The remaining nightwalker pressed his back against the wall next to the doors, his eyes wide with fright. aYou may live to tell your mistress that the Fire Starter, two Ancients, and a hunter are knocking at her door and we will come in,a I snarled in rough Hungarian. My translation was close enough because he grabbed the door handle and jerked the old, heavy door open before darting inside in a blur of movement.

aYouare a coven Elder,a Valerio reminded me needlessly as he reached for the door and held it open for me. aYou really should introduce yourself as such.a Stepping inside, I threw him a dirty look. aNormally, yes, but these pathetic creatures havenat been before the coven. They donat know what it means to be an Elder. Fire Starter is self-explanatory.a Valerio flashed me a wry grin. aTrue.a My trio of companions fanned out behind me as we stalked through the interior of the Szchenyi Baths. The walls were painted a pale yellow accented with white columns and ornate molding. The sound of laughter and splashing water echoed through the cavernous halls, forcing me to check several times as to how many people we were facing. Up ahead, the concentration of power was impressive. There had to be more than a dozen nightwalkers, along with a scattering of both lycanthropes and other human magic users.

As we crossed through a final archway, we came to a large room that held an enormous pool. Steam rose up from the water, filling the air with a heavy mist, which helped to diffuse the dim lamplight that glowed from above and in remote corners around the room. Nightwalkers, lycanthropes, witches, and warlocks, lounged in the water and along benches. We were the only ones still wearing clothing. At the far end of the room, the nightwalker I had spared was kneeling next to a female nightwalker lounging on a heavily padded divan. Her damp pale skin glistened in the thin lamplight.

aIam guessing thatas Odelia,a I muttered, shoving my hands into my pockets.

aAstute observation,a Stefan commented from behind me, making me wish I could just singe him a little bit. Unfortunately, I was willing to bet that I still needed his a.s.sistance before I could finally escape this city.

Frowning, I led the way across the room, weaving my way between the naked bodies. A few looked up at us, halting their conversations, but most seemed content to ignore our presence within their nighttime refuge. When we were standing before Odelia, the nightwalker languidly rolled onto her back and propped her head up on her hand while resting her elbow on the back of the raised side of the divan. The nightwalker from the front door backpedaled, quietly edging away from our group. Fear still filled his eyes, making him more than a little wary of us. I preferred it that way.

aYou must be the Fire Starter,a Odelia announced in heavily accented English.

aAnd youare Odelia,a I replied, balling up my fists in the pockets of my heavy coat. I was fighting the urge to strip it off. The heat in the bath was stifling, but I kept telling myself that we wouldnat be there too long. I could suffer through it.

aYouave heard of me?a she inquired, arching one eyebrow at me.

aNot until five minutes ago,a I admitted, crushing her little hopes to dust. aHeard of me?a aWho hasnat?a she said with a delicate snort. aThe nightwalker that can start fires with a thought also has a human that can apparently boil the blood of any creature he sees. It makes for a nightmarish combination.a aOh, and it gets worse,a I said, a grin finally blossoming across my face. aIam now an Elder of the coven.a aOh,a she whispered, sitting up just a little straighter. At least she was old enough to know what it meant to be a member of the coven. It was a position that didnat just demand respect, it screamed for it even as it killed you. aI didnat realize that Taboras seat had been claimed.a aThe news is still spreading throughout the various domains, though I am surprised that it has yet to reach Budapest. Youare not that far from Venice.a aI apologize for your less than gracious welcome,a she said, rising to her feet. aI had no idea that a member of the coven would be gracing us with her presence. Can I offer you a seat? Or maybe some refreshments? I like to keep a warm meal on hand for anyone who gets thirsty while at the baths.a aIam afraid this isnat a social call. I am looking for the keeper of this domain,a I announced.

