Green Mage, page 29
part #2 of Mackenzie Green Series
Master Dagmar gave me a slight bow, then held out his hand to Lucan. “Dragon Protector. You are a credit to your people. Your foresight prevented many deaths last night. I now have a better understanding of our earlier interaction.”
Lucan bristled. Of course, the vampire would allude to their bickering—the time where they both bragged about paying for my time.
Lucan took the vampire's hand and gave it a firm shake. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about, Nickoli.”
The vampire gave Lucan a smirk. “I’m sure you don’t.” He turned his attention back to me. “Does this have anything to do with the matter we discussed earlier today?”
I nodded. “I have confirmation. Are you comfortable with Lucan here, or should I ask him to leave?”
Lucan gave me a mutinous look. I had the feeling he wouldn’t merely wander away if I asked him to. No, I would have to make a scene first.
Nickoli looked Lucan up and down, taking a moment to consider his options. I already knew he was going to say yes. This dramatic pause was for effect. His denial would have been much swifter if genuine.
“It will be common knowledge shortly. I ask, though, that he doesn’t speak of what we discuss before the Council has a chance to deal with the matter.” Nickoli met Lucan’s gaze.
“On my honor,” was Lucan’s reply. It seemed to be good enough for the vampire.
With both imposing men focused on me, I dove right in. “In our earlier conversation, you had a suspect who would benefit from the disturbance last night.” I paused and waited for Master Dagmar's nod. “I am forwarding you the information my contact sent me. It includes photographs and statements from his team.”
I hit a button on my phone. Moments later, a chime sounded from the vampire's pocket. He reached in, removed his phone, glanced at the information, then snarled.
I continued. “Five days before the Summit, Joseph Smythe, Mistress Rebekkah Cade’s heir, went to Seaforth.”
I scrolled to the first image. It was that of Joseph with the water glittering behind him, an iconic mountain in the background. It confirmed the location.
“My contact keeps tabs on any supernatural who enters his territory.”
Chase was a lone wolf. Literally. The local Fenris Tribe left him alone as long as he didn’t cause trouble. I’m sure there were other reasons, but he’d never shared, and I’d never asked. After connecting again years later, we both knew the advantages of having contacts across the country.
I pulled up the next photo. Notes littered the margins. “This is Amilo Winter. He runs the mercenary talent out of Seaforth. It’s a big city, but he brokers no competition in the area, not even guilds.”
I paused. The men were looking at me with complete focus. It was unnerving to have this much attention on me. I fought my ‘cornered animal’ instinct by scanning the room. With Curtis’s warning in the back of my mind, I wasn’t discounting another attack.
“I noticed some of the mercenaries sported a tattoo—a blood-red snowflake.”
Lucan looked at me sharply. “Why didn’t you tell me this in our debrief?” he asked.
I shrugged. “It slipped my mind at the time. I remember finding the brand familiar, but I forgot about it in the aftermath. It wasn’t until I got the message from Chase that I put the pieces together.” I pointed to the picture of Amilo. “Winter’s people like to tag themselves. It’s an initiation.” I took a breath. “Thing is, you don’t just sign up for one. You earn it. Some of the men and women we killed or captured last night were part of an elite squad. They’d all earned their snowflake.”
Fury crept into Master Dagmar’s face. He’d been doing an admirable job keeping it under control. Now it radiated off him as fiercely as anything Lucan could project. Thankfully, since he couldn’t emit his emotions, I didn’t feel like raging along with him.
Another nail in Joseph’s coffin. “Chase was able to obtain a copy of the contract.” I pulled up the last image. “It lays out the terms clearly. One particular condition is of note.”
I gave Lucan an apologetic glance. He gave me a slight nod. He knew I wasn’t dismissing the fact that most of the conditions revolved around damaging the shifters. The Protector could see that to punish Joseph, he would have to commit a crime against vampire law.
“In essence, it requests the death of his mistress, Rebekkah. Only her. While most of the attackers aimed at the shifters, one would position themselves on the balcony. A shot fired in the chaos would make it seem like she was nothing more than a tragic casualty.”
