperation. “Look, just drop me off up the road. I’ll speak to Finlay then meet you at the fete.”

  She really cared about this Killion guy. Poor Orin.

  Drayton nodded, and we piled into the ride. A fete in Midnight? Now this I had to see.

  Chapter 5

  “The fete is an annual event,” Drayton said as we drove across the district. “It’s humans only, armed MED operatives at the gates, the works. It’s meant to be a safe event. We’ve never had any issues before.”

  “The Order’s never tried to recruit there?”

  “No. Never.”

  “Weird. Why start now?”

  “Who knows why The Order does what it does. They’re a fanatical sect.” He was silent for a long beat. “I’m sorry about the case. I didn’t know Bane would do that.”

  “But you knew what he’d done when you saw the file.”

  “Yes.”

  “And you pretended.”

  “Like you said, it’s still a case.”

  God, he was so infuriating. “Dammit, Drayton. If you’re going to be all weird with me after what happened in the basement, then we shouldn’t work together.”

  He exhaled sharply. “I’m sorry.”

  Gosh, none of this was his fault. It was mine. “No. I am. If I hadn’t left you underground, then you wouldn’t have been taken by the sentinel and forced to use up all your power. Your demon would never have taken control.”

  He shot me a surprised look. “Is that what you think? Damn it, Harker. If you’d stayed, you would have been cocooned too. We’d have died, as no one would have come to help us.”

  Okay, he had a point, but still, that feeling that I could have done more wouldn’t be shaken.

  “There was nothing more you could have done, and I’m grateful for everything you did. It’s just … I could have killed you.”

  “It was worth the risk.” The words slipped from my mouth, soft and filled with meaning.

  His hands clenched on the wheel. “Serenity…”

  There was so much longing in that one word it made my heart ache, and that wasn’t a direction that would yield any positive results. It was time to focus on the here and now. On the case.

  I cleared my throat. “Of course I’m disappointed Bane only gave me this case to distract me. But it’s still a case, and you need to understand that I meant what I said to Dorian. Instead of fighting me on this, you need to help me prepare. I can’t back down on this and live with myself, do you understand?”

  Drayton was silent for a long time, probably adjusting the switchback in topic, and then he sighed. “I understand, but you need to understand that we can’t let you do this. Bane must have explained.”

  “Yeah, he said his piece.” Biding my time was kinda my thing, and there was no point arguing with Bane right now. I’d wear them down eventually. At least Drayton seemed to have relaxed around me again. His body wasn’t in fight or flee mode any longer, the tension had ebbed, and he was at ease again. There was something ultimately satisfying about being forthright.

  “Here we go,” he said.

  Twinkling lights came into view, accompanied by music that bordered somewhere between creepy and cheery. The entrance to the green where the fete was being held was wrapped in huge multicolored bulbs that flashed on and off, and an impromptu fence had been rigged up. The fete car park was rammed with cars, but Drayton pulled up right next to the entrance. We got out and jogged under the pretty arch and dove right into the hustle and bustle of the fete. The scent of barbecued food hit me hard, and my chest cramped in nostalgia. Not long ago, I’d been at a fete of my own. A Sunset fete with Jesse and her wonderful cakes. We’d never had a chance to enjoy that day, and we never would.

  Drayton came to a standstill and searched the crowd of humans holding hands and kids tucked up against maternal thighs or hoisted high on paternal shoulders. This was good, wholesome fun in a place of darkness and terror, and it warmed my twisted little heart to see it.

  “There he is,” Drayton said. He raised a hand. “Hey, Langley!”

  Langley spotted us and strode over. “They’re by the Ferris wheel. A whole group of them.”

  The wheel was clearly visible as the largest attraction at the fete, its twinkling lights a beacon to all. The last time we’d crossed paths with The Order, they’d tried to kill us. Adrenaline pumping, I followed Drayton as he cut a path through the revelers—people perfectly at ease, milling about and enjoying the fete until we started barging through.

  “Dray! Harker.” Ryker came running toward us from the left, Orin in tow. “The wheel,” he said.

  Drayton nodded. “Yeah, on our way.”

  We made it to the attraction, where a crowd had gathered. A man dressed in everyday clothes stood on a raised platform, his hands up with the palms out as he addressed the crowd. “Join us and be free, join us and be liberated. Together, we can break down the barriers and enter the real world. There is more to life than Midnight, more than Arcadia. Come with us and be enlightened. Come with us, and, together, we can be free.”

  The crowd was silent, enraptured by his words.

  “What the fuck?” Ryker said. “Look at them. They’re lapping up this crap.” He scanned the gathered. “Where’s the riot?”

  “Well, what are you waiting for?” Langley appeared with a couple of MED officials. “Get rid of them.”

  Ryker stared down his nose at the officer. “I thought you said this was a situation.” He looked back at the crowd. “Looks pretty peaceful to me.”

  “They aren’t supposed to be here,” Langley insisted. “Humans only, remember.”