Odeliaas face crumpled as she returned to the edge of her divan. She folded her long fingers together and placed her hands on her knees. A lock of her long brown hair fell over her shoulder, partially covering her left breast. aBudapest doesnat have a keeper.a aHow can a region this large, filled with nightwalkers, not have a keeper?a I snapped, growing more irritated the longer I remained in this b.l.o.o.d.y city. aThere are more powerful creatures in this city than in most other large cities throughout Europe. By my guess, youare more than six centuries yourself, and I know Iave sensed others around the city that are older than you. Someone has to have laid claim to the region.a aThe last keeper of Budapest was a nightwalker by the name of Harold, but he left the region unexpectedly more than a century ago. No one has heard from him and no one has stepped forward to take over the city,a she explained with a slight shrug of her shoulders. Odelia pushed backward so that she was once again lounging on the divan. aIn truth, we havenat had a need for a keeper. The city remains quiet, and as you can see, the various races get along just fine.a aAnd the naturi?a Odeliaas eyes dropped down to the ground and she chewed on her full lower lip. aThey moved into the city just about a month ago and we havenat been successful in getting rid of them. Weave learned to hunt in packs now, and the lycans stay away from certain parts of town where they have been known to gather.a aWho is taking care of the naturi?a Valerio inquired, slipping graciously into Hungarian. Odelia turned her gaze on the oh so sauve nightwalker and smiled coyly up at him. I thought I was going to be sick.

aHis name is Veyron,a she purred. aHe is the oldest of the nightwalkers within Budapest, and heas taken on a sort of brotherly role in the city, watching over the younger nightwalkers.a aIave heard of him,a Stefan interjected. aHeas not yet an Ancient.a To my surprise, Odelia actually glared at Stefan for just a blink of an eye before smoothing out her expression once again to smile up at Valerio. aHe is the oldest of us all.a aWhich makes for a very young group of nightwalkers,a I observed. aHow is it that such an old city has not attracted more powerful nightwalkers?a aI canat really say,a she said, once again shrugging her shoulders as she dragged her gaze up to me. aWeave managed quite well without them underfoot.a aIs Veyron the one in contact with the coven?a I asked. aMacaire informed us that Budapest was having problems with the naturi.a aVeyron would be the one that you want to talk to. He has a place in Buda in the Castle District where he sees visitors. Iam sure that he would be more than happy to see you. In fact, I can go right now and tell him to expect you.a Odelia swung her feet around to place them on the ground again, but a wave of my hand kept her seated on the dark red divan.

aDonat bother,a I said, struggling to keep from frowning. aWeall find him. We want to wander around the city and look into the naturi matter firsthand before we meet with Veyron. Thanks for your a.s.sistance.a I turned away from Odelia and took a step toward the door when my eyes fell on the enormous bath once again. Laughter rose up from the water and people splashed, kissed, and engaged in other forms of entertainment. Something caught my eye and had me turning back toward our host.

aWho is the alpha for the Budapest pack?a I inquired.

aHis name is Ferko,a she replied slowly, watching me with a cautious eye. She knew better than to lie and say that there was no alpha for the local pack. A pack of lycanthropes didnat exist without an alpha. It was impossible. aHeas not here. He typically doesnat visit the baths until a week after the full moon, and itas usually only for an hour or two.a aNot the social type, is he?a aNot really,a she agreed, ignoring my sarcasm.

aThanks for the information,a I said, waving at her as I turned.

aAre you going to get rid of them? The naturi?a aItas what I do.a Killing naturi seemed to be the only thing that I was good at.

Chapter Eight.

I paused as I started to walk out of the large bathing chamber. Valerio was staring at the enormous pool where nightwalkers and lycanthropes splashed and laughed together completely oblivious to our presence. A wide wicked grin spread across my companionas face, and I fought the shiver that crept up my spine. He was thinking of something evil, and a part of me grew excited by the prospect. Valerio always knew the best amus.e.m.e.nts.

aOnly a fool would inquire as to what is pa.s.sing through that devilish brain of yours,a I said as I came to stand beside him, with Danaus just behind my shoulder.

aSo many wonderful traditions have been lost here,a Valerio said. He shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his coat and rocked back on his heels.

aYouare a coven Elder,a Stefan added as he stood on the other side of Valerio. aThey should be cowering before you. They should be trembling before the power of the coven.a aThey donat even know what the coven is.a I placed my hands in the pockets of my coat and looked over the gathered ma.s.ses. I was a member of the coven. Whatas more, I was the Fire Starter. I was the one that had taken all the risks when it came to saving our people from the naturi. They should have feared me.

aIt should not be allowed to continue,a Stefan declared aThen I suggest a little fun as a way of celebrating Miraas ascension to the coven. Some entertainment,a Valerio announced, clapping his hands together.

