“Very well.” Valen offered a stiff nod.

  Kane took a grudging step back, his feral gaze locked on Valen. “They can investigate all they want, but my people are going to keep an eye on you, Valen, along with your witch,” he growled, unable to concede defeat. Or perhaps this was deliberate. His response was certainly melodramatic enough to be an act. How better to convince everyone he wasn’t involved in the kidnapping. “I don’t trust either of you.”

  Azra held up his hand, indicating the conversation was over. “We will begin our questions at the Witch’s Brew. We’ll need to speak with the owner and search the seer’s room. I want both of you—” He glanced from Kane to Valen before turning his attention to Peri. “And you. To remain here.”

  Peri grimaced. “Maya isn’t going to be happy.”

  * * * *

  Accustomed to long hours of inactivity, Micha stood motionless in the corner of the cell as the minutes ticked past, stretching into an hour. He assumed this was a deliberate ploy by the fairies to gain the upper hand.

  Lock up the leech and then watch him sweat...

  Micha wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction.

  Skye, on the other hand, was pacing from one end of the cell to the other, her expression distracted, as if she was troubled by something beyond being locked in the cell with a vampire.

  Micha should have been insulted. Even if she wasn’t terrified to be alone with him, she could at least acknowledge they were sharing a cell. He wasn’t used to being so completely ignored. Instead, he took the opportunity to savor the delicate grace of her movements and the sparkles of magic that danced in the air.

  She didn’t seem real, he silently acknowledged. More like a fantasy that had been plucked from the depths of his soul.

  It was the scent of fairy that eventually intruded into his fascination with the young seer. Seconds later a tall male crossed the cavern to stand next to the cell. He looked marginally different now that he’d removed the disguise amulet. His face was thinner and his body several pounds lighter, but there was no mistaking this was the fairy who’d attacked him in his rooms. The one who’d snapped the collar around his neck.

  A growl rumbled in Micha’s throat as he moved to place himself between the demon and Skye. It was pure instinct, but he didn’t try to halt the impulse.

  The fairy smiled, as if entertained by the revealing reflex. He was, however, smart enough to keep his amusement to himself. Pressing a hand to the center of his chest, he performed a formal bow.

  “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Lynx, leader of the largest demon horde in the world.”

  The name wasn’t familiar to Micha, which meant it was doubtful his horde was larger than a few dozen demons.

  “Why am I here?” he demanded in cold tones.

  The pale green eyes flared with anticipation, as if he’d been eagerly awaiting the question. “You, my friend, are going to give the demons what we’ve always wanted.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “Our freedom.”

  “Freedom?” Micha abruptly realized where this conversation was heading. Not that he was going to make it easy. He deliberately glanced toward the silver bars that separated them. “You’re standing next to my cell complaining about freedom? A little ironic, don’t you think?”

  Lynx narrowed his eyes at Micha’s deliberate taunt. “You are temporarily being held against your will. It’s nothing like being forced to bend the knee to an oppressor just for the privilege of living in the Gyre.”

  “Oh, is that it?” Micha lifted his hand as if he was stifling a yawn. “I should have guessed.”

  “Guessed what?” Skye demanded, moving to stand next to him.

  Micha kept his gaze trained on the fairy. “Demon rebellions roll around like clockwork. Every five hundred years or so, a particularly ambitious demon decides that they’re the one destined to overthrow the evil Vampire Cabal. Some uprisings are more costly than others, but they all end in the same way. With hundreds, sometimes thousands of demons dead, and the Cabal still firmly in charge.”

  The scent of copper swirled through the air even as Lynx forced a mocking smile to his lips.

  “At least you’re honest. Vampires are evil.”

  “And you’re not?”

  “I care about my people.”

  Micha wasn’t impressed. He’d lived through rebellions before. They’d never been started by leaders who gave a shit about their people. It was all about power.

  “You care so much that you’ll sacrifice them in a rebellion just to feed your ego?”

  “Of course a vampire would want us to meekly accept our place as your slaves,” Lynx sneered. “If you lost control of the Gyres, the Cabal would collapse.”

  “Without the Cabal, the demons would descend into constant warfare. Anyone who has read history knows that centuries after the dragons retreated and the demons were left to fend for themselves, they created utter chaos. The hordes nearly destroyed one another before the vampires took control.”

  “All they need is a strong leader to unite them.”

  Micha studied the male’s arrogant expression. Lynx was using the arguments expected from a power-hungry demon who was intent on leading a rebellion. It sounded too perfect. It felt like he was reading a script, not offering a passionate debate for his cause.

  Micha folded his arms over his chest. “And naturally you’re the leader who can do what no one else could do?”

  “Naturally.”

  “And how do you intend to accomplish such a miraculous feat?”

  “The Tempest.”

  Micha’s suspicions were forgotten as he shook his head in resignation. “That’s why you kidnapped me? The Tempest?” he drawled. “Couldn’t you have chosen something a little more interesting? Now you’re just a cliché.”

  “What’s a tempest?” Skye demanded as Lynx fisted his hands.

  Had Micha’s words hit a nerve, or was he pretending to react? It was annoyingly difficult to determine.

