Dawn's Envoy

by T. A. White

  My hand paused midway and the smile fell away.

  There was a small shimmer to the air around him, just barely there. It was kind of like staring at asphalt on a hot summer day. A small mirage, barely noticeable or distinguishable from the rest of the party goers.

  “Liam, I think we have a problem,” I said as calmly as I could.

  He glanced in the direction I was looking, reading the look on my face correctly. “Impossible. He was there when you checked the rest of us for any sign of compulsion. You would have seen then.”

  I shook my head, trying to think as I ran through the sequence of events. Nathan had ducked out moments before I examined the rest. I never checked him.

  “He wasn’t there.” I said with dawning horror. “He wasn’t in the room when I looked over the enforcers. You’d already sent him ahead to look over the clearing, remember? He wasn’t in the room with you and Eric that first night either.”

  Liam cursed and started to intercept Nathan.

  I grabbed his arm and dragged him back. “You can’t. If he causes a scene here and Thomas finds out, he might kill him.”

  I stood glued in place, not knowing what to do. This was different than last night. Those had been strangers. This was my friend. The person who had helped train me while Liam had been away, someone who made kickass shakes in an effort to help me drink blood.

  And he was a ticking time bomb that our enemy planned to use against us.

  “We need to get him away from the rest,” I said softly.

  Somewhere we could contain him. If we kept him clear of Thomas and any possible triggers, maybe we could keep the compulsion from completing itself.

  If we didn’t, he was as good as dead. Thomas had been very clear on the measures he’d take to preserve his position and reputation. Given enough time, we could figure out a way to lift the geas from Nathan and figure out a way to keep him alive, but not if he attacked the master of this territory.

  “Wait, Aileen,” Liam said, grabbing my arm and pulling me to a stop.

  Nathan’s smile waned as he looked between the two of us, confusion on his face. He knew there was something going on, but not what. Not yet.

  I gave him a wooden smile. Nothing wrong here. Just a lover’s tiff. No reason to be alarmed.

  He didn’t look any more reassured.

  “Take him away from the clearing but be careful,” Liam said. “I’ll find the other enforcers and meet you.”

  I nodded and stepped away as Liam walked past me, speaking into the mic attached to his collar.

  Nathan glanced between the two of us as I gave him a radiant smile. “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing,” I lied.

  Nathan’s frown deepened as his eyes narrowed. “You know I can sense lies, right?”

  I blinked. I did know that.

  I came unstuck and gestured for him to follow me. “Yup, my bad. Habit and all that.”

  Nathan didn’t follow me as I’d expected, turning in the direction where Liam had headed.

  I darted in front of him. “What are you doing?”

  He stepped around me, impatience stamped on his features. “I don’t have time for your neurosis. I need to speak with Liam.”

  I stepped in front of him, my eyes wide and my smile as bright as I could muster. “He said he had to speak with one of the enforcers. How about you talk to me for a second? I haven’t seen you in the past few days.”

  Nathan gave me a look like he thought I was acting like a crazy person. That was okay. I kind of was.

  “I’ve been busy,” he said. He tried to move past me again. We did an awkward two step as I fought to stay in front of him.

  “Really? With what?”

  There was none of the usual sly humor in his eyes. Now that I got a good look at him, he looked tired and wane.

  Impatience crossed his face. “Aileen, I don’t have time for these games. I need to find Liam. If you’re bored, why don’t you run along and pick another fight with Thomas so you can remind yourself of all the reasons you hate vampires?”

  I didn’t let myself react to his words, hurtful though they were intended to be. It was just more evidence that Nathan wasn’t quite feeling himself.

  I needed to figure out a way to get him out of here without anybody getting hurt. The way he was staring at me, like a man willing to bulldoze any obstacle in his way, made it clear getting him away from the gathering wasn’t going to be as easy as saying ‘follow me.’

  “I think I may know where he’s going,” I said, making shit up as I went along.

  Nathan scrubbed tiredly at his face, biting out irritably, “Don’t keep me in suspense.”

