Burn the Night

Thirteen

The only thing keeping me from pacing the open tunnels was the fact that both Barrett and Danaus were perfectly still despite the growing tension. Like any potential meeting, we brought along our respective seconds in command. Cooper, Barrett’s brother, leaned against the car that had carried the lycanthropes, while Knox leaned against one of the brick columns that stretched up to the ceiling of the tunnel. Danaus was both my lover and my confidant, but in the nightwalker world, Knox would always be my second in command in Savannah. However, I had a slight suspicion that Knox would just as willingly take orders from Danaus as from me. That’s why I trusted Knox so much. He was smarter than most nightwalkers.

“How do we know this isn’t some naturi trap?” Cooper suddenly demanded, shattering the silence that had filled the tunnels. His voice echoed off the stone walls, carrying deep into the thick darkness that hugged close. “I mean, we’ve got the leaders of the vampires and the lycanthropes right here. What better way to take over the city than to kill them both in a single fight and then move into the city?”

“Danaus, how many naturi are in the city?” I asked, looking over my shoulder at the hunter.

“There are four naturi approaching us, but there are at least a dozen on the outskirts of the city,” he replied a couple seconds after the warmth of his powers had swept past me.

I frowned. There had been only seven naturi in the region when we spoke to Shelly earlier. I wasn’t comfortable with how their numbers were growing, but for now I was more concerned with the contingent of four approaching our location. With any luck, that would be Cynnia and her honor guard.

“I truly doubt that four naturi is enough to kill us all,” I said blandly.

“And if they’re members of the animal clan?” Cooper shot back at me, anxiety creeping into his voice. Two of his brothers had already been killed as the result of fights caused by the naturi animal clan.

“We’ll handle it,” Danaus said.

“She’s late,” Barrett muttered.

Folding my arms over my chest, I leaned my hip against the side of my car, keeping clear of the headlights pointed toward the doors that led into the tunnels. “She’ll be here. This is too important a meeting for her to miss. She knows this is her only chance to win our support.”

Luckily, we had to wait only a couple more minutes before one of the large metal doors leading to the tunnels creaked open. Shelly entered first, raising her hand against the blinding light of the two sets of car headlights aimed at her. We wanted the advantage when our opponents entered the tunnels. For several minutes they would be blinded while we were hidden deep in the shadows that filled the tunnels.

“Mira?” she called out, blinking her eyes rapidly as she struggled to adjust to the light.

“We’re all here,” I confirmed.

Shelly slowly walked into the tunnels with her hands raised to her shoulders, open and empty, to show that she wasn’t holding any weapons. I was about to tell her to drop her hands, but I felt that the submissive stance put the others at ease. Cynnia followed close behind with her three guards. They were armed, but with their arms raised and away from their weapons, in a neutral stance. They needed to protect their princess so they had to remain armed, which was fine, because we were all armed as well. Trust was definitely thin on the ground.

Cynnia looked much the same as when I had last seen her among the ruins of Machu Picchu. She had a slight frame, while her tanned face was framed by a wealth of dark hair. She still appeared to be little more than seventeen to nineteen, but I knew her to be several centuries old. Young to take the throne, I suspected, by naturi standards. Nyx looked to be older than her sister Cynnia, and yet the younger sister was the one stepping forward. I knew there had to be more to the story behind that arrangement, but it had nothing to do with us. I didn’t care to become involved in naturi politics. It was enough that I was up to my eyeballs in nightwalker politics with the coven.

“I see that you’re keeping one step ahead of Aurora,” I called out to the group as they slowly moved out of the direct line of the headlights and into the darkness so they could start to pick us out of the shadows.

“Not exactly an easy task,” Cynnia admitted, dropping her hands limply to her sides. “But then, we quickly noticed that she seemed content to remain on the West Coast, well away from your territory. We decided to take advantage of that interesting affinity.”

“So you’ve been hanging out with Shelly in Charleston these past few months,” Danaus concluded. “I would have thought you would have remained in South America. Even I know that the earth magic is thick there. It would have been to your benefit.”

