For a moment, Turquoise almost felt guilty. She was intentionally manipulating him. A feeding vampire is an easy target; most of them completely lost sense of their surroundings as they drew blood. Jaguar did not even try to catch her mind as his lips fell to her throat. If she had been armed, it would have been revoltingly easy to kill him.

CHAPTER 8

JAGUAR RELEASED TURQUOISE reluctantly, holding her wrists until he was sure she could stand on her own. She took a deep breath and leaned back against a wall. He had taken a little more than she would have lost in a hospital blood donation, but it was enough to make her light-headed.

The sound of a throat being cleared in the doorway brought her back to her senses. When she saw who stood there, an instant of frozen panic shoved the fuzziness aside.

Lord Daryl. He wore his customary steel-toed boots; just seeing them made Turquoise's ribs ache in memory. She knew his charcoal gray pants would be dry clean only, as would the blue silk shirt. His hair reflected any color around him like a raven 's feathers, and just now it appeared black with blue highlights.

His features looked sculpted from ivory, with just a faint flush-he had fed tonight, but not recently.

And he was beautiful. Why were vampires always beautiful? In her years as a hunter, she had looked for answers to this. She knew many of them had been changed because their beauty attracted attention. She knew that the vampiric blood erased all the little human flaws, smoothed the skin, firmed the muscle, and in general perfected their form. But knowing intellectually was not the same as seeing.

Beautiful like the Devil, and twice as frightening. Turquoise's heart was suddenly pounding so hard she could feel it against her temples; she knew Jaguar and Lord Daryl both would be able to hear it, but she could not focus enough to slow it. Two years of Bruja training might as well never have occurred.

"What do you want, Daryl?" Jaguar snapped. Clearly, he did not like his guest. He held Turquoise against himself, either protectively or possessively. Turquoise liked to think it was the first. But Jaguar 's protection had its dangers, too. Lord Daryl had always been jealous.

"New acquisition?" Lord Daryl bit out, his gaze falling on Turquoise with instant recognition before it rose to meet Jaguar 's in blatant hatred.

"A gift from Jeshickah. What do you want?" Jaguar repeated, his feelings for Daryl mirroring Daryl's for him.

"Has Jeshickah decided whether she is going to stay?" Lord Daryl responded, apparently in no hurry to get to the point.

Jaguar shook his head. "She hasn't told me her plans. If you've got nothing better to do than chat, Daryl, I must ask you to leave. I have work." Daryl started to argue, but did not manage to get a word out before Jaguar added, "Dismissed, Daryl," in a voice so cold it made gooseflesh rise on Turquoise's arms.

Lord Daryl stalked out, fury written in every movement.

"You can just order him around like that?" Turquoise asked, before she could bite her tongue to stop herself.

"Supposedly, everyone in this building is under my command."

"Why supposedly?"

"There are always exceptions," Jaguar answered dryly.

Jeshickah, Turquoise guessed. And maybe Gabriel.

"Go find something to entertain yourself with, Audra," Jaguar sighed. "I should speak to Jeshickah before Daryl goes whining to her."

Jaguar preceded her into the hallway, which Turquoise entered only with great trepidation. Lord Daryl had barely acknowledged her in Jaguar's presence, but he had recognized her. If he caught her alone she imagined no leniency.

Turquoise halted in the hallway and watched Jaguar leave, leaning back against the wall as if a bit faint, until she could focus and plan her next move.

Lord Daryl was an unexpected danger she would have to cope with. She had her own agenda, to accomplish with or without him in the way.

Right now, she wanted to see the courtyard. She could check the door to the south wing, but she imagined it would be inaccessible at this time, as too many people would be within sight. She would never be able to pick the lock and get inside without being seen.

As she stepped into the hallway on her way to the south wing, Turquoise bit back a curse. Ravyn. Whatever she was doing here, it wasn't in line with their plan to lay low until they understood what was going on.

Ravyn didn't seem to be in trouble yet, but she looked pretty near. Gabriel was leaning back against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, and regarding Ravyn with skepticism as she spoke.

Huffily, Ravyn turned away and started toward the south wing; her vampiric companion grabbed her arm, pulling her back.

Turquoise started to approach, but Ravyn caught her eye and shook her head minutely. She did not look distressed, so Turquoise would let her handle this on her own.

Turquoise returned to her room and paced, waiting for Ravyn. Her energy was ferocious behind the docile front she had to display; she wanted to fight something. She was anxious to complete their mission and leave; she was doubly anxious to know what trouble Ravyn had gotten them into.

