aBudapest is a vital stronghold for our people to the east,a Elizabeth chimed in.

aItas long been a haven for our kind, but our numbers there have dwindled,a Macaire stated sadly. aWe need to protect what is ours.a aShall you be going then to check it out?a I leaned forward in my chair so I could clearly see him around Jabari.

Macaire looked over at me, a wicked grin growing across his old, soft face. aI thought you would be best suited for this endeavor. You have proven to be quite adept at ridding an area of the naturi. I thought that you might be able to a.s.sist the nightwalkers of Budapest. You could clean out the region and make it safe again for our kind while settling the humans as well.a Should I be concerned? I asked Jabari secretly.

You should always be concerned when Macaire is involved.

I should have just killed him instead of Lucas.

Yes, that may have been the wiser choice, Jabari agreed with a rumble of laughter rolling through my brain.

Of course, then you would no longer need me.

True, he admitted.

It was enough to make a person scream. Even the one ally I had on the coven wanted me dead in the end. Only the hunter at my back seemed to worry about whether I lived or died. At least he wanted me to live another night for reasons other than how I could be used to his benefit.

aWho is the keeper of Budapest?a I asked, sitting back in my chair again. I was stalling. I didnat want to go and fight the naturi again. Most importantly, I didnat want to go into a domain that was ruled by a nightwalker loyal to Macaire. However, if I could steal that bit of backing from the Elder, it would weaken him. He would have fewer allies to rely on. It would bring him one step closer to being removed from the coven.

aThat is unknown,a Macaire admitted. aSince the death of Geoffrey more than two centuries ago, no one has formally stepped forward to claim the territory.a I didnat buy it. There were exceedingly heavy concentrations of nightwalkers in Paris, Budapest, Vienna, Prague, and Berlin. I knew the keepers of all those domains save Budapest and Vienna. Of course, it was well known that Valerio made his home in Vienna and anyone causing problems in that city had to answer to him. He may not have held the t.i.tle of keeper, but the city belonged to him. I could only guess that Budapest was managed much the same way by a nightwalker I wasnat currently familiar with.

Going to Budapest was dangerous, to say the least, but I would only be faced with the naturi and a nightwalker that didnat like me much. It didnat seem to be that bad a situation. If I was lucky, Rowe would be hanging out in Budapest, giving me a chance to remove his one remaining eye. Traveling to Budapest would also give me the opportunity to steal something from Macaire. The potential rewards outweighed the risks, as far as I could see.

aI shall travel to Budapest and look over the situation. Iall remove the naturi from the region,a I said with a nod of my head. aHowever, it seems such a waste to just send out one Elder when there are four of us. Wouldnat it be a more effective example if we all struck out in separate domains and cleaned them of naturi?a I waved my right hand out toward the horde of nightwalkers closely watching me. aOur people have come forward for our help. Would not a strike from all four of us be the best use of our resources?a aWe all have domains that we watch overa"a Elizabeth started, but I was quick to cut her off.

aYes, and Iave been careful to leave my domain in the capable hands of one I trust to watch over things while I am away. Surely, youave done the same. I imagine that you can spend a few nights away from your domain and the coven in support of your people.a I sat back in my chair, fighting back a smile. There werenat too many nightwalkers that would welcome a visit from an Elder, let alone have one temporarily set up shop within their domain, even if it meant getting rid of the naturi. Not many would thank me for this suggestion. However, I was unwilling to be the only one on the coven that got her hands dirty. I had been sent to Crete and Peru to stop Rowe. I was now being sent to Budapest to fight the naturi for some unknown keeper. I would not be the errand girl of the coven. They had to fight as well if we were to succeed against the naturi.

You will pay for this suggestion , Jabari growled at me. aI think this is an excellent idea. With the death of Yuri, I will travel to Russia and check over the situation in Moscow and St. Petersburg,a he announced.

