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Quite an army, she thought. But archangels didnt rule because they were benevolent beings. They ruled because they had power and werent afraid of using it to enforce their decrees. At that very instant, an example of that power landed in the garden - a full wing of angels led by Galen.
The red-haired angel walked directly to the fountain, and it was the first time shed really had a chance to examine him. He looked, she was surprised to note, like a bruiser. Well over six feet tall, his shoulders were wide, his thighs thick with muscle, his biceps - one ringed by a thin metal band - that of a man whod earned his body, and not through a workout in any gym. And his face - square jaw, sensual lips, the kind of mouth that made women think hot, sweaty, distinctly unangelic thoughts.
His eyes cut to the body. "You believe this is the vampire who took Sam?"
Shaking off her startlement at this angel who looked so very earthy, so very human, she nodded. "He has the right scent and as far as I know, no ones ever been able to mimic that well enough to fool a hunter-born. "
A curt nod, red hair aflame in the sunlight. "Give us room to dig him out. "
Shifting back, she watched as they uncovered then removed the body, taking care to ensure they overlooked nothing. As shed expected, the head was missing - beheading was the most efficient way of killing a vampire, followed closely by burning. Leaving Galen and his troops to check the fountain and the surrounding area for the head, she began to crisscross the garden. "No trail," she finally muttered, staring at the now empty fountain. "Vamp was dropped from above. "
"Either the leader or one of his angelic followers. " Illiums familiar voice, his wings the most vivid point of color in all the white as the angels whod come with Galen left, taking the body with them.
Galens own wings reminded her of a northern harriers - a dark gray with white striations that only became visible when he spread them in preparation for flight. "The head isnt here," the red-haired angel began when there was a gust of wind, the powerful backlash of wings raking up the snow.
Elena felt her heart catch all over again as Raphael landed. "We found the head," he said, his tone freezing the air around them. "It was left on Anoushkas pillow, thesekhem branded on its forehead. "
Elena was quite certain the vampire must have been alive for that humiliation. His fear when he realized the jackal he worshipped had turned on him would have been agonizing - because he knew exactly what was coming.
"A jeer," Galen said. "Aimed at Neha through her daughter. "
"Or a very clever double play," Elena murmured, recalling the notes shed read on Anoushka. Intelligent, ambitious, and with several powerful vampires and angels in her court, she could have pulled it all off. But then, so could Nazarach and Dahariel.
"If she is a true victim," Illium said, "how did anyone get that close? Anoushkas guards are deadly. "
"No security is absolute. And its beginning to appear as if this angel laid his plans months in advance. "
"Jason?" Elena guessed.
A hard nod, Raphaels hair blue black under the winter sun. "One of his men managed to get out a message from Charisemnons court - theres no evidence of the girl-child ever crossing the border. Yet Titus is adamant he has proof in the form of a recording that was sent to him. "
It was Galen who spoke next. "Are we certain the one behind this is still in the Refuge?"
"The political games may well have been run from a distance, but these are too personal.
Hes close, eager to see the results of his acts. " Raphaels voice held a remoteness that scared her. The last time hed sounded that distant, hed ended up holding her above a spiraling fall, a being who might have dropped her just so he could listen to her scream.
Her blood a rush of thunder in her ears, she had to focus to hear his next words.
"Ignore the distractions. He may have begun this with the intent of proving his power, his entitlement to become Cadre, may have convinced himself these acts will lead to that goal - "
" - but really, the bastard just enjoys his sick little games," Elena completed, her gut churning. Because that kind of a sociopath? He wouldnt stop until he was forced to stop.
And hed already shown he had a taste for children.
Chrome blue eyes met her own. "Our aim hasnt changed. We hunt for the blood insult to Noel, to Sam. And for the renewed threat on Elenas life. "
She blinked, feeling the suns increasing heat against her skin. "What?"
"A Guild dagger was jammed into the mouth of the head left in Anoushkas bed. "
Angry at the vicious acts, at the continued mockery of a Guild that had given her a family when her own had thrown her out like so much trash, she felt her mind calm, her brain chill. "Forensics lab?" Even if she hadnt had that conversation with Raphael about possible trace evidence on Noels battered body, shed have intuited the Refuge had such a lab. Because while angels might look like beings out of myth and legend, they were, for the most part, ruthlessly practical. She wouldnt be surprised if they had a central DNA bank.
"The bodys being processed," Galen said, "and Ill have people go over the scene one more time, but I predict well find nothing of value, just as with Noel and Sam. "
"The only clue was the dead vamps scent," Elena said, knowing that that was why hed died. It was disturbing to know her talent had signed his death warrant, but then, hadnt he done that himself the night he decided to help brutalize a child? Her jaw tightened.
"Do we know who he was?"
