They pulled up to an anonymous-looking set of garage doors, set into the foot of the castle wall, and stopped. She had just enough time to notice the security cameras when the metal doors rose, opening like a giant mouth.
Diego drove inside, and Evenfall swallowed them whole.
FOURTEEN
Inside was an entirely normal underground parking garage. After passing a security gate, Diego drove down a ramp and into a parking space that said RESERVED.
When he cut the engine, Xavier told him, “Please take our bags to my rooms and wait there until you hear further instructions.”
Tess slipped her hand out of Xavier’s as Diego twisted in his seat to frown at both of them.
“You just want me to wait in your rooms?”
“You’re here as backup,” Xavier said. “If I need to act alone or take care of something unforeseen, you will guard Tess. We’re here to complete a task that is going to be—unpredictable. Also, if we’re here for longer than the night, I might require blood.”
Diego said, without expression, “So I’m here to act as a babysitter and a wet bar.”
Xavier’s own expression went still. With immense courtesy, he replied, “That is what I require from you at this point in time, yes.”
After a moment, Diego said, “Just checking, boss. Hey, at least it’s good to get out of the house now and then, right?”
He had lightened his tone, but his cheerfulness rang false to Tess. She put her head in her hands and rubbed aching temples. With the sure knowledge that she would be facing Malphas soon enough, she didn’t have any emotional room to spare for whatever might be bothering Diego.
Xavier touched her thigh. “Are you ready?”
No. No.
She lifted her head, straightened her shoulders and said, “Yes.”
“Come with me.”
She stepped out of the SUV as he did, and he came around to escort her through a metal reinforced security door to a concrete stairwell that soon gave way to stone walls and steps. Walking up the stairs felt like passing from the present day into a century in the far past.
“Why this?” she murmured. She had been talking to herself, but Xavier, who had taken the lead and was a step farther ahead, turned to look at her with one eyebrow raised in inquiry. She asked him, “Why a castle?”
“This demesne has a number of very old Vampyres who wield a great deal of financial and personal power. At the time, Julian and his sire, Carling, felt a structure that was so indicative of strength and age would strike the right note of authority with those Vampyres when they came to settle in California. Also, it’s highly defensible, and there are a number of interior rooms that have no windows at all. The place is riddled with halls and private passages, so it can be a bit confusing until you get used to it. I suggest you do not get lost or wander off on your own.”
“You don’t have to worry about that,” she muttered, even though she knew he could hear her quite clearly.
They continued up the stairs, and along a series of hallways that grew wider and more trafficked. Vampyres turned to look at them as they passed, their gazes lingering curiously on Tess.
She found she didn’t have any emotional room to spare for them either. Walking by Xavier’s side, she felt as safe as if they strolled down the beach back at the estate.
Maybe that was a positive image, or maybe she just knew in the marrow of her bones that he was more dangerous than anyone they passed, and he was on her side.
You gave me blood, he had said. I’m supposed to protect you.
And she trusted him.
They came to a set of massive mahogany doors guarded by two Vampyres, a man and a woman, dressed in thoroughly modern, dark gray suits.
The man had average features and gingery hair, but the tall, athletic-looking woman was striking, with dark brown skin and a smooth, sleek cap of black hair. As Xavier approached, she said, “Go right in, sir. He’s expecting you.”
“Very good. Thank you, Yolanthe.” As they stepped aside, Xavier nodded to the man and ushered Tess into the Nightkind King’s personal quarters.
Julian stood in front of a blazing fire in a large granite fireplace. The Nightkind King’s arms were crossed, and he spoke into a Bluetooth headset. He wore faded jeans, old, scarred cowboy boots and a black T-shirt that stretched across a broad, muscled chest. While the expensive, elegant evening suit he had worn to the Vampyre’s Ball had emphasized his rough looks, this outfit looked as if it suited him.
As they entered the room, Julian looked up. Still speaking, he raised a finger, and Xavier nodded.
While they waited for Julian to finish his call, Tess looked around curiously. Whatever she might have imagined, the reality of Julian’s living space was not it. The place was austere, and gave almost no hint of the kind of wealth and power he must truly have.
Black leather couches were arranged in front of the fireplace, with a thick, heavy wool rug between them. Plain, sturdy wooden tables and a matching cabinet completed the furnishings. The only expression of extravagance was a massive landscape painting that dominated one stone wall, depicting a sun-drenched scene that appeared to be Italian, or at the very least European.
A laptop and a pile of papers were stacked on one end of the coffee table. Julian finished his phone call, tapped the Bluetooth device at his ear then tore it off and flung it at the table.
“Melly isn’t answering her cell,” he said to Xavier. “Her publicist claims she’s on location for a new shoot. And Tatiana is not inclined to waste Light Fae time and send another representative to redo proposals that have already been agreed upon. Goddammit.”
“Give me a moment.” Xavier pulled out his cell phone, dialed a number and a moment later said, “Hi, Melly, how are you?” He paused, giving Julian a wry glance. “Good for you. A skiing trip to Aspen sounds delightful.”
Julian’s rough expression darkened with fury. Hand out, he strode forward, silently demanding the phone. Xavier stepped back and shook his head warningly.
