by Mari Mancusi
“Come on, Marcia,” I beg. “This is important.” Marcia lets out a long, drawn-out sigh. “Whatever you have to say to Lord Magnus, you can tell me and I’ll try to relay it to him between meetings. But no promises.”
Argh. As if I’d trust her. “Come on,” I beg. “This is an emergency! Don’t be like this.”
She cocks her head at me, her eyes burning with self-righteous fire. “Don’t be like what?” she demands. Uh-oh. “Don’t be a good assistant with the coven’s best interests at heart?” She scowls. “Why are you even here, anyway? You’ll only distract him again. Trying to pull him away from his important duties to our coven with your little whiny ‘What about me?’ shtick.”
I stare at her, horrified, wanting to defend myself, but not sure where to begin.
“You know, we could have already defeated the Alphas if Lord Magnus hadn’t skipped out to rescue you in Fairyland,” she continues. “And then, when he’s already on thin ice with the Consortium, he completely disobeys their orders and jaunts over to England with you, because you batted your eyelashes and pleaded.” She squeezes her hands into fists, her manicured nails digging into her palms. “And now you’re back. And with more trouble, I’m sure. I beg of you: Go home. Leave Magnus alone. We need him too much in this war to have him distracted over and over again by your pretty face.”
My shoulders slump at her words. Is that really what they all think of me? That I’m just this human, getting in the way of important vampire business? That Magnus is weak for taking my side? Here I’ve been blaming him for putting the Blood Coven before me, when all along his own people think he’s putting me before the Blood Coven.
The poor guy can’t win.
“Look,” I try. “I know I’ve been a selfish bitch in the past. And you have no reason to like me, I get it. But Marcia, what I’ve found out about the Alphas—it could put the Consortium at risk. And I need to tell Magnus ASAP. The entire vampire race could be in danger.”
She narrows her eyes and for a moment, she doesn’t speak. Finally she nods. “Okay,” she says with resignation. “I’ll see what I can do. But you’d better not be bluffing.”
“I wish I were.”
“Stay here. I’ll go interrupt his meeting.”
I collapse onto the sleek white leather bench, biting my nails as I wait to see if Magnus will come down. Trying to prepare myself for his inevitable wrath. Because, let’s face it, he’s so not going to be pleased with what I have to say. In fact, when this is all over, I wonder if he’ll even talk to me again. I wouldn’t blame him, I suppose, if he didn’t.
I’m not sure, to be honest, I’d talk to myself.
20
About ten minutes later, the elevator doors slide open once again and Magnus steps out, scanning the room. I rise to my feet just as his eyes fall upon me.
“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised,” he says stiffly. “You never do manage to follow orders.”
I hang my head. “I’m sorry.”
I wait for his anger, his screams of condemnation. But they don’t come. Instead he asks, “So, to what do I owe this... honor?”
Where to even begin? I shuffle from foot to foot. “Can we talk somewhere private?”
He nods. “Come upstairs to my hotel room.”
I follow him back onto the elevator and we shoot up into the sky. A few minutes later we step into one of the most luxurious hotel rooms I’ve ever seen. With a view fifty-something stories up looking down on the neon wonderland they call Shinjuku.
“Wow,” I say, walking over to the floor-to-ceiling window. “Rayne told me these were sweet digs. But I had no idea—”
“So your sister is in on this little escapade as well,” Magnus says grimly, sitting down on the bed. “Of course.”
I turn back to face him. Here goes nothing. “Turns out Jayden wasn’t bitten by Cornelius after all,” I admit. “He was bitten by Corbin. And now the two of them share some kind of psychic link. That’s why the Alphas were able to locate the Holy Grail. I told Jayden where it was. And that’s why they raided the Bite Club in Harajuku.”
Magnus squeezes his eyes shut, then opens them again. “What else?” he asks in a tight voice.
I kick the carpet with my foot. “They probably know that you’re here.”
“Here, in Japan?”
“Here in the Park Hyatt. Rayne was going off about how awesome it was. I’m sure Jayden heard her.”
“Oh, Sunny.” My boyfriend sighs deeply. “Why couldn’t you have just trusted me and stayed in England as I asked?”
