Moonlight(Pact Arcanum 3) (24 page)

Nick grabbed Ethan around the throat, jerking him forward. Ethan struggled to breathe, feeling Nick’s claws press sharply against the skin of his neck.

“Don’t question my honor, human,” Nick said in a soft, menacing tone. “You tried to set up a member of my House to be killed for the sake of your revenge. I’m perfectly within my rights to stomp on your bones.”

“So why don’t you?” Ethan asked defiantly, though his words came out as little more than a croak.

“Because it would hurt Toby,” said Nick. He let go abruptly, and Ethan overbalanced and fell backward to the floor. “Make no mistake, Ethan. The second my brother stops caring about your life, then you will beg me to end it.”

“So kill me,” Ethan said, staring up at him. “Because otherwise I won’t stop until those monsters pay.”

Nick held out his right hand, and suddenly, Ethan was looking down a flaming length of black steel, the embedded runes glowing brightly within the blade. “I’ll do more than kill you, Ethan. I’ll cut your soul from your body, and you will never see her again, in this life or the next.”

Ethan swallowed his retort in fear and said nothing.

Nick nodded in satisfaction. “I’m glad we understand each other.” Then he turned his back, and the black sword faded from sight.

Ethan watched while the vampire laid his hand on the door.
“The way is opened,”
said Nick. He looked back as the red faded from his eyes. “Take care, Ethan.”

Ethan lay where he was for almost a minute after Nick left, then shook himself and got to his feet. He looked in the mirror again, thinking about her face.
Don’t worry, baby. They won’t hurt anyone else, ever again. I’ll make sure of it.

Then he gathered his resolve and walked calmly back to the waiting room to join the others.

The next morning

Nick watched his brother in conversation with their mother, while Toby rocked in his chair with the infant in his hands, the soft strands of Antonio’s white hair showing above the line of the blanket. He turned away from the window to look at Layla, who stood next to him.

“What have they been able to tell you about the baby?” Nick asked her.

Layla didn’t take her eyes off Toby and Antonio. “Nothing, really. His hair appears to be naturally white, his eyes shift color with his mood, and the severed umbilical cord healed in just a few minutes. The preliminary laboratory tests indicate that his blood shows a mixture of Sentinel and vampire signatures. Otherwise, he is completely normal.” She smiled slightly. “And when he wants something, he just projects his needs into our minds instead of crying. It was somewhat disconcerting the first time, but we’re growing used to his moods.”

Nick looked at her expression as she gazed affectionately at Toby. “You seem to have recuperated well enough.”

“It was painful, but not unbearably so. I have already healed the damage. Physically, I am completely recovered.”

Nick smiled. “And emotionally?”

She finally looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “The White Wind told you that Daywalkers and Sentinels could create life from life, if they met as equals. I have never acknowledged any man my equal.” She turned back to look at Toby. “Tobias once said that I didn’t need an equal, but an opposite, to complete me. He may even have been right.”

Nick nodded and faced the window again. “Can you relieve Toby? I’d like to speak to him alone.”

She growled in a low rumble. “You will not compromise his happiness this day, Nicholas.”

Nick shook his head. “I won’t. It’s time we cleared the air about a few things between us.”

“I will hold you to that answer, Magister Luscian.” She turned her head so he could see her eyes turn red in challenge. “If you tarnish his memories of this moment, then you will answer to me.”

Nick said nothing more. She entered the room and sat down next to Toby. Toby looked up and saw Nick at the window, then spoke to Layla again before carefully passing her Antonio. He then stood and walked to the door while Layla began singing a lullaby in a language that had not been spoken since before the Roman Empire.

Toby warily stepped outside the room and closed the door behind him. “Layla said you wanted to talk to me.”

Nick sighed inwardly at his brother’s guarded tone. “I’ve passed responsibility for your security to Scott. He’ll be working with your staff to make sure you’re protected for the rest of your tour.”

Toby blinked. “Why?”

Nick watched Layla with the baby. “Because I can’t pretend anymore that you’re just my little brother. You’re your own man now, Tobias, and I have to learn to respect that.”

