Steam Union

by Patti Larsen

  She nodded brusquely. “I’ve never had time for the maji,” she said. “Too reticent, too afraid of their own magic. But you,” she jabbed one of her sharp fingers toward me. “You are different. One of them, and yet.” She licked one finger, as though tasting the very air on it. “Perhaps there is hope, then.”

  I didn’t know why her saying so made me feel better. I guess because, for once, one of the leaders of my plane wasn’t a douchenozzle from the get go. I actually kind of liked her, no matter Sunny’s present predicament.

  Something to be tackled for later, it turned out. About a heartbeat before the black tunnel opened beside me, Jiao, perched at the Empress’s bedside, tensed and crouched, hissing. The slim, black clad woman leaped forward, an impossible jump high in the air, landing at the foot of the bed directly in the path of the tunnel. I barely had time to erect a shield in front of the portal before she was slashing the air with silver claws so sharp they sang, embedding in my wards with the force of her blow.

  She glared at me, eyes shimmering with chrome, as Piers Southway emerged. I almost gave him hell for being a jackass, barging in here like this, until I caught sight of his face—and the fact he wasn’t alone. Charlotte leaped out beside him, vibrating with tension, her wolf in her eyes, muzzle forming and retreating. Her blue gaze met mine, fury so intense in her face I shivered and let the whole intrusion thing drop.

  “You have great courage,” the Empress said in a flat and angry voice, “and for that reason only I will let you live long enough to tell me why you’ve intruded on my private quarters, master of sorcery.”

  Piers bowed gracefully as Jiao retreated, though not far, her gaze flickering from Piers to Charlotte and back again, endlessly.

  “Forgive the intrusion,” he said, voice rough with anger. “But the matter is absolutely urgent. And though my companion was inclined to deal with the issue directly, in the spirit of working together instilled by the new World Paranormal Council, I begged her to come to you first.”

  Charlotte could barely contain herself and my heart sped up at what could possibly have pissed her off this badly.

  What’s going on? I shot the question directly at her but she didn’t respond, just growled low in the back of her throat. The Empress’s bodygirl hissed back.

  “Tell me,” the Empress commanded.

  “The queen of the werenation has been kidnapped,” Piers said. “And Piotr Wilhelm took her.”

  ***

  Chapter Twenty One

  He what? I gaped at Charlotte, understood her absolute fury and, in the instant it took me to go from shock to rage of my own, the Empress reacted. Her tiny body joined Jiao’s, springing forward to the end of the bed, fury on her face. But this anger was aimed at Piers.

  “What reason has the Steam Union to come here, to make such accusations?” I could feel her defensiveness, wondered if she already knew by the way her voice vibrated with anger. It was the reaction of someone carrying guilt around.

  “The evolving werenation is young and still growing,” Piers shot right back at her. “Unlike other magic races, the Steam Union are here to support and protect in whatever capacity is required. Including standing beside them as allies and spokespeople.” He glanced at Charlotte. “For as long as they will have us.”

  My werefriend’s sharp nod sealed the deal.

  The Empress’s attitude didn’t change, though I could tell she wasn’t happy her avenue of argument had been cut off. “You have proof.” Again, not a question.

  “Not direct proof, no,” he said, standing his ground.

  “And yet, you come here, accuse one of my monarchs of kidnapping a werewolf.” She said the word like it was an insult.

  Okay, so didn’t like her so much anymore. “The werenation is a duly accepted and recognized paranormal species,” I snarled. “And you’ll do well to speak of them with respect in my company.”

  That got her attention. Her head whipped around, her bodygirl hyper focused on me. Let them try it. Just let them try it.

  “Explain,” Max said, breaking the taut temper holding the room in shaking thrall.

  “Yana’s convoy was attacked,” Piers said, one hand settling on Charlotte’s shoulder to hold her still. I wanted to go to her, but held my ground with Max who, at least, had the Empress’s respect. “She was returning from Kiev, a shopping trip for the new baby.” My mind recalled the swell of Yana’s belly at the meeting, the glow in her face. How happy Danilo was of late. They bred like rabbits, those two, their third already since Danilo took the throne. “Her wereguards were slaughtered and she was taken.”

