The temperature in the room dropped and she reached for the shawl that wasn't there.

  Relax, she told herself.

  Mikhail stood beside her and gave her a smile before Dmitry joined them.

  “Mikhail. This is an early report, what has happened?” Dmitry said.

  “Master Dmitry, I am simply accompanying Gwen, as per orders.”

  “Very well, you are excused.” Dmitry walked around in front of Gwen. Once the door shut he put a finger under her chin and tilted her head up.

  Gwen found herself staring into his piercing green eyes while he studied her.

  “You are troubled. Is it Mikhail?” He looked at her carefully, searching for any damage.

  “No, Master Dmitry, I have a lot to go over with you, and Greta sent some sealed papers as well.”

  He let her chin drop. “Carry on.”

  “I found some papers while I was cleaning out Nikolay's things. I didn't read his memos to you, but there was a log showing he was traveling off realm, weekly at least, and there are other papers I didn't understand. I left it all in the briefcase for you.” Gwen felt the room grow colder as he paced.

  “Off realm. That is interesting. What else?”

  “I don't know what is in the other paperwork, it was sealed. I assume private.”

  “Sit down.” He opened the envelope and looked over several pages.

  Gwen heard the flicking of his fingernails start.

  “It would seem you are a rare treasure. As such, I am denying this request to go off realm. Have you come closer to concluding your mystery solving onsite?”

  Gwen looked up, sadness evident in her features. “I… she's dead. The missing witch is … why are you denying the request? Don't you want me to learn to realm walk?”

  He rapped his fingers on the table and snarled at her. “Did you just question me, Gwen?”

  “No, Master Dmitry, I misspoke. I was under the impression I needed to learn that to be an ambassador.”

  “I will teach you myself. Realm walking to strange places is dangerous. Dead witch? That is perhaps more troubling than Nikolay. I will make you a room here.”

  Gwen grabbed the arms of the chair. “No. No, Master Dmitry, I can’t stay here.”

  He walked over and snatched her from the chair. “I did not ask your council on the matter. Dead witches. It isn't safe there at present it would seem. You are not safe anywhere,” he said, lifting her to look at her eyes. “Don't force my hand.”

  “I have to. I can't stay here. I would be dead inside. You may as well kill me now. Please, Dmitry, if I am a weapon, I am safe everywhere.”

  “Are you?” he said through clenched teeth. The air whipped around her and they slammed into the wall. His fangs sunk into her shoulder, biting into flesh and scraping bone. He pulled back without feeding. “How safe are you now?” he asked, and dropped her.

  She stood as straight as she could and raised her eyes to his. “Please. If you won't let me live my life, you will have to kill me.”

  He snarled at her, his mouth red with her blood. “No, you will stay here. Do not challenge me again, or you will get your wish.”

  She didn't drop her eyes, she let her thoughts clear. “Do your worst.”

  Teeth and pain were on her before she had a second to respond. She tried to stay conscious, but he drank too quickly and she fell limp in his arms.

  He let her slip to the floor. Stepping over her, he opened the door. “Mikhail, come here.”

  Mikhail walked in and had to step over her as they walked to the front of the room.

  “I will be sending you back alone with papers for Greta.”

  “Yes, Master Dmitry.”

  Dmitry watched him, sensing something wasn't right. “Is there something else you wish to report?”

  “There are a few witches at council that might be issues for your mistress. I will look into them more before making any conclusions.”

  “What you will do is fill me in now.”

  “Yes, Master Dmitry.” He told him about the hate from Sara and about the connection Willow had with Nikolay. He also told him that he tracked Paulette to a tear in the veil.

  Dmitry looked around Mikhail as Gwen struggled to get to her knees. He clicked his fingernails. “Stay where you are, Gwen.”

  Gwen looked up and locked eyes with him.

  He cocked his head and gnashed his teeth.

  “Mikhail, go get Sergei to remove her, now.”

  As Mikhail was leaving, he heard her response as a weak whisper. “You are going to have to kill me.”

  “If you were not such a rare treasure you wouldn't have to ask twice. You will adjust, sunshine.” His fingers tapped rapidly on the table. He ignored her and read over all of the things in the briefcase.

  When Sergei came in, Dmitry ordered him to take her to a room and tend to her needs.

  After making some notes and signing some papers, he handed them to Mikhail in a sealed envelope. “That will be all. Report in a week, unless there are issues.”

  “Yes, Master Dmitry.” Mikhail took a few steps back. “Master, if I may.”

  “You may not. You are dismissed.” He snatched the briefcase before walking out.

  “S he's refused to eat or drink,” Sergei said.

  Gwen turned her head to see Dmitry in the door and rolled over to face the wall.

  “Leave us,” Dmitry said, and walked over to the bed. He placed a hand on her shoulder and rolled her over.

  She didn't have the strength to fight.

  “You are perhaps the stubbornest creature I have ever encountered. You can’t go off realm, at all. Unless you are with me. There are dead witches off realm.” He paused and paced a bit. “You are my treasure. There are those that would covet what is mine and those that would destroy it. I can protect you from them. However, I can’t have you self-destruct. We seem to be at an impasse.”

