Wait For Dusk Part 5

aI donat like him,a Danaus declared when we were finally alone.

I threaded my arm through his and directed him back down the sidewalk, winding out way through the park. aI never really expected you to. Heas not the type to take things too seriously. He likes to play with his food when he gets the chance.a aIam surprised I havenat staked him already.a aMe, too,a I agreed softly. Valerio liked to live dangerously, playing with both humans and lycanthropes whenever the opportunity arose. Only the coven could make him toe the line, and that was simply because he didnat want them controlling his life.

We walked more than a block in the cold, the snow and ice crunching beneath our feet. The distant whirr of cars racing down the nearby busy streets could be heard, but even that sound was fading as most people retreated to their homes and away from the cold for the night. Pausing at a street corner, I huddled close to the hunter, trying to use his body to protect me from the wind.

aWhat did this little show of power accomplish tonight at the baths?a Danaus demanded. aBesides unnecessary violence and senselessly risking your life.a aI taught them to fear the coven. I taught them that the true power lies with the coven and not with this little love fest that Odelia and Veyron have created here.a aIt taught them to fear you, and fear doesnat win you allies in this war.a aBut fear will keep the dagger out of my back. Fear may keep them from willingly being my allies, but it will keep them from trying to kill me. Itas the ones like Stefan that donat fear me that I worry about.a aHow could Stefan not fear the power of the Fire Starter?a aBecause he knows Iam weak now, as weak as I was when I was human.a aHow can you say that? Youare stronger now than ever before. Youare an Elder on the coven.a aI have a consort now and that makes me vulnerable. You are my weakness, and those in power know it now.a aMiraa"a aYouare worth the risk a thousand times over. Never doubt you are worth the risk.a I pulled away from Danaus and cleared my throat. We needed to talk of other things besides his impact on my life. We had bigger concerns. aCan you scan for the naturi? Get a sense of how many are in the city?a I asked, looking up at him.

aIall see what I can find for you.a Closing his eyes, I could feel him send his powers out from his body. They washed out over the city, sliding across the river, up through the hills of Buda and down across the flat plains that composed Pest. At the same time, I slipped into the hunteras mind, viewing the world through his eyes. I could feel little b.a.l.l.s of energy that were different from the energy I sensed in nightwalkers. It was similar to the earthy tones I could sense from the lycanthropes, only stronger. I had thought these bits of power were only more lycanthropes, but Iad been wrong. I had actually been sensing the naturi, thanks to my new gift from Nick.

Pockets of them were scattered throughout the city and in the outlying woods beyond the city limits. A thicker concentration wasnat too far from us. Their power was dense in the air, clouding everything around them.

aIs there an island in the Danube near here?a Danaus asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Shutting down my own powers and pulling out of his mind, I concentrated on what I could remember of the city. aYes, thereas actually three islands in the Danube near Budapest. Is that where they are located?a I was impressed with Danausas skill. I could pick out a vague sense of direction, but I had no real feel for distance.

aMost of them are.a aHow did you know theyare on an island?a aThereas a large blank spot around them where there are no signs of human life. The only spots in the area that would match such a thing would be the river that cuts through the middle of the city.a The hunter rubbed his eyes and the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger before looking down at me. aWhat did you see?a A sheepish grin graced my mouth as I stared up at him. I had made no attempt to cloak my presence in his mind. In truth, I hadnat thought about it. My main concern was trying to see if I could sense the naturi as well. I could, to my surprise, but with nowhere near the skill that Danaus could.

aLittle b.a.l.l.s of earth energy. I sensed them earlier but I thought they were just more lycanthropes,a I admitted, and then immediately regretted my words. I was no longer accustomed to hiding things from Danaus. I was used to him knowing everything I knew.

aHow is it that you sensed them?a I dropped my head and clenched my teeth, cursing my stupidity and carelessness. aThings have changed since that night in Savannah.a I forced each word out as if it was stuck in my throat. aNick gave me the ability to sense all types of energy, but Iam still trying to sort it out. Iam nowhere near as skilled as you when it comes to sensing the naturi.a To my utter shock, Danaus ran his cold hand across my cheek so that he was now cupping the back of my neck. He pulled me forward and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. aHe was inside of the bathhouse, wasnat he?a aHow did you know?a aI sensed your rage and fear.a aIam afraid heas going to kill you,a I whispered.

aYouad never allow it.a Blinking back tears, I turned my head and pressed my lips to the palm of his hand. aThank you for your confidence in me.a It was all I could say. He was giving me his trust, and as I had already proved once tonight, I didnat deserve it.

