Chapter 6

It had been fifteen hundred years since his latest resurrection, but Micha had a vivid memory of the moment he'd entered his first Gyre. Unlike many of his brothers, he hadn't been reborn with an obvious talent. He didn't have the brutal strength of Valen or Kane, or the Zen confidence of Gabriel. For nearly a century he assumed he would never acquire the power needed to rise to become a ruler. And honestly, the knowledge hadn' t bothered him.

He was a scholar at heart. An eternity spent in the peace of the massive library he intended to build was a lot more appealing than trying to keep hordes of fiercely ambitious demons under control. But then he'd reached an age where he was allowed to leave the secluded sanctuary where all vampires stayed during the century of their rebirth and stepped into his first Gyre.

It hadn't been a particularly large pool of magic, but a thunderous connection had sparked inside him, igniting his ability to touch the ancient power in a way that no other vampire had ever done. It wasn't the same magic as a mage. Or even a witch. It came from the deepest bowel s of the earth.

Suddenly he was on the radar of every Cabal leader. No one understood his powers or knew if they might prove to be a danger to them. Micha did his best to ignore the attention, at least until Sinjon had ordered him to claim a territory. A vampire with his power would be a constant threat to the other leaders until he was settled.

Now he used that power to touch the magic vibrating beneath his feet as he watched in astonishment as Skye Claremont flew through a nearby window and landed on the hard pavement.

"Stop her!" a voice shouted from inside the pub.

Micha flowed forward and scooped her up in his arms. Concentrating on the shadows, he willed them to thicken around them, obscuring them from view as a half dozen demons leaped off the roof and scurried toward the nearby street.

Micha cradled Skye in his arms, backing into the line of shrubs at the edge of the parking lot. He was acutely aware of how perfectly Skye's delicate body fit against his chest, and the scent of laurel leaves swirling around him with an intoxicating sweetness. His lips twisted as he realized just how easily he was distracted by this woman.

My very ow n kryptonite ...

The word whispered through the back of his mind even as the last of the demons disappeared from the area and Skye shook her head, as if trying to clear the fog from her brain.

"You can put me down," she whispered.

Reluctantly, Micha lowered her until her feet touched the ground and even more reluctantly loosened his arms and stepped back. It felt like he'd lost a piece of himself as the warmth of her body was abruptly replaced by the chill of the late-night air.

"Are you o kay?" he asked.

She grimaced, lifting a hand to touch the scrape on her temple that seeped a few drops of blood.

"A pounding headache. Not my first this week." She lowered her hand, her expression wary. "Did you follow me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Micha considered his answer. He'd never been impulsive. Most of his brothers and even his servants would call him tediously cautious. But tonight, he hadn't hesitated when he'd seen Skye Claremont scurry out of the party. For the first time in centuries, he'd allowed his instincts to over rule his logic.

Not the most comf orting thought.

"You were obviously upset when you left Valen's lair."

She studied him in confusion. "Even if I was, why w ould you care?"

He folded his arms over his chest. He wasn't going to admit that he'd felt an impulsive need to discover what was troubling her. Not when he had a perfectly legitimate reason to keep track of her movements.

"I hate politics, especially vampire politics, but there's no way to ignore the threat to Valen's position," he pointed out in smooth tones. "Or the threat to the stability of the entire Cabal. If there's a challenge to the leadership of this Gyre, it will aff ect all of us."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"I'm not sure. But we already know someone is using Valen's mate to try to weaken him—"

"Peri doesn't weaken him, " Skye snapped.

Micha shrugged. "She makes h im vulnerable."

"Because he loves her?"

"Because she's an unknown threat." He held up a silencing hand as her lips parted to argue. "Unless Valen can prove that she has gained control of her magic and has no intention of using it to challenge the Cabal, then she's going to put him in a perilous position." He deliberately glanced toward the pub, which had shut off the lights. "What better way to force her to do something reckless than to lure one of her best friend s into a trap?"

She considered his words for a long moment, then slowly nodded. Was she willing to accept he was there to protect Valen? Or was she just trying to appease him because she thought he was a weird stalker?

Micha's brows arched. He'd never had a female consider him a threat. Not to be a gigantic ass, but he was used to them doing everything in their power to attract his attention. He didn't know whether to be insu lted or amused.

"What just happened in the pub has nothing to do with Valen," she insis ted. "Or Peri."

