Shadow's Curse

by Jami Gray

  “By what? The dissension in your house?”

  The fact that even Raine had noted the issues within her people set Natasha’s teeth on edge, but it didn’t negate the point that the girl was spot on. “Among other things. Don’t worry, that issue will be remedied soon.”

  “How exactly?”

  Did she really expect an answer? Natasha set the wooden photo box back to rights then returned it to the shelves.

  “Oh my gods.” The stunned exclamation behind her made Natasha’s spine stiffen. “You’re setting yourself up as bait.”

  Turning around slowly, Natasha studied Raine. “Are you channeling your uncle?”

  Ryan’s ability to foresee the future had been very handy. Did Raine possess that trait as well?

  Raine shook her head. “I wish. It would make things much easier.” She considered Natasha. “You’ve made sure everyone knows you want what Mulcahy had, everything you can grab. But you don’t, not all of it.”

  Instead of answering, Natasha held her tongue, curious to see how much Raine managed to piece together.

  “You and Mulcahy, you two had a relationship.” Not really a question.

  “We had something even rarer, a friendship.” One Natasha wished she could have again, but she was so far removed from the woman she had been, it would be impossible to replicate such a thing at this late date. Taking in the astonishment on Raine’s face, Natasha asked, “Why do you find that so hard to believe?”

  “Have you looked in a mirror lately?” Raine muttered, her gaze sliding away. “You’re not exactly Susie Sunshine.” For a singular moment, self-directed mockery and disgust bled through.

  Understanding dawned. Ah, yes. “Monsters have friends too, dear.”

  Startled, Raine blinked at her.

  How funny. Rendering Raine speechless was quite satisfying. “I need to go.” Natasha was to meet Jamie at Taliesin, and she had no need to advertise her impromptu visit to Mulcahy’s. “Do ask Gavin to have your person dig a little faster on Brant Sutler, would you? I’d really like to know who’s pulling his strings.” She crossed the room.

  Raine’s voice stopped her at the door. “Do you really want the captaincy, Natasha?”

  Smiling to herself, Natasha didn’t answer. Let the girl wonder. A little uncertainty never hurt anyone.

  Chapter Eight

  Ryan Mulcahy had been a lucky bastard, Darius thought as he leaned against a thick tree trunk, waiting for his invitations to be answered. The small, private island nestled on Oswego Lake held a beautifully crafted home tucked among the forest. A rare oasis within the suburbs. Perhaps he should have visited his old friend here more often. The home was currently dark, a silent mourner in its owner’s passing. Yet a sort of haunting quiet lingered, reminding Darius of the older forests in Europe. Strange to find such a thing here, among the Americans and their incessant need for…well, everything.

  Privacy was a grand thing. Something ensured by the solid security gate standing guard between the island’s single access road and the rest of Lake Oswego. It was one reason why Darius chose Mulcahy’s home to call the Wraiths together. The other, well, that subtle statement would have made his old friend, the master of non-verbal power plays, grin. “Positions of power can be captured with more than a sword.”

  “Let’s hope no one bleeds tonight, old man,” Darius muttered. These trained warriors would not be expecting him. No, they thought Zayn Aimeric would be meeting them. The unexpected never went over well with warriors.

  Besides, these particular ones were more on edge than most. A fact that Zayn’s retelling of his afternoon meeting confirmed. Understandable.

  On some level they must realize that without their leader, they were vulnerable. And hunted. Their combined skills were too dangerous to be left unmanaged.

  A breeze kicked up, shushing through the newly re-cloaked branches. As it danced away, the soft flow of the lake kissing the shore crept in, a rhythmic sound, as if nature was indulging in meditative breathing. A strange whimsical thought.

  Observing Mulcahy’s funeral yesterday must have affected Darius more than he realized. Though why, he wasn’t sure. He and Death shared an intimate relationship, one forged by blood and time.

  Watching the somber gathering yesterday from the hazy embrace of shadows allowed him to observe certain individuals and get a sense of the board before he officially entered the game. His ability to blend into the background had saved his ass on more than one occasion. This time, more than his ass was at stake. Mulcahy’s death was proof of that.

