Chapter 3

The sleek glass-and-steel building that towered toward the star-splattered sky in central Manhattan was an impressive sight from outside. It was even more impressive for the rare few who were allowed beyond the heavily guarded lobby.

Valen, Cabal leader of the northeast sector of North America, understood that his personal lair was required to project an image of success and impenetrable strength. Centuries ago he would have built a sprawling castle and surrounded it with a moat and armed knights. Now he chose high-tech gadgets and design er furnishings.

Standing in a corner, Valen allowed his gaze to skim over the formal salon of his penthouse. The soft glow from the recessed lighting revealed low couches and comfy chairs upholstered in soft grays with charcoal accents. One wall was devoted to bookshelves loaded with rare first editions, and on the far wall were several framed oil paintings that were worth an astronomical figure. Everything in the salon had been purchased through a professional decorator. Valen preferred to keep his public rooms a statement of wealth, not an insight to his personal taste. Besides, the jewel of the room was the floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a vi ew of the park.

Currently the salon was overflowing with a flood of guests who were mingling in groups that melted and reformed as if dancing a waltz to the classical music that played in the background. The most powerful goblin and fey families had arrived in force, wearing their most expensive attire and dripping with jewels. It was a long-standing tradition to try to outshine each other whenever they had an opportunity to enter Valen's lair. At the same time they cast nervous glances toward the five vampires spread a round the room.

Not surprising. It was rare for one vampire to enter the territory of another, let alone to have four of them arriving at the same time. The power currently gathered in the room was sending shock waves th rough the city.

As one of the dominant members of the Cabal and the local leader, Valen had anticipated being the center of attention, which was exactly why he'd chosen a black Ralph Lauren tuxedo with a crisp white shirt. The classical style emphasized his stark features and the molten silver of his eyes. It also contrasted nicely with the golden shimmer of his hair, which was smoothed from his narrow face. His mate, Peri, assured him the expensive suit made him look like an arrogant ass who expected the world to b ow at his feet.

Which was exactly the vibe he was going for.

At the point of glancing at the Rolex strapped around his wrist to determine the exact number of minutes he was going to have to endure the unwelcome guests, Valen was distracted by the large male striding toward him with a g rim expression.

Gabriel Lyon.

Like Valen, he was wearing a tuxedo, although his was a pale gray with a black shirt and matching tie. His silver-streaked dark hair was long enough to reach his shoulders, but his face was chiseled with distinguished features and his gold-flecked hazel eyes held a calm trustworthiness that gave him the appearance of a wealthy banker. As long as you didn't catch a glimpse of the tattoos on the side of his neck. The thin, barbaric lines were the slave marks from hi s ancient past.

"Gabriel," Valen murmured. This male held a territory that took in a large swath of the western states including a powerful Gyre centered near Denver. "Is so mething wrong?"

"Smile," Gabriel commanded as he reached Valen's side. "You don't want them to sm ell your fear."

Valen abruptly smoothed the scowl from his face, but a smile was beyond him. "Better?"

Gabriel didn't appear to be impressed. "At least you don't look like you'd rather have a hot poker stuck up your ass than spend another second wit h your guests."

"Ah." Valen's lips twisted. "Peri calls that particular expression my I'm-about-to-kill-the-next-creature-who-gets-on-m y-nerves face."

"That sounds like something your mate would say. She's a un ique creature."

Both men glanced toward the tall woman wearing a shimmering Chanel gown with her dark curls piled on top of her head. She appeared glamorously confident, but Valen was painfully aware of the unease that darkened her eyes and her instinct to hover near the closest exit. She was a woman battling he r urge to flee.

"She's a stubborn, quick-tempered woman who can bewitch or destroy with equal ease. I'm terrified of her." He stilled as Peri glanced in his direction, his unbeating heart melting. Vampires were eternal, but his human host could be destroyed, forcing the inner demon to be resurrected in a new body. Each resurrection erased the memory of the vampire and stole their powers. Valen had been in his current form for almost two thousand years, an impressive length of time, but Peri was his first and only mate. A familiar mixture of joy, adoration, and wry disbelief jolted through Valen. "And she's the reason I was created."

Gabriel folded his arms over his chest. "You failed to mention she's also the first mage in endless centuries to be able to tap into h er wild magic."