“We assumed the same thing of Aurora, so we immediately headed north to get away from her.” Cynnia shrugged her thin shoulders. “And with nightwalkers dominating most of Europe, we decided to head for some safer territory.”

I frowned, clenching my teeth slightly. “So you used me once again to act as your protector against your own kind.”

“Just your reputation,” Cynnia hedged, but a grin widened on her lips.

“Be careful or I might decide to take that protective umbrella away from you,” I warned. It was enough that she had tricked me into protecting her the first time: I respected her ingenuity and daring, but that respect only went so far, particularly when it threatened the safety of the people in my domain.

“In truth, I have come hoping to acquire the help of more than your reputation, as I’m sure you have guessed,” she said. The female naturi took a step closer, while her bodyguards stayed a few steps behind. Only Shelly remained directly behind her shoulder, potentially to help add her voice to Cynnia’s argument.

“I can guess where this is leading, but I’ve come willing to hear your side of the tale,” I said, sliding my hands into the front pockets of my leather jacket. The air in the tunnels was several degrees colder than the air outside, and the thick leather added an extra layer of protection should this meeting come to blows.

“Since the doors were opened around the world in the fall,” Cynnia began, “allowing the naturi people to return to Earth, Aurora has been building an army. While some have flocked to my banner, I know that my numbers are not as great as hers. It is only a matter of time before she decides it is time to finally wipe out not only me but my sister Nyx as well.”

Beside me, Knox shifted from one foot to the other, betraying a surprising lack of patience. “If you’ll forgive me, why do we care? The naturi have done nothing but slaughter both the shifters and the nightwalkers.”

“Because the world faces one of two futures, depending on who lives and who dies in the battle that is coming,” Cynnia said, unmoved by his gruff comment. “Should Aurora win, she will continue her campaign to wipe out mankind in an effort to ‘save’ the Earth from the destruction man is causing the Great Mother. Along the way, she will destroy every nightwalker she runs across and turn every shifter she finds into her slave.”

“Lovely picture,” I murmured sarcastically.

“Indeed,” Cynnia sighed with a shake of her head. “One of the reasons for the falling out between me and Aurora was due to my vision for our return to Earth. I wanted peace.” She paused for a minute, balling her small hands into fists at her side as she searched for the right words. “I wanted peace not only with the humans, but with all the races. If I can take Aurora’s place as queen, I will take the remaining naturi deep into the wilds that are left around the world and we will exist there in secret. We will find ways to secretly strengthen the earth despite the interference of mankind. We will coexist.”

“That’s an interesting promise,” I said when the others remained silent. “Considering the centuries of war that were waged with the naturi before they were finally caged, I find it hard to believe they would agree to coexistence with their enemies, particularly with the humans.”

“I will admit that many will resist this idea at first, but I fully believe that once Aurora is defeated they will come to realize how truly dire the situation is,” Cynnia said.

“And what is that?” Cooper prodded.

“The naturi are nearing extinction,” Cynnia admitted.

Surprisingly, those words did not bring the smile to my lips as I would have expected. If those words had been uttered by Rowe or Aurora, I would have hooted with joy while promising to wipe out the last of them. But as they were whispered from a heartbroken Cynnia, standing before me with the weight of an entire race on her shoulders, I could only feel . . . sympathy.

The young naturi princess continued. “During the final centuries in our cage, the naturi had trouble producing children, and many died due to a growing weakness we can only guess was caused by a weak connection to the earth. Furthermore, Aurora directed those loyal to her to cleanse the ranks of anyone who might not agree with her rule. Our numbers have been decimated, and I fear with the war that will inevitably be waged between Aurora and me, our numbers will be cut even further.”

Barrett pushed off the car door he had been leaning against and rubbed the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index fingers before he finally spoke. “Why should we care? You’ve spent centuries subjugating and slaughtering us. Why shouldn’t we let you have your civil war? Wipe as many of each other out in war and then let nature take its course with the rest of your dwindled race.”

