Shadowstorm (The Shadow World Book 6) (17 page)

Curled up in the back seat of the car, Miranda felt a chill. She
had
survived without him, once. It had been hell.

That wasn’t what she wanted. She just valued her independence too highly…and what she’d seen of most other Queens had made her doubly determined. She was no doting housewife, no trophy.

David had given her the over-the-phone equivalent of an “are you mental” look when she confessed that.

“I don’t think anyone on the planet would mistake you for a typical Queen,” he said. “Why would you?”

She didn’t have an answer at the time, though she had something of one now. With everything in flux—her identity, her marriage, the Shadow World itself—she needed to be sure of certain things about herself. In a way this tour had been one of them. She needed to be Miranda Grey, multiplatinum musician, as much as she needed to be Miranda Grey-Solomon, Thirdborn vampire and Queen of the Southern United States.

“Are you feeling well, my Lady?”

Miranda looked over at the other end of the seat. “Yes, Avi…I think so. How far out are we?”

He checked his phone. “About twenty-five minutes with the traffic.”

“Good…I could do with a night off. I’m sure you could too.”

“Only if you are comfortable in the hands of the Northeastern Elite,” he replied. “If for any reason you prefer me to stay on duty I shall gladly do so.”

She chuckled. “Do you ever relax, Avi? Do you have hobbies, sport, anything like that?”

He gave her a rare smile. “I paint.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Really? I would not have pegged you as an artist.”

“Few would. That, I think, was why I was drawn to it. That, and my wife encouraged me.”

“You’re married?” she asked, genuinely shocked. “You don’t have any dependents or next of kin listed in your file.”

“No, I do not. It was a long time ago.”

She realized what he meant, and chagrined, said, “God, I’m sorry. I had no right to ask such personal questions.”

Another smile, this one thinner but no less sincere. He really was quite handsome when he wasn’t so Very Serious Indeed. “As I said, it was long ago. I devoted myself to the Signet shortly thereafter in order to channel my emotions over the loss.”

“And you were Israel’s Second until he was assassinated.” At his nod, she said casually, “Have you thought about taking on that kind of responsibility again?”

Now, his eyebrow lifted, but if he got her meaning, he didn’t say so. “I believe it would depend entirely on who I was fighting for, my Lady. I have in my life given my loyalty to four people, and each time it was unbreakable. Such a commitment is a grave thing.”

“Israel, Israel’s Queen, your wife, and…who was the fourth?”

She couldn’t help but ask, even though it was a highly inappropriate question. He was such a cipher, and she couldn’t resist poking at someone that shielded, even if he weren’t in the running for Second. This trip had given her ample reason to recommend him for the job, but not only was she an empath, she was Queen; if she wanted this man to work for her that closely she could leave no stone unturned.

He started to answer—and she knew he would dissemble, which was fine, but she wanted to hear his choice of words—but the intercom buzzed, and the driver announced that they were at their destination.

As the car rolled to a stop, Avi nodded to her and got out, coming around to open her door. Miranda unfolded herself from the increasingly uncomfortable seat and looked around with interest.

It was her second trip to New York, but the first hadn’t exactly been a vacation. She and David had slipped into the city and made a beeline for Hart. Not a lot of sightseeing involved in decapitation, though the view through Hart’s window with his blood spattered over the glass was rather morbidly beautiful in the torchlight.

Olivia’s Haven wasn’t even in the same part of town. One of her first acts as Prime had been to relocate her forces and have the old Haven demolished. She refused to live in the same building where Hart had abused and tortured so many women. The only way she could have made it clearer that she was in control would have been to piss on Hart’s remains. Miranda would happily have joined her.

Olivia, though, was all class; she’d reached out to Hart’s many enemies and dedicated her rule to restoring the New York Shadow District, which had been driven into the ground by Hart’s illicit trades in drugs, slaves, and weapons. Olivia had swept the District clean in a few months of bloodshed and fire, and not only sealed her reputation as an ally of her people, but shown the world that the Signet’s will was still absolute and a woman’s fist could be made of iron the same as a man’s.

