Emerald Blaze

“We were having our chat when a swarm of giant arcane snakes with moth wings attacked my home.”

Snakes with moth wings? “How did Agent Wahl take it?”

“Oh, he had a grand time. He also shared with me that any time the Office of the Warden becomes involved in something, the ‘world falls down.’ He finds this fact very exciting. Interesting fellow.”

Linus turned to Alessandro and made a your-turn gesture.

“Sixteen years ago, Arkan went private,” Alessandro said.

“That’s debatable,” Linus said, “but go on.”

“Right now, Arkan stays at his estate in Canada. I’ve secured means of surveilling him.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because I have a personal interest in killing him.”

Ask a stupid question . . .

“When Arkan broke into the Northern Vault and stole the serum you’ve been trying to recover, he didn’t do it because someone paid him. He was the driving force behind the theft, but the operation was complex and expensive, and he did have investors. The serum was divided between the participants.”

“Was Diatheke one of these investors?” I asked.

“Diatheke was run by a board of shareholders,” Alessandro answered. “Arkan owned the controlling interest. It was his firm and Benedict De Lacy answered directly to him.”

The memory of Alessandro’s assassin database flashed before me. At the time I thought he was simply studying the competition. However, if Arkan was his target all along, the database took on a new meaning.

“Three days ago, one of these investors called him,” Alessandro said. “I don’t know who it was. I only heard his end of the conversation.”

“What was said?” Linus asked.

“The person on the other line had killed Felix Morton and panicked. They must’ve mentioned your name”—Alessandro looked at Linus—“because Arkan told them that he would handle Duncan and there was nothing to worry about.”

Linus raised his eyebrows. “Did he now?”

“He did.”

This lined up with Augustine’s theory that Felix’s killer was one of the board members. Only a well-connected, powerful Prime would be brazen enough to become involved in the theft of the Osiris serum.

“Arkan assured them that he would be sending help,” Alessandro continued. “After the conversation, he called in someone and instructed them to go to Houston. He mentioned you by name.” Alessandro nodded to Linus and turned to me. “And then he mentioned you. Arkan knows that Linus is the Warden and that you are his Deputy.”

Great.

“The plan is simple. Linus is too hard of a target. Killing a Warden would unleash a meteor shower, and Arkan wants to avoid the attention of the National Assembly. His people will go after you instead. You’re easier to kill. Arkan’s banking that once Linus discovers that his apprentice is in danger, he will move to protect you, all of which will disrupt the investigation. I don’t know if he’s buying time to clean it up or if his plans are more complex, but I know you’re his primary target.”

“Do you have any proof?” Linus asked.

Alessandro brushed a speck of lint off his knee. “Proof is your problem. I don’t plan on taking him to court. I know and that’s enough. I reached out to Lander Morton through an intermediary and offered my condolences. Lander is a vindictive old buzzard. The most important person in his life had just been murdered. I knew he would jump on the chance to get revenge. He hired me.”

“I imagine he’s paying quite well,” I said.

Alessandro didn’t rise to the bait. “Money is of no consequence. I’m here to make sure you don’t die.”

“I’m touched, Prime Sagredo, but your protection is not necessary.” Or welcome.

Alessandro turned to Linus. “The contract you had me sign has no expiration date. I’ll abide by its provisions. Let me keep her safe.”

Linus pondered it.

No. Absolutely not.

“Work with him,” Linus said.

The betrayal stung. I had three seconds to pick an emotion. I could storm off angry, which would be childish; I could refuse and show everyone just how deep Alessandro had hurt me; or I could swallow my feelings, act like it didn’t matter, and be professional about it.

“Is that an order?” I kept my voice casual.

“Does it have to be?” Linus asked.

“He shares no information unless his arm is twisted, which makes him unpredictable, and he’s driven by self-interest, which makes him a liability. He has no loyalty, he can’t be counted on, and his principles are murky. I have no problem working with him, but I want my objection noted, so when he cuts and runs at the worst moment, I can tell you ‘I told you so.’” And I would really rub it in.

“I told you before that I would see things through,” Alessandro said. “I kept my promise and I’ll do it again. When I sign on the dotted line, I always deliver.”

I shrugged.

“You do remember what betraying the trust of the National Assembly of the United States means?” Linus said. “There is no place on this planet where we won’t find you.”

“I haven’t forgotten,” Alessandro said.

Linus smiled again, showing even white teeth. “See? He knows the consequences.” He clapped his hands together. “It’s settled. You will investigate, he will protect you, and everything will come up roses. Moving on.”

This was some kind of nightmare. Not only did Alessandro reappear in my life, now I had to work with him. He would insist on following me everywhere. We would be around each other all the time. I would rather walk on broken glass all day than spend fifteen minutes talking to him.

I had picked my path. I swore an oath to the Wardens. Like Mom said, it was time to put up or shut up.

I wrestled my mind back to the problem at hand. There would be time to vent all of this later. “You don’t know who Arkan sent?”

“No,” Alessandro said.

“Do you think he is behind the two attacks?”

“Unlikely. Arkan’s people are precise and fast. This was stupid.”

As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. “Agreed. First, they attacked Linus in his home where he is the strongest. Second, they attacked both of us and simultaneously. It wasn’t just an assault on two Primes, it was an assault on the Office of the Warden. All of this guarantees that we will drop everything and investigate. Why?”

“That’s what you’ll need to find out.” Linus leaned forward. “The recovery of the serum is your first priority. Get in and shake them up until it falls out. Get me the evidence I need to force my way in. Don’t die.”

He looked at me and said, enunciating every word, “Do me this favor, Catalina.”

“Of course, Mr. Duncan.”

We went through this ritual with every assignment. I called it “Victoria Tremaine’s insurance.”

Linus nodded at Alessandro. “Wait outside. She’ll be along shortly.”

Alessandro rose from the chair with that liquid grace and walked out.

I waited until he’d had time to reach the front door. “How could you?”

“I know it hurts. I know you’re angry. He’s an arrogant jackass, but he is very, very good at what he does. Your survival matters to me a great deal more than your feelings.”

“Anybody but him. I could have taken Pete.”

Linus raised his eyebrows and pointed at the unconscious Pete with his thumb. “He would be difficult to carry.”

My feelings must have shown on my face, because Linus sat back.

“Do you understand why I can’t take this over now?”

“You have no justification. The Office of the Warden can’t just run over the private affairs of Primes. The Houses would scream bloody murder.”

Linus nodded. “I have a lot of things to verify. If what that hotshot said is true, I have to cover a lot of ground. I may not be available to provide assistance.”

“I’m not sure I can count on Alessandro to provide it either.”

Linus steepled his fingers. “You’ve had a chance to observe him here. Tell me what’s different about him from the Alessandro you remember.”

I ran through the last twenty minutes in my head. “He didn’t challenge you. You gave him multiple chances to mouth off, but he didn’t take them.” No, Alessandro was in full Artisan mode. Ice cold, calculating, resolute.

“What else?”

“He offered information without being prompted.” That was new as well. The last time we met, I had to pull every bit of intelligence out of him with tweezers even when our lives depended on it.

“Something must’ve happened to him,” Linus said. “I suspect it was extremely unpleasant. I like his determination. It’s a welcome change.”

I gave up. “How dangerous is Arkan?”

“Dangerous enough that the Imperial Department of Defense let him go rather than kill him, which is their usual procedure. It was judged to be more cost-effective.”

“Wow. He gave the Russian Imperium pause?”

“Yes. The man is a mass murderer, Catalina. He has a black tag. Just him alone.”