I was impressed and worried. Jabari was from Egypt. He lingered there in his free time even after countless centuries. He hated the cold, but he was willing to travel to Russia in the dead of winter. He had something else up his sleeve beyond the need to destroy naturi in Yurias domain. I quickly pushed the concern aside. I had no plans to travel to Russia, no intention of traveling that far from my own beloved Savannah. Let the Elder claim the region, extending his reach to more than what Alexander the Great could even call his own.

aFollowing that train of thought,a Macaire began, straightening in his chair as he spoke, aI shall go to Spain. After the death of your maker Sadira, a power vacuum has been left behind. There is no one there to keep order. I shall restore calm to the region.a Should I warn him about the wind clan near Barcelona? Danaus inquired.

A smile tweaked the corners of my mouth, forcing me to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from letting the smile fully form. No, let him figure it out on his own.

Pushing to the edge of my seat, I looked down the row to where Elizabeth sat. Her tiny figure seemed to be engulfed in the chair. She sat with her back ramrod straight, her dainty hands folded in her lap. I struggled to imagine her in a fight with the naturi, but then Sadira could have pa.s.sed for someoneas grandmother, not a vicious killer. When it came to nightwalkers, looks were frequently deceiving.

aIf I might make a suggestion,a I politely said, lifting my hand. aYou may want to consider traveling to London and the surrounding region.a aLondon?a she repeated, arching one eyebrow at me. aWhy there? There is no keeper of London, none in all of the United Kingdom.a aTrue, but it has a high population density of humans and there are still a number of nightwalkers there, despite the fact that the city has no keeper. Wouldnat it be prudent of us to stake a claim in the city before it is lost to the naturi?a I countered. aWe could at last establish a power foothold in the region, and itas not too far from your own beloved Paris, correct?a What are you doing?

The question nearly echoed through my brain as both Jabari and Danaus made the demand at almost the exact same second.

Iam trying to see where her loyalties lie, I told Jabari. I donat think sheas with Macaire and I know she doesnat stand with you. Handing her a new domain could give me insight into where she stands .

I then switched to my secret path with Danaus. Iam dangling a bit of fresh meat in front of Ryan. I want to see if he will try to access the coven through Elizabeth if he thinks heas lost his entrance through me.

My reasons for sending Elizabeth were multifaceted, but neither man needed to know all of them. If Elizabeth didnat side with Jabari or Macaire, she might soften toward me at last if I handed her a way to easily extend her own domain. London and the surrounding region wouldnat be an easy place to control, but it was another high-profile city like Paris.

aI will go to London,a she announced, nodding toward me. She eyed me suspiciously for only a moment before turning to look straight ahead again, dismissing me.

aIt is decided, then!a Jabari announced, pushing to his feet. He raised his hands over his head, causing his robes to sway about him. aThis meeting of the coven is at an end. We will meet again when all four members have gathered here in Venice after the completion of their tasks.a The nightwalkers filed out of the front door of the Main Hall, while Elizabeth and Macaire slipped out a side door that led to the underground chambers. The air was heavy and silent, but I could feel the telepathic chatter as they discussed this unprecedented move by the Elders to rid the region of the naturi. The Elders rarely did anything beyond their silly amus.e.m.e.nts here in Venice. To take action, to actually take up arms against an enemy, hadnat been done in centuries. But then, we hadnat had an enemy to strike against in many centuries.

To my surprise, Jabari lingered behind, along with Valerio and Stefan. The Elder returned to his seat while the two others stepped forward. Valerio gave a sweeping bow to me, grinning ear to ear, while Stefan stiffly bowed his head.

aBudapest, eh?a Valerio said, inspecting his fingernails. aIt sounds like fun. Iall join you if youall have me.a aYou standing against the naturi? I struggle to see whatas in it for you,a I said, unable to keep the shock out of my voice. Valerio preferred the background, watching as others took risks. He knew when to step forward and take the benefit for himself when the opportunity arose. If anything, Valerio was a lover, never a fighter.

aBudapest is but a short jaunt from Vienna. I would prefer it if this naturi . . . infection did not spread to my own sweet city,a he replied, and I was happy to drop the issue. That was an explanation that I could understand. He was finally stepping forward to protect what he considered his. Of course, I was willing to bet there was more to it, but he would never tip his hand if he could help it.

