Jocelynn Drake - Dayhunter

“How do you like your rooms?” inquired a gentle voice from behind me in strangely accented English. I jerked around, stunned to find Macaire seated on a bench just a few feet from us. I hadn’t felt him there a moment ago, hadn’t even sensed his approach, but I guess that’s what made him an Elder.

Danaus instinctively reached for his knife, but I gently laid my hand on his wrist, halting his movement. Macaire had done nothing yet to threaten us. I was willing to play it cool for now. No reason to start a fight. There would be plenty of time for that later.

“They’re stunning, particularly the large wall of windows facing the east,” I answered. His face split into a wide, almost malicious grin. “When did the Coven acquire the Cipriani?”

“A few years ago,” he said, pushing to his feet and walking over to us. His English was perfect, but the accent was strange. I knew he wasn’t as old as Jabari, making me doubt that his people were a dead civilization. Slavic, Eastern European, or maybe Russian? But even that seemed wrong.

Macaire wore a pale, mint green button-up shirt that contrasted nicely with his deep brown eyes. His white linen pants and supple brown loafers made him look so damn approachable and pleasant. He should have looked more predatory; something to indicate to the world that he was one of the most powerful nightwalkers on the planet.

When he was standing beside me, he offered his arm. With a great deal of effort, I managed to keep my face expressionless as I slipped my hand into the crook of his arm while I let my other hand drop from Danaus’s wrist.

“The hall was receiving too many visitors, making sleeping arrangements uncomfortable,” he continued, pleased to see that I was willing to play along. His eyes for a brief moment skimmed over Danaus as if weighing some thought. “We thought it wise if we started keeping some of our guests off the island.”

“It’s beautiful. I’ve always liked the quiet of Guidecca,” I said, strolling down the street next to him. In the eyes of the world, we were a trio of tourists on an evening walk along the narrow street of the island, not enemies trying to find a way to accomplish our individual goals without dying in the process.

“How is Tristan?” Macaire abruptly asked as we crossed a small bridge, heading deeper into the island of Guidecca.

“I imagine he is faring much better than Sadira.” I couldn’t quite stop the smile that rose to my pale lips. Her screams echoed through my memory for a brief moment, loud enough that I felt muscles twitch in Macaire’s arm. I figured he was listening to some of my thoughts.

“Yes, I fear she’ll be in pain for quite some time,” he said, his voice hardening. “Not exactly a wise choice, considering that she must be strong to help you with the naturi.”

“Nor was her choice of enemies wise,” Danaus darkly interjected.

I was pleased with the hunter’s comments, but I didn’t want to worry about trying to separate the Elder and Danaus while I was still trying to get information. “Are you concerned?” I asked quickly, arching one brow as I looked down at him.

Macaire paused and turned his body so he was facing me. He laid one of his hands over my hand, which was lightly resting on his arm. “Of course I am.”

“I had my doubts,” I said with a frown. “Considering your new business partner, I was under the impression that maybe the Coven no longer wanted to keep the door closed.”

“Ahhh,” Macaire said, resuming our walk through the neighborhood. “You misunderstand, my young one.” His condescending tone made my teeth clench, but for now I knew it had to be tolerated.

“I can’t imagine why.” Hidden by the material of my dress, my free hand clenched into a fist at my side. “What is going on, Macaire? What has the Coven done?”

“We’ve struck a rather unique bargain.”

“Has the Coven decided to destroy us all?”

Macaire stopped walking again. He reached up and placed his hands on both of my cheeks, his eyes softening to a look of sweet concern. The nightwalker looked older than many of the others. It appeared that he was in his late forties to early fifties when he was reborn. His dark brown hair was sprinkled liberally with gray, giving him a wise and distinguished look. There was a cleft in his chin and deep lines around his mouth and eyes. It was strange. He looked like he was almost twice as old as Jabari, but the Egyptian was the older of the two.

“What we have done is for the protection of our kind,” he reassured me. His eyes pointedly moved from my face to stare at Danaus, who stood behind my right shoulder. “What have you done for the protection of our kind?”

I stepped backward out of his touch, my brows bunching angrily over the bridge of my nose. “I’m not a fool. You can’t make deals with the naturi and expect them to live up to the agreement.”

“Some would say the same about you,” he ruefully stated, looking from Danaus to me again.

“Enough! What is going on?”

Smiling, Macaire lifted his arm, patiently waiting for me to place my hand back in the crook of his elbow. He liked the farce, and I knew he would say nothing until I complied with his wishes. Nearly growling in my frustration, I placed my hand back on his arm and we continued our walk.

“Several decades ago, the Coven was quietly approached by a handful of naturi,” he began, sounding as if he was retelling a tale of misadventure at the office. “They told us of their queen’s plans to open the door between our worlds. It seems that they had become content with the way things had gone since becoming separated from the rest of the host. They had no desire to fall back under the thumb of their illustrious ruler. This small group came to us requesting that we not only close the door, but that we also kill Aurora.”

My legs stopped working as I listened to these words, as if the very idea had locked up my brain. I stood planted to the spot, blindly staring ahead at the large plaza we had entered. “Kill Aurora,” I repeated dumbly.

“They wish to return to the peaceful existence they had found. Aurora will not allow that. She will continue with her plans for wiping out both humans and nightwalkers.”

“I don’t believe it.” I shook my head, as if trying to clear the clutter of questions that had crowded in my brain. Macaire tried to continue walking, but I wouldn’t move.

“You do not have to,” he said patiently. “The Elders do.”

“To kill Aurora, she has to come through the door, which means we have to allow them to open the door,” Danaus reminded him. “It would be safer to stop them before they open it. It may be centuries before she has another chance to open the door again.”

“We considered that, and there is one problem…” Macaire paused, moving his gaze from Danaus to my face. “You.”

I lurched backward a step, putting a little distance between us. The sidewalk seemed to have narrowed, leaving me feeling trapped between Danaus and Macaire. This conversation had taken a strange, unexpected turn. “What do you mean?”

“You are needed to shut the door and form the seal. We also believe you are our best chance at destroying Aurora,” he said. “Unfortunately, considering your reckless lifestyle and your unexpected alliance, the Coven doesn’t feel confident that you will survive long enough to stop Aurora if she tries again a couple centuries from now.”

“Best chance—don’t you mean best weapon?” I snapped irritably.

“Yes,” he said in a slow hiss. “You are an exquisite weapon, whether you act alone or are being wielded by another. The Coven thinks this is our best chance to stop Aurora once and for all. To finish it. And we’re not sure we’ll have another chance like this one.”