David had said that Olivia’s ascent to the Haven reminded him of Deven’s, back in the 40s; Dev, too, had had something to prove to the Shadow World, and had done so without hesitation or remorse. Olivia however seemed a lot more…well, sane.

Miranda stood as tall as she could as she walked down the aisle flanked by the Northeastern Elite that led from the street up to the Haven’s front doors. Olivia had chosen a modern yet classic building, reflecting the progress among vampire kind that had led to her rule, and she already employed twice as many swords as Hart ever had, in a diverse assortment to rival Austin’s.

She noted how Avi checked out the entire scene before falling into step just behind her. The rest of her personal guard surrounded her, and thankfully between them and the Northeastern Elite she was mostly invisible outside the fence that surrounded the Haven; Miranda was so beyond done with reporters she had come dangerously close to snarling at the paparazzi hanging out at the airport. Showing her teeth in public was no way to end a successful tour.

Up at the top of the steps Prime Olivia Daniels waited for her, smiling; she was as impressive as ever, her olive skin nearly glowing with vitality and her tattoos practically alive as they twisted and climbed all over her body. She was armed, but for a diplomatic meeting rather than battle—enough weapons to mean business but not so many as to indicate she anticipated a threat. The Signet that had once hung from Hart’s throat—after a good deal of cleaning and polishing — now hung from hers, its sapphire shining in the street lights. She was, quite honestly, the sexiest woman Miranda had ever met.

Miranda stopped at the foot of the steps and bowed. “Queen Olivia Daniels of the Northeastern United States,” she said clearly, letting her voice fill the courtyard, “I bring you greetings and goodwill from the Haven of the South.”

Olivia bowed in return. “Your goodwill is returned with gratitude, and my own offered,” she replied. “I bid you welcome to the Haven of the Northeast. I hope that your stay…will…”

Miranda frowned. Olivia trailed off, her formal greeting sputtering to silence on her lips as she went suddenly pale. Her wide eyes went even wider, and she took an involuntary step back.

Miranda’s hand went to Shadowflame’s hilt and she flipped the leather strap, drawing the blade as she spun toward whatever had spooked the Prime. She heard dozens of Elite around her doing the same, but no one charged—one look at Olivia told her why.

The Prime had one hand on her sword, the other over her mouth, and Miranda’s eyes fell on the one thing she had not expected to see tonight:

Olivia’s Signet…

…flashing.

Miranda turned again, following Olivia’s thunderstruck gaze, but she knew what she would see, intuition hitting her like a punch in the gut a second before her gaze fell on her would-be Second, Avishai Shavit, who was staring at Olivia with astonishment, awe, and fear…but above all, with
recognition.

*****

David lowered the phone slowly, and he knew by the concern on Nico’s face that his own expression must be hilarious.

“Are you all right?” the Elf asked, sitting up. “Is it Miranda? Is she hurt?”

He shook his head, still numb, but dropped the phone on the chair and put both hands on the chair’s back. “She’s fine, just…”

“Come here,” Nico told him. When he didn’t respond, the Elf said firmly, “Now.”

The command broke through David’s paralysis. He rejoined Nico in the bed, letting himself be tucked in and drawn close. Nico was silent for a moment—an impatient moment—before he couldn’t help it anymore: “What the hell is going on? I did not think you capable of shock.”

Finally David found his voice. “Miranda’s fine…but something happened, and…”

Nico caught his gaze and held it. “And?”

David had no idea whether to laugh or cry, feel satisfied or disappointed or simply freaked out—but there was really only one thing to say, regardless. “The Circle is complete.”

*****

“
Well,”
Jacob said, amused, “
I guess we won’t have to hold a ball after all.”

“How are you, Liv?” David asked. “What can we do for you?”

Olivia’s image over the holographic com line was actually clearer than digital video would have been, so he could see the play of emotion over her face—still in shock, obviously, and while a part of her was turning cartwheels of joy, another part was terrified.

“
What am I supposed to do now?”
she asked a little more softly than usual. “
Do I go jump in bed with him? Do we date? We don’t know anything about each other, but we’re supposed to be soul mates. How does it work?”