Chapter Ten.

After some discussion, Danaus and I decided we would pursue a small group of naturi hanging on the edge of the city at what turned out to be Szobor Park. I suspected that if anyone knew I was in the city, they would expect me to go straight for the gathering on one of the islands in the Danube River, but I wasnat willing to step into that trap just yet. It was bad enough that I had willingly walked into whatever trap Macaire had set for me. For now, I was avoiding the bulk of the naturi on the island. I wasnat sure how we would reach the island just yet, and I feared a trip out on a ferry would put me in the clutches of the water clan once again. My last encounter with the water clan in Savannah nearly cost Danaus his life.

Unfortunately, neither Danaus nor I were familiar with Budapest. The hunter knew a vague location of the group of naturi, but neither of us could give directions or a landmark to taxi driver. As a result, I was forced to dip into Danausas mind while he scanned the region for the naturi. At the same time, I was in the mind of the taxi driver, directing him as best as I could toward our ultimate destination. My powers were strained as I struggled to separate the two minds, while leaving enough of the driver conscious so he could effectively operate the car without plowing us into the first semi we pa.s.sed. I was shaking by the time we reached Szobor Park, the strain making it one of the longest thirty-minute drives of my life.

I had done this trick before with other nightwalkers, touching multiple minds at once with little problem. But then, everything was easier when I was dealing with nightwalkers. The mind of a human was too easy to completely consume. Meanwhile, I had to maintain my own guard against Danaus so he could not see some of my own dark secrets as we were intimately linked together. I didnat expect the hunter to go wandering around in my mind while we searched for the naturi, but I wasnat about to leave the door hanging wide open either.

At s...o...b..r Park, my hands were trembling and my head was throbbing from the strain. I released both Danausas and the taxi driveras minds at the same time, glad to finally be free of them. Slumping back against the seat as Danaus paid the fare, I closed my eyes and drew in a slow cleansing breath. The pain started to ebb and I became aware of the energy steadily flowing from Danaus. It pulsed and brushed against me, a rea.s.suring heat that seeped into my chilled frame. The hunter was continuously scanning the area for the naturi to make sure we werenat going to be attacked before we even stepped from the car.

aAre they coming?a I pushed into a sitting position as he opened his door.

aNot yet. Feels like they actually moved deeper into the park,a he replied as he slid out.

I followed behind him, unb.u.t.toning my coat as I moved. My weapons were hidden beneath the heavy folds of my leather coat, and I needed to be able to easily access them. aWhere are we?a I may have been giving directions to the taxi driver as I pulled them out of Danausas brain, but that didnat mean I had even the slightest clue as to where we finally ended up. I frowned as I looked around the empty expanse. We were on a lonely strip of road, well outside the city proper. We werenat going to easily find another taxi back to the hotel, a.s.suming that we had little trouble dispatching the naturi. Grabbing my phone, I typed in the phone number for the taxi company written across the side of the car door. If we couldnat get another taxi, Iad be forced to hotwire a car. Unfortunately, I was trying not to stir up too much trouble in the city just yet. I wanted to meet this Veyron first, and then I would be happy to cause as much trouble as I wanted.

A red brick wall rose up before us with three tall openings. There were two large windows within the wall that housed a pair of enormous stone statues. I walked over to one, squinting in the darkness until I finally made out the cubist vision of Karl Marxas face. c.o.c.king my head to the side, I took a step back and smiled.

aItas Statue Park,a I said, talking mostly to myself.

Danaus stood next to me as he looked up at the statue of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. aI donat know it.a aItas also called Memento Park by some.a I shoved my hands in my pockets and walked over to the other statue. I didnat recognize the face, but it matched some of the Communist themes I had seen in pictures. aI read about this place. About a decade ago the city leaders gathered up all the Communist statues from around the city and placed them together in a single park. Preserving history, but keeping it carefully corralled in a single location so it canat bleed into the present.a aSo, Iam guessing that we should be careful and try not to damage the statues,a Danaus said.