  “Then ask them to leave,” Drayton said. “You don’t need us, unless shit gets out of hand.”

  Langley smirked. “Oh, but I do. The Order is supernatural, and supernatural is your jurisdiction, remember.” His smile widened. “So, clean it up.”

  This was payback for the missing person case we’d taken off him. He’d called us all the way here just to ask The Order to vacate the premises. The fucker was getting us back for stealing his case by wasting our time.

  Ryker took a threatening step toward Langley, but Orin grabbed his arm. “Leave it. He’s not worth it, not to mention you’d probably end up breaking his face.”

  Langley’s smile slipped, and he took a step back.

  Orin huffed and pushed through the crowd of humans. “Hey. Order dude.”

  The Order representative paused in his speech.

  “You need to leave.”

  The Order member inclined his head. “Of course. I was merely spreading the word, and if any should
wish to join me?”

  A murmur rose up in the crowd.

  The guy smiled and stepped off his platform, then picked it up and began to walk off. There was a second of stunned silence, and then a bunch of humans followed.

  Orin turned to us, his eyes wide. He shook his head in a what-the-heck gesture.

  “They’re going with him,” Drayton said. “Looks like the humans of Midnight are beginning to slip.”

  Langley shook his head in disgust and strode off into the crowd.

  Ryker’s lip curled. “We’re done here.”

  ***

  Bane paced the lounge floor. Langley’s little power play had him fuming, but Ryker and Drayton had done all the cursing for him.

  “I’ll set up a meeting with the MED,” Bane said. “Smooth this over and press reset. If we’re going to keep Midnight safe, then we can’t have this kind of petty rivalry. Our resources were abused today. They pulled you off an actual case when they could have dealt with The Order themselves.”

  He didn’t know I was aware he’d given me a cold case, and now wasn’t the time to bring it up, but he’d hear my views on his tactics soon enough—once I’d solved the case.

  Orin and Rivers were out on patrol, and Ryker was taking a power nap before he had to head out with Cassie.

  “Where is Cassie?” Bane asked, as if reading my thoughts.

  Drayton filled him in on our conversation with the kelpie gangs.

  Bane’s brow furrowed. “If something is up, if there is going to be conflict between them, then we need to shut down the coast for a while to protect the humans. Maybe speak to Jonah and ask him to warn the patrons.”

  The clip of Cassie’s boots had us all looking toward the door. She appeared a moment later, cheeks flushed and eyes bright.

  “I was right. There is something wrong.” She headed over to the drinks tray and poured herself a brandy, downed it, and then poured another.

  “Cassie?” Bane walked up to her and placed a hand on her back. “Talk to me.”

  She shook her head and sniffed. “Killion is missing.” She tilted her face up to Bane. “He’s been missing for almost a week, and two more went missing a couple of days ago.”

  And they’d been searching Juno’s territory. “They think ocean hunters are responsible, don’t they?”

  Cassie nodded. “I told Finlay we spoke to Juno and how weird she was when they found Leo’s scarf.”

  “You think Leo’s missing too?”

  She nodded. “They’re going to meet in a few hours, and then, hopefully, things will be clearer.”

  Whoever is taking the kelpies was probably banking on the gangs blaming each other. “Who’d want to kidnap kelpies?”

  Bane shrugged a massive shoulder. “Midnight is becoming more and more unpredictable. We need to be prepared for anything. Where are the kelpies meeting?”

  “The Deep. It’s neutral ground.”

  “Good. Drayton and Harker will go to the meeting, find out what’s happening, and offer our assistance.”

  “What about me? I need to be there.”

  Bane’s expression smoothed out. “No. You’re too emotionally invested.”

  She wiped at her eyes. “I’m not. I can do this. I need to be there.”

  “I’ve made my decision. This isn’t your case.”

  Her lips twisted. “Oh, are you going to give me a dud case just to distract me like you did for Harker?”

  Bane’s eyes narrowed and his lips thinned. “I’m going to let that slide because I know you’re upset. But one is all you get, Cassie.”

  Cassie’s mouth trembled. “If anything happens to him…”

  Damn, she really cared about her ex. No, it was more than care. She was in love with him.

  Bane sighed. “Go get cleaned up. We’ll keep you updated.”

  She wiped her nose on her sleeve, drained her glass, and then left the room.

  Bane met my gaze. “You have something you want to say to me, then get it off your chest now.”

  He was referring to Cassie letting the cat out of the bag about the cold case. God, I had so much to say, but he held all the cards. If I wanted to keep Jesse safe and help the humans locked into contract with the Sanguinata, I needed to get on his good side and prove myself to him.

  “I’ve got nothing to say.”

  “Good. Now come here; you need to feed and rest before you go to The Deep.”

  “She can feed on Rivers,” Drayton said tightly.

  “Rivers isn’t here. She’ll feed on me, and it will sustain her for longer.”

