Eternal Seduction (Darkness Within #1)

“Why are you so interested?” Her usually whisky voice rose an octave.

Kerestyan stood up and stepped over the coffee table. “I happen to care a great deal for Logan, that’s why I’m so interested.” Without thinking, he let his eyes burn into hers, but gnashed his teeth when the golden Paladin haze glittered around her, blocking him from accessing her mind. “What do you know, Raze?”

Her eyes flicked to the blade resting at the end of the couch before she met his stare again. “What do I know? I know I’m not getting involved in anything with your Father’s bloody signature all over it. That’s what I know.” She jammed a claw into the middle of his chest. “And don’t you ever do that shit to me again. I’ll forgive you this time because I can see that blasphemous beast stalking behind your eyes. But don’t you ever try to read me with your cursed magics again.”

He watched, rage simmering in his blood as Raze dropped down on the couch. If it wasn’t for the fact she liked to blame everything bad happening in the world on his Father, he’d put more stock in her words. However, their hatred for each other had bloomed thousands of years ago when his Father still called Naples, Italy home, and had only grown through the ages.

Kerestyan returned to his chair and sat down. Whether she despised his Father or not, he knew he owed her an apology for his thoughtless action. “I apologize for attempting to read your mind, especially in your own home. It goes against everything I was taught, and I truly am sorry.”

She set the blade across her lap and picked at the frayed golden strands braided around the sheath. “I accept your apology. No harm, no foul.” She chewed at her bottom lip for a moment before offering him a faint smile. “I like you, Kerestyan, you know I do. You and Odin are the only Nelek’s I’d ever consider working with. But I told you when you asked me to be your Enforcer that I wouldn’t get involved in anything my gut told me was part of a Nelek game. I’m sorry, but that’s exactly how this feels.”

He tipped his head to one side then the other, stretching out the tight muscles in his neck. Part of the reason he’d chosen Raze as his Lead Enforcer was because of her gut feelings. The Paladin’s propensity to be correct was uncanny.

He stared into her eyes, hoping she would answer his question. “Can you at least share why you feel that way?”

“I could…but I won’t. If I do, that puts me right in the mix and I’m just not gonna go there. If I were you, I’d go back to the Castle of Doom and talk to your Daddy.”

If it were only that simple. He slowly shook his head. “I was only allowed to stay with Logan until sunrise, which given the time difference between New York and Chicago, was about fifteen minutes ago. I can’t return to the castle until her training is complete.” The corner of his mouth rose of its own accord. “I’ve been banned.”

Raze giggled a purely feminine sound and burst into a wide smile. “You must really like her if you’re not allowed to be around her. How long do you think her training will be? Is she coming back to New York when it’s over?”

He nodded. He wouldn’t stand for anything less. “Yes, she’ll be returning. Trinity asked my permission to station Logan here and I granted the request. As for how long her training will last, Trinity, even for all her idiosyncrasies, is still rather thorough. I expect to see Logan in two weeks, maybe three.”

“I have to say, Kerestyan, I’m a little surprised.”

He arched a brow. “Why?”

She shrugged a bronzed shoulder then adjusted the strap of her white tank top. “I always pegged you as a lover of the curvy, voluptuous blond types. You know, the sexy chick with intense blue eyes and an ass to die for. Logan doesn’t even come close to fitting that bill. I would think she’s more Odin’s style.”

Kerestyan couldn’t help but laugh, loudly. If Raze had the pleasure of watching Logan and his brother in childish action, he was sure she’d change her mind. “Logan and Odin don’t get along, at all. I’m certain they’d rather strangle each other than have a friendly conversation.”

She scrunched up her nose. “Really? I figured trying to crack her cold, icy demeanor would be right up his alley.” She sighed. “Oh, well. So much for my holy powers of precognition,” she smacked a hand against the couch, “which brings me back to the original reason I wanted to talk to you. What would you like me to do about Craig and his gang? As much as I hate to admit, they haven’t breached the Veil, yet. So by your own law, I don’t have any right to kill them, yet.”

