Sunrise(Pact Arcanum 2) (39 page)

Rory frowned. “What?”

Nick opened his hand, allowing Reaper to fall to the tiled floor, remaining corporeal by Nick’s silent command. The surrounding Nightwalkers gasped, the sound spreading across the city like ripples in a pond. “Don’t beat yourself up about it later.”

Rory lifted his cutlass, laying the point of the blade against Nick’s chest, over his heart. “I’m so sorry, Nicholas.”

Nick smiled wistfully. “At least I was able to spend Christmas with my family. Promise you’ll take care of them when I’m gone?”

Rory lunged forward, driving the sword through Nick’s chest and out the other side. Reaching out for his friend, he pulled Nick close as the Daywalker tried breathlessly to scream. “I promise, Nick.”

Nick shuddered in Rory’s arms, struggling as his body tried to repair the damage and soaking them both in his heart’s blood. It went on so much longer than it had any right to, his strength prolonging the agony as his vampire physiology tried desperately to close the wound around the blade. Finally, Nick lay limp in Rory’s arms. Minutes later, the circle of flames faded away.

Rory eased Nick to the ground and drew the sword out of his chest. Bowing his head over Nick’s body, he quickly drew off his right glove, revealing the brilliant light of the cross brand on his hand. He placed his palm over the bloody wound in Nick’s chest.
The angel didn’t say if this was allowed. Please, God, grant me this small mercy.
“I forgive you,” he spoke the words as he had so many times before.

A blast of white light burned through Nick’s shirt, and the Daywalker’s life exploded in Rory’s awareness—all of his sins, all of his failures. Rory lifted his hand away from the glowing white cross burned onto Nick’s chest, and waited with his eyes closed.

“Rory?”

Rory’s eyes snapped open and he looked down at the white irises of Nick’s eyes, staring at him in confusion.

Still weak, the Daywalker struggled to sit, stopping when he saw the red stains on his shirt and the bloody sword next to him. “What did you do?”

Rory darted forward and wrapped his arms around Nick. “Oh, thank you, Lord. I didn’t know if it would work a second time.”

Nick returned the embrace, then leaned back and pressed his fingertips to the unbroken skin of his chest through the tear in his shirt. “I don’t understand. I should be dead.”

Rory leaned back and laughed. “You
were
dead. But that’s what the Grace was for, remember? Redemption is just a side effect.”

Nick’s gaze drifted down to fix on the sticky red pool of his blood that surrounded them. “I didn’t think the Grace worked twice on one person.”

Rory sobered. “We just assumed that, Nick. I never tried to use it on a Daywalker. Not until now.”

Closing his eyes, Nick laid his head on Rory’s shoulder. “I was ready to die for you.”

Rory laid a chaste kiss on his cheek. “I wasn’t ready to let you go.”

Layla’s voice interrupted their exchange. “The outcome is decided. The challenge is dismissed. Honor is satisfied.”

Lorcan faced Kukiko. “It seems your stratagem has failed, Consul.”

“This time.” She regarded him sourly. “I will exact vengeance for the death of my mate, Ambassador. If not now, then later.”

Lorcan shook his head. “No, Lady. I have already communicated word of your failure to the Court by way of my Master in the Council Chamber. They are most displeased. I’m afraid you will be made to answer for it.”

She stared at him, eyes wide. “I did not fail. Our intelligence indicated the Grace had never been used a second time. I cannot be held responsible.”

Lorcan chuckled. “I’m afraid your excuses will not go far, Consul.” He addressed the guards. “Take her away and execute her. Bring her head to me afterward so I can deliver it to the Court.” He grinned at her as she struggled against the grip of the guards. “Calm yourself, Kukiko. Show a little grace at your fate, as Nicholas did.” He laughed. “Unless you’d like to beg him for sanctuary again?”

She stood straight and glared at him. “Your time will come, Lorcan. The Court will not tolerate your twisted relationship with him forever. Sooner or later you will face the same fate. How graceful will you be?” Turning, she strode confidently back toward the embassy as her guards cleared a path through the silent spectators.