A slow smile slid across my lips. aDid you have something in mind?a aIf your consort would be kind enough to keep an eye on the door against any runners, we could play a few games with the nightwalkers,a Valerio replied.

aRunners?a Danaus inquired.

aVampires who try to leave before the party is over,a Valerio explained.

aFeel free to kill them should any of them cross your path,a Stefan growled. aIt is your specialty, correct?a aI can handle it,a Danaus bit out, glaring at him.

I placed a hand on his arm, drawing his gaze back to my face. aAllow the lycanthropes and the other magic users to leave here unharmed. Our . . . games donat include them unless they strike first.a aAnd if they strike at me as they leave?a aOh, feel free to boil their brains from their skull,a I said with a chuckle. I gave his arm a final squeeze, widening my smile to try to rea.s.sure him that everything was going to be fine, but I was growing a little shaky myself. It had been a long time since Iad taken part in nightwalker games, and never as a member of the coven. My role had always been that of either prey or predator. Whatas more, Valerio was involved, which meant that this was going to be extremely b.l.o.o.d.y. For a creature that didnat like to get his hands dirty, the nightwalker had a twisted sense of humor that stretched more than a mile wide.

I watched Danaus walk from the bathing room, his shoulders straight and stiff. His head never turned toward the nightwalkers that eyed him as he left the room. He was above all of them. He was above this type of violence as well. When he killed, it was in the name of justice and protection. Too often when nightwalkers killed, it was in the name of amus.e.m.e.nt. Not for the first time, I wondered if our way of life would be our downfall, not the naturi. We said we were weeding out the weak and culling the herd, but in truth we were just thinning out an army that we desperately needed against what was coming. But it was too late for doubts now.

aThe Elder has changed her mind,a Valerio announced in a loud voice that echoed through the enormous hall as he turned back toward Odelia. He shed his heavy coat and unwound his scarf from his neck. aWe have not had a chance to properly celebrate Miraas ascension to the coven, and she has declared that some games are in order.a aOf course,a Odelia said, sliding gracefully from her divan. A stiff smile lifted the corners of her mouth. aWe are happy to find some way to amuse the great Elder.a aYou may clear the chamber of all those who are not our kind,a Stefan directed coldly, with an absent wave of his hand before shedding his coat.

aBut weave always included the lycans and the magic weavers in our activities,a Odelia argued.

Stefan halted and frowned down at the naked nightwalker. aHow long has it been since you were last before the coven?a aSeveral centuries. I was quite young,a she admitted, clutching her hands together before her flat stomach.

aObviously,a Stefan said with a heavy sigh. He stared down his long Roman nose at her and fixed his iciest stare on her. It was enough to make me nearly giggle out loud. aThe shifters and such have complained in the past that we play too rough, so Mira is generously allowing them the chance to leave. I suggest they take advantage of it.a Odelia was smart enough not to ask any additional questions as she stepped up to the pool and politely announced that tonightas gathering had become a private affair due to the presence of a coven Elder who wished to be entertained. I didnat exactly come away sounding like a welcome guest, but more of a tolerated nuisance. I smiled to myself. Odelia had no idea what was ahead of her.

To my delight, Valerio shoved the divan with a loud screeching sound across the tiles so that it was now facing the largest open area outside of the pool like a throne. He spread his coat over the divan and Stefan did the same directly after him. I smiled as I lay my coat on the divan just before stretching out on it. Now I could be sure I wasnat touching any of the area Odelia had lain on, as if she were a creature beneath me. And in truth, she was, now that I was a coven Elder. They all were.