Vampires may present a façade of civilization, but at their core, they were predators. It was fine for one to challenge the power of another. Duels to the death for titles were, if not every day, then not uncommon. What was taboo was an assassination. It was a law punished brutally.
“Not very smart of him, was it?” Lucan drawled. “Clumsy would be the word I’d use.”
Master Dagmar's voice was like a knife when he spoke. A slight hiss to his words spoke of his fury within. “He is still young to his undeath. Rebekkah found him on the streets. He was intelligent, canny, and a good brawler. She made him the day he turned twenty-five, after years of grooming. It’s a common practice. Take a human who shows promise, shape them, then make them.
The magic that creates a vampire retard’s growth, even that of the mind, for years. However, what’s learned before their making is preserved.”
By the Old God! Master Dagmar had just spilled one of the vampire's precious secrets to me, with Lucan listening in. How angry must he be to forget who he’s speaking to?
“He’s a coddled, spoiled brat,” Master Dagmar spat. “Rebekkah has been far too lenient with him. That ends now.”
I hid my flinch when the irate vampire addressed me. Lucan must have seen because he discretely slipped a hand onto my lower back. Comfort washed through me.
“Thank you, Miss Green, for this information. Please excuse me.”
The angry vampire transformed into a posh Council member in a blink. With a nod, he strode off in the direction of Rebekkah Cade.
“Oh, to be a fly on the wall of that conversation.” Lucan’s hand still sat warm on my back.
“Is it wrong that I don’t care? That I’m fine not knowing what the Council is going to do to Joseph?” And I was. I had absolutely no interest in knowing the heir's fate.
“No. It’s not wrong.” Lucan’s voice turned low, compassionate. “It means, even though you didn’t know him, you care about what happens to Joseph. Not knowing keeps your heart safe from the grief. You can pretend he got a slap on the wrist and lived happily ever after.”
I blinked. I’d never thought of it like that, but somehow, it fit.
I stayed silent for a long time, lost in thought. My attention snapped to the here and now by the sensation of a feather-light touch on my cheek. Raising my head, I met Lucan’s eyes. Their glow was soft, tender. I could feel my forehead crease, my lips turned down in a confused frown.
Lucan ran his knuckles down my cheek again. “Are you back with me?”
My heart fluttered. Sweat lined my palms. What the hell?
“Yeah,” I managed to croak out, my eyes locked on his, the pull irresistible. A small smile curled the corners of his mouth. My eyes dropped, heat surged through me. With great effort, I met his gaze again. His nascent smile was a smug smirk.
I fought the urge to laugh, and my eyes must have held my mirth because Lucan’s smile became predatory, he leaned forward slowly. His eyes moved quickly between my eyes and my lips. He was telegraphing his every thought, giving me a chance to say no, to back away. I didn’t. I wanted the taste of him more than I’d ever wanted anything.
Lucan closed the final inch and captured my lips. The hand that had been caressing my cheek slid along the side of my face and behind. Gently, he cupped the back of my head and angled my face to deepen the kiss. It went from incredible to mind-blowing.
The taste of ozone, of Lucan, coated my tongue. It seeped into every pore. My shields fell, unable to block him in this intimate moment. I expected lust, desire, or one of the other baser emotions. Nothing prepared me for the bliss, for the rightness, for love.
I gasped when the last one hit. The staggering depth of it was awe-inspiring. I grabbed Lucan’s face with both hands and attacked his mouth with mine. By the Old God, I hope I can return that love. My secret heart told me I was too broken, but I’d damn well try.
When we broke apart, my chest heaved. Oxygen is for wussies.
My emotional revelation—that I wanted to give a relationship between Lucan and I a chance—had taken a great kiss, and turned it into a mind-blowing one.
I took in our surroundings, my brain catching up with what we’d just done. Heat flooded my face.
I just made out with Lucan in front of all these people. Shit, he’s a client. What have I done?