I smirked at the hunter over my shoulder. aIt would be preferable. I donat expect that the city will be able to easily replace anything that we break tonight, and Iad hate to be responsible for destroying this interesting bit of history.a Taking a couple steps backward, I crouched on the b.a.l.l.s of my feet for a second before taking a running leap into the air. It was with a sigh of relief that I easily landed on the top of the red brick wall despite the coating of snow and ice. Squatting down, I stared out at the broad swath of level ground that sparkled in the snow before me. Apparently the park was closed during the winter, because no one had bothered to shovel the snow from the walkways. However, I could still make out the outline of six large circles in the earth around a larger central circle. There were no trees in the park to hide behind, but I could easily make out more than three dozen statues. And somewhere in there, five naturi were hiding. I could feel the pulse of their energy, but it almost seemed blurry, as if their powers were obscured by the energy coming from the earth.

I, on the other hand, stood out on the wall, my hunched body outlined by the moonlight. Let the naturi know I was coming for them. With any luck, my appearance and active hunting of the naturi would finally draw out Aurora, or maybe even Rowe. I was ready to remove the head from either one.

aLetas go,a I said as I took a step off the wall. I landed easily, my knees flexing under the impact. My left heel slipped slightly as I hit the snow but I kept my balance. Meanwhile, Danaus took the time to pick the lock at the front gate. A loud squeal resounded through the frozen wasteland as he pushed it open. I flinched at the sound, glaring at him over my shoulder. I wasnat exactly trying to be sneaky, but at the same time, I wasnat trying to wake the dead either.

aWhere are they?a I asked when the hunter was finally standing beside me.

aToward the back of the park, holding very still.a aBlending in with the statues, Iam sure.a Reaching inside my coat, I pulled a short blade from where it was strapped to my waist. A second blade was removed from where it hung at my hip. aYou take the right and Iall take the left. Weall meet at the back of the park.a aShall we make this interesting?a Danaus inquired as he also pulled a blade.

I arched one brow at him and lowered my weapons. aFighting the naturi isnat already interesting?a aMost kills wins.a aFirst to use his or her powers automatically loses,a I added with a grin. Danaus nodded, one corner of his mouth lifting. aAnd my prize?a This caused Danaus to pause, his newborn smile slipping from his face.

aWhat do you want?a My smile only grew, but I knew better than to ask for anything really interesting. Head never agree to it and our fun would be lost. However, I still had to go for something that might make him sweat just a little bit so it would be a real compet.i.tion. aA favor.a aYou want a favor?a he repeated.

aYes, I want the right to hold a favor in reserve with you.a Danaus stared at me in silence, weighing the danger of owing me a favor. At the time, I knew he was considering the odds of whether I would actually beat him in a race to hunt down the five naturi. He would need only three to beat me. This was going to be a close thing no matter what was at stake.

aIad like the same prize should I win,a he finally said, surprising me.

aAll right,a I agreed slowly. I hadnat considered the chance of him actually requesting the same thing. Of course, what was the danger? The b.a.s.t.a.r.d could control me if he truly wanted to, and it wasnat like he could ask me not to feed. It was both too dangerous for those around me and just generally impossible if I really needed to feed.

With the contest settled, Danaus headed off to the right, quickly becoming little more than a hulking shadow in the darkness. His crunching footsteps echoed through the silent night, announcing his approach. Meanwhile, I moved soundlessly through the darkness, weapons drawn. Large shadows rose up around me, cast by the moonlight glazing the various statues and random bits of brick wall that worked to section off the park.