Once I was settled on the divan, Valerio and Stefan came to stand on either side of me, rolling up their sleeves above their elbows. Energy pumped and vibrated from them in their excitement about what lay ahead. I could easily understand their enthusiasm. The naturi were knocking on our door, demanding dominance in our world. Valerio was aware of a bori making a brief visit. It seemed all our nightmares were coming to life. They needed a little time to blow off some steam.

aCounting Odelia, there are fourteen nightwalkers in the hall along with three shifters that have decided to stay behind,a Stefan said.

aPick a number, Mira,a Valerio said, his tone growing more giddy as the time approached.

I arched one brow at him as I gazed into his glowing eyes. aWhat game are we playing?a aI thought we would give them a lesson in Italian,a he replied. It was an old and popular game in the coven among the fledglings. The new nightwalkers were brought before the coven and beaten to a b.l.o.o.d.y pulp until they either learned to beg in Italian or died first.

aNine.a Stefan nodded, looking over the a.s.sembled ma.s.ses climbing out of the pool and watching us warily. aNine seems like a fair number.a Kill the lycans immediately, along with any nightwalker that may be tied to them. Leave Odelia alive if it is possible. She may be useful later, I said softly in their brains so that no one else would know of my plans.

aShall we begin?a Valerio asked, seeming to chomp at the bit to be set free on the nightwalker horde.

I waved my hand toward the gathering and smiled. aAt your pleasure.a The violence was fast and intense. There was no running or escaping it. Stefan and Valerio seemed to be everywhere at once. Though I couldnat hear it, I had no doubt they were whispering to each other telepathically, directing each other when one or two would attempt to make a break for the door.

With a smile, I finally sent up a wall of flames in each of the doorways that circled the enormous pool. Before the rules were even set up, Valerio and Stefan singled out the lycanthropes and brutally slaughtered them in a wash of blood and broken limbs. They had been given their warning that this was a nightwalker-only party. Odelia gasped and took a couple steps backward, her trembling hands covering her mouth. Normally, I would have immediately directed Valerio or Stefan to eliminate her as a potential shifter sympathizer that could cause me problems later, but I let it pa.s.s. I had a feeling she might prove useful later, considering that she was one of the oldest nightwalkers in Budapest.

After the lycanthropes had been taken care of, Stefan and Valerio turned their attention to the young nightwalkers. The trick was to get them to try to speak in Italian. This wasnat going to be the easiest of tasks since most spoke only Hungarian or German, while it appeared that a small smattering knew some English. The first three lost their tongues and were left curled up on the floor, gurgling blood as the wound attempted to close. When Stefan questioned them a second time, the trio naturally couldnat speak, so he and Valerio tore them apart in a spray of blood that now coated the pale yellow walls.

A small group made a run for the pool, potentially hoping that neither Valerio nor Stefan would be willing to get completely soaked in their hunt of the nightwalkers. To protect my companions and keep everyone together, I placed a second wall of fire around the thermal bath, blocking that potential escape route. One unfortunate fellow didnat stop in time and was enveloped in flames. He flailed around the room, waving his arms and rolling on the ground. I could have put him out, but there was something about the way his screams bounced off the high walls and domed ceiling. I closed my eyes and let my thoughts drift back to the nights I lived with Jabari. I thought of the many entertainments I had taken part in at the coven Main Hall. So many had died there, and their screams had sounded so similarly. For just a brief moment it was like coming home.

Mira? Valerio inquired silently.

Sorry, lost in a happy thought.

As long as youare enjoying yourself.

You, too.

He paused with his knee dug into the back of a nightwalkeras neck while the poor victimas left arm was being stretched behind his back. It was always more fun when you were at my side.

I chuckled and shook my head as he resumed torturing his prey until the nightwalkeras skull finally cracked on the hard floor. Valerio was walking temptation. He was dripping blood and grinning at me like a madman with a meat cleaver, but there was something right and warmly familiar about that grin. I knew that violence was a part of his soul because it was a part of mine as well. At the same time, I knew the soft touch of his fingertips as they skimmed over my naked flesh. I just needed to remember that those nights were over and Danaus was now at my side.

