Storm and Fury(8)

3


I sucked in a sharp breath. Something was killing Wardens? With the exception of Upper Level demons and, well, me, Wardens were practically indestructible, bred to withstand the fiercest of battles.

They weren’t easy to kill.

“At first, we thought it was a demon—an Upper Level, taking out some of its own.” Zayne spoke up. “But while they do fight among themselves, they don’t kill like this, as if they have no fear of exposure. Then Wardens started turning up dead in the same way. What’s happening now is happening to demons and Wardens.”

The Warden with shorter hair moved forward. “If I may speak?”

“Dez, you know I don’t stand on formality,” Thierry replied.

A faint smile appeared on Dez’s face. “I know that Zayne and I don’t have the decades of experience that you and Matthew have, but what we’re seeing is something altogether new. Some of our best warriors have died, Wardens who would not be easy to gain the upper hand on.”

“Why is it impossible that this is the work of a highly skilled Upper Level demon?” Matthew asked. “Why do you all think this is something else?”

“Maybe we’re wrong. Maybe a demon is orchestrating all of this,” added Nicolai, and I noticed that Zayne’s jaw clenched, as if he were forcing himself not to speak. “We don’t know yet, but this week we lost another Warden. We need reinforcements. That’s why we’re here.”

Thierry leaned back, his shoulders tensed. “Well, you’ve come at the perfect time. The Accolade is about to begin. We will have new recruits.”

Nicolai exchanged a look with Zayne and Dez but said nothing.

“We have your rooms readied, and food is being prepared. I’m sure many of you would like to rest,” Thierry was saying. “You will be staying for the Accolade.”

Nicolai appeared to take a moment before answering. “We are honored to stay, but it is imperative that we return to the city—”

“Do you think that spending a week here will somehow tip the balance? I don’t think so,” Thierry said, and I recognized the tone that brokered no room for argument. I’d heard it enough myself, but if Wardens were dying, they needed to get back with help. “We have plenty of time to discuss your needs.” There was a pause. “And ours.”

The corners of my lips turned down. My fingers tightened on the curtain as Zayne inexplicably took a step back, turned his head and...

And looked directly at where I was standing.

Something... Something happened.

A shock of awareness shot through me, followed by a feeling of déjà vu, as if I’d been here before, but that made no sense. This was the first time I’d seen Zayne. I would’ve remembered if I had seen him before.

I didn’t move as he stared at me. I couldn’t. I was rooted to the spot, and I was close enough to see his mouth, to read his lips when they began to move.

I see you.

Oh my God.

Jerking back, I let go of the curtain, letting it slide into place. I slowly backed up.

Holy crap, he’d seen me—well, seen part of me at least, but probably enough to recognize me later. Besides the fact we weren’t that far apart, Wardens had amazing eyesight, especially at night—

My hip knocked into the edge of a stacked table, sending a sharp flare of pain down my hip. Cursing under my breath, I whirled around and steadied the table before the whole thing could come crashing down. Once I was sure that wouldn’t happen, I hightailed my butt out of the Great Hall and into the cool evening mountain air.

The sun had set, but the path was well lit as I walked around the vast gardens behind the hall. My thoughts went back to what I’d overheard. Something that might not be a demon was killing Wardens and demons?

What could that be?

Crossing the field toward the main house, I slowed my pace as I neared the thick cropping of trees. From this point on there was only the silvery glow of the moonlight to lead the way, which meant I could barely see crap, but I’d walked this path so many times that my steps were sure, if still a little cautious—unlike the night of the Ravers. Then I had been so full of adrenaline that all my steps had been confident. It wasn’t always like that.

My thoughts shifted from what I’d overheard to my reaction to Zayne, that weird feeling. It was so bizarre, but probably had to do with my overactive imagination—

A twig snapped directly behind me. Too close. Stomping down the unexpected bite of surprise, I reacted first, as I’d been trained.

Reaching up, I gripped an arm. There was a jolt. A shock of static charge that registered as I whirled around, twisting the arm as I anchored my weight on my right leg. I caught the vague shape of someone much larger as I swung my fist.

With a startling quickness, my hand was caught and I was spun around to face the other direction, hauled backward against a hard chest and stomach that was most definitely male. In a matter of seconds, he had my arms pinned and the scent of...winter mint surrounded me.

“Is that how you normally greet people?” a vaguely familiar, deceptively soft voice whispered in my ear.

I bent forward, intent on getting enough space between us to deliver a vicious back kick.

“That would be very unwise.”

My breath came out harsh and ragged as I straightened, straining against his hold. “Grabbing people from behind in the dark isn’t wise.”

“I didn’t grab you,” he responded, tightening his hold on me once I managed to get a few inches between us again. “I called out to you and you didn’t answer.”

“I didn’t hear you.” I turned my head to the side. “But is that what you normally do when someone doesn’t respond to you? Grab them from—”

“I didn’t grab you.”

“You were right behind me,” I said, beyond irritated that he’d incapacitated me so quickly. “Can you let me go?”

“I don’t know.” There was a pause. “Are you going try to hit me again? Kick me?”

“Not if you don’t try to grab me again,” I shot back.

A stuttered heartbeat passed and then the arms around me dropped. I launched forward like there were springs attached to my feet, putting several feet between us before I whirled around. There was just enough light from the moon to see him.

“Holy crapsicles,” I whispered, taking another step back.

It was him.

The utterly beautiful blond Warden.

Zayne.

He tilted his head. “You’re...human.”

Yeah. Sort of. “Were you expecting something else?”

“Ye-ess.” He drew the word out, and he took a moment before he continued, as if he were choosing his words wisely. “Especially considering where we are.”

It was fairly uncommon for humans to live in Warden communities, so I wasn’t surprised that he was surprised.

“Unless,” he said, taking a measured step toward me, “you’re not supposed to be here.”

I tensed. “I’m supposed to be here.”

“Just like you were supposed to be behind the curtain in the Great Hall, eavesdropping?”

Well, dammit.

“I live here,” I said, instead of answering his question. Thank God most of his features were shadowed and I could actually speak to him and not stand there drooling like I’d never seen an attractive guy before. “And why are you out here? Aren’t you supposed to be going to your room, then having dinner provided for you?”

“I got kind of curious when I saw you behind the curtain. Thought I should investigate.”

“I don’t think you’re supposed to be out here following me.”

“Didn’t realize that as a Warden I couldn’t come and go as I pleased.”

I kept my arms loose at my sides. “Have you visited here before?” I asked, even though I knew the answer.

“No.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t assume what you can and can’t do.”

Zayne was quiet, and then he let out a deep, rough chuckle.

I frowned.

“You have a point,” he admitted, and there was another beat of silence. “I am made of questions.”

Unsure if that was a good or bad thing, I looked around but was unable to see beyond the dark trees and the faint glow of solar lights. “Are you?”

“Yes. How in the Hell did you end up here? A human living in the regional community—a human who appears to know that demons are real? And obviously you know this, because you didn’t run screaming or laughing from the hall when we talked about the demonic activity.”

Now I wished I could see his expression as I rubbed my hands along my hips. “I’m not the first or the last ordinary person to know about demons.”

That was true. There were humans who did know—most of them worked for police departments or held positions within the government and worked closely with the Wardens. But they were few and far between.

He moved closer, and more of his face came into view, but he was still mostly a blur. “I’m willing to wager that there isn’t one thing ordinary about you.”

I wasn’t sure if he meant that as a compliment or not. “Why would you think that?”

“You live here, at the seat of power for dozens of clans, and you almost punched me in the face in under five seconds flat,” he explained. “And you were also hiding behind a curtain, being a little snoop.”