Barrett had voiced the thought running through the mind of everyone there. While Cynnia was seen as more of a neutral entity because of her stance toward coexistence, she was far from a welcome sight. Just being naturi still made her the enemy of all those who had come to meet her in the abandoned tunnels.

“The Great Awakening,” Danaus proclaimed, drawing all eyes over to him. “Aurora plans to wage war on the humans anyway; she’s not going to care about who sees the battle that is looming on the horizon. Should there be a great battle between Aurora’s army and Cynnia’s army, there will be not only witnesses, but also innocent victims. She will force the Great Awakening upon the world despite the plans of the coven, lycanthropes, and the magic users.”

I frowned. Danaus was right. The Great Awakening was something we had been planning for during the past several centuries, the day when we let humanity know of our existence. It was our hope that if we controlled the release of the information, we had a better chance of easing them through what was going to be a rough transition period. With the exception of Our Liege, who wanted the Great Awakening to happen this year, it wasn’t supposed to occur for at least another fifty years at the earliest. The human race wasn’t prepared to know about our existence just yet.

“He’s right,” Knox conceded, shoving his hands into the pockets of his slacks as he stared down at the rough dirt floor.

“Is that part of your goal?” I inquired, pinning Cynnia with my narrowed gaze. “Will you keep this war quiet and hidden from the humans?”

“We have to.” She took a tentative step toward me. “We won’t be able to slide quietly and secretly into this world if the humans have discovered our existence.”

“So if we leave you alone, not only do we risk Aurora winning this war, but we also risk the coming of the Great Awakening in the worst possible way,” Barrett summarized. “And if we side with you, what? Peace and harmony.”

“As much as I can manage among my own people,” she quickly countered. “However, that’s not to say people will not die. We are fighting a war with Aurora against some powerful clan members. There will be casualties, but sometimes we must take these risks for the greater good.”

“Casualties come with war,” Danaus agreed.

“The Savannah pack has already sustained more than our share of casualties when it comes to the naturi,” Cooper snarled, taking an aggressive step toward Cynnia. The young princess didn’t move when faced with the virulent hatred rolling off the lycanthrope, but I have to admit I was more than a little pleased to see Barrett place a restraining hand on his brother’s shoulder. While I’m sure he agreed with Cooper, he still had not walked out of the meeting.

“I’m not sure what the Savannah pack can offer you in the way of assistance,” Barrett said neutrally as Cooper took a step back so he was standing next to his brother again. “As you well know, we can be easily controlled by the animal clan. We would be nothing more than mindless pawns in battle, and I will not allow that to happen to my people again.”

“I understand your concerns, and at the moment my sister Nyx is negotiating an alliance that would ensure that would not happen to your people. If the shifters of Savannah will join our fight, it will be of their own free will and it will remain that way until the end.”

Barrett nodded thoughtfully and then turned his questioning gaze on me. In fact, I could feel everyone staring at me. With nightwalkers easily outnumbering lycanthropes in the city, I had at my disposal the largest army. In addition, I was the Fire Starter. Whether I wanted it or not, I was the leader of Savannah, and Barrett was waiting to see which way I was going to fall on this issue before he was willing to make any final decisions for his own people.

“What are you bringing to the table, Cynnia?” I demanded, crossing my arms over my chest again.

The naturi princess looked at me, confused for a moment, and then glanced over her shoulder questioningly at Shelly, who frowned. “The army,” the earth witch said. “She wants to know what you’re offering besides the nightwalkers and shifters you’re trying to recruit.”

“The animal clan within the naturi people has long been seen as the foot soldiers, the lowest of the clans, and they’ve grown weary of this position,” Cynnia said. “As a result, their leader and most of the clan has broken off from Aurora. Nyx is negotiating an alliance with them. When we go to war with Aurora, one of the strongest groups of fighters will be among our warriors. From them, I will gain a promise that the shifters will not be controlled in any way.”

“A decent start.” Inwardly, I hoped she had more up her sleeve than just a pack of mongrels.