I frown. “Um, so I could just let you murder Jayden? I don’t think so. I mean, I know he lied—and believe me, I’m furious with him, too. But that doesn’t mean he deserves to die.”
Magnus stares at me, a puzzled look on his face. “What are you talking about?”
“I overheard Tanner talking to Lucedio. You ordered him to poison Jayden and make it look like his body didn’t accept the transfusion.”
Magnus rises to his feet. “I don’t know what you think you heard,” he replies bitterly. “But I can assure you, I ordered no such thing.”
“But—”
“You really will trust anyone in the world—even vampires you barely know—over your own boyfriend, won’t you?” Magnus growls, pacing the room. “I don’t even know what to say about that.”
I hang my head in shame. Was it true? Did he really know nothing about this? “I’m sorry,” I say, though the words seem so useless. “I just... I heard it and I freaked out. And I had to get Jayden out of there.”
“And so you brought him here. And put us all in danger.”
“Well, to be fair, I didn’t know about the Corbin thing. I just found that out right before I came here to see you. He finally admitted it to me.”
“Well, isn’t that bloody noble of him.”
I rise to my feet, looking pleadingly at Magnus. “I screwed up,” I admit. “I know it. And I don’t deserve your forgiveness. But I need your help.”
He rakes a hand through his hair, freeing it from its ponytail. “Of course,” he says, his voice laced with sarcasm. “How can I be of assistance?”
“It’s Rayne. After the Alphas attacked at Bite Club, she went after Corbin. And I haven’t heard from her since. I tried calling her cell, but the woman who answered said she found it discarded in an alleyway. I’m worried.”
Magnus whirls around, his eyes wide and frightened. “She went after them? Alone—without backup? Is she crazy?”
“Um, we’re talking about Rayne here, remember?” “Hell,” he swears, stalking over to the hotel phone and picking up the receiver. He presses a few buttons. “Jareth?” he says, after a moment. “Have you heard from Rayne?” He waits for a reply. “Okay,” he says. “Well, let me know if she reports in. Yes, I’ll tell you the whole story. It’s probably nothing but...” He pauses. “Yes, yes, I promise. I’ve got to go.” He hangs up the phone and sinks back onto the bed, scrubbing his face with his hands. “Pyrus is going to kill me.”
“Who cares about him?” I demand. “My sister could be in trouble!”
“Ah, yes, once again, this is all about you,” Magnus notes. “Who cares that Rayne put herself in trouble by not following orders? And who cares that I’m going to be the one to pay if the Alphas have really taken her.” He squeezes his hands into fists. “Rayne knew full well she was supposed to stay here, under the protection of the Blood Coven. She knew the Alphas would stop at nothing to kidnap her and harvest her blood. And yet, she—just like her sister—decided to defy those orders and sneak out on some crazy mission she felt was more important. Putting all of vampire kind in danger.”
He turns to me, his eyes bloodshot and wild. “You think I’m the one who’s not trustworthy?” he demands. “You think my loyalties are divided? You don’t care one bit about what I go through on a daily basis. Or how much trouble I’m constantly in for siding with you instead of my bosses. And if I even hint that I have a duty to perform that doesn’t directly benefit
you, you automatically start questioning my loyalty or making up crazy things in your head that I’m somehow lying to you and working behind your back to murder your friends.”
I stare at him, unable to speak. Oh God, have I really been so selfish?
“I’m not saying the Consortium is perfect,” he continues. “But it’s the only government we’ve got. And when I took command as Master of the Blood Coven, I made a vow to uphold their laws, no matter what. In exchange, my vampires get protection and peace,” he explains. “I’ve seen what happens to covens tossed out of the Consortium for not obeying their rules. They lose everything. They live in squalor—in fear for their lives. There’s never enough blood...” He frowns. “I can’t let that happen to my people.” He rises from the bed and walks over to the window, crossing his arms over his chest and staring out into the night sky. I let out a frustrated breath, feeling the tears well up into my eyes as my mind races over the events of the last few days. Here I’ve been thinking I’m the noble heroine, on a mission to save a life. But am I really the selfish villainess, putting everyone in danger, just as Jayden did?
