White Winter (The Black Year Series Book 2) (39 page)

Gamil-Sin stepped forward and tossed the jackal’s head at Jonas’ feet. “Guess the law applied to you after all, boy,” he said, eyes burning blue.

Jonas grinned. “What took you so long?”

“Couldn’t intervene until you made a legal argument,” the Sorcerer said. The winter wolves gathered around them, and the air became noticeably colder. They were ten including the Sorcerer, all in wolf form and wearing odds-and-ends of clothing and trinkets tied to their bodies. He recognized Tikaani and Lykos from the memory Gamil-Sin had shown him. Most of them were smaller than Kieran, but they radiated an aura of violence that made them feel more dangerous than his friend.

“Black Knight, this is Helsing. Not sure what you did, but they’ve fallen back. We’re at the rendezvous.”

Jonas pushed the transmit button twice. “Sean, Ryan, take Amelia back to the Agency,” he said.

“Are you kidding me?” Amelia said. Sean and Ryan looked at the two of them nervously.

Jonas glared at her. “Kieran can’t die. You can. I need you to make sure the Macreadys stay safe, and this is neither the time nor the company to have an argument with your clan leader.”

Amelia glanced at the winter wolves. Gamil-Sin scraped the claws of his thumb and index finger together. His claws were only streaked with silver, unlike Kieran’s, but the message was clear.

“Let’s go,” she told Sean and Ryan. The twins flashed Jonas a grin, then followed Amelia back the way they came.

“Any idea where the Council’s been hiding?”

The Sorcerer grunted. “They’ve been cowering in St. James’ Church for the past three nights, on 71st Street.”

Jonas had walked by it before. It was near where he and Amelia used to live. “Really? Why?”

“Your mother’s assassin is scared of hallowed ground. He’s… peculiar. If I had to guess, I’d say they’re in the Bethesda Arcade or the Loeb Boathouse right now.”

“Okay,” Jonas said. “We’ll follow you there.”

“There are soldiers blocking 59th Street. They almost blew Tik’s head off.”

Tik grinned, baring his teeth at the Sorcerer.

“They’ll let us through,” Jonas said. He climbed onto Kieran’s back, and they took off through the snow, crossing Park Avenue and heading north on 5th.

Edwards had parked a tank with a plow at the end of the road. The turret and coax machine gun tracked them as they ran in. The winter wolves slowed, and Jonas hopped off and walked the last few feet.

Edwards climbed out of the tank commander’s hatch. “There are more of them?” he said, looking at the winter wolves. Gamil-Sin’s men stalked forward, making the human soldiers nervous. One of Edwards’ men started raising a weapon.

“Hey! Stop that!” Jonas yelled to the soldier. “You’ll only make them angry if you shoot them.” He turned back to Edwards. “It’s a long story. What happened to your fancy mechanical suits?”

“The hydraulics froze!” Edwards said, fuming. “They were developed to work in the desert, not the North Pole. What’s your plan?”

“We’re going to ask the Council to stop.”

Edwards snorted. “And when they say no?”

“I hope it doesn’t come to that. But if they do,” Jonas said, nodding toward the Sorcerer, “the white wolves will kill every werewolf in New York.”

Edwards crossed his arms. “There are only ten of them.”

“It won’t matter,” Gamil-Sin said.

“There’s magic involved,” Jonas said. Edwards still didn’t look convinced. Jonas leaned in and spoke softly. “If it doesn’t work, it’ll at least buy you time to get your men out of the city.”

Edwards’ hard-ass act cracked. He looked back at the four tanks and the platoon of soldiers huddling around them. At least half of them were wounded. Jonas wondered how many would turn into werewolves. “I’ll try to make it to the Queensboro Bridge,” Edwards said. “I can call in an evac once we’re out of the high-rises.” He glanced at the surrounding buildings, wary, and blew steam. “Never thought there would be so many of them, or that they’d all work together.”

Jonas nodded. They shook hands, and Jonas climbed back onto Kieran’s back.

“And Mr. Black?” Edwards said.