Iam content with a spectatoras role tonight. There will be plenty of time for me to strike while we are in Budapest, I replied. Yet at the same time, I forced myself to grip the sides of the divan cushions to hold myself in place. A part of me was longing to be washed in blood with them, but I was an Elder now and wasnat supposed to get as dirty as I used to. Of course, I had a dark suspicion that I wasnat going to change that aspect of my personality just to please the coven. I was a hands-on kind of girl.

While it was only a matter of minutes, it probably seemed like a lifetime to the nightwalkers that were herded into a small corner of the bathing room. Odelia was among them, parts of her pale body smeared with the blood of her comrades as they jostled and b.u.mped against each other to escape Valerio and Stefan. Six had been killed already, besides the lycanthropes. I could see Valerio and Stefan mentally sizing up the remaining three. When I had given them the number anine,a Iad chosen how many would die that night.

My gaze danced over the huddled ma.s.ses. A couple had managed to squeak out aclemenzaa after some prompting from both Valerio and Odelia, winning them exactly thata"a moment of mercy. Another surprised us all when he said aperdona la mia ignoranza.a Stefan had been more than a little perturbed by the development because I think the Ancient had singled him out for slaughter, but head spoken more Italian than the rest of the group so he was permitted to actually leave the bathhouse with his life intact. I was even kind enough to signal ahead to Danaus that this one was to leave the Szchenyi Baths alive.

It was only after I had been staring at the crowd for a moment that a smug face finally stood out to me. He was leaning up against the wall with a large towel wrapped around his body like a toga. His red hair was damp and standing on end about his oval head, while piercing lavender eyes watched me. It was Nick; I knew it without a single doubt. I didnat need to scan the air for his signature surge of power. I knew, looking at him with his red hair and lavender eyes, that this was the creature who was supposedly my father. I could only guess that he had sensed me using my powers and decided to make an appearance to make sure I was abiding by his wishes.

Shoving off the divan, I stalked across the bathing room, my heels clicking ominously in the growing silence. Valerio and Stefan had stopped in the middle of tearing apart a nightwalker and stepped back as I approached the crowd. I heedlessly stepped among them and grabbed Nick by the arms. Slamming him against the wall, I grinned as his head hit the tile drywall with enough force to crack and dent it.

aYou have no business here. I will handle it,a I growled in a low voice.

aThatas not enough and you know it,a he taunted, referring to my little jolt of power with Danausas. The muscles in my chest constricted and a knot formed in my stomach.

aI doubt it ever will be.a aYouare going to have to try harder than that mya"a I cut off his words by pitching him through the thick wall of flames that encircled the pool. There was a loud splash and an ominous thud that was m.u.f.fled by the water as he hit the bottom of the pool. I clenched my teeth and started to walk back toward the divan when I heard a slap of flesh against concrete. I turned to find Nick climbing back out of the pool, stepping through the flames as if they werenat even there.

I stood there like the rest of them, frozen in shock. Everyone naturally a.s.sumed that he was a nightwalker and had just succeeded in crossing through the flames twice without even getting singed. Nick took advantage of my shock. He rushed me, closing the distance between us in a flash. He slammed me into the wall with enough force that I nearly went through the first layer of the wall to the brick exterior. I grunted and my vision blurred.

Still dazed, I looked up at him with a smile. At the same time, I slammed my fist into his chest and pulled his heart free. He took a couple stumbling steps backward and shook his head at me. I knew it wouldnat kill him. If he truly was a G.o.d, I didnat think there was a way to kill him. However, he was kind enough to oblige me this small thing so that too many questions werenat asked about his odd presence.

aIall be watching,a he promised just before he was engulfed in flames not of my making. His whole body and the heart in my hand crumpled to ash in a matter of seconds, wiping away his existence, but not his frightening memory. He was watching me, waiting for me to perform my tasks like a good little puppet.

aWeare out of here,a I snapped, turning back toward the divan. I grabbed my coat from the divan and jerked it on, while Valerio and Stefan joined me. A touch on my cheek from Valerio caused me to still, my nerves easing back to some semblance of peace and control. Nick had rattled me, but Valerio had succeeded in giving me back a little bit of my peace again.

aDid you enjoy tonightas amus.e.m.e.nts?a he asked.

aYes, you and Stefan were stunning. As always.a Valerio bowed his head to me and then leaned in and pressed a kiss to the vein on my jugular, leaving behind a smear of blood. Stefan followed tradition, but went for a less intimate location. He gently took my right hand and pressed a kiss to my vulnerable wrist where my pulse would have been. The b.l.o.o.d.y marks were signs of approval on my part of their performance in tonightas games. If I had not approved of their work, I would not have allowed them to touch me.