"You're sure?"

"Yes. It's a..." Her words faded as a shudder raced through her slender body. "A family matter."

She ground out the last words, as if they threatene d to choke her.

"Interesting family ," he murmured.

"Not really." She glanced down at her lovely gown that was now coated in dirt. "I have to go. It's late and I'm tired."

Micha wanted to argue. She still hadn't told him what had happened inside the pub and why she'd left through the window. Or why the demons were currently hunting for her. They couldn't be her biological family. Mages came from human men and witch mothers. But she wasn't lying when she said that she was tired. He could feel the weariness that pressed against her with a physical force.

At the moment, she could barely stand. Tomorrow would be soon enough to continue h is questioning.

Remaining silent as she walked away with a stiff spine and her head held high, Micha held on to his shadows as he silently followed her across the wide bridge. The demons had disappeared, but that didn't mean they weren't still searching for this woman. He wanted to make sure she got out of the city without any further trouble. Why? A question without an answer. At least not one he wanted.

Eventually they reached Madison Square Garden and she disappeared down the steps to the lower platform of Penn Station. If she sensed his presence, she didn't give any indication as she stepped onto the waiting train a nd disappeared.

Micha released the shadows, distantly aware of the stirring interest as the humans suddenly noticed his presence. His appearance always created an unwel come commotion.

With a grimace, Micha shouldered his way through the gathering gawkers, eager to escape from the crowded space. Was it any wonder he preferred to remain in the solitu de of his lair?

Managing to disappear before he could be followed by the herd, Micha circled around Times Square and crossed through the park. It was late enough that the trails were empty except for the die-hard joggers who wouldn't notice a vampire, a horde of demons, and a fire-breathing dragon unless they blocked their path. At last turning onto the street in front of Valen's building, Micha came to an abrupt halt at the sight of the large vampire who blended int o the darkness.

Kane.

He was pacing the sidewalk with his phone pressed to his ear. Even at a distance Micha could sense the male's tension. Not only was there a layer of frost on the cement, but there were small tremors shaking the ground with each stomp of the male' s massive feet.

Someone w as in a mood...

Micha strolled forward, watching the older vampire stiffen as he realized he was no longer alone. With an urgent volley of conversation, Kane abruptly shoved the phone into the pocket of his slacks and turned to face Micha.

"What are you doing out here?" the vampire demanded in sharp tones.

Micha shrugged. "I haven't visited this Gyre in several decades. I wanted to do som e sightseeing."

The male folded his arms over the width of his chest, his expression suspicious. "Sightseeing? Or surveying the territory in hopes it might bec ome available?"

Relief blasted through Micha as he halted directly in front of the vampire. He didn't want the male to realize he'd been following the seer. Or that he had any interest in her. Honestly, he didn't want anyone discovering his fascination with Skye Claremont.

He should have known there was no need to worry. Kane was a male with a one-track mind. Power. Who had it. Who didn't. And how he could get more.

Until a few centuries ago, Kane had commanded one of the most powerful Gyres in the world. He'd been treated with deference by every vampire who crossed his path. But as the magic had shifted, his position in the Cabal had faded, igniting a fierce frustration within the ambitious male.

"This territory belongs to Valen," Micha retorted, a bite of warnin g in his words.

Kane shrug ged. "For now."

"You intend to challenge him?"

"I intend to keep open to all my possibilities." Kane deflected the direct question. "A smart vampire is prepared to grasp opportunity when it presents itself." Kane peeled back his lips, revealing his elongated fangs. "Unless he prefers rotting in the swamps."

"As I recall, you were anxious to claim those swamps."

Kane jerked in surprise. He hadn't realized that Micha knew a couple centuries ago he'd been plotting to travel to New Orleans and challenge Micha for the right to the expanding Gyre in the southern expanse of America. Or that he'd sent endless petitions to Sinjon, insisting that Micha's preference for isolation was wasting the potential of such a rich territory and that he would be better suited to Siberia, where no one expected him to be a strong leader. It was only Sinjon's warning he would be branded as a traitor that had put an end to his maneuvering to steal Mic ha's territory.

"My ambitions have changed over time," Kane scoffed, acting as if he wouldn't snatch the opportunity to take Micha's place. "St. Petersburg might be cold enough to freeze my balls in the winter, but at least I'm not up to my ass in gat ers and slime."