aI wish to a.s.sist you as well,a Stefan stated brusquely. aI have had my own issues with the city of Budapest. There is a personal matter that I wish to look into if you would allow me to join you.a aThatas fine with me.a I wasnat going to press Stefan for more information because I knew I wasnat going to get it. I didnat trust the nightwalker, but I was willing to bet he was going to give me a little room since I had promised him a seat on the coven. He was going to give me a little time to deliver on my promise before he attempted to take my own seat. aUnless you want to arrive separately from me, my plane will leave shortly after sunset for Budapest.a Both nightwalkers gave me a brief bow before disappearing from the Main Hall. I turned in my seat to find Jabari watching me with a thoughtful look on his face.

aItas killing you to see me sitting here when you were so close to killing me just a few months ago,a I teased, grinning over at him.

aIt is an unexpected turn of events, but not one I find unpleasant.a aFor now, you mean.a aTrue,a he conceded. Jabari was pleased I was on the coven so long as it benefited him. The moment I no longer gave him an edge was the day he would kill me. He had already started looking for ways to replace me. Luckily, I had an ace up my sleeve that he didnat know about. Unfortunately, I had to find a way to escape his control without him being aware of it. Sure, Nick was demanding that I learn to use the powers of my keepers, but it wasnat something I was confident I could do in secret. If Jabari discovered that Iad found a way to escape his control, he would kill me in an instant. I was too dangerous without someone holding my leash.

aIs there anything I should know about Budapest before I set foot on her soil?a I asked, directing our conversation back to the more important matter at hand.

aDonat trust Macaire.a aI gathered that much. Whoas the keeper?a aI do not know. Macaire has been known to frequent that region, so I turned my back on it. You will benefit from having Valerio on hand.a I sighed and shoved one hand through my hair. aUnfortunately, Stefan is a mixed bag.a aHe wants your chair,a Danaus said, speaking for the first time since stepping foot in the Main Hall. His deep voice seemed to echo through the silence and vibrate through my chest.

aHe wants a chair on the coven. Iad be happy to hand him someone elseas,a I muttered, not needing to comment out loud exactly whose chair I would be willing to hand over.

aI can offer you no help with Budapest,a Jabari continued, ignoring my comment. aBe on your guard. It has always been a place for powerful creatures. Both lycans and warlocks call it home, as well as nightwalkers.a aIall be careful.a aDo not trust Stefan. He has been known to side with Macaire on occasion,a Jabari admonished one last time before disappearing from sight.

Danaus came around to stand beside my chair. I looked up at the hunter and smiled at him, some of the tension finally oozing from my shoulders. I still had a long road ahead of me, but for now, the worst had been pushed aside. I survived my first meeting on the coven and been forced to kill only two creatures. I had a dark feeling that it would mark a slow night for me. My reign on the coven would be short, but it would also be washed in the blood of my people and that of the naturi.

aHow do you think it went?a Danaus shook his head at me, fighting back a smile. aI wasnat expecting you to declare war on your first night. It was a bold move.a aMacaire has to know where I stand. Iam not going to take any s.h.i.t from him, and heas not going to be able to win me away from Jabari like he hoped last summer.a aAnd Budapest?a aHe knows the keeper of Budapest. I have no doubt that heas issuing instructions as we speak. There may be naturi there wreaking havoc in the city, but itas also going to be a trap. Ia"I canat ask youa"a aIam going,a he declared before I could stammer out my wishes.

I smiled up at him, barely suppressing the urge to kiss him. Danaus had been there when I was in attacked by naturi in London, Crete, and Ollantaytambo. He was there went we mounted the attack on Machu Picchu. He was there when I struggled to piece together the crumbling order of my own beloved Savannah. He had been there through it all with me. At this point I couldnat imagine fighting the naturi without him. Of course, there was also the chance he could take out a few nightwalkers as well, which would make him more than happy.