  The reminder of the loss scraped over the thin chains restraining his rage, but years of experience kept them firmly in place. Now was the time to analyze, not strike.

  He agreed to the Council’s request, couched in polite terms, to come to the Northwest and uncover who or what was behind their string of troubles, not because they asked, but because he owed it to Mulcahy to uncover the truth. Though they would never admit it, the Council was scared and they might have good reason to be.

  Darius folded his arms. Before coming to Portland, he did a little digging on the Northwest players, going beyond Mulcahy’s tidy reports to the Council. Mutterings and rumors abounded, but what he found raised more questions, not unusual since the former head of the Northwest Kyn tended to play things extremely close.

  Mulcahy held his four houses together admirably, better than most Kyn. His ability to ride out the rise and fall of internal politics was a point of envy for some, respect for others. As CEO of Taliesin Security, he provided a plausible home for those Kyn who would normally stand out in the mortal world. The world-class security company allowed the Kyn to utilize their unique talents in keeping people and objects safe. Admirable, if you were into that kind of altruistic thing.

  However, times were changing. Science and politics made for more treacherous battlegrounds than blades and spells, even as they caused an ever-widening rift in the Council.

  As each year passed, scientific advances diminished the gap between the human and Kyn worlds. Mulcahy’s niece and her lover were proof of that, both subjected to a human scientist’s greed for power. Those experiments wrought unknown changes for both Raine and Gavin. Some on the Council were extremely interested to see what the two could do, while others muttered dire warnings. So far, neither Raine nor Gavin portrayed any magical deviations, but speculation ran rampant.

  Personally, he thought if anything had changed, those two were smart enough to keep it under wraps. They understood that some things should remain hidden, even as the existence of entire races of mythical creatures was poised to explode across the world’s stage. A fact some Council members failed to grasp, as they continued to bury their heads in the sands of the past. Lines were being drawn—move forward with change or stand fast in the past.

  Darius knew which choice would benefit the Kyn, but the Council, eleven of the most powerful nearly immortal creatures, were acting like petulant, spoiled children, because the new kids had cooler toys.

  His lips curled in disgust. Can’t teach an old dog, new tricks. The overly used expression certainly fit the obstinate group. Some things would be much simpler if he could just shoot the damn dogs. Unfortunately, the blowback wasn’t worth it.

  Which brought him back to tonight’s meeting. Mulcahy’s death heralded an unprecedented change for the Northwest Kyn. While nature abhorred a vacuum, a proved adage as two of Mulcahy’s positions were quickly filled, the most crucial role remained open. More than one individual was eyeing the hole with anticipatory glee.

  The most concerning was Natasha Bertoi, the alluring Head of the Amanusa House. Or, as Raine had been heard to call her, the Bitch Demon Queen. Darius found it an apt description. The quintessential female might appear fragile, with her pale, blonde hair, petite curves, and baby blues, but under that deceptive facade lurked a power to be reckoned with, one Darius had no intention of underestimating. Not satisfied with Taliesin’s CEO position, she was now making a play for the captaincy
of the Wraiths. He could not allow her to worm her way into that particular position. Not if his plans were to succeed.

  The sound of an approaching vehicle broke through the night.

  Darius lifted his head and listened. The muted thump of two car doors echoed. A third followed. If he was a betting man, he’d place money that Gavin, Raine, and Xander had arrived. The three most pivotal Wraiths shared close bonds. It would be interesting to watch how well those bonds fared over the coming challenges. That is, if they survived the next few days.

  He kept his grin to himself and pulled the shadows closer, hiding his shape from the approaching trio. No sense in giving up his edge, not until he was damn good and ready.

  They came around the corner of the house, Gavin in the lead, the two women following behind. The man stood a couple inches taller than Darius’s six-foot-two, but the way he moved screamed lethal predator. It almost made Darius want to see how well they’d match up in a physical contest. Perhaps another time.