"You forgot the beignets. And the jazz. And the magic," Micha taunted in soft tones. "So much magic it puls es in the air."

Kane's jaw clenched, the air chilling as he struggled to leash his anger. Kane's strength had never been questioned. He undoubtedly was one of the biggest, toughest, most aggressive members of the Cabal. But his inability to control his emotions meant he was always vulnerable. It took more than muscles to be a good leader.

"I forgot nothing," Kane ground out. "And I forg ive even less."

Micha met the male's furious glare without flinching. "Be content with what you possess, Kane, and return to your lair in peace."

"Or?"

"Or lo se everything."

With a visible effort, Kane squashed his burst of temper. Then he stretched his lips into a tight smile.

"What's that human saying?" He pretended to consider his words before sending Micha a taunting smile. "No pain. No gain?"

Micha refused to be provoked. Unlike his companion, he never allowed his passions to overwhelm his logic. Or at least, he'd always assumed his self-control was impenetrable, a voice whispered in the back of his mind. But that was before he'd encountered Skye Claremont.

He ignored the silent warning. Nothing had changed. The woman was a fascinating distraction, but she wasn't the reason he w as in New York.

Parting his lips to warn the older male that doing anything to try to force Valen out of his territory was going to cause considerable pain, he abruptly snapped them together when Azra pressed open a glass door and stepped out of the lobby of Valen's building. The ambassador was silent as he studied them with his dark gaze, and Micha wondered if the ultimate leader of the vampires, Sinjon, was currently staring thro ugh those eyes.

A shiver inched down his spine. The thought was creepy as hell.

"Is there a problem?" the ambassador at last demanded.

Micha nodded toward Kane. "That's what I'm tryin g to discover."

"No problems. At least as far as I'm concerned." Kane shoved his hands into the pockets of his slacks and strolled past the ambassador. "I'm headed to my rooms. Always assuming Micha has no complaint?"

Micha waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. "Be my guest."

Kane's body vibrated tension as he entered the building, leaving behind a sour scent. As if there was something inside the leech that wasn't en tirely healthy.

"Be careful, Micha," Azra murmured. "There are rumors that Kane is increasingly frustrated with his dw indling power."

Micha kept his gaze locked on the glass door, watching Kane storm across the lobby. "I'm a lways careful."

* * * *

Skye was well and truly dead to the world when the smell of blueberries, bananas and a potent dash of magic led her out of the darkness. Forcing open her eyes, she discovered Maya perched on the edge of her bed, staring at her with a worr ied expression.

As usual the older mage was immaculately groomed. This morning she'd chosen ivory slacks and a soft sweater in a lovely shade of buttercup. Her black hair was smoothed into a bun at her nape, and her sculpted features were so perfect they looked as if they'd been carved from marble. Only the spidery web of scars highlighted in the late-morning sunlight proved she was a r eal-life woman.

With a groan, Skye scooted up the mattress to lean her back against the headboard. She felt like she'd been hit by a truck. The result of stress, depleted magic, and landing on her head—not once, but twice—after being forced to jump th rough a window.

And then there'd been her dreams. They'd been dominated by a glorious male vampire who stalked her through the dark. She hadn't been afraid as she'd fled in panic. At least not that she would be hurt. But she was terrified she might give in to his sens ual temptation.

Was it any wonder she was wea ry to the bone?

Maya tilted her head to the side, as if sensing her exhaustion. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Skye pushed her tangled curls out of her face. "Sorry, I didn't mean to oversleep."

"You had a late night. Here." Maya pressed the chilled glass into Skye's hand. "My world-fa mous smoothie."

Maya wasn't bragging. The smoothie truly was world famous. It also explained the scent of blueberries and bananas and magic that perfumed the air. The smoothie could cure everything from hangov ers to the flu.

Skye took a deep drink, sighing as the magic tingled through her, driving away the lin gering fatigue.

"Yum. Just what I needed." She smacked her lips before polishing off the last of the smoo thie. "Thanks."

Maya reached to take the empty glass, her gaze continuing to monitor Skye's face with mo therly concern.

"Did something happen last night?" She at last asked the question that had no doubt been nagging at her for hours.