Valen snapped his attention back to the man standing next to him. He'd known that Peri's shocking ability to use the ancient powers would disturb a few of his fellow vampires. But he hadn't been prepared for the melodra matic response.

"Her magic is a blessing ," he insisted.

"A little more than a blessing," Gabriel countered. "She blasted a crater in the middle of Central Park and nearly caused a riot when she opened the cages at the Bronx Zoo. Humans tend to get upset when there are tigers roamin g the streets."

Valen managed to disguise his discomfort at the direction of the conversation. He had no intention of revealing there'd been a dozen more disasters that hadn't been q uite as public.

"We all had our growing pains when we came into our powers. Some more uncomfortabl e than others."

"Agreed. But stepping out of line means harsh punishments for vampires."

"No one is p unishing Peri."

Gabriel held up a hand as Valen's anger created tiny ice shards that floated in the air. "Then you need to convince the Cabal she's not a threat."

The ice abruptly disappeared as Valen regained command of his composure. Gabriel was right. He couldn't force the Cabal to accept his mate was harmless. Mostly because she wasn't. All he could do was try to convince them that she was an asset , not a danger.

Something easier said than done, especially with the vampires who'd been sent to deci de Peri's fate.

"An interesting delegation," he murmured, his gaze sweeping around the room. "How was it chosen?"

"A few weeks ago a sealed petition was sent to Sinjon, demanding that Peri be labeled as a threat," Gabriel revealed, referring to the current head of the Vampire Cabal, who had remained in Greece. "The invitations were sent out to start an investigation into her powers, and here we are." Gabriel shrugged. " Investigating."

"I assume I can trust you?" Valen demanded.

"Only as far as you can trust any member of the Cabal," the male warned. "But I will promise to inform Sinjon of the fact that I've spent time with your mate and while she's outspoken and unwilling to submit to vampire authority, inclu ding your own—"

"No shit."

"I've never detected any ambition in her to challenge our place as rulers of th e demon world."

"Ruler?" Valen snorted. "Her precise words were that she'd rather be dipped in honey and fed to ants than be involved in C abal business."

"More importantly, I have nothing to gain by undermining your control of this Gyre," Gabriel continued, his gaze moving toward the vampire with pale hair pulled into a braid and a massive body stuffed in tight gray slacks and a white silk shirt unbuttoned halfway down his massive chest. Kane, the current Cabal leader of northern Asia. "I might not be as powerful as you, but I'm satisfied."

" Unlike others."

Gabriel nodded. "Civilizations rise and fall, just as the magic of the Gyres ebbs and flows. You currently hold the prized Gyre. That puts a target on your back."

"It makes sense that Kane is hoping to kick me out and take my place," Valen agreed, his attention moving from Kane toward the male with light brown hair trimmed short and dark eyes that surveyed the room with a visible intensity. He was wearing a blue suit with a yellow shirt. "And Ambassador Azra might say he's only here to make sure that an outbreak of violence doesn't threaten the stability of the Cabal, but it's possible he has his own ambitions. He's older than I am and has never had his own Gyre."

"Doubtful."

Valen frowned at the soft warning. "Why do you say that?"

"My contacts in Greece have told me that the ambassador has the ability to directly share his thoughts with Sinjon. Whatever he sees or hears while he's visiting your Gyre is passed directl y to our king."

Valen grimaced. " A rare talent."

"Yes. It makes him a perfect spy. Plus, Sinjon is wise enough to pay him a king's ransom to remain loyal." Gabriel shrugged. "And honestly, Azra's never had the strength to become a leader. Not even of a small Gyre."

"I can't argue with that." Valen turned his gaze to the remaining vampire, who stood alone next to the windows.

He was as tall as Valen, with lean muscles beneath his cashmere sweater and silk slacks. His curly black hair was buzzed close to his head to emphasize the chiseled beauty of his face, and the golden glow of his eyes contrasted with his light brown skin. If Valen was handsome and Gabriel was distinguished, this male was painfully beautiful. Like an ancient god b rought to life.

"What about Micha?" Valen demanded.

Gabriel turned his attention toward the younger male. "W hat about him?"

"Is he hoping to expand his territory?"

"That's a question you're going to ha ve to ask him."