“For the most part, the wind clan has also joined my cause, leaving only the light and earth clans at Aurora’s side,” she continued. She clasped her hands together before her. “Her numbers are still large, but the presence of the Fire Starter will help to keep the light clan under control somewhat.”

“What about the water clan?” I demanded. “I’ve seen them come ashore.”

Cynnia’s hands stilled as her gaze dropped down to her fingers. “Nyx has managed to contact some of them. Their numbers have been decimated. What few remain exist in only the deepest ocean trenches or in the most northern territories, living half-lives between humanlike creatures and a creature of the ocean. They cannot help us in this battle. They want nothing to do with either side and I respect their choice.”

Unfolding one arm, I started ticking off each point on my fingers. “Wind clan. Animal clan. In addition, you want all the nightwalkers and lycans that can be pulled together so we can go after Aurora in some remote location hidden from the human populace. Should you win, there will be a permanent truce between the naturi and the other races.”

“That is correct,” Cynnia replied, flashing me a fragile smile as she tried to look reassuring.

“There’s only thing that you’re missing,” I said with a frown.

“What’s that?”

“You’re creating this great army, but who will be leading it? You? An untrained warrior who has never seen a night of battle?”

“I helped you at Machu Picchu!” she snapped.

“But you weren’t leading the charge or calling out the commands. I was.” And when it came to going up against Aurora, I wasn’t going to follow just anyone. In fact, I wasn’t sure I was all that willing to follow anyone she named.

“You’re right,” she agreed in a soft voice. “I haven’t proper battle experience. Kane, the leader of the animal clan, will lead his people into battle, while my sister Nyx will be the leader of the wind clan armies. And if she succeeds as I know she will, both Kane and Nyx will be following the final direction of Rowe in battle.”

I made a small choking noise as both my hands slammed into the side of the car and I tried to lurch back away from Cynnia.

Follow Rowe? Every fiber in my being rebelled at the very idea. So much so that my stomach churned until I thought I would vomit up blood. Rowe was my enemy in every sense of the word. We had managed a temporary truce when both our lives were on the line, but it was made with the understanding that we would soon find ourselves on the opposite sides of the battlefield again.

“No!” I snarled. “Absolutely not! It will never happen.” I jerked around and placed my hand on the handle of my car with the intention of pulling the door open and driving out of there so I could put as much distance between myself and the idea that I would once again work with my former tormentor. Before I could open the door, Danaus placed his hand over mine while placing his other hand on the door over my shoulder, pinning me gently in place.

Just hear her out.

Rowe nearly destroyed me, I snarled back. As the memory flashed to life in my brain, my temper snapped again. At the same time, balls of fire popped into existence in the wide entryway that led to a series of tunnels under downtown Savannah. There was a soft cry of surprise and distress among the gathered group, which only helped to feed my anger and the flames.

“Mira?” Shelly softly inquired.

“I won’t do it,” I repeated through clenched teeth, holding my body painfully still as every muscle in my frame tightened.

“Please, Mira,” Cynnia said in an amazingly gentle and beguiling voice. “I fully know the history between not only you and Rowe, but also with my brother Nerian. I have spoken to other Machu Picchu survivors, and you of all people have no reason to help us other than the fact that it will help your own people in the end.”

“You’re asking for the impossible,” I hissed, looking around Danaus at the naturi princess. “Rowe is loyal to his precious wife-queen. He will never come to your side.”

“I am confident that Nyx will change his mind. She will make him see reason.”

“And if she can’t?” Knox interjected.

Cynnia paused and heaved a deep, slow sigh. “Then she will kill him. We can’t afford to have him as an enemy. In truth, I fear his fighting prowess and experience more than Aurora’s army. If we can get him to lead our armies, I am confident we will be victorious, however.”

“Then you will have to achieve your victory without the help of the nightwalkers because I will not follow a single order uttered by that monster.”

“You won’t have to,” Cynnia quickly said. “You and Barrett will lead your own people in this fight. We will tell you our plans for the encounter and you will place your own people into the battle as you see fit. You will not have to follow a single order from Rowe, I swear to you. I would never ask that of you.”