I paused as I pa.s.sed the first circle to my left, and fanned out my senses so I could try to pick out the naturi. Their energy danced in the air, but it was all hazy and unfocused. Confident that I hadnat left a naturi at my back and they were all still in front of me, I edged around a small brick wall and entered the second connecting circle.

aWhy have you come here, bloodsucker?a called a voice out of the darkness. It sounded like it had come from the far edge of the park. It was an easy target for me to home in on, but I knew that the other four naturi stood between me and the speaker. They werenat about to make it that easy for me.

aLooking for you.a The cold, silent air carried my words across the distance. aAnd hoping to find Rowe.a aThe traitor is not here.a aIf you go find him for me and bring him here, I might consider letting you live,a I taunted as I edged away from the wall. Tightening my grip on the blades, I moved across the second circle, allowing me to put some distance between the statues and myself. The approach left me exposed and vulnerable, but then I wasnat the type to hide and wait for my prey to come to me.

aWe want nothing to do with that traitor.a The voice laughed, the sound bouncing around the park. aBesides, we outnumber you. Youare the one that should be pleading for our mercy.a aNever again,a I muttered under my breath. I had begged for mercy at Machu Picchu when I was tortured as a fledgling. I had pleaded for them to kill me and release me from the overwhelming pain. I would never beg for anything from the naturi again.

My only warning was the soft ping of a taut bowstring being released. I spun around, dropping to my left knee, but I reacted too slowly. The poison-tipped naturi dart embedded itself in my left shoulder blade. Pain screamed down by arm, causing my hand to open. My knife fell to the snow with a m.u.f.fled thud. I swallowed a cry, gritting my teeth to hold it in. My left arm was useless as I waited for the poison to finally run its course through my body.

Raising my right arm, I blocked the blow aimed to remove my head. A brief flash of sparks from the impact with my short sword lit up the night. My opponent looked to be a teenager with his fresh face covered in a sprinkling of freckles and his unkempt, windblown brown hair standing on end. But looks could be deceiving. This creature was likely older than I was, with ample battle experience.

As he lifted his sword over his head for another blow, I aimed my own sword for his stomach, hoping to disembowel him. He was fast. He s.h.i.+fted his stance, easily blocking my thrust. I needed to finish him quickly. I was trapped on my knees and there were four more of them running around the park.

The naturi looked over my shoulder for a split second as he moved to slash at me again.

as.h.i.+t,a I hissed. Dropping my left shoulder, I rolled away from my opponent and the naturi that had come up behind me. As I moved, I scooped up the knife I had dropped with my left hand. While Iad regained the ability to use that hand, it was still weak. I wouldnat be able to block with it and my aim would be miserable if I attempted to throw anything.

Unfortunately, rolling to my feet caused the dart in my shoulder to dig deeper, sending a fresh wave of pain through my body. I swayed once on my feet before the pain finally ebbed a bit. Blinking once, my gaze focused on the three naturi arrayed before me. At the same time, a pair of gunshots shattered the night, bringing a frown to my lips.

Thatas one, Danaus said, touching my mind. The hunter had taken the lead by making the first kill. However, with three naturi before me and a fourth lurking somewhere in the darkness, my main concern was not about winning our little contest, but surviving it. Of course, I wasnat about to admit to the hunter that I was in trouble.

The naturi that had attacked me earlier moved in again, while one of his companions also swung his blade. In a flash of silver glinting off the moonlight, I blocked both slas.h.i.+ng blows, causing the two naturi to take a step backward. Clenching my teeth, a soft grunt escaped me as I threw the knife as hard as I could at the naturi that had yet to attack me. However, my left hand still lacked both speed and accuracy. The naturi easily deflected the knife, sending it spinning off into the night.

A pair of shots rang out as Danaus pursued the other naturi that had yet to appear at my back as Iad expected. That left three standing before me.

Thatas two, Danaus kindly informed me.

I swallowed a snide reply, cursing myself for not taking the time to pack my Browning. I still didnat like guns and avoided carrying them whenever possible.

aTwo of your companions have been killed. This is your last chance to escape before you lose your lives as well,a I said.

aA chance to kill the Fire Starter is worth any risk,a one of the naturi said, bringing a frown to my lips. I had yet to use my gift and still they recognized me. I wasnat ready to be considered enemy number one among the naturi.

aBesides, we have you outnumbered. You havenat a chance,a said another naturi.

aNot for long,a I growled. Grabbing another knife off my leg with my left hand, I swung around at the opponent on my left. He blocked the sword aimed at his chest but wasnat fast enough to stop the knife I buried in his lower abdomen. Unfortunately, my back was left open. Pain screamed through my body as another naturi stabbed me in the back. I moaned as I jerked the knife loose from the naturias stomach. Stretching around, I stabbed the other naturi in the thigh, but the move drove the sword deeper into my back.