Jacob took the lead on this one, as he was the only person on the conference call to have had a traditional thunderbolt Pairing. “
Cora and I had a lot of baggage going in — she didn’t want a man within twenty feet of her, and I didn’t want her to ever, ever think of me the way she thought of Hart. We had to go very slowly—very. That was fine with me. Aside from respecting boundaries, the best thing to do is talk. We started getting together in the library, or out by the horses—an hour here, an hour there. We told each other our stories, and from there moved closer into hopes and fears. It was very organic—I suspect that’s how it works for Signet Pairs. God guides us together and then nudges us toward the right way to court one another.”

“May I ask a question, Prime Janousek?”

The holographic Jacob turned toward the three-dimensional Nico, who was sitting in on the conference call as a representative of the West.

“The Signets and vampires themselves were created by Persephone,” the Elf pointed out. “What do you expect to happen once the Oracle is awakened and we can speak to Her? Do you imagine She is a demon, a trick? I ask only out of curiosity, not to put you on the defensive. How do you two feel about all of this?”

Jacob was silent for a moment. David knew that Cora, while not present in the call, was physically present with her Prime, and he sensed that they had discussed this very thing more than once. David was madly curious about the answer as well but he hadn’t wanted to force the issue.

“
I honestly do not know just yet,”
Jacob finally replied. “
Much will depend on how this Persephone presents herself to us. David has said she has no intention of demanding our obedience, or for us to abandon our beliefs to worship her, and that does help ease my fears. But I think I will have to speak to her, to hear what she truly wants from all of us, before I can decide if taking up her mantle is something our creed will let us do. Cora agrees, though she is perhaps a bit more enthusiastic about a potential meeting since she’s had dreams of the Raven Mother before.”

“The Raven Mother,” Nico murmured. “I like that. In our tongue She would be called the Kaiathea Mari.”

A quiet chuckle, and Jacob said, “
Cora would like you to know she thinks that’s beautiful.”

Nico smiled. He and Cora had never physically met, but he was already obviously quite fond of her.

“
Has anyone told Deven about what’s happened?”
Jacob asked. “
I know he has ears everywhere, but I doubt he’s paying much attention to them.”

“I’ll go by his room and let him know,” David said with a sigh. “If by some chance I can get him talking, Liv, he might have some insight—he and Jonathan had the at-first-sight sort of bonding too. In the meantime we’ll spread the word around what’s left of the Council; Tanaka will probably want to make a state visit if you’re up for it.”

“
I think I might need a little time,”
Olivia replied.

“Don’t worry just yet—just like with the first Magnificent Bastard Parade there’s usually a waiting period of a month or two depending on the circumstances. Nobody will even bring it up until you publicly give the okay.”

“
Good…this is all just…God, I don’t know. I was going along, running everything the way I wanted it—what if this guy wants to take over? What if he’s some kind of sexist dick who thinks women should be making sandwiches and giving head 24/7?”

David heard Jacob politely cover a laugh.

“That’s not how it works,” David reassured her. “You’re not just Paired with some random person. You’re already a partnership; you just have to find it together. Contrary to myth it’s not always instantaneous. Even if you fall in love that second you still have to work out who sleeps on what side of the bed and who wins the thermostat argument.”

Aside from trying to make Olivia feel less trapped by the whole situation, there wasn’t much any of them could say; she and Avi would have to find their own way, and they couldn’t do that if they didn’t talk to each other. David all but ordered Liv off the phone at that point: “Stop stalling, grab a bottle of Scotch and go talk about something—favorite movies, battle tactics, whatever.” Something Miranda had mentioned popped into his mind, and he added, “Apparently he paints — that’s a pretty significant commonality. Show him your gallery.”

“
He does?”
Olivia perked up a tiny bit.
“Does he have any tattoos?”

David laughed. “That’s for you to find out, my Lady.”

Then it was just David, Jacob, and Nico on the call, and Jacob said,
“This is going to be interesting. I’ve never really been privy to the inner workings of a new Pair aside from Cora and I, and our circumstances were drastically different.”