"Nothing that we didn't expect," Skye said, keeping her answer vague. She wasn't ready to discuss her father's unwelcome arrival in New York City or her intense attraction toward Micha. "The vampires were polite, but most of the night they stood in opposite corners, glaring at each other. I don't know if that's typical leech behavior or if they were angry ab out something."

Maya's lips tightened. There was nothing that pissed her off more than the menti on of vampires.

"And Peri?"

"Tense, but determined," Skye assured her friend. "She's not going to let the Cabal i ntimidate her."

"Good." Maya paused, narrowing her gaze. "And that's all that happened?"

Skye shrugged. "What d id you expect?"

"I'm not sure, but I do know you were so weary when you came home last night, you could barely cli mb the stairs."

"I underestimated the intense emotions of dozens of royal demons jammed together in one room." It was the truth, although not the full truth. "And it didn't help that my shields were already weak."

Instant regret softened the older woman's features. "I shouldn't have let you go alone."

Skye reached out to touch Maya's arm. "Trust me, you wouldn't have wanted to be there. Plus, I'm fine. All I needed was a good night's rest and some of your super-d uper smoothie."

Thankfully reassured, Maya rose to her feet. "Stay up here t oday and rest."

Skye shook her head. "You need hel p in the shop."

"Actually, I don't. I brought in our part-time staff for the week. Both Erin and Joyce have been asking for more shifts to make extra money for their Christmas shopping," Maya said, referring to the two older women who'd been working at the shop for years. They were humans who had no idea they were employed by mages. Or that they were selling stuff enhanced with dollops of magic. They just knew that everyone loved the pastries and coffee and that the tips were great. "I want you to concentrate on pr otecting Peri."

Skye wrinkled her nose. "I'm not sure how much protectio n I can offer."

Maya clicked her tongue. "You have more power than you realize, Skye Claremont, but your greatest gift will always be your heart." She abruptly leaned down to brush a kiss over the new wound on Skye's temple. A simple gesture that revealed her suspicion that there was a great deal her friend hadn't told her about the events of last night. "And your greatest weakness," she murmured before she straightened and headed for the d oor. "Rest up."

"Yes, ma'am."

Waiting until she heard Maya's footsteps on the stairs, Skye threw aside her covers and headed into her private bathroom. She'd been too tired last night to wash off the grime from the parking lot, not to mention her father's corrosive touch. Now she felt an urgent need to scrub herself clean.

An hour later she pulled on a comfortable tunic dress that brushed the tops of her ankles. The plain beige linen was embroidered with tiger's eye crystals along the vee neckline. Gathering her curls, she pulled them into a knot on top of her head and settled on the window seat to soak i n the sunlight.

This was what she needed, she silently decided. A few hours of peace in the place that had b ecome her home.

The thought barely had time to form when the buzz of her phone shattered her momentary sense of goodwill. Just for a second she considered ignoring the interruption. She wasn't in the mood to deal with any potential problems. But then the knowledge it might be Peri seared away her reluctance.

With a sigh, she shoved herself upright and crossed to the desk, where she'd left her phone the night before. At least she'd had enough sense to plug it in before tumbling into the bed, she realized as she yanked off the charging cord and glanced at the screen.

Surprise replaced her vague annoyance at having her peace interrupted as she recognized the name that popped up. It was Clarissa's private number. The older woman rarely called her. Only if it wa s an emergency.

She quickly connected the call, putting it on speaker.

"He llo? Clarissa?"

There was a muffled sound before a male voice floated through the air. "I'm afraid she's tied up at the moment, my dear. Qu ite literally."

Skye sucked in a sharp breath, shock jolting through her as she easily recognized t hat soft drawl.

"Lyn x," she hissed.

"You remembered my name. I'm flattered."

"Don't be." Fear pounded through Skye. She didn't have to be a seer to know that Lynx was currently at The Lunar Pathway and that he had poor Clarissa physically tied up. But the least helpful thing to do was panic. She had to keep a clear head if she was going to save her friend. "Wha t do you want?"

"Nothing more sinister than a conversation."

"We already had a conversation and I told you I won't be a slave to demons." Skye's fingers tightened on the phone, but her voice was steady. "Never again."

He clicked his tongue. "And I assured you that I have no ne ed of a slave."

"As if I would believe anything you say ," she scoffed.

In the background, Skye could hear the sound of grumbles, as if Lynx's companions were outraged by her lack of respect. Lynx, however, m erely chuckled.