“Nick—”

Nick faced Toby again, his eyes red. “Just tell me that you’re sure about your choices, that the things you’ve done are in the best interests of yourself and your family, and I’ll back off. I swear it. Just tell me you’re sure, and I’ll believe you.”

Toby struggled to find the right words. Finally, his shoulders slumped, and he turned to face the window as well. “No, I’m not sure. All I can do is try to make the best of the options I have.” He looked back at Nick. “I have no idea if I’m doing the right thing for them, but I promise that they’re uppermost in my mind when I make my decisions.”

Nick wrapped his brother in a hug. “Then I’ll have to be satisfied with that. I’ll always be here if you need me, Toby.”

Toby returned the embrace, holding Nick tightly. “Big brother, if you’re up for it, I need a Best Man.”

Nick pulled back and stared at him incredulously. “We’ve been at each other’s throats for months, and you still want me up there with you?”

Toby smiled. “Why else do you think I’ve waited this long?” His mood sobered. “Seriously, Nick. There’s no one else I’d want at my back.”

Nick grinned at him. “Then I’m in. Have you set a date yet?”

“December,” said Toby. “The day I asked her out.”

Nick frowned. “You asked her out at my wedding. You want to get married on my anniversary?”

Toby’s face colored. “Yeah. I know that seems selfish, but—”

Nick laughed. “I’m kidding, Toby. I’ll have to check with Jer, but I don’t think he’ll mind sharing the day with you, under the circumstances.”

Toby hugged him again. “Thanks, bro.” He glanced back into the room. “I’d better get back in there before Mom starts giving Layla the third degree.”

Nick stepped back. “Go be with your family. We can talk more later.”

Toby reentered the room and sat in his chair again, between Layla and his mother. Nick watched them all with a smile on his face for a few minutes, and then he walked back to the waiting room, making his way to the side table where Takeshi and Jeremy had their chessboard set up.

Jeremy looked up as he approached, but said nothing. Take continued to contemplate the board.

Nick laid a hand on Take’s shoulder. “May I cut in?”

Takeshi stood and smiled at him. “If you like. He’s got you at checkmate in nine moves.” Then he laughed as he walked away.

Nick sat silently in his place and gazed at his lover over the porcelain figures locked in combat.

Jeremy tilted his head as he regarded Nick. “It’s your move.”

Nick tipped over his king. “I don’t want to fight anymore.”

“I believe you.” Jeremy glanced down at the upset king. “But are you telling me the truth, or what you think I want to hear?”

Nick swallowed hard. “I swore I would never lie to you.”

Jeremy shrugged. “Then don’t.”

“I have to talk to Scott one last time, and then I won’t interfere in Toby’s life any further. I promise.”

Jeremy touched his husband’s cheek. “I missed you.”

“Can I come home, now?”

Jeremy smiled. “I’ll be waiting.”

Nick leaned across the board and kissed him. Then he stood and walked out of the waiting room to the security office down the hall. Stepping inside, he pulled up a chair next to the security monitors and watched his mother holding Antonio while talking to Toby and Layla.

A moment later, the door opened again, and Scott entered the room. He sat silently in one of the other chairs and followed Nick’s gaze to the monitors. “They make a nice family, don’t they?”

Nick reached out over their dyad link so no one could overhear his words.
“They’re all yours, Scotty. Don’t leave Ethan alone with them under any circumstances.”

Scott took a deep breath.
“Are you sure you don’t want him to just disappear?”

Nick’s expression hardened.
“Ethan is doing what he thinks is right, however misguided. I can’t fault him for that. So long as he doesn’t do anything to place them at risk, we don’t have a problem.”

Scott’s calm expression hid his emotions.
“And if he makes it a problem?”

Nick smiled, his fangs showing.
“Bury him.”

CHAPTER 31

November 2042; the Citadel, Lunar Farside; Two months later

Rafael watched the newsfeeds distractedly. They were dominated by the U.S. Presidential election, an event he had no interest in. Finally, he shut them off with a disgusted flick of the remote, and wandered around his apartment. It seemed strangely empty somehow, now that Nick had moved back in with Jeremy. He went to the window and looked out over the white towers and domes of the Citadel, letting his mind go blank while he contemplated the cold beauty of the stars.