Jeshickah couldn't be that difficult a target. Jaguar detested her so Turquoise doubted he would protect her. All Turquoise needed was a knife and a moment of opportunity.

Of course, if she misjudged and Jaguar did get in the way, he would probably have to go, too.

Finally the door opened, and Ravyn sauntered in. The girl looked a bit pale, tired, but pleased as punch.

"What was that?" Turquoise immediately snapped.

Ravyn just stretched, yawned, and without bothering with pajamas climbed up to her bed. "It's almost sunrise, Turquoise. Get some sleep."

Sleep? Strangling Ravyn seemed once again like a very good idea.

"Ravyn-"

"I am tired," Ravyn responded. "And incidentally, I have a plan. Let me sleep, and I'll tell it to you. Later." She pulled the pillow over her head.

d.a.m.n that girl.

Sunrise. Most of the vamps would be bedding down to sleep. They weren't comatose under the sun, but a sleeping vampire was still an easier target than a fully conscious one. Sunrise would have been a perfect time to execute whatever Ravyn's plan was.

Turquoise stalked out of the room. The kitchen was full of people eating dinner. She joined them, and lingered until the kitchen closed, at which point most people retreated to their rooms to sleep.

She spent an hour in the exercise room, and then took a quick shower and changed, by which time it was late morning and the wing was almost empty. She remembered Eric mentioning that not enough people were awake to make a noontime meal worthwhile, so midday seemed to be the best time to make an attempt at the courtyard.

Turquoise had s.n.a.t.c.hed a large safety pin and a pen from Katie's office earlier. Unbending the pin and pulling the shirt clip from the pen provided a low-tech but workable pick set, which she quickly employed on the courtyard door.

The lock wasn't particularly complicated, about as sophisticated as most house locks. Turquoise 's tools were less than wonderful, but she had practiced this art a great deal, and within three minutes she felt the telltale click of success.

CHAPTER 9

THE COURTYARD WAS STUNNING.

The area was surrounded by the walls of Midnight, their natural stone texture enhanced with crawling ivy, and the ground beneath her feet was soft with thick green moss, dotted with smooth gray stones that rose in tempting seats. Low-growing trees decorated the ground, young willows and j.a.panese maples that bowed gracefully to their visitor. Slender irises grew from the edge of a small pool, their blooms past but their green leaves rising regally from their mossy bank.

I can see why someone would want to protect a place such as this. However, she could not see why Jaguar-a trainer, a slave trader, and a vampire-would care for the beauty of irises and ivy, no matter how kind a master he seemed.

She entered the courtyard with careful but quick steps, keeping her eyes open for anyone else that might be here. Jaguar was probably asleep at this hour, but she did not know if any humans or shape-shifters had permission to be inside these walls.

She was nearly at the center of the courtyard when a rustling of leaves caused her to turn, her excuses already on her lips.

"I was just . . ." The words died, useless.

The animal stalked silently from the grove of willows, its dark-amber eyes regarding her carefully.

Turquoise was no expert on felines; she simply knew this one was big. The creature was probably longer than she was tall. It stretched lazily and she saw extended claws press into the moss; one swipe could probably take off her hand. She didn 't know enough to identify the breed by its spots, but considering the master of this place, she could make a reasonable guess as to which this one was.

These two, her mind amended, as a second jaguar emerged from the undergrowth. This one was smaller and lighter, and a ragged line of scar tissue marred her muzzle, running to her ear and leaving a trail of pearl where one beautiful golden eye had been destroyed.

Turquoise knew not to panic. These creatures were bigger than most dogs, but they were still animals; she knew better than to run from them.

Instead, she made her voice smooth and calm as she spoke to the female, whose lead the larger jaguar seemed waiting to follow.

"Milady, I didn't mean to invade your courtyard." One should always address a large, potentially dangerous animal with respect. She smiled, recalling her father's words on the subject. Of course, he had been speaking about a stray dog at the time- dangerous, but not a jaguar. Her father's mishmash of wisdom and advice formed most of the only good memories she still had.

As she spoke, she edged toward the doorway, careful neither to run nor to turn her back on the jaguar. "I didn't realize this area belonged to anyone but Jaguar, and if you wish, I will certainly leave."

She found her way blocked by the larger jaguar, and had to circle around to avoid him. He stretched in the shade directly in front of the doorway and closed his eyes to return to the nap she had probably interrupted.

"How like a cat," she murmured. "Well, milady, I don't suppose you're going to ask him to move, are you?" The words got no response, but her attempt to edge past the male jaguar did: he drew back his lips, just near enough to a snarl to make her back off.

