“I feel that waver in your nerve. Don't worry. You are safe with me.”

  They kept walking.

  “Why are you so frank and helpful with me, when it could get you killed?”

  “I can't say. It baffles me as much as Dmitry's patience with you baffles me.”

  She made a soft snort. “He's not patient with me, Mikhail. Not really, not like you are. He has a use for me, you don't. Do you?”

  “You are some kind of weapon. Something that can destroy him as well. It is the only thing that makes sense,” he said and chuckled. “Do I? I might.”

  She pulled away from him, trying to see his face and held his hand tighter. “You can't know what my use is. He would kill you. He has killed for that knowledge before. I've killed for him. I don't ever want to be in a position where I have to do that with you. Not to you,” she said, and they started walking again.

  “Should I kill you now then, and save us both the risk?” He tucked her under his arm again.

  “Mikhail, I am not kidding. I don't even want to think about what he would do if he thought we had talked about things, even a little.”

  “I thought we were not friends, not ever, mistress Gwen.”

  “We are only friends here, in this realm.” She hoped he understood the danger of even that.

  “Of course,” he said, and they carried on walking, each thinking about what the next few nights would hold. “Here, this is where she was.” He stopped walking.

  “What is it?” She heard something strange in his voice. She tried to focus on his eyes in the darkness, there was something there. It was not fear, but there was at least some uncertainty.

  “I worry for you. What you will see could launch whatever is happening here into a full war. Things will get dicey. I get the distinct impression it was Dmitry's intention for you to be in the middle of things when they are at the most dangerous. I trust he is a capable warrior in his own right, but he is one that might over estimate himself or underestimate his opponents.” His fingers stroked her hand as he spoke.

  “Perhaps, but I'm not as fragile as you might think.”

  “You may be something dangerous, but you are not and never will be fast enough to prevent a vampire attacking you. Not an older one. Likely not even a younger one. The time you need to respond with your magic gifts, whatever they may be, will be more than long enough for a vampire to entrance you, or even drain you if they happen to be stronger.”

  His honesty made Gwen uncomfortable. He was right, she knew that. There was a reason Dmitry had been so possessive. They were much more dangerous to her than she was to them.

  She had never faced a surprise attack, and knew deep down she wouldn't survive that. “That's unpleasant, Mikhail. Is there wood around here so I can make fire to see?”

  Mikhail looked around. “No, it's desolate. Best I can tell, all the wood in this realm was burned long ago. Its resources have been ravaged.”

  She was glad he sensed her discomfort and let the subject change. “Okay, will you help me sit then? I need you to make sure I am in the same spot she was. When I put my hand in the ground, it needs to be as close to where she was as you can remember.”

  He helped her down and watched as she got comfortable. “What do I need to do to help?”

  “Nothing. Please don't touch me until I come back from the past. I will tell you what I see as soon as I can. If I am struggling I will call to you, at which point you need to get me away from this spot.”

  He agreed.

  Gwen sunk her fingers into the ground. She watched him as he eyed the night around them and then in the direction of the tear. She assumed he was being cautious in case her magic attracted anything else. She felt safe as she slipped into the past. Safe with this monster watching over her.

  “T ime is up. No loose ends,” a male voice said.

  It was immediately obvious to Gwen this vision was not of the general area. She was watching through the man’s eyes.

  The emotions of the person whose memories she was seeing washed over her in a flood that was overpowering. She felt angry, nervous, anxious, and when they looked at Paulette bound with both ties and magic they seemed amused.

  Gwen realized she was again going to watch through the murderer's eyes as she had with Curtis.

  She almost pulled back, but reasoned she needed to try and stay as long as she could. She needed to see if they said anything that would give away what happened, and who they were. At the very least she already knew it wasn't Willow, it was a man.

  She wondered if that would make a difference in Willow's fate, or if she would still be turned over to Dmitry to do with as he pleased. Gwen had the impression that Willow really loved Nikolay and probably was persuaded by that love to do things she normally wouldn't have. Still, she was responsible for taking Paulette to her killers. It wasn't black and white, but she wasn't totally an innocent bystander either.

  “P lease, not yet. Don't you see we all want to see Dmitry's rule ended. There are better ways. We can work together. No one has to know what you have done. Nothing so bad has happened. What you are about to do… you can't come back from that.”

  “No one will know what I have done. Nikolay is dead, you will be dead, and Willow will be burned as a murderer, your murderer. Pity, she was such a sweet witch. Not like the hags that run this place. No vision beyond getting through another day.”

  “This offer Nikolay made, how do you even know it will be honored? You of all people know Alexei has no qualms about betraying those in his inner circle. Help us close the tear between realms and then we can stand a chance against Dmitry here.”

  “Repair the tear? With Dmitry in rule? You think they will let you do that? They consume humans as a delicacy. And Greta sells that delicacy to the highest bidder. You would have been spared if you would have worked with us. Alexei is weaker than Dmitry, and shortsighted. Can't you see past tomorrow? If we help him, we stand a much better chance of taking our realm back.”