“Am I to infer you’re simply biding your time until you have ample reason to slay them?”

Her face sobered. “No, no, Lord Kerestyan. Of course not.” She leaned forward and grinned as she motioned between them. “But between me and that sliver of you that isn’t the Lord of New York, I can’t wait to rip their heads off.”

“Do they irritate you that much?”

She relaxed and stared off at something behind him, her eyes clouded with a weariness he knew all too well. “Some of your Fledglings have a lot of potential. I won’t ever deny that. They treat everyone around them, even the humans, with respect and dignity. But this new gang,” she shook her head, “I’ve been watching them on and off for the last couple months and they’re just abusive. They gorge themselves on blood and have damn near killed a vessel on a couple occasions. They lord their powers over the humans, messing with their minds to make them perform stupid, demeaning tricks. They make me sick.”

Kerestyan inhaled a calming breath. He didn’t approve of the way some Fledglings treated the humans of New York City, but at the end of the day, he had no choice but to remind himself the modern world was a completely different place than it was when he was turned. Honor and integrity were prized in his day. Even in death, valor and virtue were paramount.

Now, it seemed the opposite was considered and accepted as normal.

As much as he wanted to agree with Raze, he couldn’t in good conscience. His species, by its very existence was innately abusive to humans. And in a time when even humans fought and killed each other for no more than a pair of running shoes, he couldn’t forbid his Fledglings from engaging in any activity, degrading to humans or not, unless it threatened the Veil.

He caught Raze’s wandering eyes. Unfortunately, her honesty only brought another problem to the already difficult situation. “If you witness Craig or one of his followers kill a vessel during feeding, in a situation which doesn’t rend the Veil, will you be able to stay your hand?”

She held his probing gaze. “I don’t know, Kerestyan. I honestly don’t know. If it were anyone but them, I know in my heart I could. To be as dramatic as possible, I feel the urge to rain down righteous fire damn near every time I see them. But, thus far, I’ve refrained. I promised you I’d only cull those who upset the balance or were hideously violent. And, as much as I hate to admit, these ten vampires are punks, who couldn’t upset the balance of the eight million humans in your city if they tried.”

“Then I think you should keep your distance for a time. Have your team keep an eye on Craig and his pack. If they commit any action that breaches the Veil, contact me immediately.” He stood up and rolled his shoulders. “I hold court in nine days. I’ll address the treatment of the humans and my displeasure at learning there are those among my residents who’ve been abusive in their dealings. If all goes well, Craig will make a fool of himself during the meeting and in return find his brethren rather unsympathetic to his cause. Perhaps when those Fledglings who do hold power in the city turn their backs on him and his group, they’ll end up with no where safe to sleep and seek their fortune elsewhere.”

Raze chuckled and flashed an evil smile. “You’re such an iron fisted tyrant. How do you live with yourself?”

Kerestyan laughed. There was only room for one tyrant in his family. “I’ll agree to strict and sometimes unyielding, but I’m no tyrant. I have one rule, and if the Fledglings can’t abide by something as simple as the Veil, their life is forfeit. I refuse to allow my very existence to be put in jeopardy because an ill begotten child can’t clean up after themselves.”

She patted the blade still resting across her thighs. “I’m with you. I just don’t discriminate based on age. I’m equal opportunity.”

He smiled down at her. “If you need me, I’ll be at my home or the Estate. I’ll also make sure I have my phone with me since I know how much you adore speaking via telepathy.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, yeah. It makes me wet just thinking about it.” She smiled then blew him a kiss. “By the way, I hope everything works out for you and Logan. Leech or not, you do a damn fine job of keeping this city running smooth. You deserve to go home to someone who makes you happy.”

“Thank you, Raze.”

When she waved, Kerestyan returned the gesture then closed his eyes. He concentrated on his penthouse, but as the cold winds began to swirl, he found himself wondering if maybe there wasn’t a shred of truth to Raze’s paranoid words. What if his Father did know more about Logan’s situation than he let on?