The naturi pulled the sword from my back, bringing a gush of blood from my body. Wildly swinging my short sword, the naturi took a cautious step backward, giving me more s.p.a.ce before they once again moved in for the kill. Danaus was coming toward me, but I had a feeling he wasnat going to make it in time. Blood was pouring out of me and I was growing weaker by the second.

Desperate and trapped, I needed to take them out as quickly as possible, but we had agreed not to use our powers. Unfortunately, I needed to start using Danausas power if I was going to escape Nickas wrath.

Stepping backward, I drew in a deep breath and held it as I pushed down the pain threatening to overwhelm me. I reached out into the air with my mind, pulling the energy that was radiating from Danaus toward me. He wasnat going to like this at all.

With the energy balled up in my hands, I threw it at the three naturi standing before me. I had to wait only a second before they stumbled back, screaming and clawing at their skin. At the same time, Danaus cried out, his grunt of unexpected pain echoing across the open park.

Mira! he called, but I ignored it. I focused the energy on my enemies, cooking them from the inside out. The energy didnat fill me the same way as when Danaus was controlling me. I could feel it flowing out of the hunter and directly into the naturi before me. Danaus groaned, but it wasnat a sound of pain, but of release. Over the blossoming anger and frustration coming from him, I could sense an underlying feeling of joy and pleasure. It was as if the use of this power provided him with a growing sense of relief. Regardless of what he felt, I knew that Danaus was going to strangle me when I finally released my control over him.

The trio of naturi dropped their weapons and fell to the ground, writhing in pain. Their skin blacked and finally cracked, allowing the boiling blood to ooze out. The screams were finally reduced to choked, gurgling cries of pain before they were silenced permanently.

With a wave of my hand, I released my hold on Danaus, cutting off the power that flowed to the bodies of the naturi. The hunteras heavy breathing was the only sound that carried across the park besides the sound of the wind. Slowly, I turned to face Danaus when the sound of clapping drew my attention back toward the three naturi. A tall figure walked out of the darkness, a pair of black wings extending from his back as if he were part bat. Rowe.

The one-eyed naturi had haunted me for months, his memory chasing after me no matter where I went or what I did. He had aided Nerian in torturing me when I was first captured by the naturi more than five centuries ago. He tried to kidnap me when I was in London with Danaus only a few months ago. He fought me on Crete yet again when he broke the seal that bound the naturi in their world. Onetime consort of the queen of the naturi, he focused all of his energy on freeing his people. Now he was banished, an outcast, because he was twisting earth magic with blood magica"an act forbidden by the naturi.

aRowe,a I snarled, tightening my grip on my sword as I stepped over the bodies of the dead naturi to close the distance between us. aI expected you sooner.a aHealed from our last meeting?a he asked, pulling a sword from his waist as he folded his wings against his body. I swallowed back a growl that rose up in my chest. The last time I encountered the naturi, he had shoved a knife deep into my back while I stabbed his wife-queen in the chest at Machu Picchu. I barely survived, but at least Aurora had barely survived the meeting as well.

aWhat do you want with Budapest?a I demanded when I finally had control of my temper. aHas Aurora come to roost here, and youare clinging to the hem of her dress, hoping for a reprieve?a aI want nothing from Budapest. My few followers contacted me the second they discovered that you were lurking in the region. Iam more than happy to grab you and hand you over to Aurora. I have no doubt that she would be pleased to have you again after the damage you wrought in Peru,a he said with an ugly sneer.

aBuying your way back into her good graces?a My laugh sounded forced and uneven as I struggled to focus over the pain in my back. aSheas not going to take you back. Youave dealt in blood magic, scarred your body, lost your golden glow. Youare not one of them now. Never will be!a aShe may never take me back, but I promise that you wonat survive my attempts to return to my people.a He lunged at me, sword pointed at my chest.