Xavier said into his phone, “Listen, I have a favor to ask of you. Yes, it does have to do with why Julian’s been calling and leaving messages. No, I promise, it doesn’t require you coming back to Evenfall. All I want you to do is say, ‘Julian, I agree with all of the trade proposals that Xavier and I chatted about in New York.’ Then Julian is going to say, ‘Melisande, I agree with all of the trade proposals that you and Xavier chatted about in New York.’ You don’t have to really talk to each other, just say the words. Meanwhile, I’m going to put you on speaker and record everything, all right? Thank you.”
As Tess watched in fascination, Julian’s eyes flashed red. Lips peeling back in a silent snarl, he held up his hands, fingers curled, and pantomimed strangling an invisible person in front of him.
Xavier checked the screen of his phone. He said, “Melly, I’ve got you on speaker now. Can you hear me?”
“Of course.” The Light Fae princess’s warm voice sounded clearly in the room.
“Okay.” Xavier’s thumb moved over the screen. “I’m recording you now. Go.”
Melisande said, “Julian, I agree with all of the trade proposals that Xavier and I chatted about in New York.”
Xavier pointed to Julian. The Nightkind King growled, “Melisande, I agree with all of the trade proposals that you and Xavier chatted about in New York. And would it have killed you to pick up the fucking phone just once?”
“You never know,” Melisande said. “It might have.”
“If I ever get my hands on you again,” he snapped, “I’m going to throttle you senseless.”
“Dream on,” she sneered. “You only wish you could get your hands on all of this awesomeness again, and that’s one thing I promise is never going to happen.”
Xavier said rapidly, “Okay, thanks again.”
Melisande’s voice changed drastic
ally, and she said with obvious affection, “Any time, darling. ’Bye.”
Xavier signed off. For a moment, he and Julian looked at each other, and in spite of the severity of her own problems, Tess was hard put to keep from laughing. Struggling to keep her face straight, she put a hand over her mouth.
“It’s not pretty or dignified,” Xavier said. “But it is a recording of an agreement between the two of you. Maybe it’ll be enough to back Justine off, because you know the other members of the council won’t take kindly to being called to reconvene over a technicality of law that appears to have been resolved already.”
“I’ll take it,” Julian said. “I can back Justine off with this and boot her out of Evenfall, at least until next year’s council sessions.”
Xavier paused. “Gavin can probably cut off the last bit, if you prefer to keep that part private.”
“Fine. Get me an abbreviated copy as soon as you can. Now, about your issue you couldn’t discuss over the phone.” When Julian looked at Tess, the red in his gaze had faded. He said, “I remember you. You interviewed with Xavier at the Vampyre’s Ball. You’re the one who sent an email to everyone on the Evenfall server. Including me.”
Her humor died, and she nodded nervously.
For a few moments, Julian studied her with the same clinical dispassion that he had shown at the Ball. He turned to Xavier. “Tell me.”
“Have you heard of the pariah Djinn named Malphas?” Xavier asked.
Julian’s dark gaze narrowed. “He’s the one based in Las Vegas. Owns one of the largest casinos. What of him?”
Xavier said, “We have reason to believe Malphas may have murdered Senator Jackson’s son in Florida.”
The disinterest vaporized from Julian’s expression. “Why do you think that? Convince me.”
When Xavier glanced at Tess, she nodded and he began to explain. Julian’s brows lowered into a scowl as he listened. After Xavier finished, the Nightkind King looked at Tess. He had been dispassionate before, but now his dark gaze had turned chilling.
He said, “You’re the only one in the world making this claim.”
It was impossible to tell what Julian meant by that statement, but Xavier still looked calm and relaxed, and he gave her a reassuring smile. She swallowed hard. “I guess I am.”
“I want to hear you say it,” Julian said. “Tell me you believe this is true.”
She met the Nightkind King’s piercing gaze and said in a clear, steady voice, “I was present in the casino when all of it happened. I watched Eathan dig a hole for himself by gambling more and more, and I saw Malphas seduce him into it. I called Senator Jackson’s office and got through all of his gatekeepers until I spoke to him directly, and I told him Eathan was in trouble. I saw Senator Jackson and his staff of bodyguards arrive at the casino, and they left shortly afterward with Eathan.” She paused. “I believe Malphas killed Eathan.”
Julian’s expression hadn’t shifted. “Jackson’s boy died at sea. Even if the exact location of his death could be pinpointed—which is highly unlikely—it’s too late to have the area scanned by a forensic magic user. You can’t prove anything.”
Her heart sank. Glancing at Xavier again, she said, “No, sir, I’m afraid I can’t. But for me, the timing and manner of Eathan’s death is too compelling.”
Julian sat on the couch, propped his booted feet on the table and crossed his arms. “While I hear the conviction in your voice, nobody cares whether or not you find it compelling or you believe it’s true. It’s a very serious allegation, and none of it can be corroborated. I’ve yet to hear anything about whether or not you’re a credible witness. For all I know, you might also believe tinfoil hats keep aliens from invading your thoughts.”
Xavier stirred. “Julian.”
