I looked at Lucas. “Did you have any luck with Jerome?”
It had driven me crazy all day that he hadn’t called.
He frowned. “I tracked his plane, but he wasn’t in the aircraft when it landed a couple of hours south of here.”
It wouldn’t have surprised me if Lucas had been waiting for it, but that was a moot point.
“It didn’t stop anywhere before that?” I asked.
“No. It was a direct flight.” His lips thinned. “I suspect they jumped out somewhere in between.”
I looked up at the ceiling. “Is he copying everything I do?”
“Perhaps, sensor.” Kerbasi was still playing chess with himself. “You inherited your tactics from him. I’ve found children often take on the qualities of their parents.”
I gritted my teeth. That comment hadn’t been just for me.
“If that is the case, guardian.” Lucas gave Kerbasi a hard look. “I’m not sure what that says about your maker.”
Kerbasi blanched.
“Well, I…” A flash of shame passed through his eyes before he looked away.
For the first time, I wondered if he knew his behavior wasn’t as acceptable as he wanted everyone to believe. Or maybe he’d come to realize that since leaving Purgatory. Had I been getting through to him?
“That is what I thought,” Lucas said. “Do not judge us before you judge yourself.”
The guardian’s shoulders stiffened.
Time to change the subject. “Anyway, the fact of the matter is we lost Zoe and our lead to finding her. I’m willing to bet wherever she is Jerome knows and she’s up to no good.”
A choking sound came from nearby.
“I’m going to my room. This is too much.” Josslyn fled.
I’d wondered how long it would take before she left.
“Lucas,” Felisha said, giving the nephilim a pleading look. “Please talk some sense into Nik. If he truly is your friend, you can’t let him die.”
He glanced at me. “What does she mean?”
“Felisha has ‘the sight’ and she’s foreseen his death. She’s sure it’s going to be tonight,” I explained.
Lucas worked his jaw. “Even so. He’s accepted the challenge and must fight. It is too late for us to do anything about it now.”
It was always about honor. I loved and hated that about him.
“No, it can’t be.” Felisha collapsed onto the couch and rested her face in her hands.
“What time is it set for?” I asked.
Maybe a meteor strike or something catastrophic could happen in the meantime to stop it. Or a fire. I could have Kerbasi set everything ablaze. Then we could postpone the duel long enough for us to talk some sense into the men. Then again, who was I kidding? It was going to happen whether I wanted it to or not. Nik had been quite resolute about his decision.
“One in the morning,” Lucas replied.
Nope. Definitely not enough time to create a big enough distraction. We had less than two hours.
Chapter Thirty-eight
At twenty minutes before one o’clock we gathered outside on the front lawn. The weather had turned cool now that September had come and night made it even more so. It reminded me of the time two years ago when I’d fought my first battle alongside Nik and Lucas to retake Fairbanks. Derrick had been there, too, though I hadn’t known then if he’d be with or against us. Now the fate of the city rested on a duel and whoever took charge would be the one who’d have to protect the residents when the revolution came.
Would it be Nik or Derrick?
Supernaturals from all over the area gathered to watch. More than one hundred had showed up already and packed the lawn with their cars. Except for the section we’d roped off just across from the house entrance. The opponents would have fifty square feet to attempt to kill each other.
Kerbasi stood next to me. “Why is the alpha not here yet?”
“I don’t know.” I shook my head.
“Perhaps he changed his mind?”
I snorted. “That’s rather doubtful.”
Lucas walked up to me from where he’d been speaking with Nik and Kariann. “Melena, can you sense the alpha anywhere nearby?”
“Um, no, not yet…” I stopped when my senses lit up. “Actually, he’s coming this way now.”
He’d certainly pushed it to the last minute, which wasn’t like him.
“Good. There are rules to go over before the duel begins.”
“Right.” I nodded.
Lucas went back onto the dueling field.
My belly churned. The closer Derrick got the more he felt off to my senses. His power level was way too high even accounting for his age and alpha status. As he pulled down the drive, I could no longer deny what I felt. In the day since I’d seen him last he’d managed to more than double his strength. What had he done?
“Be right back.”
I abandoned Kerbasi and raced over to the alpha’s truck. He’d had to park it far back, well away from the gathering spectators and almost to the highway. He was climbing out of it when I reached him, but as soon as he saw me he stopped. Both feet on the ground and one hand on the door. I wasn’t sure what was the best attire for a duel—excluding my recent experience—but he’d kept it simple with blue jeans and a black t-shirt. Nik was wearing casual clothes, too.
“Melena.”
“What did you do?” I grabbed Derrick’s arm.
He shrugged me off. “What I had to.”
“Don’t give me that vague crap. You’ve seen someone powerful and they fed you their blood so you could win this fight. Who was it?” I demanded.
Derrick looked around. No one had followed me and there weren’t any people close enough to overhear us if we kept our voices low. He shut the truck door.
“You know who,” he answered, meeting my eyes. “He gave me what I wanted.”
There was only one supernatural I knew of who might have been able to give Derrick a boost like that. Yerik had taken a huge risk by doing it. The wrong dosage could have killed the werewolf or it might have drawn the attention of the archangels, though they seemed to be getting rather lax these days.
“So you wanted power?” Derrick had been content as Nik’s second until recently. I couldn’t figure out the sudden change.
He looked at me impatiently. “Power was a bonus. I wanted Zoe.”
“He gave her to you?”