  “If they were killed,” the Empress said, “you have no way of knowing it was vampires.” Sullen, bitter. Angry. Was that guilt? Did she believe him and refused to admit it?

  “One of the guards survived long enough,” Piers said, firmly, with sadness. “The queen is eight months pregnant, Empress. King Danilo is beside himself.”

  “Why do you bring this to me if you have all your answers?” She turned her back on him, Jiao draping her bony form in a thick, red robe. I felt Max shift beside me, looked up to see anger in his shining diamond eyes.

  “You know why,” he said in his rumbling voice. “You granted that throne to a vampire you were aware held a personal vendetta against the werenation.” Charlotte’s head snapped around, muzzle appearing and staying put. The Empress’s shoulders twitched and she half turned.

  “Perhaps,” she said. “But the monarchs of my race are autonomous, outside of core vampire law. It has nothing to do with me.”

  “Like Sunny’s removal from her throne had nothing to do with you.” The Empress flinched from my sarcasm. What was really going on here? Was I right? Did she already know about the attack on the werewolves?

  “Then you will stay out of it,” Max said, “when Sydlynn and her companions kill him for this affront.”

  The Empress turned the rest of the way around, snapped something at him in her language.

  “Indeed I do,” he said, refusing to share in her privacy. “And I will challenge your authority until the end of days, Moa. Because as much as you’ve grown to consider yourself a goddess, we both know even I am not Creator. And that the years of bitterness in your heart cloud your judgment.”

  She turned away again. “Do as you will,” she said. “But know that the vampire race will not stand for his death if he is proved innocent.”

  Charlotte’s teeth snapped together and she finally spoke. “I’ll deliver his treacherous head to you personally,” she growled. “You can ask him yourself.”

  I crossed to my werefriend and took her shaking hand. “We’ll be back, Empress,” I said, gesturing to Max. He shook his head, veil opening beside him.

  I will return to my people, he said, voice sad. Go on with the search. These matters are not for one such as I to interfere.

  Could use the backup, I said, feeling selfish about the whole thing.

  You don’t need me, he sent as he entered the veil. You never did. And he was gone.

  Piers didn’t waste time, dragging Charlotte and me along with him back into the tunnel. This is bad, Syd, he sent, tight and angry. Danilo is ready to tear Piotr apart. They’re on the verge of war. And I don’t need to tell you what that might mean, right?

  If Danilo went after Piotr, the whole werenation would follow. And though it had been years since I freed the werewolves from the taint of the Black Souls who created them, there was still more than enough old prejudice between vampires and werewolves to set off a powder keg that would take a hell of a lot of trouble and time to clean up.

  War between two races of the World Paranormal Council would pretty much mean the end of all alliances. I could see it now, spilling over into camps supporting one side or the other. And then, as we stepped out into a bright office and my eyes settled on Femke and Quaid, I understood what this was really about.

  “Belaisle,” I blurted to her as the two leaders stood to greet us. “He’s at it again.”

/>   “At what?” Femke seemed truly startled, our mutual anger gone for the moment. “What’s happened?”

  I didn’t get to answer. The door behind me, the portal to her new office, slammed open so hard the wood splintered and Danilo, king of the werenation, hurtled through. He was in half wolf form, his humanoid werewolf body looming over us, a howl so loud ripping from his chest I actually winced and covered my ears.

  Femke faced him down, a tall, slim willowy blonde, giant silver Alpha were towering over her with saliva dripping from his jaws. Quaid held back, though from the feel of Femke’s magic she was insisting he keep his distance. She held out one hand, pressed it fearlessly to the wereking’s chest, face creased in concern for him.

  “Danilo,” she said. “Please, tell me what’s going on.”

  He shrank into smaller form, though he didn’t revert to human completely. “Yana,” he said. “They have my wife and unborn child.”