  “I will serve no other masters. I am not Nikolay.”

  “You don't serve me, it would seem. Therein lies the problem.”

  “I will serve you. I will and have killed monsters for you. I can’t be your prisoner. I need to feel joy. This isn't my world, pain, and feeding. I won't live like this. Don't you see that? I can't live this life. Is there no compromise with you?”

  “No, I have never made cessions without ulterior motives.”

  “Fine, then have a motive, but give me a little space. I will take Sergei home. I will allow Mikhail to follow me at council. I will come when you call. Please, you saw I had a chance to break the connection, and did not.”

  “None of that changes the fact that if anyone knows what you are, they will kill or take you. That aside, humans are very mortal, any number of dangers could end your life.”

  “You mean like your feedings?”

  “I know how to manage human mortality.”

  “Even your life is filled with dangers. Didn't you tell me as much? How safe am I here with a house of vampires coming and going? You will be a target during the day and what, leave me with ghouls?”

  “I have to consider this. I am not sure we can come to an agreement, Gwen. It will be tragic to lose you, but I would rather that than you end up in enemy hands.”

  “You know I can't be the only witch who can do this.”

  “I would have thought the same. It would seem, my little sunshine, that the only other elemental witch I have found so far is a water witch with no other elements at their command.”

  Her eyes grew wide and her jaw went slack. “How do you even know that? How deep are you in the council?”

  “This is my realm. That is all you need to know. I will consider our complication. Do eat and drink. While I didn't take as much tonight, you still need to replenish.” He tugged her sweater to the side, looking at the bite and bruise. Her thoughts in his head said she would be loyal. They also said she wouldn't stay there. He would have to let her go, or lose the weapon altogether. He frowned. No creature he encountered had ever dared to be so stubborn with him, not and lived to see another night.

  He left her to consider how to make this realm safe for her and keep his siblings from discovering her real worth. Humans were such reckless and destructive creatures. They were all a danger to his witch. No matter what orders he sent Greta, there was still a killer witch on the loose at council. Gwen could not be responsible for tracking them down. That was an absurd risk.

  From what Greta explained to him, this elemental ability was latent in many witches and rarely developed. It needed to be present in both lines to be passed down, so she speculated, and even that was no guarantee. That ended any plans to mass produce them, which was almost as frustrating as her defiance. There was no way to know when and where one might develop until they used the ability.

  Greta would alert him to any male witches that might be of interest to him, or better yet to Gwen, but even that would require her to be out there, out from under his watchful eyes. Risky. Calculated risks were part of war. He had sixteen siblings, several of which were older, and as such more powerful. Sunshine would level that out.

  Each time he decided it would be easier to kill her he came back to that. Sixteen master vampires that would all need slain. She would need to be trained to wield the sunshine in battle. She would need to be trained to use her other weapons if she found herself alone in this realm and in trouble.

  “I have conditions that must be strictly adhered to. No challenging me again. Ever. Before we continue, you must agree to serve me fully. I will not suffer this disrespect again. Ever.” Dmitry stood beside the bed where Gwen rested.

  “If we come to an agreement you will have my word,” she said, and leaned back on the pillow.

  “I told you to eat something. When you leave here, you are to get a healing. I need you in top form. You will come here every night while you are at council. Every single night, until you are fully trained.”

  “Trained?”

  “Yes, Gwen. You have just discovered this skill, it needs trained. Greta will be finding a witch of suitable strength to help you with the speed of your responses. With that witch you will not wield the sun. I want your other gifts fully trained. To train your special gift, you may choose Lewis or Sebastian. They will need to work closely with you and I, to make sure you are ready.”

  “Ready?”

  “Ready, battle ready.”

  “What about my council duties?”

  “They are a cover and have been since you arrived. The cover is now so that you might have special training. I don't want you looking for the dead witch anymore. Leave it. Train, and when you are sharp enough you can go home with Sergei. Are we agreed?”

  “I need to talk to Sebastian before I can give you an answer. I can’t commit him to something without talking to him.”

  “Summon him.”

  “I can't, my shawl is at council.”

  “Tomorrow night you may go with Sergei to talk with Sebastian. Gwen, don't be foolish. You have the distinction of being the only creature I have ever given such favor to. Earn it and when you no longer have use, you will find I will still favor you.”

  “Can I go?”

  “After you eat. I should also remind you, even my mistress needs to address me with respect. Always.” His eyes were harsh even though his tone was softer than usual.

  “Yes, Master Dmitry. I am sorry.”

  “Eat. I will expect you tomorrow after you have spoken with your familiars and decided.”

  After Dmitry left, Sergei returned to make sure she was up for travel before he returned with her to Mikhail at council.

  Mikhail waited as Percy healed her before walking with her to her room.

  “Did you want to do any tracking tonight, boss?”

  “No, we can't. I'm sorry. I've been ordered to leave it. I don't know what to do now.”

  “Leave it. Your council will solve it.” He reached out and touched her shoulder with a tenderness. “Please leave it. You mustn't push him.”

  She tried to smile. “Love bites. Maybe next time there will be flowers.”