  “If you’ll follow me,” I said turning.

  “No, tell me where he’s going and I’ll find him myself,” Nathan snapped.

  I blinked at him. I could do that, but then I’d lose control of the situation.

  “Don’t be an ass, Nathan. I need to talk to him too,” I said, trying to keep from tipping my hand.

  He made an angry sound but followed after me. My shoulders relaxed. That was one problem down, at least.

  Niall and Cadell caught my eye as we walked away from the party. They looked questioning. I shook my head at both of them. The last thing I wanted was their interference. Despite the heart to heart last night, I didn’t trust either of them.

  They remained in place as I stepped into the trees, breathing a sigh of relief. Nathan’s expression was still irritated, but at least he was listening. That was something at least.

  His eyes were bloodshot, his skin the palest I’d ever seen it. For a moment I wondered when the last time he ate was.

  He reached up and rubbed his head, not quite hiding a wince.

  “Headache?” I asked.

  “Vampires don’t get headaches,” he snapped.

  Not true. We just usually had a very good reason for getting them, like maybe a compulsion we were fighting against and losing.

  I studied him, doubt wiggling its way in. Maybe I was wrong in my assumption that he was under a compulsion. It wasn’t like I’d had a lot of practice with this. I was feeling my way through blind, hoping and praying I got things right.

  Part of me hoped I was wrong. I would be so happy if it turned out I’d misinterpreted that small shimmer.

  I checked again. It was barely visible now.

  I didn’t know what that meant or if it was even important. Once again, I cursed the limited knowledge at my fingertips.

  We were far enough from the clearing now, the music from the band faint, a light background buzz. The Fae lights merely a distant memory as the dark pressed in all around us.

  “I don’t see Liam,” Nathan complained.

  “I’m sure he’s here,” I said over my shoulder. “Somewhere.”

  He’d better be, and he’d better have brought back-up. I did not want to take on a pissed-off Nathan by myself. I’d trained with the man; I was intimately acquainted with how good a fighter he was. He’d kicked my ass on a regular basis. Sometimes with one hand literally behind his back. Nothing made you realize how weak you actually were than a grinning vampire who ties his own hand behind his back and then kicks your ass anyway.

  I glanced around, searching the shadows. No evidence that anyone but Nathan and I were out here.

  “Enough,” Nathan barked, coming to a stop.

  I glanced back, my eyes wide, fear jumping into my throat.

  He didn’t move toward me, just glanced at the looming trees around us with a deep suspicion in his face. “What is this, Aileen?”

  “What do you mean?” I made myself ask, even as I fought the urge to back away. Running would be useless and an admission of guilt. Nathan could outpace me in moments, anyway.

  “You’re stalling.” His posture became threatening and he advanced on me, his expression tight. “Why have you lured me here?”

  I backed away, the danger I was in suddenly very real. I resisted the impulse to go for one of the blades on
me, silver all of them. The Fae had insisted no iron be brought to the celebration, and like the good little hosts we were we’d listened.

  “Nathan, I need you to stay calm,” I said, reaching for that calmness myself.

  He cocked his head, breathing hard through his nose. “You know, I’m beginning to think that some of the enforcers might be compromised. I didn’t think you’d be the same.”

  I went still. “It’s not me that I’m worried about.”

  He jerked, his forehead wrinkling, the thought that he might be under a compulsion never having occurred to him. “You’re spouting nonsense.”

  I stepped to the side, away from the tree at my back, giving myself room to run if I needed to.

  “Am I? Think. Why did you want to see Liam?” I asked, putting a little more distance between us.

  Thought flew behind his eyes. “I need to talk to him.”

  “About what? Do you even know?” My voice was soft.

  He stared into the distance, his expression haunted.

  “Nathan, were you ever alone with Niamh?”

  He rubbed his forehead again, shaking his head back and forth. “I’m an enforcer. It’s not strange to want to speak to my commander.”