When I calmed down a bit, helped by Lucan running a gentle hand in circles on my back, I noticed we were no longer in the grand ballroom. No, somehow, we’d tucked ourselves in a bit of a nook. Voices drifted faintly in our direction, but they were some distance from us. I looked to the dragon, an eyebrow cocked.
He smiled again. “We were close to a tapestry with a hidden passage. It wasn’t easy—you’re damn distracting—but I got us through.” I leaned my forehead on his chest.
“I want to say I’m sorry, but I have a feeling I would insult you if I did,” I mumbled the words into his chest. My whole body vibrated with his answering laugh.
“You’d guess right. Though I’m curious to know what you're sorry for.” He gripped my chin with his forefinger and thumb, forcing me to look at him. “You did want it, didn’t you?” I could see he was replaying the lead-up, making sure he didn’t force me into anything.
In answer, I pushed up and gave him another kiss. His eyes closed, savoring it. I cut it short, giving him a verbal response. “Yes, I wanted it. But you’re my client. It could come across as me taking advantage. Besides,” I gave him a cheeky smile, “I distinctly remember telling you and a certain vampire that my attentions are not for sale.”
That got me another rumbling laugh.
“Good. And to ease your conscience, I release you from your contract. Consider it fulfilled.”
I beamed. Lucan had seen that being under contract still bothered me, and he’d moved to ease my mind.
“Mackenzie, there’s something I have to tell you.”
“Hold that thought.” I leaned towards him, fully intending to give him another kiss. Inches from sealing the deal, yelling from the main room stole my attention.
I sighed. “We should go and make sure it’s not another attack.” Lucan started to protest, but his nature won out, and we headed back down the passage and slipped out from behind the tapestry.
The room was in chaos, but not from some random attack. No, this was nothing short of a trial.
Chapter 35
The five vampire Council members stood on a slightly raised platform at the far end of the room. Kneeling before them was a lone figure. To the right, the Triad had gathered to watch the proceedings. To the left, the heirs huddled together.
Rebekkah stood in the middle, her eyes cold with anger. “Do you know why you kneel before us?” Her words cut through the crowd.
“No, mistress.” Joseph cowered, his shoulders hunched. I shook my head. No wonder he’d had to hire assassins. The man was a damn coward.
“You stand before us guilty of breaking vampire law and placing allies in harm's way. Do you deny the charges?”
Joseph’s skin went translucent as she spoke. “I…I…I don’t know what you mean, mistress.”
“He lies,” Vivian called out. “I can hear it in his words.”
Her gryphon ability to detect the truth must be connected to hearing a person’s words. As the leader of her community, her skill would be insane. Only fools would doubt her word.
Rebekkah's smile was vicious. “Is that so? Thank you for keeping a keen ear out.” The Master Vampire walked forward and placed a manicured hand on the top of Joseph’s head. “Tell me, child, why you thought you had any hope of taking my place.”
I wasn’t sure if it was the condemnation in her tone or the fact that he was done for and knew it, but Joseph’s demeanor changed. He morphed from the trembling coward, his spine straightening, and his eyes adopting a mocking edge.
“You truly think you are the most powerful beings in the city.” He laughed. “You are nothing. You hoard power and keep the rest of us licking at your boots for crumbs.”
The Council didn’t say anything. They didn’t have to. Now that he didn’t have to pretend, Joseph was more than willing to share.
“You are willing to make deals with animals, beings who are cattle to us. You pander to them, make cooing noises and expect the rest of us to simply follow along. Well, some in the city know where our true place lies, and they are not afraid to take what belongs to us.”
In a blur of movement, Joseph struck. I pulled my tonfas free, ready to intervene if necessary. Lucan put a hand on my arm, holding me back.
“They will not need your help,” he whispered in my ear.
“But he’s faster and stronger than usual. He must have fed on shifter blood.” I didn’t try to pull away, though.
Lucan smiled. “I have a feeling the Council was prepared for that.”
And Lucan was right. I expected the Council to work as a team, but four of the masters took a step back, leaving Rebekkah to handle her heir alone.