  “That's not a nip. That is a warning. Is all well?”

  “No. Nothing is well. I will adapt.”

  He wrinkled his eyebrows. “Did your healer not fix you?”

  “I can't be fixed. Nothing will ever be the same. What did your note mean?” she asked, not wanting to think about Dmitry anymore.

  “Willow. She is trouble, Gwen. Hiding something a little darker than a love for pain.”

  “Do you think she could have anything to do with the dead witch?”

  “It is a possibility. You shouldn't really go off alone with her until I can put a finger on what is shady about her.”

  “You are a vampire and you think a witch is shady?”

  “I am Casper remember?”

  “Well, Casper, stay out of my room while I sleep. I need some rest. I have a very busy day tomorrow.”

  “Yes, boss. I have not been ordered to stop our quest. Did you wish me to follow the trail again and see what shakes loose?”

  She chuckled. “We can't be friends, Mikhail. Your name in my thoughts could be bad news for you.”

  “I despise humans. We will not be friends. Orders.”

  “Fine. Orders are to have fun without me. Tell me what you sniff out.” She watched him start to walk out. “Mikhail?”

  “Yes, boss?”

  She cleared her mind. “Never mind. Thank you, Mikhail.”

  “Sleep well.”

  Mikhail paused again, outside the door and listened as she got ready for bed. It wasn't long before she was sleeping, snoring softly. He was even more puzzled at her return.

  He looked at the sealed envelope she gave him for Greta. The answer to why she was so precious to Dmitry was in the envelope, he felt certain of that. He was not tempted to look, but he was curious. He clearly heard her challenge Dmitry. He also knew the order was for her to stay at the estate. Yet there she was, alive and only a little worse for the wear.

  There was something about her he was missing. She was funny, pretty, and had strong magic, but that did not make her a vampire prize as she was being treated. She was not mistress material for a master. Not a royal master. If Dmitry ever came into rule, his mistress would be grand mistress of their home realm.

  A human grand mistress?

  A mortal grand mistress?

  That was absurd.

  He was missing something important, he thought, and headed to see Greta.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “M itchell will be here in just a bit. I understand that you are not going to be helping me anymore.” Greta stopped walking and regarded Gwen briefly.

  Gwen frowned. “I am sorry, I can't. I really am sorry. I even promised Robin to help. I guess you already understand why I can't.”

  “You have helped us greatly. We are pleased, as is he. He's just protecting you, you know.”

  Something about her tone and the face she made caused Gwen to lose it. Was she really going to stand there and try to convince her that he cared?

  “No, he is protecting his own interest. I can't say more, but you know damn well he isn't doing anything for me. They are monsters that use humans as food. I don't even want to know why you would take their side. What will you do when he decides he is done playing nice in this realm?” Gwen asked.

  “I see to it that doesn't happen. You are doing that as well now. Don't you see how important a civil relationship is? This realm couldn't defend itself against them. I stop that from happening. You are stopping that from happening. A lot of human lives depend on you now.”

  “At any cost? How could you even tell him about other witches like me? You just can't realize his intentions. Where are Mitchell and I to practice?” Gwen wanted to get away from Greta before she lost her temper and said something that would cause real damage.

  “There is an empty realm. Dmitry has approved your travel and training there.”

  “Empty?”

  “Yes, Gwen, it was destroyed, and if you insist on pushing him, it will be the fate of this realm too.”

  Gwen took a deep breath.

  Adapt. She would adapt. “Did you ever care about Paulette, or was this all a ploy to get me here?”

  “I had no idea he would want you. I didn't think you would try to start a war. Do you think I enjoy all of this? I do have other things that rely on me as well. I don't just sit back all day since I guard the past. It is an active role. We have more reckless time walkers than you might imagine. I haven't had a moment to make sure our timeline is not being disturbed since you arrived. Now I have to train Sam to do Paulette's job. You would do me a favor by not provoking Dmitry any more. You might be happy if you would just accept his favor.”

  “You will pardon me if I don't feel sympathy for your position since you have sold me as mistress of the monsters.”

  Gwen had so much more to say, but Mitchell approached, his impartial, cold eyes looked at the women, pinging from one to the other.

  “Gwen, Greta,” he said, in a level tone.

  “Let's get started. I am sure you have better things to do.” Gwen looked at him, waiting for him to start walking away.

  G wen and Mitchell stood just inside the woods at an area she had never been.

  “Do you feel that?” He took her hand, holding it out in front of them.

  The air seemed sticky, like gel. “Yes.”

  “That is the veil. It is torn here. If the realm wasn't empty you would feel other vibrations. When we step through, you will feel very sick. I will hold your hand so you don't get lost. You need to step forward a few steps to come out on the other side.”

  “Lost?”

  “Sure, if you lose orientation you will get lost in that gel feeling stuff, the veil, or the void between the veils more precisely, and suffocate eventually.”

  “That is awful.”

  He reached out and touched her face almost tenderly. “You have good instincts. I don't anticipate you losing direction. Take my hand.”

  Gwen was puzzled by his touch, but took his hand and on his count of three, they stepped together into the gel.

 

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