  And then he collapsed, suddenly human, sobbing into his hands. She hugged his naked body, gesturing for help as two nervous Enforcers hurried forward, urged to do so by my husband who circled to finally join Femke. His two witches draped the shaking king in a black robe. Femke eased him into a chair, looking up to meet my eyes.

  But it was Piers who filled her in while Quaid and I carefully avoided gazes. I just didn’t have time to fight with him right now. Femke’s face darkened and she nodded brusquely. “Do we have someone inside the blood clan we can talk to?”

  Why didn’t I think of that? I reached out immediately, felt for the one I was looking for and, without permission, jerked her firmly through the veil and deposited the trembling form of Isabelle Wilhelm in the middle of Femke’s office.

  Danilo shouted something incoherent at the sight of her, but the Enforcers were faster. Quaid leaped on him, held him back bodily and with power, my husband straining to keep the furious and heartsick wereking in check.

  The only vampire I still trusted in her blood clan, Isabelle burst into tears, falling into Femke’s arms. I hadn’t seen her in a while, but the young undead hadn’t changed at all thanks to the gifts of her race. She’d been there for me in the past, friends with Charlotte, though my werefriend avoided her eyes when Isabelle reached out to try to touch her hand.

  “I’ve been trying to escape,” she wailed, “but they knew not to allow me to leave, that I would bring you down upon them.” She turned toward Danilo, terrified clearly, but with hands outstretched. “Dear king, they have your queen.”

  “That’s it, then,” Piers said, rage crackling in his voice.

  Femke hesitated, the diplomat in her struggling with her need to act.

  “Don’t even think about it,” I snapped while Piers joined me, shoulder to shoulder.

  “The Steam Union will not tolerate such blatant attacks against our allies,” he said.

  “Nor will the North American Witches Council,” I said, speaking for Mom and hoping she’d forgive me. “And we’re not assembling a damned committee to look into it, Femke. We’re going to get Yana now. End of story.”

  Danilo lurched toward me, but I held him off better than the Enforcers had.

  “You,” I said, pushing him into the chair again, “are staying put. No arguments. You,” I pointed at Femke, “stay here and out of it, just in case this goes wrong so you can claim no culpability.” The World Paranormal Council was still so young to be faced with such a giant mess this soon. I worried her involvement before we had all the t’s crossed and i’s dotted might create more problems than it solved. Better to investigate and claim later Femke was behind taking Piotr down if things went well. I’d take the heat personally if they didn’t. I’d worked too hard to make sure everyone was playing nice to let Piotr Wilhelm screw this up. “Piers and I will make sure that vampire asshat knows he’s crossed the line.”

  Femke’s accepting nod was all the answer I needed.

  “Except,” she said, blue eyes sparkling, the Femke I loved shining through, “screw culpability.” She must have known where my head was and didn’t care. Which proved to me once again she was exactly the leader we needed. And that I had to stop trying to protect her from doing her job. “I’m coming with you.”

  ***

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Femke took a few minutes to whisper some hasty instructions to a harried older witch while Charlotte paced back and forth behind her brother. Before I could stop myself by thinking about it too much, I opened my power and called out to the one person I needed in on this the most.

  I just hoped she wasn’t still pissed at me.

  Sunny. Her mind latched onto mine in an instant.

  Syd, she sent, softly desperate. I just heard about Yana. Where are you?

  Femke’s, I sent, relief flooding me. Hong Kong. Can you come?

  The beautiful vampire queen—and she would always be queen to me—hesitated.

  I have no standing any longer, she sent. I might only hinder you.

  Bull pucky, I sent. We need you.

  Then, you shall have me, she sent. I barely had time to turn and open my mouth to tell Piers, when the air shimmered behind Danilo’s chair and Sunny appeared. Gone was her elaborate gown, replaced by a sober gray suit, but she was as stunning as ever, supermodel features twisted in grief as she circled to face the wereking. He looked up into her eyes, lunging to his feet, but I needn’t have gasped a fearful breath. He didn’t harm her, except maybe to crush her a little in a gargantuan hug.