“Yes, Colonel?”

“If this plan of yours actually works and you kill however many thousands of werewolves are in the city, tell my bosses it was my idea.”

Jonas kept his face neutral, but all he felt was disgust. It was hard to believe that after getting his men ambushed and having to slink away with his tail between his legs, Edwards was still trying to take credit for freeing the city.

Edwards’ face hardened. “Do whatever you want, kid. It’s what you always do anyway.” He climbed into his tank and slammed the hatch.

Kieran leaped forward and took off through Central Park, the winter wolves fanning out around them. The ground rushed by beneath them, and Jonas said, “I could get used to riding you around, you know?” patting Kieran’s neck.

Kieran snorted and plowed them through a big snow bank, showering Jonas in powder, and he laughed. The sun was up and a blissful silence had fallen over the city. He shook snow from his hair and basked in the sheer joy of being alive.

Werewolves burst from the snow, like frightened birds, but the winter wolves drove them off or killed them. Gamil-Sin and his men ranged wider as they neared the arcade, until it was just Jonas and Kieran loping past the Naumburg Bandshell to Terrace Drive. Jonas dismounted and Kieran stood, walking down the stairs to the arcade.

Edwards made it to the bridge, Jonas.

Thanks, Madoc.
He hoped the soldiers would be okay, no matter what he thought of their commander.

The two jackals guarding the entrance reached for their weapons.

“I’m a clan leader, here to speak with the Council.”

“We’ll need to search you for-”

“You need nothing,” Jonas said, and walked past them.

The arcade lights were on, bathing the floor and ceiling tiles in an orange glow. The floor was simple red tile, but the whole ceiling was an ironwork and tile mosaic. Each of the arched niches on the wall was filled with a different mural. He gave the council points for style; it was a stunning hideout.

“Well, Mr. Black? What is it?” Councilor Dorner said. He was in wolf form, gray and thin but still formidable. Hans stood behind him, taller and wider. Each councilor had his champion with him.

Jonas frowned. “I’ve come to stop you.”

“Stop us from what, clan leader? We’re only defending ourselves,” Councilor Yakovlev said.

“You wouldn’t have had to defend yourselves if you’d made them disperse!”

“There’s no need to shout, young man,” Dorner said. “We sent Tarik to discuss terms. He said the Agency threatened him.”

“Well, he lied,” Jonas said.

“That’s a big accusation, child,” Tarik said, stepping away from one of his guards. Jackals were posted at all the corners. More came in from the terrace.

“It’s clan leader,” Jonas said.

“More of a pack, now,” Tarik said, sneering.

Kieran growled and stepped forward. Jonas shot his arm out and blocked him. “I still have enough pack members to claim clan leadership,” Jonas said.

“Pity,” Tarik said.

“Councilor! You’re out of line!” Dorner said, acting in his capacity as Arbiter. “What are the two of you talking about, anyway? The Macready family is 34 strong.”

Tarik looked at his claws. “There was an unfortunate accident. Clanless burned their house down, and close to half of them were killed.”

“They were led by jackals!” Kieran said.

Tarik glared at him. “Slander! Were you there to see them?”

Kieran flinched. “No.”

“Did he tell you we shared how Kieran became a winter wolf, at least?” Jonas said.

“He did,” Koszorus said. “He said that if we were good little boys and obeyed the law, maybe we’d be allowed to be winter wolves someday.”

Jonas’ cheeks flushed.

“Even if it’s true,” Councilor Alver said, “It doesn’t solve our problem, clan leader. The people came looking for immortality. Now, many of them have died or done unspeakable things. They’ll tear us apart if we bring that fairytale to them. We need a pill, or an injection.”

“That’s not how it works,” Jonas said, frustrated.

Alver gave him a sympathetic look.

“It doesn’t matter,” Councilor Soun said, speaking for the first time. His accent was tonal and clipped. “The military has come to kill us. They will not stop. We have to break through the blockade, and then we will disperse.”

“These aren’t purebloods, Thuan,” Councilor Ujarak said. “Half of them are freshly turned. They won’t just stop once the bloodlust is on them.”