Turning back to face the car, I closed my eyes. Danaus’s thumb stroked over my hand, trying to ease away some of the tension. I pulled back some of the power that filled the flames that dotted the cave so that the light dimmed slightly. I hated Rowe. I hated him with everything I was, but I was making a selfish decision to turn my back on Cynnia and her cause because of my own past. Her goal, if she succeeded, would not only put off the Great Awakening, but also stop the constant battles with the naturi and my own people. To make matters worse, I had a feeling that Barrett would follow me if I decided not to help the naturi. It was going to be an all or nothing game when it came to the involvement of the lycans and the nightwalkers.

When Cynnia spoke again, she sounded a little closer than she had been only a couple seconds earlier. “I know that you will never forgive him, and I will not try to ask that of you. I am just looking for a temporary truce for the good of both our peoples.”

“Rowe bears no love for mankind,” I said, refusing to open my eyes. “What does he care if Aurora wishes to continue her campaign?”

“I believe that Rowe cares first for our people and he will not allow Aurora to pursue our extinction,” Cynnia pressed on. “He will help us, and when we succeed, he will slip away into a silent, secret existence away from mankind with the rest of us. I am offering him peace and acceptance after centuries of struggle and hatred among our people.”

Gritting my teeth, I reached out to Knox, letting his perpetual calm sweep over me before I spoke to him. I could feel his concern for me, but he did not outwardly display it. What is your opinion?

I believe that we must do what is best for our people. We will follow you regardless of what you decide in the belief that you are protecting us in the best fashion that you see for us, he honestly answered, but I could tell he was already leaning toward Cynnia’s camp. He was only twisting it to make it sound like I actually had a choice when I really didn’t. If I left Cynnia to go to war with Aurora without our help, we risked the complete destruction of our way of life. If we helped, we at least had a chance at peace.

You’re a real bastard sometimes.

I don’t know about this Rowe, but I know that the nightwalkers will follow you anywhere, Elder. We will fight and defeat Aurora if we are to maintain our secret.

And that was the important part. Protecting the secret.

I pulled in several cleansing breaths through my nose and pushed them out through my clenched teeth before I finally released the door and turned back to face Cynnia. Danaus stepped back but still remained standing close to me should I need his support. My rock.

“You will have the support of the nightwalkers,” I agreed, “but Rowe must keep his distance from me. My temper is a tenuous thing and I would hate for your great commander to go up in a puff of smoke before the battle has begun.”

“I understand,” Cynnia said with a relieved sigh before she turned her eyes on Barrett.

“We will stand with the nightwalkers and I will follow Mira’s lead,” Barrett agreed, as I expected. “She has more experience than I in battles such as these. I look for you to hold to your promise about controlling the animal clan. Should it be broken, my people will leave the battle at the first opportunity.”

“Thank you for your assistance.” Cynnia bowed deeply at the waist to both Barrett and me. “When Kane, Nyx, and Rowe arrive, I will contact you again so we can plan how we will deal with Aurora.”

Behind me, I felt Danaus stiffen and his powers flare from his body. I slipped into his mind and could feel the bulge of earth energy approaching our location.

“Cynnia, have you sent for more guards?” Danaus demanded.

“No, the rest of my armies still remain near Charleston. I didn’t want to risk bringing more of my people into Mira’s domain until we had settled matters,” she said.

“Then we have a problem.”

“They’ve been hunting me,” Cynnia admitted with a weary shake of her head. “I thought we had lost them long enough that I could have this meeting without endangering you.”

“Can you tell what clan they are from?” I inquired.

“Earth clan, mostly,” Cynnia said. “But there appears to be at least one from the light clan.”

Looking over at Barrett, I smiled widely enough to expose my fangs. “Are you in the mood for a little warm-up? Some practice for the battle to come?”

Barrett smiled back as me as he started to unbutton his shirt, preparing to shift into wolf form. “I welcome it,” he said, his voice a deep growl in his barrel chest.

So did I.