A part of me wished I could tell him that he didnat have to go, or that it was too dangerous for him to accompany me. I wished I could tell him that I didnat need him, considering that I had Valerio and Stefan at my side, but I couldnat utter the words.

aThank you,a I murmured, hating the blush I could feel stealing up to my cheeks.

Placing his hands on the arms of the chair, Danaus leaned down and pressed a light kiss against my forehead. aI am your consort. You go nowhere without me,a he whispered, his lips brushing against my temple. I smiled, resting my head against his jaw. Apparently when I named him my consort, I wasnat the only one staking a claim. And for once, I didnat mind.

Chapter Seven.

Budapest glowed about us, shining like a golden crown surrounding a shimmering river of gla.s.s. The news revealed that a fresh blanket of snow had fallen over the city during the day, leaving it glistening under the stars. The last time I visited Budapest, the three sectors of Buda, "buda, and Pest had not yet been joined into a single city. She had been in the process of rebuilding from yet another battle that left many of her amazing buildings scarred and gutted. But still, this jewel of Central Europe shined and thrived.

After leaving our hotel at the foot of Gellrt Hill, we caught a taxi that was now taking us across Erzsbet Bridge toward lower Pest. The bridge rose up around us, white and slender like a womanas arm reaching across the Danube. Farther up the river I could see the Szchenyi Chain Bridge standing solid in all its stone and golden glow glory. There was beauty around every turn in this city, with its exquisite architecture and stunning statues and monuments. A part of me wished we werenat here on business but actually had some time to wander down the lovely streets and possibly visit the Parliament Building or any of the castles that dotted the landscape. Unfortunately, the exquisite Saint Stephenas Basilica was out of the questiona"the magic held by holy places of worship like churches, temples, and synagogues kept nightwalkers out.

aYou seem quieter than usual.a Danaus finally drew my gaze back into the car. The hunter sat next to me, his long black coat wrapped around him against the bitter cold outside. The temperature had dipped close to zero that night, and the wind gusted off and on, swirling the snow about us.

aItas been a long time since I was last here.a And even then, the memories were not so great. I had been running with Valerio at the time, and causing more than my fair share of mischief. I wasnat always the good little girl that I was now, and Valerio was no help on that front. The nightwalker had a wicked sense of humor and a dangerous definition of fun.

aI doubt thatas whatas preoccupying your mind.a A smile tweaked the corners of my mouth as I looked up at my companion. aYou know me too well sometimes,a I said, then shook my head. aI cannot begin to guess at what Macaire has in store for us. He would not have sent us to Budapest unless he had something special planned that would finally get me off of the coven and permanently out of his hair. And if he can get rid of you in the process, all the better for him.a aIt canat be too complicated.a Danaus shrugged, his shoulders brushing against mine. aEither the keeper in Budapest is extremely old and strong, making it unlikely that youall be able to defeat him. Or there are a high number of naturi here, making it impossible for us to win against those odds.a My frown deepened. It was the same two scenarios that I had come up with as well, and it didnat make me feel any better. aA single Ancient keeper doesnat stand a chance against both of us. And neither do the naturi. Weave wiped them out before. We can do it again.a We canat. We canat combine our powers as we had before, Danaus countered, switching to our private path in the event that our driver could actually speak English. We had lost our greatest weapon. Through the combination of our powers, we could destroy our enemies with a thought. However, the downfall of that ability was the fact that it sent the soul energy directly to the keeper of Danausas soul, a bori by the name of Gaizka. We had just finished locking him away once again at a great cost. I was in no hurry to have yet another run-in with the bori.

aMacaire doesnat know that,a I replied. aIam sure he still thinks that we can wipe out the naturi with a thought. I canat imagine what edge he thinks he finally has over us.a aWeall figure it out.a I wished I felt that same confidence Danaus exuded, but then Iad had more experience dealing with the Elders than he did. They were careful plotters and evil manipulators. They acted with purpose and caution so they could be sure they knew that the outcome would fall in their favor. It was rare that you could surprise an Elder, and even rarer that you could escape their schemes.

aWhen was the last time you were in Budapest?a I asked, happy to change the subject.

aThe Turks called this place home at the time,a he replied, putting his last visit sometime during the late fifteenth century to the early sixteenth century.