  Gavin’s gaze scanned the clearing. When he came to where Darius stood, halfway between the waking and mortal world, he paused. A small frown creased his forehead.

  Next to him, Raine zeroed in on his discomfort. “What?”

  Gavin continued to stare at the spot where Darius stood. “I don’t know,” he muttered.

  Darius’s pulse spiked then leveled. Could Gavin sense him? If so, he would be the first, in more years than Darius could count, to do so. Intrigued by the possibility, he waited to see what Gavin would do next.

  Raine stepped closer, ignoring the hand Gavin shot out to stop her. Her head tilted, and she was close enough that Darius could see her eyes take on an unearthly glow, like miniature silver stars. “This is Mulcahy’s home. He had more shit up his sleeve than anyone we know.” She turned away to face Gavin and the silent Xander. “Chances are it’s something he left behind.”

  Gavin studied the spot then seemed to come to some internal decision. “Maybe.” He looked over his shoulder at Xander. “Pick up anything?”

  She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath, testing the scents in the air. After a moment, she opened her eyes and shook her head. “Nothing I can pin down.” She tucked her hands into the pockets of her black cargo pants, shrugging her shoulders. “It could be something left behind by a visitor.”

  Gavin didn’t look happy, but he let it go. “Let’s make sure we’re alone. The others should be here soon.”

  The three split up, working their way through the woods.

  Darius held his place. Nice to know his instincts were alive and kicking. There was definitely something more going on with Gavin and Raine than what Mulcahy had shared with the Council. Under Darius’s skin anticipation thrummed.

  The steady vibration of another vehicle approached. From opposite sides Gavin and Xander appeared where the yard met the forest, waiting for the newcomer. There were no telltale footsteps, no brush of cloth against cloth to give away the arrival. Instead, one moment empty darkness existed, the next a tall, unmistakable Fey appeared. A burly, giant stood at his shoulder. If Darius’s notes were right, this would be Niall and Gideon.

  “Don’t you boys go anywhere alone?” Raine’s question came from behind Darius.

  “Can’t Shadow Walk beyond Mulcahy’s interior boundaries,” Gideon’s deep rumble answered.

  The distinctive purr of a muscle car spilled through the night. More arrivals.

  “Looks like frat boy from hell is here.” Raine made her way past Darius to stand next to Gavin.

  “You know how it is.” Xander snickered as she perched on a fallen log. “Ryder has to compensate somewhere.”

  “I don’t know. Natasha seems to like him just fine,” Raine drawled.

  Her comment caused an unexpected flash of anger that caught Darius by surprise.

  Xander grinned. “The poor boy has such dangerous taste in women.” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. “Natasha. You.”

  Raine’s upper lip curled, flashing white teeth. “Bite me, wolf.”

  “Thanks for the offer, but I’ll pass.” The delicate tattoo didn’t detract from the mischievousness of Xander’s grin. “Besides, I’ve recently acquired a top-notch chew toy. He’s much tastier than you.”

  Darius wondered how Vidis would feel about being labeled a “top-notch chew toy.”

  Before Raine could shoot back a rejoinder, Jamie Ryder came around the corner with a companion. Darius noted Raine’s frat boy assessment was spot on. Pick him up and throw him on a college campus and you’d lose him in the crowd. Even knowing what lived under Ryder’s skin for him to hold the position he did, Darius couldn’t understand what about this punk would appeal to the very complex woman standing beside him.

  “Natasha.” Gavin’s greeting sounded perilously close to a curse.

  “Gavin.” Her voiced slipped over Darius like cool silk. Much like the shimmering blue material falling like water over her generous curves. Such a lush female for one so petite. Tailored black slacks hugged her hips and made her legs seem longer. Or maybe that was the three-inch heels on her boots. Even her concession to the cool night, a hip length sweater, tempted a man to delve underneath and touch. The ice-queen’s gaze took in those gathered. “If Fahd and Sullivan are running late, rendering a decision before Zayn shows will prove difficult.”

  “Oh don’t worry, Natasha,” Raine said with a barely disguised sneer. “I think we can accurately guess their votes.”

