They tell you that Central Park can be dangerous at night, but when you’ve seen everything I’ve seen, you know that anyplace can be dangerous at any time of day or night. Sitting on a parapet of Belvedere Castle in Central Park, watching a full moon rise like blood in the sky—that would have creeped some people out. Not me, not anymore.
A wolf howled in the distance. Another answered.
Here in the city, people would think it was their neighbor’s TV turned up too loud. Out in the park, they’d assume someone was watching some YouTube video on a phone—again, with the volume turned up too loud—or they’d convince themselves that it was just their imagination.
They’d be wrong, of course, but most wouldn’t know that.
Watching that moon rise, huge and red hanging over the eastern horizon, the city and the trees—that made me feel safe. While my power wasn’t linked to the moon, theirs was, and their power at high tide tonight was a good thing.
This wasn’t our city, but we were here anyway.
“Wolfe.”
I turned at the sound of the voice, schooling my expression to a blank mask. The woman behind me was slender, cloaked in shadows. Her dark red hair was shoulder-length, ironed straight to frame a pale and pretty face, porcelain-perfect with just a hint of blush and tint to her lips.
The Primarch of New York herself, in the fang and in the flesh.
In jeans and a blazer, she wasn’t what you’d expect from a vampire of her stature—they were all high class, rarely meeting in a place as open and public as this, certainly never seen in sneakers and jeans and never without an entourage. Cassidy Beckett was a different breed altogether.
I was beginning to realize that New Yorkwas a different breed altogether.
“Dr. Beckett.”
She inclined her head slightly. “To what do I owe the pleasure of the Wolf Shaman of Fredericksburg’s presence?”
“Trouble, what else?” I took a slow, deep breath. This wasn’t the first time I’d dealt with the Primarch, but it was the first time we’d met after her ascendance to the top of the Brethren heap in New York—and it was the first time I was standing in front of her alone, with only my magic as a defense. While that was formidable on its own, I wouldn’t have complained too loudly to have another member of my coven there to watch my back, or even one of the pack—though depending on who it was from the pack, that could have gotten messy and fast.
A soft chuckle escaped her. “What else,” she echoed. “I take it you didn’t come alone?”
“No.”
“Their pack, then.”
I nodded. She did, too.
“I trust they’ve made introductions to the enclave, then.” She crossed her arms, looking thoughtful. “Why me, Wolfe? If this was Order or nahuali business, you would have left me out of it.” Her brow arched delicately. The look in her eyes told me that she’d already figured out why I’d asked for this meeting, why we were standing here. She just wanted to hear me say it out loud. Maybe it was a vampire thing. I wasn’t sure, couldn’t be sure. They weren’t my area of expertise—that was something I’d left to someone else in the Conclave in Fredericksburg. The nahuali were my responsibility.
After all, I was married to one.
She waited and I shook my head slightly.
“It’s a vampire. We weren’t sure if he would try to stay under your radar or if he would present himself and try to claim sanctuary of whatever kind you’d offer him, try to pretend that he hasn’t been breaking the Brethren’s rules down in our territory—or try to justify himself.”
She nodded, silent for a few moments, watching me. I could see the words sinking in and the thoughts moving behind her eyes. She cleared her throat, spoke softly. “And if I told you that I knew the one who made him?”
“Then I would hope that you would keep an open mind and want to know what he did in our territory before you decide whether or not to extend your protection to him.” My stomach twisted, bile bubbling up at the back of my throat. Had I gambled and lost this one?
I should have brought backup.
She held my gaze for another moment. In the distance, I heard another wolf’s howl. Another answered. Beckett tilted her head slightly, as if listening to the sound.
“If you’ve come for vengeance, you may want to warn other parties,” she said after a moment. “That is, of course, assuming that the nahuali and the Order don’t trust me to handle this quietly without drawing attention to the matter—and I assume that you will not, considering I don’t know the howls of some of those wolves the way I know the local ones.”
“I can talk to them,” I said slowly.
“You don’t sound confident.”
“He did too much damage,” I said, my jaw tightening. “Much, much too much damage. He destroyed half a crypt. Burned down a restaurant, a local landmark, neutral ground. He killed a young magus—a teenager, barely seventeen. He nearly killed another one—would have, if his gift hadn’t manifested at the right time. He nearly killed my godson—would have, if his friends hadn’t been there and known to call me, would have if I wasn’t the healer I am and didn’t have the help I had. If there were no other options on the table, yes, we would let you handle this quietly, but do you really think that’s our only option right now? Tell me truly.” I sucked in a breath. “And don’t pull that damned ‘hunger or malice’ question on me, either, because this was malice, pure and simple. I don’t know what perceived wrong we did to him but he was damned certain that we were going to pay a price. He made targets of children, Beckett. He attacked a school in the middle of their homecoming dance. I don’t know much about you but I sure as hell know that’s something you don’t stand for.”
The vampire’s expression hardened. I forced myself to stay calm, to keep my pulse steady and my gaze trained on her.
“Then it is true,” she said, almost too softly to hear.
I held her gaze. She took a deep—if unnecessary—breath.
“So be it,” she said softly. “I shall call a Hunt on him as is my right as Primarch. I will give word that the Brethren is not to interfere with your hunting of him as well, though I ask one thing of you.”
“Ask. I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to give it to you.”
She smiled thinly. “The attempt to do so alone would be enough in this. If you take him, try to take him alive—in a manner of speaking, anyhow. I should like to see justice done with my own eyes. I will make the same bargain with you—if we can take him, we will deliver him to you for justice.”
It wasn’t what I expected. I nodded slowly. “I’ll see what I can do. But they’re already on the hunt now. If they catch him tonight—”
“I understand.” She regarded me with a long, silent look. “You should see Father Orestes at St. Malachy’s. Warn him what’s going on so we can avoid…further interference.”
“Further interference? From who?”
“You’ll see,” she said softly. “Father Orestes. St. Malachy’s, south of here.”
With that, she turned and vanished into the night without a sound. A shiver crept down my spine.
There had been fear and respect in her voice when she’d spoken of the man. What the hell was I dealing with now?
I glanced upward. The moon had turned orange as it rose, still huge and bright. I exhaled a sigh.
There was no time like the present, was there?
I set out for the exit from the park, and St. Malachy’s somewhere beyond.