I slid my fingers through his open hand beside me. aA lot has changed since then.a aAnd yet some things have not.a He stared down at our entwined hands. His fingers remained loose, not truly holding my hand, but at the same time he didnat pull his hand free of my touch. aMira, Ia"Iam not sure I can do this.a aDo what?a Danaus raised our hands. aThis? Weare so different. Weave got pasts that we canat escape. Pasts that are going to eventually get in the way. I donat see how weare going to make this work.a aIam not worried about making something work. Itas about enjoying each otheras company while we have it,a I said, fighting to hold onto the fragile smile that was perched on my lips. My muscles in my chest tightened nervously; I could feel him already pulling away from me before we had taken any real steps forward, and despite what I said, I did want to make this work.

aWhat if there is nothing between us but l.u.s.t?a He lowered his voice as if this was some dark topic not fit for human ears.

I lowered my voice as well and slid closer to Danaus, so my shoulder touched his. aIs that such a bad thing? At least it is the start of something; something that we could possibly build upon.a I reached up with my free hand and slid my fingers along his jaw, loving the fact that he no longer drew away when I touched him. I could feel the energy balled up inside of him. He was stiff and anxious, but he didnat move away. The urge to kiss him welled up inside of me once again, the need to taste him. Instead, I dropped my hand back into my lap and lay my head against his shoulder.

aThe road ahead of us is dark,a he warned, but at the same time his fingers tightened around mine.

aBut weare no longer alone.a Giving Danausas hand one final squeeze, I sat up and pushed to the edge of my seat so I could lean across the front seat to speak to the driver. While my Hungarian was more than a little rusty, I still managed to direct him to drop us off near an empty corner in City Park. I could feel Valerio and Stefan lurking in the region. We were close to our meeting place, and I preferred to walk the rest of the distance without the watchful eyes of any humans nearby. I handed over six thousand Hungarian forints as he pulled the car to a stop. It more than covered the fee for the taxi ride and was a nice enough tip that he didnat ask any questions about us being dropped off in a lonely part of a park near midnight.

Danaus slid out of the car, releasing my hand, and I followed behind him, shoving my hands into the pockets of my long coat in an effort to fend off the bitter cold. With a jerk of my head, we started walking in the direction in which I sensed Valerio. Stefanas presence was a bit shadowy, as if he were quickly flitting from one place to the next so I couldnat keep a clear sense of where he was, and yet he wasnat cloaking himself completely from me.

After a few dozen yards along a winding path, Valerio stepped out of the shadows, blocking the light from a nearby streetlamp. He wore a heavy coat that stretched to his ankles, while a thick scarf was wrapped around his neck. The cold was little more than a nuisance to most nightwalkers, but he dressed so that he easily blended in with the humans. Plus, he liked to keep up with the latest fashions.

aHave you found someone worth talking to?a I asked as we joined him.

aSheas up ahead. From what Iave been able to discern during the past few hours, she tends to hold court here most nights.a aKeeper?a Danaus inquired.

aDoubtful. Sheas old, from what I understand, and long used to getting her way, but no one has used any term with her that has even a vague resemblance to the term akeeper.a It sounds like sheas just an old nightwalker,a Valerio said with a shrug.

I frowned, not liking what I was hearing. Old nightwalkers were extremely territorial and hated to play nice with other old nightwalkers. Unfortunately, as much as I hated to admit it, I too was an old nightwalker, and I was long used to getting my way. It frequently made for ugly clashes, as one was forced to finally give way to the other, usually through bloodshed and possibly an unexpected death. aWhatas her name?a aOdelia,a Stefan said, gliding out of the shadows to my right. I was relieved to see that Danaus didnat flinch. I had not sensed Stefan until a second before he officially appeared, and I doubted that Danaus had sensed him at all. Stefan was just trying to prove to me that he was my superior when it came to powers and experience. I, on the other hand, wasnat in the mood to play. We had bigger concerns, and the sooner Danaus and I got out of Budapest, the better it would be for all those involved. We needed to get back to Savannah.

