But what did I know?

“Yes,” answered the one standing the closest to the dais. I couldn’t see him quite clearly, but he was the one with the longish brown hair. “The drive was long but it was a beautiful one.”

“It’s been many years since I’ve been to the nation’s capital,” Matthew said, hands clasped behind his back. “I imagine our community is vastly different than what you’re used to.”

Wow.

They were from Washington, DC? The DC clan was a large outpost and their clan leader had died recently, which was right around the time Thierry had begun to act more stressed than normal.

My gaze shifted to the one who’d been speaking. He looked like he was in his late twenties and seemed too young to be a clan leader, but he was the one doing all the talking.

“It is very different,” the male Warden answered with a chuckle. “I don’t think I’ve seen this much open space in years.”

Thierry sat. “Well, we’re glad that you were able to make it here, Nicolai.”

I mouthed his name, sort of liking it.

“Thank you for receiving us,” Nicolai responded. “We were surprised that our request was accepted.”

So was I.

“We don’t approve many requests,” Thierry replied. “But we thought it would be best to meet in person with you and your clan.”

So he was the new clan leader. My gaze shifted to the other Wardens. The one with the shorter dark hair was standing near the blond, who was the closest to me, standing maybe a foot or two from where I stood behind the curtain. I couldn’t see the blond’s face yet, but goodness, he was tall, around six and a half feet, and the black thermal he wore stretched across broad shoulders. His shoulder-length hair was pulled back and secured at the nape of his neck.

“As I’m sure you’re aware, the demon activity around several of the cities has been steadily decreasing over the last three months,” Nicolai said, drawing my attention back to the clan leader. “Before, we spotted maybe two or three Upper Level demons a week. We haven’t seen one in months.”

That sounded like good news to me, especially since one might be sniffing around here.

“Well, that doesn’t sound like a problem,” Thierry commented.

“It doesn’t on the surface, but there’s also been an increase in Fiends and, even more disturbingly, lower level demons that couldn’t blend in with the populace if they tried,” Nicolai continued. “Zayne has come across four hordes of Raver demons this month alone. It’s odd to see so much activity from lower level demons without an Upper Level being behind it.”

My gaze shifted to the blond. Zayne. That must be his name. He turned slightly, and every thought I had scattered like ashes in the wind as I got my first look at him. A tiny, still-functioning part of my brain knew how bad being that distracted by appearance was, but I was... I was stunned.

Stunned straight into stupidity.

I liked to think that I wasn’t someone who could be easily distracted by a gorgeous face, but he was... He was beautiful. And that was saying something, because I was constantly surrounded by gorgeous Wardens who rocked some great DNA when they appeared human.

His skin was golden, like he spent a decent amount of time in the sun. He had a strong jaw that looked as if it were carved from stone, and those lips... How could they look so soft and so hard at the same time? And wasn’t that a weird thing to notice, but I so noticed, which probably meant I was veering into creepy territory. High, angular cheekbones matched a straight, proud nose. I was too far away to see his eyes, but I assumed they were like all the other Wardens. The deepest, brightest blue possible.

From where I was standing, this Warden looked like he was only a few years older than me, and he reminded me of the many painted angels that covered the ceiling of the Great Hall—paintings I could no longer see in detail.

“Whoa,” I whispered, my eyes going so wide that I probably looked like a squeezed bug.

He stiffened, and I held my breath, fearing he’d heard me. When he didn’t look to his left, to where I stood, my shoulders relaxed a little.

“Something has the Upper Level demons afraid enough that they’ve all gone into hiding.” Nicolai was speaking again. “And that something is killing us—killing Wardens.”

3

I sucked in a sharp breath. Something was killing Wardens? With the exception of Upper Level demons and, well, me, Wardens were practically indestructible, bred to withstand the fiercest of battles.

They weren’t easy to kill.

“At first, we thought it was a demon—an Upper Level, taking out some of its own.” Zayne spoke up. “But while they do fight among themselves, they don’t kill like this, as if they have no fear of exposure. Then Wardens started turning up dead in the same way. What’s happening now is happening to demons and Wardens.”

The Warden with shorter hair moved forward. “If I may speak?”

“Dez, you know I don’t stand on formality,” Thierry replied.