  “What do you think will happen when he is done needing you? Who will he send to kill you, like he sent you to kill me? Maybe he will kill you himself just for fun. That is how they view killing you know. Please think about this. You know what we are capable of together.”

  “He might still have use for you. Someone who can manipulate the results of death is a valuable someone. It can be you or Sam, you decide. We can return you to council power if you submit. The day walkers have been spotted by Inessa, things are about to happen now. Dmitry won't be able to stop the chaos when she attacks Viktor, and Alexei will easily slip into rule.”

  “Then he kills you. No loose ends remember? That aside, you assume Inessa will be baited. Alexei couldn't hold Viktor in check. This is going to blow up in your face, and his.”

  Gwen felt a cold chill run over the man.

  “Enough of this. Why are you even talking to it, didn't I give you an order? Kill her. She's had time to submit. You will be all the force I need at council. Greta will submit to whomever is in rule. Did you draw in Dmitry's witch, or shall I kill her as well? I would think her head would serve to start a feud on this realm even if Inessa fails to jump.”

  Gwen watched as the man turned to see a vampire behind him. She wondered where it had come from. She certainly didn't like the feeling that washed over her, listening to a vampire and this man talking about using and killing her as well.

  “Master Alexei. I have not been able to broach that with her. Not yet, but the promise of freedom will turn her on him. We want her on our side. She can give you all the edge you need over Dmitry.”

  “Control or kill her. I will not have some sun-witch ruin my claim. Kill this one, use your hands, not magic. I want to watch you kill the witch. Earn your place.”

  Gwen watched as the man turned his attention back to Paulette.

  “Time is up, Paulette,” he said, and walked over, using one hand he held her throat, squeezing until she went limp.

  Feeling her hands on Paulette and not being able to pull them back made Gwen dizzy and she started to feel the vision slipping. She tried to hang on longer, but even as she watched them walking off, the night, Mikhail, and the darkness broke in.

  Gwen placed both hands on the ground to steady herself. The darkness wrapped her in its cold embrace. It was so cold, so thoughtless. She was just killed. They were done with her and they killed her. Gwen tried not to think about her own situation and the obvious comparison.

  “Mikhail?” she called out, still waiting for the fog of the past and the cold emotions of the man to clear out.

  He put a hand on her shoulder. “I'm right beside you, did you see who killed her?”

  “Help me up, please.” She took his hand, standing close to him. His coldness seemed to blend into the night.

  “Who is Alexei?” Her voice and body trembled a little as she struggled to push away the feelings from what she saw. She heard Mikhail draw in a breath.

  “That is Dmitry's youngest brother. I wouldn't have imagined one so young would make a realm claim.” The tone in his voice showed his shock at that name.

  “Mikhail, he is pitting Viktor and Inessa against each other to cause chaos. He made the day walkers, from what I gathered. Is this realm opened to your world?” She started to hyperventilate as she tried to clear her mind enough to feel another tear. “He talked about killing me. Alexei said if whoever the witch was, couldn't get me to help them, then he wanted me dead. Take me to Dmitry, please. I don't feel safe here.”

  He folded her in his arms. “I've got you. Relax, this is part of your rank. As a tribe leader, Dmitry will always face challengers in his family. We don't often have enough realms at our command to satisfy the need of the royals to rule. Alexei has always coveted this realm.”

  “This Alexei, he knows what I can do. That makes me a big target. He wants me controlled or dead. What if he has told other masters?”

  “I don't know what you can do, but if it is that treasured you may be right. We should go tell Dmitry. I wouldn't worry about him telling anyone, as a rule they, we, vampires, keep anything that could be advantageous later a secret.”

  “Do you feel another tear, one to your realm?” She walked beside him as closely as she could.

  “No, we can look for that later. Dmitry needs to know what you saw. Every bit of it.”

  “But there could be a back door for monsters to my realm.” Her tone held the protest she considered making. She was torn between wanting to be safely away from this realm and wanting to find out if Alexei was using it to come and go.

  “Gwen, stop. It is his realm and he will protect it with his life, and you, you are his. You have his protection too. If there is a door that let his enemies in, he will close it.”

  His realm? It was his and she had a chance to change that. She stopped, wishing it wasn't so dark. There was no way to get a read on Mikhail. What did she do, she wondered? Help Dmitry, or try to find this other witch? Could they be right that Alexei would be easier to take out of power? Mikhail seemed to think Dmitry was the horse to bet on, but that would be to suit his needs, not hers, not humans. The next decision she made would affect the whole realm, everyone she loved.

  “Is Alexei, is he …” She struggled to even try and put into words what she was thinking. He wouldn't answer her anyway. Why would he tell her how to cut off his people from their food source?

  “Is he your ticket to pushing us, monsters, out of your life?” He chuckled, sounding genuinely amused she would ask such a blunt question.

  “Yes,” she said, her voice unsteady.

  “No, he is young and railing against his impotence. He will be destructive. If he was working with both witches and Viktor and Nikolay, you must see that. I would not be surprised if his actions were the result of an older, wiser sibling pulling his strings. Even if he battled and won, his father would never allow him to run such a treasured realm. There would be more chaos.”