"He looked to Charisemnon," Raphael said. "A midlevel vampire seduced by the promise of more. "
It was such a human motive that she knew he was right. Because vampires had once been human after all. "Are there still only three possibles?"
"Nazarach, Dahariel, and the Princess herself," Illium confirmed.
"Any of the three like to live in the past?"
"No. " Illium again. "Anoushka keeps a court like her mother, but she also owns a chemical plant that manufactures poisons. Theyre all aware of modern forensic techniques. "
"Then we go back to basics, watch them until they make a mistake. "
"Nazarach," Raphael said, "has been under constant surveillance since the attack on Noel, but that doesnt prove his innocence. Dahariel is Astaads, and will require more care. "
"Even with what was done to Sam?"
The answer was that of an archangel. "Dahariel is as integral to the smooth running of Astaads territory as Nazarach is to mine. "
And Anoushka was Nehas daughter. "You cant go after them without risking war. "
"Dahariel appeared disgusted by the attack on Sam," Raphael said, his expression impenetrable, "but his home is filled with vampires who all but whimper at the sound of an angels wings. "
Elenas mind shot to the last - and only - time shed seen Holly Chang. The woman had turned hysterical at the sight of Raphaels wings after the trauma of having been forced to witness Urams atrocities. What was Dahariel doing to elicit the same reaction from almost-immortals whod lived hundreds of years?
Illium extended his hand as a stiff breeze lifted the snow into the air. But it couldnt erase the lingering spoor of murderous violence. "The medallion that led us here. "
Taking it, Raphael traced the lines of the metal sphere as if searching for something. She knew hed found it when his fingers went still. "This couldve only been acquired through the death of one of Lijuans men. "
"Do you think shes involved?" Elena asked.
"No. Shes too busy playing with her reborn. " He closed his fingers around the medallion even as the hairs on the back of her neck rose at the reminder of Lijuans preferred form of amusement. "Elena - the trail?"
"Snows melting," she said, frustrated. "Trails history. "
"Patience, hunter," Raphael said with the confidence of a being whod seen centuries pass. "He made a mistake in killing one of his own men - fear will loosen tongues. "
"Then I guess we hope that he - or she," she added, remembering A
noushka, "continues to strike out at his own people. " She stared at the fountain. "At least theyll die a cleaner death than if we catch them. "
The scent of the wind, clean and harsh. Id say you were losing your innocence, but your nightmares tell me you lost that a long time ago.
Yes, she admitted, giving him a glimpse of the most secret corner of her heart. There was so much blood that day. I could see it on my skin even at the funeral.
Chapter 19
The next day brought an unwelcome surprise. With the scent trail having grown cold, and Raphaels people working the other facets of the hunt, shed returned to getting her body back in fighting shape - the angel whod already harmed two of Raphaels own wouldnt find her the easy target he seemed to assume she was. She had every intention of thrusting a Guild dagger right between his ribs when he came after her.
Unfortunately, shed forgotten that Dmitri had returned to the Tower.
"Youll be dead two seconds after you run out of bullets if thats your sole means of defense. " Galen swallowed up her gun in his hand, his pale green gaze about as friendly as your local grizzly bears. "Secondary weapon?"
"Knives. " Shed never admit it in a million years, but she was already starting to miss Dmitris wicked brand of humor.
"If youre going to be using knives," Galen said as she entered the training ring, a simple circle of beaten earth in front of a large wooden structure without windows, "then you need to learn to draw them without nicking your wings. " He picked up what looked like a rapier from the table, though the guard was far simpler than the intricate ones shed seen in another hunters collection. Handing it to her, he said, "I need to see what youve got. "
"I said knives," she told him, dropping her wrist as she tested the weight of the blade.
"This is much longer than anything Ive used. "
"Knives take you too close to the target. " He was suddenly in her face, a short, lethally sharp blade nicking her throat, her breasts crushed against the male heat of his bare chest.
"And you arent fast enough to win against another angel. "
She hissed out a breath but didnt back off. "I could still gut you. "
"Not as fast as I could cut your throat. But that isnt the point of this exercise. "
Feeling blood begin to trickle down her throat, she shut out the anger and ran through her options with cold-blooded focus. Her sword hand was effectively useless - he was too close. Given the lack of leverage, her other hand wouldnt do much damage, either.
Except angelic wings were extremely sensitive.
Grabbing his wing with her free hand, she brought up the sword with the other. Galen danced out of reach, the knife disappearing so fast she barely caught the movement.
"Wings," she said, realizing the bastard had taught her something critically important,
"give me an advantage in terms of surprising an opponent, but get too close and they become a weakness. "
"At this stage, yes. " Galen swiveled the rapier hed picked up. The slender dueling sword looked far too delicate for his big hand. Shed bet her newfound fortune that his personal weapon of choice was something closer to a broadsword. Heavy, solid, effective.