Lorcan scowled after her. Then he focused on Nick, who was still cradled protectively in Rory’s arms. “All in good time,” he said to himself. Then he turned his back on them both and walked away.

CHAPTER 50

January 2039; Court of Shadows Embassy, Icehaven City, Hudson Bay, Canada; One week later

Rory placed his hand on the security plate next to the door. After a moment, the door chimed and he let himself in.

Lorcan put down his book and looked up expectantly. “What can I do for you, my Lord? I’m afraid Nicholas is not here tonight.”

“Yes, I know. He told me he was going apartment hunting in the Citadel today. I came to see you.”

Lorcan sighed. “I see. My Lord, I hope this does not have to do with my threat to have you killed if you allowed Nick to die. You did as I asked and saved his life. I may fault your methods, but I can’t argue with your results. Honor is satisfied.”

“It’s not entirely about that, Ambassador. But yes, I came to speak to you about him.” He paused. “We need to find a way to coexist, Lorcan. We both care about him. It’s not fair to keep putting him in the middle of our instinctive hatred.”

Lorcan tilted his head in curiosity. “It has always been this way, my Lord. Normally, we would simply fight until one of us was dead.”

“I know, but that’s obviously not going to work in our case.” Rory sat in the chair opposite. “I propose we come to an arrangement, agreed upon in advance.”

Lorcan arched an eyebrow. “What kind of arrangement?”

“We alternate the nights we spend with him.”

“You wish to set up a rotation for his company?” Lorcan asked in disbelief.

Rory smiled. “Do you have a better idea?”

Lorcan slowly smiled in return. “No.”

“Excellent.” Rory’s fangs showed as he grinned. “Now we just have to decide who gets him first.”

Lorcan chuckled and pulled a quarter from his pocket. “Heads or tails, my Lord?”

January 2039; Anchorpoint City, Colorado

Nick scowled at him. “What the hell do you mean you won the toss?”

Rory shrugged. “Tonight I get to spend time with you, and tomorrow is Lorcan’s turn. It’s an equitable arrangement, and no one has to get hurt.”

Nick massaged his temples as he sat in Rory’s living room. “This is unreal.”

Rory sat next to him on the couch. “You should know by now that we Nightwalkers can be inflexible about some things.”

“I know.” He leaned back against the couch. “Honestly, I’m glad you guys are willing to work together. It just seems so wrong. But, thank you for trying to make it easier on me, in any case.”

Rory smiled. “You know we’d do anything for you.”

“I know.” Nick looked away. “I don’t deserve it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Look what happened because I was so sure of myself.” Nick slumped in his seat. “I was so used to getting away with anything I never considered the consequences of my actions. Kukiko played me like a violin. If the Grace had been a one-shot deal, I would be dead right now.”

Rory gave his shoulder a squeeze. “She fooled you. Next time you just have to be more wary.”

Nick sighed. “I want that. I want to live up to my responsibilities and make good on the second chance you gave me.”

“The Light gave you a second chance, Nicholas,” Rory said quietly, “not me.”

“The Light named you its instrument. It might have given you the power, but you made the choices. Twice now you’ve had to save me, and I have never done anything to repay you.”

Rory shook his head. “I didn’t ask you to repay me. I’m just glad you’re still here.”

Nick inhaled deeply and stood. “I want to give you something. Something to show you how much your support means to me, even if you think it’s just a gesture.” He slid off the couch to kneel at Rory’s feet and then bowed his head. “Sean Magister Jiao-long. My life is yours. I am your blade to wield.”

Rory put out a hand and lifted Nick’s head. “This isn’t necessary. I told you, you’re a free agent.”

“Look what I did as a free agent,” Nick said sadly. “I got myself killed. I forced you to kill me, all because I was too stubborn to know my limits. Don’t you see? I don’t want to live with Luscian as a role model. I need a better example to follow.”

Rory let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Are you sure?”

Nick nodded.

“All right. I accept your honor, to defend as if it were my own. Welcome to House Jiao-long, Primogenitor.”

Nick stood. “Thank you, my Lord. I’ll try to make you proud.”