I stumbled a step backward, knocking his sword away with my short sword. Pain twisted in my back as I moved, threatening to swamp me. My body was healing, but too slowly for my liking, particularly while I was facing Rowe. Unfortunately, I doubted that Danaus was willing to back me up after everything that I had just put him through. Yet at the same time, I couldnat summon up the guilt I felt that I should. The hunter had controlled me in the past to save both of our necks. How was what I had done any different?

As my footing grew firmer, I matched Rowe blow for blow with the sword, looking for an opportunity to finally relieve him of his head or his heart. The naturi was too dangerous to be left alive. He wanted to kidnap me yet again, and I would not fall back into the hands of the naturi.

Rowe smiled at me despite the fact that I was pus.h.i.+ng him backward a step for every step that I took forward. The evil grin was enough to stop me in my tracks. I couldnat take the time to try to scan the region for more naturi, as the distraction would leave me vulnerable to attack from him. I stopped walking forward, darting my eyes from left to right, but saw no one besides my opponent.

aWhere is Cynnia?a he demanded, surprising me. I hadnat seen the naturi princess since we left Peru, and in truth, I didnat expect to ever see her again. I tended to kill first and ask questions later when it came to the naturi, regardless of their allegiance to Cynnia or Aurora.

aI havenat seen her.a aDonat try to protect her. She needs to be killed for her betrayal of the crown,a Rowe said, his smile slipping from his face.

aEven if the crown tried to kill her. She doesnat have the right to protect herself from her own sister?a aNot if her sister is the queen. Aurora pa.s.sed judgment on her. She needs to face her fate, and you need to stop protecting her.a I didnat like this. Did the naturi actually think I was protecting the rogue princess because I had stood by her earlier at Machu Picchu? The little rugrat had used me for protection. After the battle at Machu Picchu, she took those that were willing to follow her and disappeared into the coming dawn. I hadnat heard from her, and I prayed I never would.

aI donat know where she is. I wouldnat protect her. Sheas on her own now. Besides, Nyx seemed fully capable of protecting her little sister. Maybe you should go looking for them instead of hara.s.sing me. Hand them over to your ex-wife.a aI will find them,a Rowe stated, the tip of his sword wavering in his growing anger.

aFine. Just keep me out of it. I donat want to be a part of your war,a I responded, my own grip tightening on my sword.

aYou are a part of our war now. Aurora wants you and her sisters dead. I will deliver that to her.a The sound of footsteps crunching across the snow caused me to draw my last remaining knife from my side and clench it in my fist. However, a part of me relaxed almost as quickly as I recognized the cadence of the footsteps. Danaus was drawing near. The hunter might not be happy with me, but he wouldnat knife me in the back while I faced off against Rowe. He would at least wait until he was standing in front of me.

aGet out of here, naturi!a Danaus growled. aYouare outnumbered and we could kill you with a thought. Get out of Budapest. Weall hunt you down another night.a Rowe c.o.c.ked his head to the side, his eyes flitting between Danaus and me before his mocking smile returned. In the same second, he threw out his wings and caught the wind that was sweeping over the land. He took to the air, disappearing in the thick black of night. I stared up at the sky for several seconds, waiting to see if the sky grew heavy with clouds, signaling that the naturi was calling up a thunderstorm. But it remained clear, sparkling with starlight.

As I lowered my head, Danaus roughly grabbed my arm and slammed me into a nearby brick wall. Pain exploded in my back as my wound hit the wall a second before the back of my head smacked into the red brick.

aWhat the h.e.l.la"a I started, but swallowed the words when I looked at his face, twisted with rage. I stiffened and raised my chin as I prepared for this fight. The hunter had been content to let Rowe go because he was determined to take a pound of flesh out of me.

aWhat the f.u.c.k do you think you were doing?a Danaus demanded, stunning me. Such foul language was definitely out of character for the hunter, but then I had left him more than a little p.i.s.sed by controlling him earlier.

I shoved the knife I was holding back in its sheath at my side, but kept the short sword in my hand. I didnat think I would need it but didnat quite feel comfortable being unarmed around Danaus. aKilling naturi,a I said tartly. aThe deal was that we couldnat use our own powers. Nothing was said about using each otheras powers.a aYou used me!a he shouted, making me press closer against the wall.