She could try the other door, but she hesitated to walk into the west wing without knowing what was going on. She would give it another hour or so. With luck, the jaguar would move from the south wing doorway. If not, she would have to try her luck in the vampire's corridor. To pa.s.s time, Turquoise ended up sitting in a patch of sunlight near the pool, working on her story to Jaguar for when he found her here, trying to do nothing that would aggravate the two felines.

The smaller jaguar was the more inquisitive. She joined Turquoise in the sunlight, and shortly proceeded to give her new human companion a cat-bath. Turquoise endured the sandpaper tongue on her back and shoulders, hoping it was a good sign.

Despite her size and capacity for ferocity, the jaguar acted much like any cat: independent, a.s.sertive, but at the moment playful.

She nuzzled Turquoise in the side until the human stroked a hand down the jaguar's beautiful fur, and then sprawled ungracefully on the ground to chew on a blade of iris.

The larger jaguar had not moved. Turquoise gave up on hoping, and reluctantly approached the west door. She hesitated as she saw the male lift his head. She was near the doorway when it yawned, showing a threatening expanse of teeth, and stood.

The female shouldered her in the backs of the knees and she nearly ended up on the ground again, but she just barely managed to keep her balance.

"Milady, I'm sorry if I'm being rude, but-"

The male jaguar pounced.

With no time to prepare, Turquoise hit the ground on her back; though uninjured by the fall, she braced herself for the feel of the jaguar's teeth snapping her neck.

She peeled open her eyes after a moment to find a very large cat standing over her, its front paws perched on her shoulders.

She might have blinked; she wasn't sure. Either way, it was suddenly Jaguar who was pushing himself to his feet, and offering her a hand to pull her up.

Mutely, she stared at the hand for long seconds.

Within the sunlit boundaries of the courtyard, Jaguar looked as much at home as he had in the exotic confines of Midnight 's interior. The sunlight caused his dark hair to come alive with highlights of warm chestnut; his dark skin took on a rich bronze tone.

Recovering quickly, Turquoise stood without his help. "Jaguar-"

All he said was, "Audra, I don't believe I invited you here." His tone was light, almost playful, and she distrusted it instantly.

"You-"

Before she could form the sentence, Jaguar collapsed to his knees next to the other cat, which nuzzled at his shoulder companionably. "Allow me to introduce Shayla, the most beautiful creature living in this building. " He paused, tracing the rosettes on Shayla's fur. "Though I doubt Shayla would ever protest being called 'milady.' "

Turquoise's head was still spinning, and the only answer she could form was, "It's what my father used to call our tabby cat when he needed her to do something."

"Shayla is naturally distrustful of most people," Jaguar explained. "And since every enemy I have, she has as well, there is ample reason for her to be wary. You're lucky she took to you so quickly."

"If she hadn't?"

Jaguar's black eyes were unreadable as he turned from Shayla to meet Turquoise's gaze. "You wouldn't be standing here now."

He looked away, and when he continued his voice was once again light. "Shayla is an excellent judge of character. Since she deems you worthy, I'll allow you to be here." "Thank you, milady," Turquoise said with mock formality, addressing Shayla, who did not look up from meticulously cleaning her right forepaw.

Shayla seemed to sense that the atmosphere had mellowed; she chose that moment to pounce, which engaged Jaguar in a round of kittenish play.

Turquoise could not keep herself from laughing. She was watching a vampire romp.

Shayla was the one who disengaged first, when Jaguar managed to roll her nearly into the irises. She walked off with her ears perked, her posture saying, "I meant to do that," as she retreated to the trees.

Jaguar remained lounging on the ground. He propped himself up on his elbows to look at Turquoise. "I've been told that I spend too much time in jaguar form, and it affects my behavior. Do you think it might be true?"

"Definitely." He had given her leave to speak as she wished with him, and she sought to explore how far the limits on that freedom stretched. "How long have you known Shayla?"

Jaguar sighed. "I've known her family since her great-grandfather was a kitten. Shayla was injured by a hunter a few years ago; she lost one eye and nearly lost the other, and she still walks with a slight limp where the bone was set too late. She never would have survived in the jungle, so I brought her here." Jaguar glanced toward Shayla, and Turquoise followed his gaze; in response to the attention, Shayla yawned widely.

"A lot of the older cultures in Central and South America thought jaguars were G.o.ds, or messengers of the G.o.ds," Jaguar noted absently.

The comment prompted Turquoise to ask, "Your homeland?"

His expression cooled slightly, but he answered, "My mother's." His voice was carefully neutral as he added, "My father was Spanish."