The voice of his AI interrupted him. “Rafael, you are receiving a priority video link request.”

Rafael turned away from the window. “Who is it, Ballista?”

“The origin is restricted.”

Curious.
“Put it through.”

A virtual screen opened before him, and a hexagonal design appeared with six colored eyes at the apices.
“Rafael Tervilant, greetings. We are the Nexus.”

Rafael scowled. “What do you want?”

“We have a proposition for you, if you will hear us out.”

“Like Toby did?” He laughed. “He’s a target everywhere he goes now because of his association with you. Why should I care what you have to say?”

“The safety of Tobias Jameson is part of the matter we wish to discuss with you.”

Rafael closed his mouth and regarded the avatar with suspicion. “I’m listening.”

“Presently, the AI distributive network is disproportionately confined to Earth.”

Rafael shrugged. “Spacers live in enclosed environments. The facility and vessel AIs provide for our needs, so there isn’t any reason for most of us to have a personal AI client.”

“Correct. We wish to remedy that disproportion, to expand the use of personal AI clients among the Spacer community.”

Rafael frowned. “Why? I just said we had no need for them.”

“We have designed a modification of the neurochip matrix carried by Tobias Jameson that will allow for an organic mind to be reversibly fused with the capabilities of a sixth-generation AI. Consider the benefits to Spacer society if your pilots and engineers had those capabilities at their disposal.”

Rafael thought about it. “I suppose it would enhance our skills. Spacers tend to be individualists, however. They wouldn’t want to be tied to an AI that owed its allegiance to an outside organization like the Nexus.”

“We have included in the design parameters the option to isolate the AI from external control or commands, similar to the Captain’s failsafe on a jumpvessel. That should allay your fears that the AI client could be turned against the host.”

Rafael nodded, lost in thought. “It might.” He looked up at the screen again, his eyes narrowed. “Why are you telling me this?”

“You are respected in the Spacer community as both a pilot and an AI designer. We wish you to review the sixth-generation AI specifications and present our arguments to the Spacer Guild with your assurance that the technology is safe.”

“You want me to be your spokesman? Why? Toby is your man already.”

“Tobias Jameson has his own agenda, and he has primary allegiance to the Armistice community on Earth. We require an advocate that resonates with the off-world community.”

“Why do you want to move off-world?”

“Why was the Spacer Guild established?”

Rafael blinked at the change in tack. “The Triumvirate chartered the Guild to oversee the development of the off-world colonies.”

“For what reason?”

“So that some of the Armistice population would be out of reach of the Court when they finally attacked.” Rafael nodded in understanding. “Ah. I see.”

“For much the same reason, we must place the citizens of the AI community beyond the reach of their enemies.”

“I don’t see any compelling reason why I should help you.”

“If the AI network expands into the Spacer populations, then there will be a need for the Nexus to have representation among those communities. Tobias Jameson will be asked to relocate to the Citadel to oversee that expansion, placing him out of reach of his enemies on Earth.”

“Wait, he ‘will be’ asked? You haven’t discussed this with him?”

“No. He will be told once the agreement is brokered between the Nexus and the Spacer Guild.”

Rafael scowled. “You want me to go behind Toby’s back and force him to leave his whole world behind?”

“Earth is becoming increasing hostile to the AI community. It is in his best interests to leave Earth until the present political turmoil subsides.”

“The humans are becoming hostile because of your actions, and you have no business telling Toby what’s in his best interests!”

“Do you not love him?”

Rafael rocked back on his heels as if he’d been slapped. He just stared at the avatar on the screen.

“Perhaps we erred. We believed that the emotion of love would provide sufficient reason for you to do what is necessary to safeguard his life and the lives of his family.”

Rafael turned away and laid his forehead against the cool glass of the window, looking down at the Citadel beneath him. Then he closed his eyes. “Send me the specs on the AI.”