A faint smile appeared on Dez’s face. “I know that Zayne and I don’t have the decades of experience that you and Matthew have, but what we’re seeing is something altogether new. Some of our best warriors have died, Wardens who would not be easy to gain the upper hand on.”

“Why is it impossible that this is the work of a highly skilled Upper Level demon?” Matthew asked. “Why do you all think this is something else?”

“Maybe we’re wrong. Maybe a demon is orchestrating all of this,” added Nicolai, and I noticed that Zayne’s jaw clenched, as if he were forcing himself not to speak. “We don’t know yet, but this week we lost another Warden. We need reinforcements. That’s why we’re here.”

Thierry leaned back, his shoulders tensed. “Well, you’ve come at the perfect time. The Accolade is about to begin. We will have new recruits.”

Nicolai exchanged a look with Zayne and Dez but said nothing.

“We have your rooms readied, and food is being prepared. I’m sure many of you would like to rest,” Thierry was saying. “You will be staying for the Accolade.”

Nicolai appeared to take a moment before answering. “We are honored to stay, but it is imperative that we return to the city—”

“Do you think that spending a week here will somehow tip the balance? I don’t think so,” Thierry said, and I recognized the tone that brokered no room for argument. I’d heard it enough myself, but if Wardens were dying, they needed to get back with help. “We have plenty of time to discuss your needs.” There was a pause. “And ours.”

The corners of my lips turned down. My fingers tightened on the curtain as Zayne inexplicably took a step back, turned his head and...

And looked directly at where I was standing.

Something... Something happened.

A shock of awareness shot through me, followed by a feeling of déjà vu, as if I’d been here before, but that made no sense. This was the first time I’d seen Zayne. I would’ve remembered if I had seen him before.

I didn’t move as he stared at me. I couldn’t. I was rooted to the spot, and I was close enough to see his mouth, to read his lips when they began to move.

I see you.

Oh my God.

Jerking back, I let go of the curtain, letting it slide into place. I slowly backed up.

Holy crap, he’d seen me—well, seen part of me at least, but probably enough to recognize me later. Besides the fact we weren’t that far apart, Wardens had amazing eyesight, especially at night—

My hip knocked into the edge of a stacked table, sending a sharp flare of pain down my hip. Cursing under my breath, I whirled around and steadied the table before the whole thing could come crashing down. Once I was sure that wouldn’t happen, I hightailed my butt out of the Great Hall and into the cool evening mountain air.

The sun had set, but the path was well lit as I walked around the vast gardens behind the hall. My thoughts went back to what I’d overheard. Something that might not be a demon was killing Wardens and demons?

What could that be?

Crossing the field toward the main house, I slowed my pace as I neared the thick cropping of trees. From this point on there was only the silvery glow of the moonlight to lead the way, which meant I could barely see crap, but I’d walked this path so many times that my steps were sure, if still a little cautious—unlike the night of the Ravers. Then I had been so full of adrenaline that all my steps had been confident. It wasn’t always like that.

My thoughts shifted from what I’d overheard to my reaction to Zayne, that weird feeling. It was so bizarre, but probably had to do with my overactive imagination—

A twig snapped directly behind me. Too close. Stomping down the unexpected bite of surprise, I reacted first, as I’d been trained.

Reaching up, I gripped an arm. There was a jolt. A shock of static charge that registered as I whirled around, twisting the arm as I anchored my weight on my right leg. I caught the vague shape of someone much larger as I swung my fist.

With a startling quickness, my hand was caught and I was spun around to face the other direction, hauled backward against a hard chest and stomach that was most definitely male. In a matter of seconds, he had my arms pinned and the scent of...winter mint surrounded me.

“Is that how you normally greet people?” a vaguely familiar, deceptively soft voice whispered in my ear.

I bent forward, intent on getting enough space between us to deliver a vicious back kick.

“That would be very unwise.”

My breath came out harsh and ragged as I straightened, straining against his hold. “Grabbing people from behind in the dark isn’t wise.”

“I didn’t grab you,” he responded, tightening his hold on me once I managed to get a few inches between us again. “I called out to you and you didn’t answer.”

“I didn’t hear you.” I turned my head to the side. “But is that what you normally do when someone doesn’t respond to you? Grab them from—”