I stared down at the snow-covered ground as I wracked my brain for a memory of someone by that name. I had known too many nightwalkers over my long life, and too few of my memories were good.

aDo you know her?a Danaus asked.

aI may have encountered her a time or two,a I admitted with a shake of my head as I looked up at Valerio and Stefan. aBut I donat truly recall her. The name sounds vaguely familiar. Do you know her?a I asked Stefan.

aSheas about your age. Long, dark hair, dark eyes,a he said, as if reciting a grocery list. aSheas arrogant, stubborn, and short-tempered.a I snorted and started walking again. aYouave just described most nightwalkers.a Danaus fell into step beside me, while Valerio and Stefan followed close on my heels. Only Danausas footsteps crunched in the snow. We nightwalkers had lived too many years of moving like a summer breeze across an endless field to make noise now. There was no question where we were headed. There was a large concentration of nightwalkers up ahead, and it didnat take much to sense their energy floating in the air.

aWhat is this place?a Danaus asked as we turned a corner and started to walk up the circular drive of a large neo-Baroque building. Outside, a large statue threw down a ma.s.sive shadow as if it were guarding the place. Several large domes rose up in the night, while the gray stone front was marked by tall columns and enormous windows that reflected back the light that shone off the snow.

aItas the Szchenyi Baths,a I replied.

aA Turkish bath?a Danaus said, obviously surprised. I understood why. Most of the time when we were meeting up with a powerful nightwalker, they preferred to hold court in a dark, human-crowded nightclub where food and s.e.x were easy to find.

aNot a true Turkish bath, though there are still some in the citya Valerio said. aThis one wasnat discovered and rebuilt until the early twentieth century.a aAnd when was the last time you were here?a I asked, arching one brow as I looked at him over my shoulder.

aMore than three centuries ago, as you may recall,a he said, sliding me a sly smile that brought a blush to my cheeks. But then most of our memories would stain my cheeks red. aAs to how I knew about Szchenyi, I had some time to read while I was waiting for your arrival.a To my shock, the nightwalker pulled a small travel guide out of his pocket and flashed it to me before returning it to his pocket.

aAlways prepared for any eventuality,a I mocked, then turned my attention to the small grouping of nightwalkers that stood by the front doors. The welcoming committee didnat look as if they were ready to let us pa.s.s into their private club, fellow nightwalkers or not.

As we drew close to the front doors, the three nightwalkers fanned out, blocking our entrance. Their hushed conversation stopped and they adopted a variety of bored and uninviting looks. It was all I could do to not giggle. The oldest of them wasnat more than three centuries old. h.e.l.l, their combined ages couldnat equal Stefanas age, or probably even Valerioas, not that the nightwalker would admit to it. They didnat stand a chance in being able to stop us on their best night. I completed a quick scan of the entire exterior of the bathhouse and the entryway as well. They were the only ones guarding the place.

Are there no old nightwalkers within the city beyond Odelia? I inquired of Stefan. These three could barely stop a determined human if they wanted to. Why put something so young on guard duty unless there was no one you were truly guarding it against except humans?

Not many, from what I had been able to gather, he replied. I could sense his distaste for the private communication, but he at least understood that this was not the type of conversation one had with the help.

Seems odd for a city so old. From my experience, old cities attracted old nightwalkers. They had old hiding places, old traditions, and old languages they were able to cling to.

Odelia may have cleaned house in order to solidify her power within the city.

It was a distinct possibility and was not totally unheard of. Removing any nightwalker that was relatively close to your age removed any potential compet.i.tion in the region for your dominance. But in truth, it was odd for such an old city to be in the hands of one so relatively young. Budapest should have been in the hands of an Ancient at the very least. I was beginning to wonder if I was potentially cleaning house so Macaire could move in. To my knowledge, the Elder preferred to linger in Rome, never traveling too far from the coven seat in Venice.

aWhat business do you have here?a asked the eldest of the nightwalkers in Hungarian as we finally stopped before them.

aWeare here to enjoy a midnight swim,a I replied easily in Italian. My Hungarian was still too rough, and traditionally, Italian announced to any nightwalker that you were from the coven. Unfortunately, this p.r.o.nouncement didnat go over as I expected. The three nightwalkers looked at each other in confusion, clearly unable to understand what I had just said to them. In fact, I was stunned speechless when Valerio finally had to repeat what I had said in Hungarian.