A hollow ache radiated from my back, but it was nothing compared to the ache that suddenly began to fill the empty void in my chest. Guilt and horror had finally begun to set in. I had hated Jabari and Danaus every time they controlled me, taking away my right to choose. I hated being little more than a marionette for their enjoyment. And then Iad done the same thing to Danaus. I could make whatever excuses I wanted to make, but it didnat get around the fact that Iad done the one thing I hated more than anything else in this world. I had used him to save my own skin. And sadly, I knew I would do it again in order to escape Nickas reach.

aNow you know what itas like to be treated like a puppet on a string,a I said in a low voice. aNow you know what itas like to have all your choices taken away.a aIs that what this is about? Getting even?a Danaus said, some of the anger draining from his tone.

aNo, Ia"a I started, but stopped abruptly, swallowing the words that fluttered through my mind. I wanted to apologize, but had never received words of apology from either Danaus or Jabari. Neither ever had a doubt about what they were doing to me. They had their reasons, and at the time, they always seemed like good reasons.

aYou had no choice,a Danaus said, deepening the frown on my lips. I had a choice. I could have used my own powers to destroy the naturi. I could have cried for help, allowing Danaus to make the choice to use his powers to save me. I could have said no to Nick and faced my fate. I could have let the naturi kill me. I had choices. I just made the selfish one.

aI was trapped. I couldnat beat them. I should have asked you for help. I made the wrong choice and Iam sorry,a I said, letting my eyes fall shut. I took a deep breath and shook my head as if to clear it. aBut I have to learn to control your powers. If I donat, Nick will grab me. Heas going to make me human again.a Danaus reached up and brushed a loose hair from where it had blown across my cheek. aBeing human again wouldnat be so bad.a I jerked away from his touch and scowled at him. aI wonat go back to being human. Not to please you or Nick. Iam a nightwalker and thatas how I plan to stay, so donat get your hopes up.a aI donat want you to change,a Danaus said.

aIad be fool if I didnat know youad prefer me to be human.a aAnything other than nightwalker might be easier to accept,a he admitted. But in the next second he completely stunned me when he leaned in and pressed his lips to mine.

It was a short kiss, a gentle brus.h.i.+ng of the lips that warmed me down to my toes. When he pulled back, I was still speechless.

aOf course, Iam learning there are some advantages to seeing a nightwalker,a he continued.

aSuch as?a aYouare more durable that other women Iave known. Youave certainly lasted the longest.a A snort escaped me as I failed to stop the amused smile that formed. aI had no idea you had such a gift for flattery.a Pus.h.i.+ng off the wall, I walked away from the hunter with my head bowed as I headed for the entrance to the park.

aYou owe me a favor,a I muttered under my breath.

aWhat?a aThe bet. I won. I killed three naturi with your powers, not mine. I won. You owe me a favor,a I said, not bothering to look up at him.

aIf you think Iam going to deliver on that bet, youare insane. You used me!a he snapped.

aIam sorry about that.a Danaus dropped into silence as he walked beside me back to the main gates that barred the entrance into the park during the nighttime hours. I glanced over my right shoulder to find him watching me with the corners of his mouth pulled down in a frown. His shoulders were slumped and his hands dangled empty at his sides. We both seemed more than a little beaten despite what proved to be a relatively easy fight. It should never have gotten so out of control, but it was for the best. If I didnat find a way to adequately control Danausas powers, Nick was going to make me human again. It was a risk I wasnat willing to take.

Danausas voice was a dark rumble that swept around me. aPromise me that youare never going to do that again.a Pulling my cell phone out of my pocket, I looked up at him as we exited through the large wrought-iron gates. aIall make that promise the day you can do the same for me.a A frown marred the hunteras lips and pulled his eyebrows together over the bridge of his straight Roman nose. His beautiful blues eyes sparkled in the moonlight as anger once again filled his frame. He knew he would not get a promise out of me because he couldnat make the same promise in return. With the naturi surrounding us and the coven trying to kill us at every turn, he couldnat relinquish control of his most powerful weapon. He was trapped in my world now, and he wouldnat give up his control over me until one of us was finally dead.

Chapter Eleven.