  Did she still trust Mikhail? Could she ever trust any vampire? “But Dmitry manages them all. He uses everyone to his own advantage, what is the difference?”

  “Gwen, use your instincts. What did you feel in that vision? Could you see or feel the witch? Did it feel like they would be a better answer for you? If you think so then when we step out, do what you need to do.”

  She had felt the witch, cold and empty just like the monsters. Colder maybe because they were human and still a part of this. Did she believe when Mikhail said Alexei would bring chaos, would people suffer? It all boiled down to whether she trusted Mikhail.

  She stood still, just watching him and thinking. The night felt darker the longer she puzzled. He didn't press her to decide, he held a hand out waiting. She looked at his hand, it wasn't really a hand, she knew that, it was really gray and leathery with thick nasty nails. Claws.

  Not a man, not a friend.

  Why was he giving her so much time and space to consider things?

  Her instincts said he was a friend. Alexei would be a bad choice.

  “Has Alexei ever had a realm?” she asked finally.

  Mikhail sighed and pulled his hand back. “No, there have never been enough for them all. The older ones often take more than one.”

  “So, you don't really know what he would be as a ruler. You assume he would waste your resources here, but what if he cherished them? What if… Mikhail, would he get command of all of Dmitry's soldiers, or would they go home when their ruler died?”

  “Rulers change, tribes stay. Imagine a child wielding the power Dmitry has. Things will rapidly become a wasteland. People, you, witches, humans, will all be descended upon and either killed carelessly, or taken back to other realms as slaves.”

  “But I could stop that.” She stepped closer and then drew in a breath. “What would happen if both Alexei and Dmitry didn't walk away from this?”

  “That is treason, Gwen.”

  “The survivors write history. Any number of things could result in two dead in a battle. No one aside from you and I would suspect a little woman witch. What would happen?”

  “I can see your thoughts on your face. So will he.”

  “Mikhail, please, just answer my questions.”

  “There will not be the pause you need to be rid of us and close the realm. It simply won't happen. The next in line will step in before the night is out, any other claims will be feuded over and then a permanent ruler will be granted claim.” He paused, watching her face. “You can't do it. No matter how strong your gifts, one witch can't. You must know that deep down. We can simply tear the veil again even if you close it, vampires of my strength can tear the realm like you do a page of paper.” He put a hand on her face. “You could tear the realm with ease, yourself. You can’t keep us out.”

  “But forever, your kind will be here forever using humans as food. Am I supposed to take your hand and seal that as our fate?”

  “Yes, you are. Think of all the centuries Dmitry has ruled. How many humans even believe we are real? Very few. We touch very few. His reasons may not be noble to your kind, but he never wants to see that change. This realm offers him a life of luxury away from the wars and fluid nature of our world. As long as he is in rule, humans will be treated as the treasured prize they are. Lifesaving food and a valued resource for trade at home.”

  She pushed his hand away from her, a look of disgust coming over her face. “That is awful the way you can stand here and romanticize his subjugation of an entire species.”

  “Awful would be the wanton destruction, that would come under another ruler.”

  “I need a minute. I can't make this decision lightly.”

  He reached his hand out again. “I don't expect you to. I'm here when you are ready.”

  “You should kill me. I will not stop trying to push you back now that I am aware of what is happening here.”

  “I should. We both know that. I haven't. I won't.”

  “Why?”

  He shrugged. “I can't say. Know that when I see your out, your escape from us, the relaxed knitting life you crave, I will help you take it.”

  “Can't or won't say? What do you stand to gain from being my friend, diplomat Casper?”

  “Perhaps both. Please, think carefully. If we step out of that tear and thoughts like you are having now dance across your mind, I won't be able to help. Can't and won't”

  She looked again at his hand, his clawed hand, and reached out and let his cold fingers lace in hers. He smiled warmly at her and she tried not to imagine that under that smile was actually a mouth full of teeth that could, and often did, gnash into human flesh.

  “I value your trust. You have my loyalty, mistress. I would not lead you in a direction that would hurt you if there were a better option.”

  “That if is covering all the bases,” she said, trying to ease her own nerves. “This, what he sees will make him angry.”

  “Yes, it likely will. Perhaps you will serve a bigger purpose than you imagine. Your loyalty will calm him. You calm him.”

  She adjusted her grip of his hand and rubbed her fingers over the top of his. “Me? I think you might be forgetting how I walk away from most meetings with him.”

  “Yes, Gwen, you walk away, and I have heard how you talk to him. No one walks away from that, you aside.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  G wen stepped out of the veil, hand in hand with Mikhail. As soon as they were back on realm she looked around, startled to not feel Dmitry in the area. Her brows creased and she concentrated, looking for his cold spot. “Do you feel him?”

  “No.” His expression let her know he also found that strange. He tucked her safely under his arm as he looked around them, getting his own feeling for who and what might be around.

  “Should we go to the estate?” She turned her head to the area behind them as she felt a strong magic approaching.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24