If Yerik had her, then he had to have supported the attack at Charlie’s. He’d let Jerome do all those things and threaten my life after asking for my help. It didn’t make sense. The daimoun had been genuine when I’d spoken with him. Could something have happened in the last two days to alter that? If that was the case there was no way I’d help him now.
Derrick’s face was a harsh mask. “He let me see her and decide her fate, which is more than I can say about you and Nik.”
“Just like that?” I snapped my fingers. “And what did you decide for her?”
“Maybe someday I’ll tell you, but not today. Not after the things I found out from her that you were keeping from me. Things I had a right to know.” He started to walk off.
Dammit. Who knew what she’d said to him or how it had affected his decision to follow Yerik’s plans. This was exactly what I’d hoped to avoid by keeping him from Zoe.
“Derrick, wait. You just sided with a man who let Charlie get killed. How could you do that?” I was beginning to think I couldn’t trust anyone.
The alpha turned. “Yerik didn’t set up that attack, your father did. It was only after Zoe got free and showed up in New Orleans that he recaptured her. He doesn’t agree with the things she’s been doing any more than the rest of us.”
“You can’t be sure he’s telling the truth.” The alpha had a natural ability to sniff out lies in most people, but I doubted he could do it with Yerik.
“Then perhaps the next time you see him—and I’m sure you will—you can ask him for yourself.” Derrick began walking again and I didn’t stop him this time.
He knew. The things he’d said and the look in his eyes proved that.
At a slower pace, I walked back. Thinking through everything Derrick had said and not said. What had he done with Zoe? Was Yerik involved in the attack at Charlie’s or not? It was all too much to wrap my head around. Especially with the duel about to begin.
The power difference between the opponents wasn’t as wide anymore. As soon as Derrick got close enough, Nik would figure it out—sups could feel things like that at short ranges. The master vampire was left with only a small advantage, but I didn’t know if it was enough to make a difference.
For that matter, I didn’t even know whose side I was supposed to take. I liked them both, but they’d each done things lately that made me question their motivations. Nothing made sense anymore.
By the time I made it back to the dueling spot Nik and Derrick stood before Lucas as he spoke to them. Kariann and Nadine were there, too, holding the swords for their respective masters. There was an air of expectancy as the crowd waited.
The werewolf pack stood together on the opposite end of the field from where I strolled up. Nervous excitement came from them. The vampires were mixed in with the fae and other races gathered outside the ropes. Emotions amongst them varied.
Felisha was mixed in with the crowd, but I wasn’t close enough to feel her mood out. She was probably terrified. Yvonne and her family stood at the front of the house. If Derrick won, they’d have to alter the ward to let the new master inside.
I joined Kerbasi near the front of the house. “What did I miss?”
“They are explaining the rules. It appears one must behead the other in order to win. I look forward to seeing this close up,” he said, looking far too eager.
“You do realize both men are my friends, right?” I asked.
He patted me on the shoulder. “You can always find new friends.”
I wasn’t sure if that was sarcasm or if he really meant it.
“Was there anything in the rules against shooting spectators? I have one in mind who I’d like to put a few holes in their head.”
“I would advise against it,” he replied in a sage voice, oblivious to my threat. “We are to remain quiet and stay out of the way during the duel. They even included something about not throwing vegetables, which I did not understand. Why would anyone want to throw perfectly good food?”
Maybe I shouldn’t have walked as slowly as I had on my way back. There was no telling what other rules and guidelines I’d missed. The only other duel for leadership I’d seen was when Nik fought Variola, but that had been sort of impromptu.
“It is time,” Lucas announced, raising his voice for everyone to hear. “As a reminder, if anyone interferes with the duel in any way it will be punishable by death. Remain outside the ropes and do not yell or otherwise create a distraction.”
I supposed that did mean I couldn’t shoot Kerbasi—at least until it was over.
Lucas nodded at Kariann and Nadine, who handed the swords they’d been holding over to the duelists. They left the roped area after that and positioned themselves close to Kerbasi and me. Nik and Derrick took their positions, approximately twenty feet apart. Neither of them showed any emotions on their faces. They were ready to fight.
Lucas waited until both men gave him their affirmative nod.
Three more seconds passed.
“Begin.”
Lucas flashed away, reappearing next to me.
Chapter Thirty-nine
The two men wasted no time attacking each other. Their swords clashed within seconds and locked at the cross-guards before they shoved off and backed away. They circled around, searching each other for weaknesses. Nik’s dark hair was slicked away from his face and his eyes were endless pools of black. He moved like a panther stalking its prey.
Derrick’s brown eyes were wild and feral as he kept them focused on Nik. He might not have the grace of the vampire, but each move he made highlighted his raw strength. The muscles in his arms bulged and he looked like he could break a person in half with just his hands.
“If you yield to me now, I’ll spare your life and let you leave Fairbanks,” Derrick said.
He meant it. Maybe a part of him didn’t want things to end this way.
Nik shook his head. “It’s too late for that.”
He swung his sword, aiming for the alpha’s side. Derrick twisted and blocked at the last moment, but the blade slid closer. His face turned red as he used all his strength to push the edge away from him. With a grunt, he got clear of it. I let out the breath I’d been holding.
Kerbasi leaned past me to look at Lucas. “I thought you said there could be no talking.”
“I meant you, not them,” he retorted.
I shot a warning look at the guardian and turned my attention back to the field.
The two men had begun a series of attacks, making full use of the open area. Over and over they struck, parried, and blocked with neither getting their blade close enough to do any real damage. The most they accomplished was small cuts and slices, but before long they had plenty of them.