The Nightkind King gestured impatiently. “I’m making a point. What this whole thing comes down to is your word against a first-generation Djinn.”
If Malphas could make her disappear, it wouldn’t even be that.
Despair tried to take over. Closing her eyes, she fought it off. She whispered, “I know.”
Something settled around her shoulders. Surprised, she opened her eyes again to find Xavier had joined her and put his arm around her shoulders. Comfort stole into her frozen heart. Unable to resist, she slipped an arm around his lean waist while Julian watched them both with that dark, piercing gaze.
Xavier said, “As far as what happened to Jackson’s boy, it may be your word against his, but that’s not true of anybody else you saw Malphas entrap.”
Julian straightened out of his lounging position and sat forward.
Xavier’s clear, gray-green gaze was intelligent and warm. He smiled at her. “You saw other people rack up large debts and overheard things they said. Do you remember any names?”
She blinked rapidly. “Yes.”
“What about the man with his wife? The one who said it would never be over.”
Nodding, she told him, “I remember them. They had a Minnesota address.”
Julian grabbed a pad of paper and a pen from the table and strode over to shove it into her hands. “Make a list of all the names you can remember.”
Moving to one of the couches, she started scribbling.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Julian walk to the cabinet, open it and pull out a bottle of what looked to be bloodwine. He poured ruby red liquid into two glasses as Xavier joined him.
Julian offered one of the glasses to Xavier, who shook his head. With a shrug, Julian tossed back his head and downed the liquid.
Julian asked, “What’s your goal in all this? We’re not going to win any political leverage from the information. The Djinn are notoriously difficult to bargain with, and pariahs won’t necessarily keep their word anyway. If it was a straightforward attack, I could hold him pinned, but only for a little while. If we decide to pin him, we’d have to kill him—and we would need a hell of a lot of backup for that, and right now, I don’t think any of our allies would be willing to take on the kind of damage that a fight with that Powerful of a Djinn would entail.”
While it was clear Julian wasn’t speaking to her, he didn’t bother to lower his voice, and neither did Xavier.
“The only leverage I’m looking for is insurance,” Xavier said.
“What kind of insurance?”
“I want my people to live without fear of reprisal or some kind of revenge attack. I want Tess free and clear to do whatever she wants to do. Her life is in danger as long as Malphas believes she’s the only one who knows what he’s done, but if it were as simple as that, all we would have to do is go public with our suspicions. We have to take it a step further to make sure he doesn’t take vengeance on her—or on anyone else—like he did with Jackson’s son.”
As what he said sank in, she stopped breathing. She didn’t know what to do with herself, or with what she had just heard.
Xavier wasn’t just working with her to solve a dangerous problem. He was actively standing up for her.
Nobody had ever stood up for her before. Nobody, not for anything. Not one of her foster parents—certainly not the bastard who loved to hit kids with a belt—and none of the other children she had fostered with, either.
Tess was always the strong one, the one who had stuck up for them. Maybe that was why Eathan had gotten to her in the first place. He’d needed help, and so she had stepped up.
While she struggled to absorb the enormity of the concept, Julian refilled his glass and said, “I might have known you would be doing all this for one of your attendants.”
It was impossible to decipher the expression in Julian’s voice, and she didn’t even try. It was Xavier she was interested in, and she watched him covertly.
“She’s not my attendant any longer.”
Lit only by the fire and a few recessed lights, the room was filled with strong sha
dows, and Xavier stood in profile. He was slighter than Julian’s broad, tall figure, and more graceful, but no less masculine.
If Julian was a battle axe, or perhaps a trebuchet, built for battering and sheer brute force, Xavier was the rapier, elegant and deadly in single combat. With a simple, perfectly timed thrust, he could pierce the heart, while the rest of the body and soul stood amazed and dying.
Piercing the heart. She thought it over.
Yes. That was exactly how it felt as she looked at him and listened to what he said.
Julian shot Tess a quick, frowning glance. Ducking her head, she focused on the paper in front of her. He said, “While the Djinn might be notoriously reluctant to police pariahs, I think I’d better talk to Soren. I’m going to make the call in the other room.”
Tess didn’t know many personalities from the Elder Races, but she recognized Soren’s name as the head of the Elder tribunal. He was another first-generation Djinn, one of the most Powerful of his kind.
Xavier nodded, and as Julian left the room, he walked back to the couch to sit beside her. She set the pen and pad of paper facedown on the table and turned to him.
He asked, “Have you written down everyone you can think of?”
“Yes.” She didn’t question her impulse. Instead, she leaned forward, threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. “Thank you so much for everything.”
He held rigidly immobile, his lean, strong body like stone.
What she’d done sank in. She started to pull back. “I’m sorry. I just—”
The stone man in her arms thawed, and his arms came around her, holding her in place against his chest. He said in her ear, “What is this?”
“I don’t know,” she muttered. “I just know nobody has ever stood up for me the way you’re doing right now.”
His arms tightened, and he cupped the back of her head. “That is their loss, because you deserve it.”
She shook her head, whispering, “I don’t know that I believe that, but I’m grateful anyway. You’re doing all of this, while we haven’t even had that talk about whether or not I’ll still be your attendant.”