  Turning his head, he met Skye’s baffled frown. “The Tempest is the demon equivalent of Excalibur.”

  Her confusion deepened. “A sword?”

  “Not just a sword,” Lynx intruded into the conversation. “A vessel that holds ancient demon magic. The sort of magic that even vampires fear.”

  Micha returned his attention to the fairy. “The supposed magic he’s talking about is nothing more than a nursery story,” he retorted. “Not to mention the fact that it’s impossible to break the curse that surrounds it.”

  Lynx planted his hands on his hips, his expression defiant. “If you’re so confident that it’s harmless, then why have you wrapped it in layers of protection?” he challenged. “Why not allow the demons to try to claim it?”

  It was true that Micha had created several barriers around the temple that held the Tempest after he gained control of the Gyre. Honestly, if he could have dug up the stupid sword and had it transplanted far away from his home, he would have done it in a...well, not a heartbeat, since his heart didn’t beat, but as quickly as possible.

  “I have it off-limits because I’m tired of demons invading my territory in an attempt to claim the sword,” he said, his voice hard. “It’s disgusting to have their corpses littering the area, polluting the land, and poisoning the water. I used to have to send staff out regularly to clean up the mess.”

  Lynx harrumphed. “A convenient excuse.”

  Micha deliberately coated the silver bars with a layer of ice. A small warning of his power.

  “I don’t need an excuse. The sword is in my Gyre, which means it’s my property.”

  “It belongs to the demons.” Lynx touched his fingers to the center of his chest. “It belongs to me. And before the night is over, I intend to retrieve it.”

  * * * *

  “Are you about done?” Maya demanded, vibrating with fury as she watched the vampire rummage through the drawers of her desk.

  The male was attired in a black suit with a white shirt and gray tie. His light brown hair was neatly trimmed and his features handsome without possessing the punch of beauty most of his brothers possessed.

  It would be easy to underestimate his power, but Maya hadn’t been fooled when he’d shown up at her door, demanding entry to the Witch’s Brew. There was a smoldering power in that dark, knowing gaze as he’d swept past her along with two goblins, who were obviously his servants.

  There’d been another vampire that she’d recognized as Gabriel from the western Gyre, but he’d remained near the door as if ensuring no one interrupted the sanctioned invasion.

  The vampire who’d introduced himself as Ambassador Azra straightened as he slid shut the drawers.

  “Forgive me, mage, but you must realize this is a precarious situation for all of us,” he smoothly apologized.

  “Actually, you haven’t told me anything beyond the fact that you suspect that Skye was involved in some mysterious kidnapping and that she’s disappeared.”

  “I’m afraid that’s all I can say at the moment.” His words were polite, but there was an unmistakable warning in his tone. “If you know anything that would assist us in tracking down the location of the seer, it’s vital you share that information with us.”

  Maya forced herself to count to ten. Being so close to vampires in a confined space was scraping her nerves raw. She had a long history of hating the creatures. And to have them claiming that her sweet Skye was somehow involved in a convoluted attempt to destroy the Cabal was threatening to push her toward the edge.

  When she went over, very bad things would happen. She lifted her hand to touch the scar that marred the side of her face. A reminder of the cost of losing control.

  “I’ve told you everything I know,” she said, her voice carefully stripped of all emotion.

  There was a stir of movement before the two goblins stepped into the office. They were both large, both bald, and both surrounded by a bright red aura.

  “Well?” Azra demanded.

  Both servants shook their heads, indicating that they hadn’t managed to find any damning evidence.

  Azra moved toward the door, pausing to turn and send Maya a last, warning glance. “If the seer returns or contacts you—”

  “You’ll be the first to know,” Maya interrupted. She needed the leeches out of her home.

  Immediately.

  The male turned to lead the goblins through the bookstore and into the attached coffee shop before Maya could hear them pulling open the front door. About to release the swear words that had been gathering on the tip of her tongue, Maya snapped her lips together as the second vampire silently stepped into the office and crossed to stand directly in front of her.

  He was tall and gorgeous with silver streaks in his dark hair and a smile that could melt the sun. No doubt, most women found him irresistible. Maya, however, was a mage, not a woman, and she very much wanted to smash her fist into the center of that handsome face.

  “Mage.” His lips twitched, no doubt able to read her thoughts. Then, with a bold lack of concern for the magic that prickled through the air, he reached to grasp her hand, raising it to his lips. “Peri wanted me to personally reassure you that the Cabal will do everything in their power to discover the truth,” he murmured. “She hopes you’ll put your usual trust in them.”

  Fury thundered through Maya. Peri knew exactly how much faith she had in...

  Her anger shattered as she felt Gabriel press a small object between her fingers. She didn’t have to look to know it was a computer memory chip. Her brows arched as Gabriel offered a small dip of his head before releasing her hand and stepping back.

  “Tell her not to worry,” she said, assuring the male that she understood.

  Peri was warning her not to trust the Cabal and had sent along some sort of information that was intended to help Maya discover what was going on.

  “She also wants you to know that you can contact me directly if you have any questions or concerns about the investigation,” Gabriel continued in a smooth voice. “Only me.”

