Jocelynn Drake - Wait for Dusk

“Something ill is waiting around the corner,” I said, slipping unconsciously into Italian. This place, with its centuries of bloody memories and violent flashes, pulled me into the safety of old habits.

“It is only the weather,” Danaus replied in Italian as well.

Stopping near the edge of the island, I stared out across the lagoon toward San Clemente Island, the resting place of the coven. My stomach twisted into knots and I anxiously shoved my hand through my hair, pushing it away from where it had blown across my face. I couldn’t remain waiting here. I needed to get on that island to find out what was happening. I needed to wrap my hands around Macaire’s neck so I could rip his head off.

Everything will be fine, Danaus whispered across my brain. He laid his hands on my shoulders and attempted to massage away the tension, but the stiffness wasn’t going anywhere until I heard from Valerio.

To my relief, the Ancient appeared beside us a few minutes later, but by his expression, I knew I didn’t want to hear what he had to say. “The coven has gathered at the hall. They know that you’re in town and are waiting to hear your report,” he said.

With a jerky nod, I expelled a deep breath, trying to force myself to calm. I still had to deal with Macaire, and that would be no easy battle. “Then let’s get going,” I said, starting to walk toward a boat I had already chosen to use to cross the lagoon.

“There’s more, Mira,” Valerio said, stopping me in my tracks. I flinched, waiting for the news, but nothing could have prepared me. “Tristan’s here.”

I whipped around and pinned his with a dark stare that could have pierced straight through him. “What are you talking about? He can’t be here. I left him in Savannah.”

“Macaire has him.”

My stomach heaved as if I had been punched and I felt my knees go weak, threatening to send me to the ground. “How long?” I whispered in a broken voice.

“Mira, you can’t blame yourself. He—”

“How long, damn it? How long?” I shouted, sending my voice echoing through the vast nothingness of the night. I didn’t care who heard me or what they thought. Macaire had Tristan again, and I hadn’t been there to stop him. I hadn’t been there to save him again from the court.

“It sounds as if he was here since our first night in Budapest. He’s been here several nights at Macaire’s mercy.”

Mercy . Macaire didn’t know the meaning of the word. I had no doubt that Macaire had taken advantage of Tristan’s weakened and fragile state following the death of Lily to torture the nightwalker. I was just afraid to see what I would find when I finally reached the coven. I clenched my teeth and tightly balled my fists as I fought back the scream of frustration and anger. Tristan had never reached out to me for help. I had never sensed that he was in any kind of danger. I should have known that Macaire would strike someone from my home while I was away. I should have known and done something.

Blinking back angry tears, I boarded the boat and turned the engine over. I was only vaguely aware of Valerio boarding the boat, while Danaus untied us and jumped in as well. I shot across the whitecapped waves in a flash, cutting across the water with single-minded determination. Macaire would pay. He would pay with his life for nearly killing me, Danaus, Stefan, and Valerio. He would pay for the hours of torture that he undoubtedly put Tristan through because of me.

We crossed the lagoon in a matter of minutes and I circled to the back side of the island to dock at the small stone landing closest to the Main Hall. I paused only long enough to kill the engine before I jumped off the boat. Walking down the path, the glass in a nearby lamppost exploded into flames. My energy snapped and flowed around me as I no longer attempted to rein in my temper. It poured into the other energies I could feel in the air from the nightwalkers nearby. I didn’t need to access any of it. For the first time in my existence I felt as if I was fully in tune with my abilities.

Two narrow rows of flames lit the sides of the path, flickering suddenly into life as they led us toward the Main Hall. I walked between the fiery lanes, clenching and unclenching my fists. I was going to kill him. I didn’t know how, but before this night was I out, I knew I would be holding his heart in my hand.

“Mira, you can’t just attack him,” Valerio said, following close behind me. “He’ll rip your head off. He’s stronger and older than you by centuries. You have to be careful about this.”

“We’re beyond careful.”

“I’m here for you,” Danaus volunteered, but I just laughed.

“You’re not to do a thing. I will handle Macaire alone.”

“Mira—” Danaus started, sounding unsure for the first time, and then his voice firmed again. “My abilities are at your disposal.”

That was somewhat reassuring. I would have tapped his powers whether he wanted me to or not, but it was nice to know that at least now he was willing to aid me in this battle, even if it was only from a distance.

As I mounted the stone stairs to the Main Hall, Danaus and Valerio stepped ahead of me and pulled the massive wood and iron doors open. I marched through the long foyer, sending candles sputtering into life as I passed. The second set of doors swung open of their own accord as I reached them.

On the dais, Jabari, Elizabeth, and Macaire sat in their chairs, appearing calm and regal as always. Meanwhile, I was windblown and looking as if I had crawled from the pits of Hell to confront them in all my fury. They were the Old World, with their old traditions and old schemes. I felt as if I were purely a force of nature, ready to rain down my terror on all of them. But for now all my energies were going to be focused on one smug face. He didn’t think I would dare to confront him head on because of his age and powers. I was more than happy to prove him wrong.

“Where is he?” I growled as I marched across the enormous hall. Overhead, the candles in the crystal and gold chandelier exploded into life. The bright light reflected in the black marble floor under my feet and sent shadows scurrying into the far corners of the room. Around me, I could sense more than two dozen nightwalkers gathered along the walls, watching my long march into the room, but I didn’t see them. My narrowed gaze never wavered from Macaire.

“And who are you referring to, my dear?” he inquired.

I mounted the stairs and grabbed the front of his suit jacket. I started to fling him out of his chair, hoping to throw him onto the floor, but the bastard disappeared from my hands. He instantly reappeared behind me, straightening his jacket.

“You know who I want,” I snarled, starting to come back down the stairs. “Where is Tristan?”

“Oh, that young one,” Macaire replied, his smile returning. He waved his hand and a pair of nightwalkers slipped through a door at the side of the hall. I was sorely tempted to follow, but I forced myself to remain standing in the hall. I wasn’t about to let Macaire out of my sight for a second if I could help it.

“You know, considering your struggles with the nightwalkers, warlock, and naturi, I grew concerned that you weren’t going to make it out alive, so I thought it would be best if I went to fetch the boy. Sadira had been so concerned about him. She was sure that he wouldn’t be able to survive on his own.”

As he spoke, the fire in the candles overhead increased. Wax rained down, creating a sickening sound as it hit the marble floor. Flags that hung from the ceiling erupted into flames and nightwalkers screamed in terror as they scrambled frantically away from the fire.

Close the doors! No one leaves, I directed Valerio, knowing he could use his powers to hold the doors shut. I didn’t know who was responsible for Tristan’s torture beyond Macaire, but I would be sure that everyone witnessed this fight. I wanted to be sure that everyone understood that I was a force that was not to be messed with.