  I nodded. He was right. It wasn’t, but the severity of the need, the shaking in his hands when he was denied that opportunity, was.

  For a split second, it looked like I’d gotten through to him, that I might have broken through the bonds the compulsion laid on him. He lifted his head, a monster looking out of his eyes—the element that made him Nathan, absent.

  His expression turned feral. “He’s not coming, is he?”

  He didn’t wait for an answer, his lips drawing back as his fangs dropped down.

  I palmed a silver blade, holding it in front of me. “Don’t make me use this.”

  “I’m right here, Nathan,” Liam said, stepping out of the trees.

  Nathan’s advance halted, his head swinging toward Liam.

  The thought that had been niggling at the back of my mind since I first intercepted Nathan crystalized. All this time Nathan had been focused on Liam. Not Thomas. If the geas was driving him to kill Thomas or even Niall, then why was he so focused on finding Liam.

  Unless the other two weren’t the targets.

  “Liam, wait,” I shouted.

  I was too late.

  Nathan charged, a roar filling the air as he flew at the other man. I raced after him, my speed no match for his.

  Liam looked startled for a brief moment, before he crouched to meet him. The two men clashed, the sound of battle ferocious and violent as they moved almost too fast to see.

  Thomas arrived in the next second, Anton and Daniel behind him.

  “Sweet Jesu. I didn’t believe it,” Anton said, his voice hushed as he watched the two fight.

  All three men were grim-faced and disbelieving as they watched Liam and Nathan tear into each other.

  “Help him,” I said.

  Daniel waded into the fight, grabbing Nathan from behind and throwing him to the ground. Anton was there in the next second, helping hold Nathan down as Daniel fished out a pair of silver handcuffs from his pocket.

  Together, the two of them subdued Nathan, forcing him on his knees, his hands bound behind him.

  Nathan looked around, betrayal written on his face as Liam walked over to where Thomas and I stood.

  There was blood on his shirt from a bite and several bruises on his face that were already healing. Nathan had a swollen eye and several cuts and bruises in a similar state of healing.

  “What are you doing?” Nathan asked.

  “Settle down, brother,” Daniel said. “This is for your own good.”

  Both Anton and Daniel looked sickened by the whole matter.

  Liam touched my hand when he reached me, a silent acknowledgment he was fine.

  “Explain this,” Thomas said, his voice quiet.

  “Nathan is under a compulsion,” Liam turned and looked at the man who was considered his second. “His actions are not his own.”

  “Bullshit,” Nathan said. “I’m fine.”

  “Then you just felt the sudden need to rip Liam’s head from his body?” I asked, a bite in my voice.

  Nathan looked away, his expression slightly lost. He didn’t try to explain it. He couldn’t, and we all knew it.

  Defeat shone in his gaze as he stared down at the ground.

  My heart tightened, seeing the dejection in the slump of his shoulders. I couldn’t imagine what he must be going through at the moment, to know that he wasn’t quite in control of his actions, that he might betray his friends for reasons he didn’t know or understand.

  “Why go after you?” Thomas asked Liam.

  I looked up to find a considering look on Liam’s face. He crossed his arms and looked contemplative.

  “None of this makes sense,” I said. “First the attack by the bridge, then the attacks last night. Now this. It doesn’t fit.”

  It was like our enemy had split personalities and couldn’t decide on what objective they wanted. It made it difficult to see the big picture, let alone stop it.

  “Perhaps that’s the point,” Liam said. “Fae plots tend to be convoluted, at best.”

  Thomas shook his head and speared Liam with a look. “It doesn’t matter. You know what you need to do.”

  Liam’s nod was slow, grief on his face. He stepped forward, going to a knee in front of Nathan.

  For a moment I didn’t understand. Not until I saw an answering pain in both Anton and Daniel’s expression, the resignation on Nathan’s.

  “Wait. You can’t,” I asked.

  “Aileen, go back to the clearing,” Liam ordered. He’d taken a knee in front of Nathan, placing one hand on the back of the other’s man’s neck.