  “Danilo,” she said, voice clear in the silence that followed his embrace. “We’ll bring her back to you.”

  He let Sunny go, nodding, body trembling. “I want to go with you.” But his dull tone told me he knew that wasn’t going to happen.

  “Please,” Femke said, finally joining me, Sunny coming to my side with a sorrowful smile on her face. “Trust us. You know we have your best interest at heart. Charlotte will stand in your stead. And we will see justice done.”

  My werefriend bowed her head to her brother. “I’ll bring her back safe,” she said, “or I’ll kill him for harming her.”

  Danilo turned away, didn’t watch as I reached out to everyone. “Mind if I handle transportation?”

  No one objected. “Might I suggest,” Sunny said, “the throne room? He’ll likely be gloating there, thinking he’s won some victory.”

  “It’s not Piotr I’m worried about,” I said, tearing at the veil toward the suggested location. I latched onto their minds collectively as I led them through. This smacks of Brotherhood interference, an attempt to spark a war between the vampires and werewolves.

  And shatter the new alliance, Femke sent while the others muttered angrily. Makes sense, Syd.

  I almost wished she’d argued. For now, we deal with Piotr and bring Yana and the baby home safe. Then we kick that damned vampire’s ass off the throne and make him tell us where Belaisle is.

  Dibs, Piers sent.

  Wait your turn, Charlotte snarled.

  We’ll talk it out later, I sent. Now, are we ready?

  Affirmatives all around. I drew a breath and tore open the veil on the other side, shields at the fore, dropping us in the middle of the Wilhelm throne room. The first thing I saw was Piotr, smiling at me with his sharp teeth exposed.

  The second hit me like a blow, though I supposed I should have guessed she’d show up after the assault on her privacy. The Empress sat in her throne chair, held aloft by four of her guards.

  Max told you to stay out of this, I sent directly to her.

  The drach lord has no sway over me, she answered, though I could sense the tremor in the back of her mind, knew she was lying.

  But the third member of their little party was the most shocking of all. Blonde hair spiked, gray eyes snapping with vengeful hate, Eva Southway flanked the vampire Empress on her left. She was alone, but felt far more powerful than the last time I’d seen her, after stealing magic from her own people. Clearly she’d made a habit of thievery. I didn’t bother glancing at Piers.
I had a feeling I’d know what I’d see on his face.

  “What are you doing here, Mother?” His crisp tone didn’t hide his anger very well.

  “Supporting my allies,” she snapped back. “Nothing to do with you, child.”

  Nice attempt at an insult. Not particularly effective, but an effort, at least.

  Let him deal with his mother. I had other, more important details to handle. My power pushed against Piotr, though the Empress attempted to stop me. For a moment, I let my magic linger against hers, weighing her strength against my own, letting her feel just how outclassed she was. To her credit she didn’t retreat, and I was forced to firmly push her aside to get to him.

  The moment my power touched him, he hissed at me, turning to glare at her.

  “You swore to protect me!” Nice way to talk to his Empress. Then again, from the power of the Brotherhood thrall he was obviously under, it was likely he was too far gone to know what he was saying.

  “Silence.” She didn’t raise her voice, didn’t have to. I let her power cut mine off, gave her that small victory, more out of resignation than any need to protect her obviously thin-skinned ego.

  “You knew,” I said, though it really wasn’t a surprise now. Just a disappointment. “What was going on with him. That they owned him. And you let him take the Wilhelm throne.”

  She didn’t answer me, but she didn’t have to.

  “I don’t know what your game is,” I said, advancing on her, stopping short of climbing onto her throne chair and shaking her, “but you could have had a place in the future of our plane. Instead, you’ve made an enemy of me today. And of the Lord of the Drach.” I had no doubt Max would agree, though I really was into taking liberties with other people’s decisions today.

  The Empress settled back in her seat, regret in her little black eyes, but lips a slash of determination.

  “You have no idea what is in play,” she said. “Perhaps, when you’ve lived as long as I have, maneuvered the pieces needed to see the whole picture, you and I will speak again.”