“So be it,” Tarik said. “What have the humans and vampires done for us but try to kill us? Let’s return the favor.”

Some councilors agreed, others looked away, but no one argued.

“Then you leave me no choice,” Jonas said.

“What are you going to do?” Tarik said. “Kill us? I’m not sure how you got this far, child, but if my guards can’t stop you the people will. We’ll be martyrs, and the world will burn.”

Jonas was getting tired of Tarik’s speeches. “I’m invoking the cull.”

CHAPTER 33

Most of the councilors flinched.

Tarik snorted. “Is that supposed to scare us? I’ve about had enough of your blasphemy, vampire. It’s time someone-”

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Tarik turned. The Sorcerer walked in from the terrace, his staff striking the tiles. The entrance guards raised their weapons; Tikaani and Lykos were on them in an instant, clawing and biting. Kieran leaped on the nearest guard. More winter wolves came down the steps, their eyes glowing red, killing jackals as they went.

“Children, children, children,” Gamil-Sin.
Tap.
“How quickly you forget.”

“I abdicate in favor of my son!” Dorner said.

“
Papa, non!
” Hans shouted, as Dorner was killed.

“They can’t attack the Council!” Tarik said, backing up. Two of his own guards pounced on him, silver daggers flashing, then turned on each other.

Tik mauled the nearest one from behind. He grinned at the sole remaining jackal. “Lucky man,” he said.

When only the councilors or their replacements remained, the winter wolves - including Kieran - gathered behind the Sorcerer.

Gamil-Sin stepped forward. “A clan leader has invoked the cull!” the Sorcerer said. “Through your weakness and pride, you have exceeded the bounds of the law, and now I will remind you of what you are. Animals! Disease ridden livestock fit to slaughter!”

“At least we aren’t slaves,” Ujarak said.

The Sorcerer snarled and tried to backhand him, but red energy crackled around his arm, holding it back. He strained against it, grunting, then backed off, eyes flaring with red light. “Your time will come.” He nodded. “Six-thousand. That’s how many may live on this island. The rest will tear each other and you apart to ensure their own survival.” He looked back at the winter wolves. “Go!” he said.

They scattered.

“Kieran!” Jonas yelled.

Kieran’s claws skidded on the tiles. “I must enact the cull,” he said, his voice flat.

“Protect your family. Kill anyone who tries to harm them. That’s an order,” Jonas said.

“I must...” Kieran shook his head. “Yes, clan leader. Thank you.” He ran up the stairs.

“You’d best come with me, clan leader,” Gamil-Sin said. “Leave these wretches to their fate.”

Jonas looked at Dorner’s body, at Hans, Alver, Ujarak, and Thuan Soun, and felt like the guilt was choking him. But he’d done the right thing. He couldn’t allow the destruction of a city or a nation for the sake of a few. He followed the Sorcerer outside.

♘

“I’m impressed, Jonas,” the Sorcerer said, returning to human form as he climbed the last step. “The way you deflected the oath to save your friend, handling the Council… you remind me of myself at your age.”

“Thanks, I guess,” Jonas said. There were bodies on the steps and around the entrance. The winter wolves were already out of sight. He was almost giddy that the fight was finally over.

“It’s a shame, really. I never considered having an heir - teaching others the skills to replace you almost always ends badly, or at least it did for my father - but I think you might have taken that power and done a lot of good with it.”

Jonas was touched. He doubted the Sorcerer trusted many people. “You could still teach me. Madoc’s an awesome mage, but he can’t see magic like I can. And you don’t have to be forgotten by everyone; Kieran and I remember you. I don’t think the weather can stand having all of you around at once, but you and your friends are welcome to stop by whenever you like.”

Gamil-Sin looked at him and smiled, though there was pity in it and a touch of condescension. “Our curse ends today, Jonas.”

“Right. Sorry, that was stupid,” Jonas said, looking away.

“Not that I don’t appreciate the offer,” Gamil-Sin said. “It was a rare thing.”