  Rivers had allowed me to siphon off him after I’d tapped out fighting Arachne, but Bane was right, I needed a top-up. And hadn’t Ambrosius made a fuss about me staying on top of my hunger and not starving my demon? But Drayton’s closed expression, his tense shoulders and the way he refused to look anywhere else but at me, left a nauseous feeling in the pit of my stomach. I pushed myself off the sofa and walked over to Bane.

  “If you’re going to shove your tongue down her throat, then do it in private,” Drayton said tightly.

  Bane snorted. “She doesn’t need sexual energy. Not this time.” He ran his violet gaze over my face, lingering on my lips and the base of my neck, where my pulse was going haywire for some inexplicable reason. “Do you?”

  I swallowed past the lump in my throat and shook my head. “No. I’m good. That was a one-off.”

  “To save your arse, you ungrateful arsehole,” Bane snapped.

  Drayton stood. “I know, and I appreciate it. She knows that.”

  I glanced his way, but he was already walking out the door.

  “He will be fine,” Bane said. “Drayton is no stranger to heartache and yearning. None of us are.”

  Was he talking about Drayton and me? And what was Bane’s heartache? Who did he yearn for?

  Bane rolled up his sleeve, exposing a thick, taut forearm corded with muscle. “Take what you need. Satisfy yourself.”

  I slid my hands over his arm and completely dropped my shields. I closed my eyes as my darkness rose, ready to feed, but he pinched my chin with his free hand and jerked it up.

  “Look at me.” His voice was rough. “Look at me when you take from me.”

  His pupils were a hungry abyss filled with starlight, and while my conscious mind floated in their depths, my demon slammed into him, latching on and siphoning. A moan fell from his lips, and his hand slid from my chin to cup my face and then the back of my neck, while his calloused thumb ran up and down my cheek, sending delicious shivers along my spine. His honey power flowed into me, thick and invigorating. I needed more, needed to feel more. I needed to slide my hands under his shirt and over his chest, to rest just above his heart and feel the power of every steady beat. I wanted to lick the corded column of his neck and revel in the erratic beat of his pulse against my tongue.

  “Serenity…” My name was said in wonder, as if it was a revelation.

  He knew. He knew my thoughts and my demon’s thoughts. The heat of embarrassment climbed up my neck and settled on my cheeks. I broke contact and stepped out of his grasp.

  The world was bright for a second, and then the familiar lethargy that came after a feeding with him seeped into my limbs, and the world dimmed.

  “I have you, Harker. I have you.”

  ***

  I woke in my room, on my bed, fresh and rejuvenated. Was it time to go yet? How long had I been out? Surely Drayton would have come to find me if it was time to go. The thought of the incubus had black butterflies hatching in my stomach. He’d been jealous of Bane, of the fact I’d collected sexual energy from him. Was that another reason Drayton had been cool and distant toward me? Not just the fact that I’d seen his demon, or that he’d almost killed me. There was nothing I could do about that, but maybe there was something I could do to address his softly, softly approach when it came to the kelpies and the House of Vitae. If we were going to be working together, his overly cautious attitude had to go, because he was
giving them power with his acquiescence.

  A knock interrupted my thoughts.

  I swung my legs off the bed. “Come in.”

  Drayton slipped into my room and stood awkwardly by the door. “It’s about time we left.”

  I pulled on my boots. “Yeah. Let’s. This is what we do, right? Keep the supernatural side of Midnight in check?”

  “Of course.” His tone was wary.

  He’d picked up on my undertone. Sod it, best to just go in for the kill. “Look, can you just promise me one thing this time?”

  “What?”

  “That you won’t allow them to push us out of the discussion. If kelpies are being taken, then we need to be involved in getting them back.”

  His brows dropped low over his eyes. “Is that what you think? That I get strong-armed and pushed around?”

  Shit. “No. I didn’t say that. You just have this softly, softly approach. Like with the House of Vitae, and then again when I suggested speaking to Juno.”

  He held up a hand. “You may think barging in and demanding answers is the best form of action, and, heck, it may have worked for you in Sunset. But here, in Midnight, things are different.”

  “I get that, but—”

  “I haven’t finished.” His expression was stern. “On both occasions, we were on another neph’s turf, their territory, and, yes, we were investigating a case, but that does not mean we can abandon all etiquette. The Sanguinata are respected members of Midnight’s society. And the kelpies, as far as we’re aware, have caused no harm. By all means, we must continue with our enquiries, but we don’t need to be rude about it.”

  When he put it that way, it was hard not to see his point. He must have read my thoughts on my face because his expression softened. He stepped into the room and held out his hand to me. I allowed him to tug me up.

  “There is a balance to this world,” he said softly. “One day, you might understand. Humanity is important, but you can’t blame the tiger for hunting deer, just like you can’t blame the kelpie for craving human flesh or the Sanguinata for hungering for blood.”

  “I get it. But humans aren’t deer. We can’t just let them be consumed. I can’t just stand by and allow the Sanguinata to hold their donors hostage like that.”