"Do you not trust me becaus e I'm a demon?"

"I don't trust you because you tried to kidnap me last night ," she snapped.

"Fair enough. Let 's start over."

"No."

"I really am going to h ave to insist."

Skye's mouth felt as dry as a desert. She wasn't fooled by Lynx's casual amusement. Beneath his banter, he was deadly serious.

"And if I refuse?" she demanded even as she shoved her feet into a pair of com fortable shoes.

"I'm betting you care more about the welfare of Madame Clarissa than you do your fathe r," he drawled.

Skye ground her teeth in frustration. "If you hurt her."

"Her fate is in your hands." There was a short silence before Skye heard Clarissa cry out in pain. "Join us at this lovely establishment. Oh, and come alone," Lynx continued. "If you tell anyone about me, you won't like the consequences."

The connection was abruptly ended and Skye dropped her phone back on her desk. She wasn't going to bother taking it with her. The demons would only destroy it. Just as she wasn't going to take any traditional weapons. They would be a waste of time.

And she most certainly wasn't going to tell anyone where she was headed.

Maya would lock her in her room if she knew what was happening, while Peri would march down to the magic shop and destroy anyone who threatened Skye. It wasn't that they wouldn't care if something happened to Clarissa, but their first loyalty would be keeping Skye safe. Even if it meant sacrificing the fortune teller.

Not that she intended to go into the meeting without s ome protection.

Opening the lower drawer of her desk, Skye pulled out a wooden box carved with hexes. This was where she kept her most precious possessions, including a faded picture of her mother, a necklace that Maya had given her their first Christmas together, and a collection of charms that Peri had left for her when she'd moved out of the Witch's Brew to be with Valen.

The charms weren't loaded with common spells. Skye could easily prepare those for herself. These were Peri's specialties. Charms that exploded. Some that could blind an enemy. And a couple of nasty curses that would disable an enemy for days. Peri had brewed them for Skye in the unlikely event that she was in danger.

That unlikely event ha d just arrived.

Placing the box on the desk, Skye pressed her hands against the top and breathed the words that broke through the hex. There was an audible click and the pungent stench of rotten eggs before the lid popped open and Skye reached in to grab the charms. Quickly she exchanged them for the regular ones on her bracelet, then closing and locking the box, she returned it to the drawer. She didn't know how long Lynx would wait before hurting Clarissa, but she wasn't going to tes t his patience.

Once she was prepared—or at least as prepared as she was going to get—Skye headed for the window that was at the back of the building. She pushed it open. Then, slipping onto the fire escape, she paused, listening to the loud chatter coming from the front of the building. It was the noon hour and the coffee shop was packed, but luckily there was no way to see into the back alley. There was no one to tattle on her as she scurried down t he metal steps.

Jogging past the empty building behind the shop, Skye's thoughts were focused on how she could possibly convince Lynx to release Clarissa and then overpower him—

"Hickory dickory dock. The mage crept thr ough the dark."

Skye slammed her hand over her mouth to muffle her cry of surprise, her eyes wide as she watched a form materialize from behind a rusty dumpster. At the same time, she murmured a low chant, preparing to release a spell. It wasn't until her eyes adjusted to the darkness and she caught sight of a fishing hat pulled low and the familiar velour tracksuit that she realized it wasn't a mugger, or one of Lynx's demons sent to attack her.

She lowered her hand to press it against her racing heart. "Oh, Joe. You scared me."

He wagged a finger in her direction. "I'm not the one you should fea r, little one."

Skye studied the bearded face, surprised by the fiery glow of emerald in the man's eyes. She'd always suspected that there was more to this man than just a human down on his luck, but she wasn't like Maya. She didn't think he was dangerous.

"Why do you say that? Do you k now something?"

"I kno w many things."

"Have you met a ma n called Lynx?"

Without warning, Joe tilted back his head, sniffing the air as if there was something to smell beyond decom posing garbage.

"A false name for a false creature. He's not what h e seems to be."

With his cryptic warning delivered, the man stepped back a nd disappeared.

Skye stepped forward and peered around the edge of the d umpster. "Joe?"

Nothing. Skye grimaced, turning away to continue up the alley. She didn't have time to worry about disappearing men in velour tracksuits. Or what he meant with h is vague words.

She had a fortune teller to rescue from a h orde of demons.