  I stepped toward him. “He’s your friend.”

  “That’s why I have to do this.” His voice was a quiet hum. He’d already accepted this as his only course.

  “It’s okay, A. It’s for the best this way,” Nathan said, trying to comfort me.

  Bullshit. This was not happening. I wasn’t letting it.

  “We stopped it in time. There’s no reason to kill him,” I said, looking around at the others.

  Thomas was unmoved. He’d retreated behind a mask, watching the events unfold with a closed expression, his bearing as unruffled as ever.

  “This is a mercy,” Liam said, his voice raw. “Now leave.”

  I refused. There was another way. I just needed to find it.

  “Thomas,” Liam said.

  Thomas sighed, turning toward me. I dropped my gaze, knowing he’d try to compel me to go back to the clearing. Not this time. Not with Nathan’s life hanging in the balance.

  “Don’t do this. We can find another way,” I said, desperate.

  I didn’t want to stand over another grave. I didn’t want to have questions about whether I could have made a difference if I’d just been a little faster, a little smarter.

  Thomas grabbed my chin, exerting pressure on it as he slowly forced me to face him.

  “Liam, I can break it,” I said, resisting. It was like trying to resist gravity—impossible.

  My chin lifted and I slammed my eyes closed.

  “Wait,” Liam said.

  To my surprise, Thomas did. I opened my eyes, slowly, tentatively, not trusting the easy capitulation.

  “Let her go,” Liam said.

  Thomas and he locked gazes, a wealth of unspoken words exchanged between the two. Thomas turned back to me, studying me as if I was some rare creature.

  He released me and stepped away.

  I turned to Liam, taking in the other enforcers at a glance. There was hope on Anton’s face, while Daniel looked guarded, not quite trusting. Nathan’s expression was resigned. He’d already given up hope.

  “Can you really break the compulsion?” Liam asked.

  I jerked my shoulders. “I don’t know, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try.”<
br />
  The woods were quiet as Liam stared at me. I waited, anticipation drawing my nerves tight as I tried to will him to have faith in me, to take a chance even though every instinct he had told him it was pointless.

  “Okay,” he said. “We’ll try.”

  Relief made my knees weak. I didn’t think he’d change his mind.

  I stepped toward Nathan. Liam stopped me.

  “Not here. The magic is rising. The hunt will begin soon,” he said.

  “I thought the hunt wasn’t supposed to start until tomorrow,” I said.

  Liam’s face turned grim. “It seems we were misled. This area won’t be safe once it starts. We’ll break the compulsion back at the mansion.” To the other two, he said, “Get him up. We’re going back to the car.”

  Anton and Daniel lifted Nathan to his feet. He didn’t resist, going with them easily.

  Liam, Thomas and I waited until they passed.

  “Are you sure about this?” Thomas asked.

  Liam looked infinitely weary in that moment. “No, but I don’t have it in me to not let Aileen try.”

  Thomas nodded, his face grave.

  I couldn’t help but be surprised when he didn’t argue with Liam. I thought he’d insist on Nathan’s death. I’d been prepared for a fight.

  “This will leave you with only Makoto and Eric,” Liam warned.

  Thomas flapped his hand. “You forget who I am. I’m perfectly capable of protecting myself.”

  His gaze caught on me and he studied me with a slight smile. “Besides, if she’s successful, it’ll make for a powerful weapon in my arsenal.”

  I glared at him. That wasn’t the point and he knew it.

  Thomas chuckled as he followed after the others.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  The trek back to the clearing went quickly. None of us were in the mood to linger. No one wanted to be out here with the magic rising like a tidal wave intent on sweeping up everything in its path. I could practically feel the call of the hunt as the forest loomed over us, silent and mysterious. Sinister as it watched our retreat.

  We had to pass through the gathering to get to the cars. Things were quiet. The music had died down during our confrontation.

  The magic felt suffocating in the night, heady and electrifying, building the anticipation in the air and fanning its flames.