I glance over at my boyfriend’s rigid back. You can practically see the anger coming off him in waves. My heart lurches in my chest and I feel like I’m going to throw up. How am I ever going to get him to forgive me?
I rise slowly to my feet and walk over to him, wrapping myself around him and laying my head on his back. At first I wonder if he’s going to shrug me off, push me away. But he just stands there, staring out the window. Not submitting, but not rejecting either. I guess that’s something.
“I don’t even know what to say,” I whisper. “Sorry seems so useless.”
At first he doesn’t respond. Then he turns slowly, pulling me into an embrace. I collapse against him in relief, feeling the sobs choke my throat at this suggestion of forgiveness. Maybe there’s still hope. Maybe I haven’t ruined everything...
“I’m sorry, too,” he whispers. “I know I’m not always forthcoming about the big picture. I try to keep you out of things in an attempt to protect you. But that only makes you worry and doubt me.” He pauses, then adds, “And you’re not selfish. You’re just all heart. You can’t stand to see the people you love suffer.” He strokes my head with a gentle hand. “We’re a lot alike in that way. I’m protective of my vampires just as you’re protective of your sister and friends.” He sighs. “It’s heartbreaking to see those two good things constantly at odds.”
“We need to start working together,” I murmur against his chest. “We’re stronger together than apart.”
He pulls away to look down at me with loving eyes. “I agree,” he says with a small smile. “So let’s go talk to the Consortium about what’s going on here. Together.”
I cock my head in question. “What? But I thought mortals weren’t allowed in their sessions.”
“They’re not.” He shrugs. “But I don’t care anymore. You’re my partner. My equal. And it’s time I start treating you as such.”
“Thank you,” I say sincerely. “That means a lot.”
“You mean a lot,” he replies, leaning down to kiss me softly on the head. “Now let’s go save your sister.”
21
And that’s how, an hour later, I find myself the only living girl in a room full of undead. All the premiere voting members of the Vampire Consortium— masters from all over the world—assembled together in a large arena, which, during normal business hours, houses sumo wrestling matches. (And has the stench of sweaty fat guys to prove it.) When the infamous House Speaker, Pyrus, a tuxedoed, bleach-blond vampire who bears a striking resemblance to Gerard from My Chemical Romance, calls on us, Magnus leads me up to the podium at the center of the arena.
“This is Sunshine McDonald,” he announces to the crowd. “Royal daughter of Queen Shrinking Violet of the Light Court of Tír na nÓg.”
The crowd quiets and I can feel a hundred pairs of eyes focus on me expectantly, and I’m suddenly glad of my fae heritage. At least that gives me a tiny dash of otherworld street cred here. I wonder if I should mention I was actually a vampire for about six days last spring. Would that help or hurt my case?
I step up to the podium with legs that feel like Jell- O. “Um, hello,” I try to say into the microphone. But in my nervousness I’ve leaned in too far, spoken too loud, or just got my iPhone too close to the speaker, and high-pitched feedback screeches across the room. I leap back in surprise, my face heating in embarrassment. Way to make a professional first impression, Sun.
I can hear several vampires titter amongst themselves. Jerks. You’d think living a thousand years would give them a more refined sense of humor.
I glance longingly at the exit. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Then I feel a presence beside me. Magnus has stepped next to me, strong shouldered and supportive. He squeezes my hand encouragingly. “It’s okay,” he whispers. “Go on.”
Empowered, I step up to the mic a second time, this time keeping my distance. “Hello,” I say again, hating the fact that my voice sounds so squeaky and young, as it always does when I’m freaking out. “My name is Sunshine McDonald and I’m here to ask for your help.”
I’ve got their attention now so I draw in a breath and force myself to continue. “My sister is a vampire—a member of the Blood Coven. And she’s missing. We have reason to believe she was taken by Alpha operatives who, tonight, raided the Tokyo Bite Club and killed everyone inside.”
I wait for the shocked faces, the gasps of horror, the fierce shouts, demanding action, justice, and revenge. We must mobilize. We must track them down. We must get Rayne back.