As we walked past the remaining nightwalkers, I spared Odelia a quick glance. aSee to it that this mess is properly cleaned up before the dawn.a We then continued back out into the cold Budapest night where Danaus was patiently waiting for us.

aSounds like you had a good time,a he said as he wiped the blood off one of his long knives. Two lycanthrope bodies lay at his feet, ma.s.sive cuts stretching from deep in their stomachs to their throats. In a couple quick moves the hunter had gutted both of his attackers.

aLooks like you had a little fun yourself,a Valerio said appreciatively as he nudged one of the dead with the toe of his shoe.

aThey tried to get back inside after they left. No invitation. No entrance.a Danaus shrugged his shoulders and I could see a smile toying with the corner of his mouth.

aSo are you going to tell us who the mystery man was?a Valerio inquired, pinning me with a direct gaze. My companions had been kind enough to wait until we left the main bath. Otherwise, it might have raised too many questions in front of Odelia and the others. I shoved a trembling hand through my hair, pushing it out of my face as I struggled to come up with a viable excuse. I didnat know anyone in Budapest, hadnat been to the city in ages. I shouldnat have been able to make such a comment, but Nick was hanging about, causing problems in my life.

aHeas no one important,a I grumbled, keeping my gaze straight ahead.

aI thought you didnat know anyone in Budapest,a Stefan countered, stepping directly in front of me so I was forced to look at him.

aI donat. At least, no one of consequence,a I snapped, quickly sweeping past him.

aWhat was he referring to?a Valerio prodded.

aNot your concern. It has nothing to do with this matter that has brought us to Budapest. Itas something personal.a aIs it going to interfere with our investigation?a Stefan demanded.

aNo.a I felt confident that I could conclude this investigation into Budapest without worrying about Nick, but I was also confident that he was going to interfere with the rest of my life. I had gotten my first taste of true power when I tapped into Danausas abilities. Nick and I were both sure that I wouldnat be able to resist using him yet again, particularly if my life was on the line. For now, I was at his mercy, but I would find a way to escape these bonds even as I found a way to escape Jabari and Danaus.

Chapter Nine.

Valerio and Stefan stood under the lamplight in front of me, their hands buried in their pockets as a brisk wind swept through the park. Danaus remained a silent shadow just behind my shoulder, gazing down on me and the lies that I was carefully weaving for all those who would listen. I needed to find a way to escape my Nick conundrum before it got someone killed. Unfortunately, it wasnat my most pressing problem at the moment.

aIf weare here to eliminate the naturi, I donat understand why we donat just hunt them down and destroy them,a Valerio said, pulling the two sides of his open coat more tightly around his body. His brown hair fluttered a bit in the wind while his eyes teared up in the cold.

aWe have more to do here than deal with the naturi,a Stefan declared, standing stiff and tall, as if unaffected by the growing cold, which I truly doubted. Valerio was starting to look cold, and I knew that the nightwalker was older than Stefan. Old age didnat allow you to be completely immune to the elements, no matter how he wished to appear impervious.

aSo I gathered,a I murmured. aMacaire would not have sent me here unless he had other thoughts in mind. The naturi are a concern, but it doesnat sound like they are the reason why there are no Ancients within the city. That is what concerns me. Where have all the nightwalkers gone?a aMaybe you should ask your consort,a Stefan suggested, turning his narrowed gaze on Danaus.

aIave not visited here in several centuries,a Danaus replied sharply, taking one step closer to Stefan. aIave hunted no nightwalkers within the city limits.a The Ancient nightwalker also took a step closer, trapping me between them. I pressed one hand against Stefanas chest, while shoving my shoulder into Danausas chest, keeping the two separated before I got squished between them.