  Maya slowly nodded. Peri was more than likely being carefully watched by the Cabal, she silently conceded. She obviously didn’t want them getting their hands on any information that Maya might discover.

  Waiting for the vampire to leave the office, Maya moved to close the door and slid her hand over the panels. Magic danced over her fingers, seeping into the worn wood to create an impenetrable barrier. Nothing could get in or out until she released the spell.

  Once assured she wouldn’t be interrupted, Maya crossed to the desk and sat down. Then, opening her laptop, she slid the chip into the port and opened the file. She wasn’t sure what she expected. Maybe a coded message from Peri. Or a map to Skye’s location. Not security footage from Valen’s lair.

  It wasn’t until she clicked on the video that she realized that it’d captured Skye arriving at the building along with two strangers. Then shockingly, it jumped to an image of Skye being carried out of a basement area in the arms of a vampire.

  “What the hell happened to you, Skye Claremont?” she muttered, watching the video a dozen times until she had reassured herself that there were no visible wounds on Skye as she was cradled in the vampire’s arms.

  Then, forcing herself to take a calming breath, she studied the video frame by frame. She zoomed in, taking in the uniforms with the Witch’s Brew badge as well as the necklaces hanging around the throats of the males. Disguise amulets. Which meant that there was no point in trying to figure out who they were. The only thing that mattered was that Skye looked angry as she marched between them. Whoever they might be, they weren’t her friends.

  Deciding that she’d learned as much as possible from Skye’s companions, Maya turned her attention to the vehicle that had delivered Skye to Valen’s lair. It was a boring midsized car without any distinguishing features, but thankfully the security camera had managed to capture the license plate number.

  When Maya had settled in New Jersey years ago, she’d developed a vast circle of acquaintances. Some rich, some powerful, and many who lived in the shadows, using their wits to survive. Then, wisely, she made sure that each and every one of them owed her a favor. It was her personal spiderweb of information that she could tug on to acquire whatever information she might need.

  Now she grabbed her phone off the desk and typed in a quick text. A minute passed, and then ten. She was about to send another message when her phone pinged and the information she wanted popped up on the screen.

  Goblin who goes by the name Long Jong. You can find him hanging at the Dead Badger.

  Shutting down the computer, Maya surged to her feet and shattered the spell that protected the door. The Dead Badger was a demon bar in the Bronx. It was going to take her at least an hour to get there, and she needed to gather a few potions and reload her spells.

  It was closer to two hours by the time she strolled into the shabby bar squashed between a bodega and a transmission garage. It was a long, narrow space with wooden booths along the walls and a U-shaped counter in the middle where a large goblin with a mohawk and a dozen piercings was doling out mugs of traditional grog for the smattering of customers.

  Maya walked confidently toward the bar, her heels clicking on the wooden planks. She’d chosen to wear a pair of black slacks and a white cashmere sweater, knowing the elegant attire would allow her to stand out in such a neighborhood. She’d also pulled her dark hair from her face to emphasize the scars.

  As the most powerful mage in the area, she was both hated and feared among the local demons. Which meant she had two choices. A disguise spell to hide her identity, or she could use her reputation to her advantage.

  Reaching the counter, she smiled as the bartender froze, his gaze locked on her scars.

  “Is there a contract?” he rasped.

  She shook her head, assuring him that she hadn’t been sent by a rival to curse him.

  “I’m looking for Long Jong.”

  She waited for him to point toward a male slouched in the back booth. He wasn’t large for a goblin and his aura was barely more than a flicker of red. Wearing a leather jacket, he was absently eating his way through a bowl of peanuts and nursing his mug of grog.

  Maya held up two fingers, and the bartender swiftly pulled a couple of large grogs from the tap and placed them on a tray before shoving them across the counter. Maya reached for her purse, but the male waved her away. Smart demon. He was more worried about getting rid of her than collecting her money.

  Mages were never good for business.

  Grabbing the tray, Maya turned away, pausing to pretend to rearrange the mugs. With a flick of her wrist, she dumped the potion she’d hidden in a large opal ring into the grog. Then, ignoring the anxious glances from the handful of customers, she headed to the back booth, sliding onto the opposite side of the table from the goblin.

  “Can I join you?” she murmured.

  The male jerked up his head, as if he’d been verging on sleep. He blinked, his eyes blurry. “You gotta job? Wait...” He furrowed his brow, trying to clear the grog-fog from his brain. “Don’t I know you?”

  “Perhaps.” Maya placed a mug on the table in front of him. “Drink?”

  Without hesitation Long Jong grabbed the mug and drained it in one greedy gulp.

  “So whatcha want.” He slammed the empty mug on the table, releasing a loud belch. “I got some crank, grit, moon rocks.” He paused, eying her expensive clothing. “I can get my hands on some dragon scale, but it’ll cost you—”

  “I have a few questions,” Maya smoothly interrupted.

  The male snorted. “Then you’re talking to the wrong guy. I ain’t got no answers. Not for nobody.”

  She slid the second mug toward the male. “Here.”

  “Thanks.”

  This time, Long Jong tried to pace himself. He took a gulp and set the mug back on the table.