But, evidently not so much.
“Dude, did you just yawn?” I demand to the Gothy-looking vampire in the front row.
He rolls his kohl-lined eyes. “I’m sorry, who are you again?” he sniffs. “And why are you bothering us with this trivial matter? Are you not aware we’re at war here? We don’t have time to stage a rescue for every stupid vampire who puts herself in a foolish situation.”
I stare at him in shock. Is he for real? Then I realize pretty much everyone in the crowd is nodding their heads in agreement.
“But she’s one of you! A member of the Blood Coven!” I protest. “Doesn’t that entitle her to some kind of protection? I thought that was what this whole stupid Consortium thing was all about.”
“Sunny...” Magnus growls low at my side.
“Typical Blood Coven,” sneers a buxom, black- haired vampire girl in the back row. “Such do- gooders. They should have named you the Bleeding Heart Coven.”
I open my mouth to retort, but Pyrus cuts me off. “What are you really asking for here?” he demands of me. “You want us to stop our delicate negotiations with the Alphas and just go in, fangs blazing, to save some inconsequential vampire who disobeyed orders to stay in the compound and got herself kidnapped because of it?”
I hang my head. It doesn’t sound good when he puts it that way. I glance over at Magnus with pleading eyes, begging him to step in. I know I said I wanted to be a part of this, but I didn’t know that meant throwing myself to the wolves. I’m beginning to see why Consortium business stresses him out so much.
He gives me a regretful smile, like, I told you so, but in a nice way, and gestures for me to step aside. I do so willingly and he takes the microphone out of its holder. “Fellow Consortium members,” he addresses the crowd. “Lord Pyrus,” he adds, giving a short bow to Mr. Speaker. “I am afraid the missing vampire in question is not so inconsequential after all. You may be familiar with Rayne McDonald, our resident vampiric fae? This is the sister that Sunshine speaks of.”
Oh, right. I flush. I should have mentioned her name. I forgot that she’s some kind of special case to them. Sure enough, as soon as Magnus says it, the room erupts with excited chatter. Now they’re worried. Well, whatever works, I guess.
Pyrus bangs his gavel against the wood block. “I will have order!” he demands and a moment later the talking dies ou
t. He turns to Magnus, his expression grim. I can see my boyfriend gripping the microphone so tightly I’m afraid he’s going to crush it with his bare hands.
“How could you have let this happen?” the speaker seethes. “Rayne McDonald was ordered to be under strict guard by your coven the entire trip. You know how valuable she is to us. And you said you’d take care of it.”
Magnus grits his teeth. “Rayne can be very...determined,” he spits out. “I will find out what happened, of course. But I have little doubt of her ability to outsmart my guards, if given the motivation to do so.”
“Then you should have chained her up.”
“She’s a member of my coven, not a prisoner!” Pyrus shakes his head in disgust. “I should have never trusted your pathetic coven. Now you’ve ruined everything.”
Confusion washes over Magnus’s face. “Everything?” he repeats. “I know we had her on retainer but why—”
“How are we going to make a deal with the Alphas now?” Pyrus demands. “Now that we no longer have anything of value to them?”
“Wait, what?” I demand, grabbing the mic from Magnus. “You were planning to trade my sister? To the Alphas?” I turn to Magnus, fury raging inside of me. Did he know of this? But then I catch the horrified look on his face and I realize there’s no way. Magnus may be loyal to his vampires, but he’d never sacrifice my sister—and the blood mate of his best friend—for any political purpose.
And suddenly, I realize I trust that—I trust him—completely and utterly without a speck of doubt. Magnus pries the microphone back from me and turns to Pyrus. “Could you please enlighten me on this so-called trade?” he asks, his voice tight and anxious. “I do not believe I was made aware of it.”
Pyrus sniffs. “It’s simple, really. The Alphas informed me that if I were to hand over Rayne McDonald, they would sign a peace treaty with the Consortium. We would transfer our contract from the main Slayer Inc. parent group and use the Alphas from this point forward.” He shrugs. “It seemed like a good solution. They’ll create their vampiric fae army and use it to protect us.”