aEnough!a I said, raising my voice. aThemis and Danaus are not responsible for the slaughter of Ancients and you know it, Stefan. Killing off Ancients isnat that easy. I suspect either Macaireas been cleaning out the territory for his own private use, or somehow this Veyron has found an effective way to kill them so he can take over the domain.a aWhy do we care?a Valerio interjected, drawing my gaze back to him, as both Danaus and Stefan took steps away from each other. I dropped my hand back to my side and straightened my stance. aNightwalkers die all the time, many killed by our own kind, not to mention the naturi. Why should the Ancients of Budapest be any different?a I shoved my hand back into my pocket and shook my head as I looked at the ground. The snow had been packed down beneath our shuffling feet so it was nearly a sheet of white ice. It also bothered me that none of the nightwalkers seemed to know or care anything about the coven. But then, that seemed to be a smaller concern at the moment. aBecause when this war grows with the naturi, weare going to need every Ancient weave got on hand to help stop them. We canat afford to lose them in silly territorial squabbles. Besides, if Veyron has found a way to kill off Ancients, wouldnat you like to know what it is? After all, Vienna is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Budapest.a aSo what do you want to do?a Stefan demanded.

I looked up at him, a frown pulling at the corner of my lips. I had yet to understand why he had decided to tag along on this little mission, and I had a sneaking suspicion that I wouldnat like it when I did finally learn the reason. For now he seemed willing to play along, but I needed to be cautious about which direction I sent him in. If Veyron was killing Ancients, I didnat want him getting too close and risk losing him when I still had a need for his skills. Also, if Veyron was killing Ancients, I didnat want Stefan getting too close and learning the secret of how to do it before I did.

aSee what you can dig up regarding this Ferko. I want to know about the Budapest pack. I want to know their size, their average age, and a gauge of their strength. I also want to know how long theyave had this easy alliance with the nightwalkers in the area.a There was a good chance that if I was going to go up against Veyron, I would also be taking on Ferko and his people as well.

aAnd where do you want me?a Valerio asked.

aQuietly, see what you can dig up on Veyron. Find out where he holds court and if he actually has a family. Just watch without drawing too much attention to yourself.a It was a great risk sending Valerio digging after Veyron, but of the four of us, he had the best chance at quietly gathering information. Valerio had managed for centuries to hide his true age from all the nightwalkers around him, and I was one of the few that knew he was actually an Ancient. Furthermore, he had a knack for sneaking in and out of a place unnoticed by other nightwalkers around him.

aAnd what will you be doing?a Stefan groused.

aI thought Danaus and I would go back inside and enjoy the mineral bath.a I jerked my thumb back toward the enormous building that loomed behind us. aWeare going hunting for naturi, you a.s.s!a aNaturi? Mira, you canata"a I held up my hand to halt Valerioas words in mid-sentence. aItas like you said, weare here to take care of the naturi problem. Danaus and I are going to do some scouting tonight. Weall try to find where they are hiding out and how many are in the region. Our goal wonat be to wipe them all out in one quick swoop.a aWhy not?a Danaus inquired from behind me.

aBecause if we do, then weall have no reason to stick around and spy on Veyron and his little clan of fledglings,a I said with a smile. Besides, I didnat think it would be that easy to dispatch the naturi, given that Danaus and I no longer had our greatest weapon at our disposal. Wead have to cut through the naturi the old-fashioned way, one by b.l.o.o.d.y one.

Needing no further guidance from me, Stefan immediately disappeared from sight. I closed my eyes and scanned the region. I couldnat sense him anywhere nearby, but that didnat mean the nightwalker wasnat cloaked.

aYou donat trust him,a Valerio announced.

I cracked one eye open and looked at my companion, a frown pulling at one corner of my mouth. aNot a bit. I canat begin to guess as to why he elected to join us. You, I sort of understand, though I donat trust you either.a aThatas because youare a smart girl,a Valerio said. He leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to my temple. aYou kids be careful and have fun. Weall meet up again at your quaint little hotel room tomorrow night.a aLooking forward to it,a I grumbled just before Valerio disappeared as well.