This is wrong, I said, directing my thoughts to both Valerio and Stefan. They are all more than a century old. Should they have not all appeared before the coven already? At the very least, the oldest should have been brought before the Elders. Has the tradition stopped here in Europe?

No, Valerio replied, his tone betraying some concern. All nightwalkers eventually appeared before the coven. All nightwalkers first learned Italian by pleading for their lives in that elegant language.

aHe cannot enter,a the oldest of the three declared, pinning Danaus with a dark gaze. aOnly magic users are permitted inside.a aWhat must he do to prove that heas a magic user?a Valerio inquired before I could argue. I was already growing weary of this trio, but then I was just another spoiled nightwalker long used to getting her way.

aHe must cast a powerful spell of some sort on one of us,a one of the nightwalkers said with a disbelieving smirk.

aFine,a I snapped in Hungarian. aDanaus, kill that one.a I pointed to the one who had spoken. He simply smiled at Danaus and me. For a moment I almost pitied him because he couldnat sense the energy that circled around the hunter, but my pity for him dissipated before it could fully form.

I canat do it, Mira, Danaus whispered in my mind, stunning me. I looked over at him, struggling to keep my mouth from falling open. This nonsense from a creature that seemed to chomp at the bit every time I tried to restrain him from killing a nightwalker?

What are you talking about? Boil his blood. Gaizka wonat benefit from that bit of magic, I argued.

Itas not that. Iave never killed a nightwalker that didnat attack me first.

You must. If you donat, weall have to leave you behind, and then all three of them are going to attack you. When the hunter continued to frown at me, I finally relented. All right, boil his blood until he begs for mercy. You donat have to kill him.

Satisfied with that arrangement, which shocked me more than I cared to think about, Danaus raised his hand toward the nightwalker I had indicated. Around me, I could feel his power swelling in the air, warming me like the summer sun breaking through the clouds. The smile slid off the lips of the young nightwalker and he looked down at his bare hands. The skin undulated as if something were crawling beneath the surface. With a whimper, he threw off his long coat as he ran out into the snow. His long fingernails tore at the bare flesh on his arms, revealing blood that popped and hissed as it boiled just beneath his skin. He released a bloodcurdling scream as he dropped to his knees and plunged both arms into the calf-deep snow, trying to cool the heat that was steadily building within his body, but it wasnat enough.

Closing my eyes, I reached out for the stream of energy flowing between Danaus and the nightwalker. I gathered up my own powers and merged them with the stream, giving the spell a little boost without directly controlling Danaus. The nightwalker shrieked, his body twisting and contorting at odd angles before he finally flopped back into the snow, silent and dead. We had completely melted his organs, destroying his heart.

I didnat mean to do it, Danaus whispered to me. I lost control. I could feel the horror rolling off him. He only killed nightwalkers in self-defense in his mind. This had been murder.

It wasnat your fault, I murmured back to him, but then quickly dropped the connection. Now was not the time to explain that I was attempting to manipulate Danausas powers in accordance with Nickas orders.

aWhat did he do?a demanded the youngest of the two, taking a step back away from the hunter.

aBoiled his blood,a I murmured, still starting at the dead body as I thought about the ease with which Iad been able to amplify Danausas ability. It had been far too easy, now that Nick had adjusted my own sensitivity to the energies around me.

Turning my attention to the two remaining nightwalkers, who were still staring at their dead companion, I waved my hand and the young one was instantly engulfed in flames. He managed to run a few feet away, hurrying toward the snow to put himself out, but the fire ate through his body faster than he could stumble. He collapsed at the edge of the drive, his body little more than a hot ember.