  Raine’s challenge wasn’t unexpected, so Darius was surprised to see a shimmer in the air around Natasha, as if some small heat wave surrounded her. A sign her demon was about to slip loose. What left her so on edge as to threaten her legendary control? Even from his hidden position, he picked up on the distinct ruby glitter in her gaze.

  “So certain of your lover, little girl?” Her voice dropped in decibels.

  Raine stepped away from Gavin, closing in on the smaller woman. No evident fear, just an anticipatory hunger. “At least he won’t throw our lives away for his games. You’d destroy us if it served your purposes.”

  Both women were so focused on each other they were blind to their audience. Gavin took a step toward them, when Xander’s quick head shake stopped him. Niall and Gideon remained impassive, yet not missing a thing. Ryder’s shit-eating grin grew wider. The little fucker was getting a kick out of this.

  Natasha’s laugh held dark implications. “You have no concept of my so-called purposes. The Wraiths cannot be led by altruistic aspirants. Do you have any concept of what is coming toward us?”

  A perfect cue if he ever heard one. Dropping his concealment, Darius stepped into the conversation. “Do you?”

  Chapter Nine

  The stunning male who appeared out of thin air behind Raine left Natasha blinking in shock. It wasn’t Zayn Aimeric, but a niggling sense of familiarity tugged at her. Thick, black hair created a startling contrast to the ice-cold blue eyes glowing with an unearthly light. The thin red ring surrounding his pupils made her inner beast purr in delighted recognition of one of her own. His strong jaw carried an inky vestige of a beard. His full lips were framed by the neatly trimmed goatee.

  He leaned negligently against a thick tree, his arms folded across his solid chest. He was not as tall as some of the men gathered, but tall enough. Add in his wardrobe choice of all black and he reminded her of a panther—sleek, deadly, and savagely tempting.

  Recovering faster than the others, Natasha ignored the dangerous curiosity he provoked and stepped around Raine to face this unexpected development. “Change,” she said, answering his question. “Pivotal change.”

  His teeth flashed white in a grin. “Is there any other kind?” He straightened and the tension in the air sang to a new level. “This question of the Wraith’s leadership is a moot point.”

  “We beg to differ,” she countered. Yet as the surrounding shadows fell farther back, recognition hit, amping her curiosity. Zayn’s bodyguard from the funeral. She fought back her demonic natu
re at the attractive lure of his arrogance. “And you are?”

  He executed a mocking half bow with an elegance that bespoke of age. The flash of a silver ring caught the moonlight. “Darius Abazi.”

  “Darius Abazi,” she repeated, mimicking the exotic lilt he gave his name. “Why did you call this meeting?” Memories spun, suspicions splintered and reformed, but she waited to see if they would bear fruit.

  “A trained unit requires an experienced commander. The Council will not endorse an unproven captain.” He spread his arms wide, palms up. “Consider me your evaluator.”

  “What the fuck?” Raine’s muttered oath meant she just realized who they faced.

  While Natasha silently agreed with Raine’s profane assessment, the others still remained ignorant of who this man represented. Perhaps not Gavin, she amended as he stepped to Raine’s side, his jaw set tight.

  A move Darius missed as the other Wraiths claimed his attention with various hostile reactions to his claim. He arched a dark eyebrow, sardonic amusement evident. “Did you think you were the only such group in our world? You’re lethally dangerous and require a strong, disciplined hand. Anything less will lead to chaos.” His gaze skimmed over each one, before touching on Natasha last. “I hate to burst your bubble, but you are not the top predators in our world.”

  Was he challenging her?

  He continued to hold her gaze as reactions continued to erupt around them.

  Maybe.

  “And why should we believe you?” Gavin challenged.

  “We don’t know you from jack,” Jamie added, coming closer.

  Darius appeared unfazed, his unruffled confidence lending credibility to the whispered stories growing stronger in her head.

  If he was who she believed him to be, this was going to be such fun. She smiled in anticipation. Let him think she was acknowledging his unspoken gauntlet.