Rory swallowed the lump that was forming in his throat.
Oh, Nicholas,
he thought.
You already have.

“The world is made of choices, Nick,” he said. “All I ask is that you keep trying to make the right ones.”

January 2039; Armistice Security Headquarters, Anchorpoint City, Colorado; The next day

Layla rolled her eyes in derision. “You want to make Nicholas our Ambassador to the Court? Surely you realize the idea is ludicrous. He’s completely incompetent.”

“He’s addressed the Court before to present our arguments in proxy,” argued Rory. “This just makes it official. Now that he’s my Second, he needs to fill a role, and we don’t have another Magister who can serve in that capacity.”

“Sean, he just allowed himself to be tricked into fighting you to the death.” Layla was incensed at the suggestion. “How can you consider giving him such responsibility?”

“He let me kill him rather than fight.” Rory crossed his hands over his chest. “He took responsibility for his screw-up. Loyalty should count for something. As for his qualifications, he has thousands of years of Luscian’s experience in his head to draw upon. He’ll learn fast.”

Layla looked for support from Take, who watched with amusement. “Takeshi, surely you cannot accept this idea.”

Take shrugged. “We need someone to fill the role, and Nick is the only viable candidate. He wouldn’t be my first choice if there was anyone else, but there isn’t.” He grinned. “Not to mention that he’ll need a security detail if he’s going to be spending more time in Court territory, so that gives me a second chance to convince Scott to join Armistice Security. I think the risks are more than balanced by the benefits.”

She threw up her hands. “The two of you are fools.”

Rory smiled at her. “If it makes you feel better, think how the Court will react to having to deal with him, backed with all our power and influence, after Kukiko’s failure to force him to eliminate me. Imagine the awkwardness.”

Layla laughed out loud. “Now, that is an argument I can support. We can certainly profit from sowing dissension in the Court after House Sojosten’s fall from favor. There might be an opportunity to acquire new allies as the power structures realign, if Nicholas is astute enough to capitalize on them.”

Take smiled lazily. “You could always coach him through it if you think he needs assistance. You can listen in on the Court’s deliberations through his com implants when he’s present and talk him through it by bone conduction.”

Layla considered the implications of having access to the Court of Shadows again, even through a proxy. “Hmm. That has possibilities.” She sighed. “Very well, if this is the way you wish to play it, Sean, I agree. I will do everything I can to help him avoid making a fool of himself, but I suspect it will be an uphill battle.”

Rory stood from his chair. “Then it’s settled. I’ll give him the good news.” He walked to the teleport gateway and disappeared in a flash of white light.

Layla looked at Takeshi. “Is he in love with Nicholas?”

“Yes, he is.” Take sighed and leaned forward to fold his arms upon the table. “It’s a sore point between us. Nick doesn’t know, as far as I’m aware, and Rory has promised not to tell him unless Nick comes to him first.”

“He is the Redeemer, Takeshi. His honor cannot be questioned. If he chooses Nicholas over you, are you willing to stand aside?”

Takeshi scowled. “No.”

Layla laid her hand over Takeshi’s. “You are the Leshir Jiao-long, but Nicholas is now Primogenitor. The two of you have an equal claim on Sean’s loyalty under the law. Your formal mating would normally last for life, but you are not only mortal, but the highest ranked Sentinel in the world. The Court may choose not to recognize your claim if Sean chooses to set you aside, even if only to taunt the leader of their enemies. Consider carefully before you allow Sean to grant Nicholas any further favors. The two of you are rivals, whether or not you wish to be. Always remember that.”

“I never forget, Layla.”

“Then we should work together more often to counterbalance Sean’s enthusiasm.” She squeezed his hand. “Nicholas cannot be trusted fully. We must make sure Sean remembers.”

Takeshi considered her words. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He stood and walked to the teleport gateway. “I have to go make my pitch to bring Scott on board. Wish me luck.”

“Good luck, Takeshi,” she said quietly. “I hope my fears remain unfounded.”

Take shrugged as he stood on the gateway. “You might be right, Layla. You might be wrong. Either way, we just have to make our choices and hope for the best.”