When she moved, I could see why no one seemed concerned. She was faster, stronger, and far more cunning than her opponent. Over the next few minutes, I watched as she took Joseph apart bit by bit, all the while taunting him.
“I do not have to drink shifter blood to have greater speed and strength. Do you know why?” she asked as she caught one of his punches and twisted his fist, eliciting a scream as the fine bones in his wrist shattered. She kept going, not waiting for him to answer. “It is because I spent years training. I worked hard. I put the effort in.”
She sidestepped another attack with ease, then hammered a kick to his side. I could hear his rib crunching from the other side of the room and winced.
By this time, Joseph was panting too hard to comment. Whatever enhancements he had gotten from the shifter blood were wearing off.
“Shifter blood gives you a boost, but it fades quickly. A lesson, child—nothing replaces effort.”
I now understood why she was the last chance vampires who screwed up had.
“Mercy, Mistress,” Joseph said as he collapsed on the floor.
“I think not. You are hereby stripped of your title as heir. But don’t worry, I won't kill you…yet. You may have some valuable information to pass on first.”
As Joseph lay panting on the floor, Rebekkah motioned for two guards to come forward and drag him away. Turning to the other heirs, she said, “Think very carefully on where your allegiances lay.” With that, she joined the rest of the Council, and the party continued as if nothing had happened.
“Well, that was terrifying,” I said.
Lucan grimaced. “Yes, she is not someone you want to mess with.” He took my elbow. “About what I wanted to tell you earlier.” I turned to look at him.
He’d opened his mouth to speak when my phone rang. The soothing sounds of the ocean filled the air. My attention immediately went to the device. My brother knew where I was and what I was doing. He wouldn’t call unless it was an emergency.
I broke away from Lucan fast. He staggered slightly at the abrupt change in position but recovered quickly.
“Alec, what's wrong?”
“Brooke’s missing. We thought she was in her room, but the window is open. I think she flew out.”
Panic blossomed in me. A ping came from my phone.
“One sec, I’m getting a message.”
I looked at the sender. It was from Brooke. I could feel Lucan’s intense gaze boring into the back of my head.
FairyPrincess: If you want her back alive, come to the Acre in one hour. Let's keep this in the family, shall we?
Fuck! Someone had Brooke. There was no time to waste.
“I have to go.” I turned to leave.
Lucan grabbed my arm as I passed. “Hold on, what’s going on? I caught your half of the conversation, but I’m lost.”
I could see he was in full protector mode, ready to storm the gates, burn down the castle, and sweep the damsel off her feet. My heart broke with every word I spoke.
“It’s a family matter. Your help won't be necessary.”
I could see how my words cut him, but I didn’t take them back. I couldn’t shake Curtis's premonition, something terrible was coming, and I would protect Lucan from it with everything I had, even if that meant losing him.
Lucan’s hand tightened. “Bullshit. It may be a family matter, but I am necessary.” He grabbed my face and smashed our lips together. “I will fight to the death for this, Annwyl.”
The title was in Welsh. Dragons were taught the language as children. The first dragon was said to have come from Wales. Dragon shifters all over the world had claimed the language as their own. I had no idea what it meant, and it was the first time I’d heard it used, but it felt like a term of endearment.
I let the sadness saturating me shine in my eyes. “I can’t.”
With that, I tugged, twisted, and broke free. Without a single glance back, I dashed out of the room, Saber matching my strides easily. Unfortunately, my heart was left behind.
***
One hour to change, rally the troops, and devise a plan of attack was impossible. Had I been a betting person, I’d say Brooke’s kidnapper wanted to keep me on the defensive. Steve and Max had responded to my plea with a mad dash through the streets that had people jumping aside and more than one person cussing. I made it to the guild in record time. I threw every penny I had in my purse at him.
Steve frowned at the money. “This ain’t necessary.”
I called over my shoulder. “Then treat Max to something special, on me. You went above and beyond.” I didn’t hear his reply as I raced up the stairs and through the front door. Liz dove to the side as I ran past.
