Chapter 9
Nine
Nikodemus
I would destroy him. Every fiber, every magical spark, and every single atom in my body demanded Warlock Stefan Danzig’s utter destruction. The consequences were unimportant at this point. Danzig had threatened my son, he’d—
“Erasmus is safe. Did you hear me?”
My eyes focused on that voice, drawing me back to the here and now, thoughts of annihilation momentarily put on hold.
Slowly blinking brought Hikaru’s face back into view.
I had no idea when, but at some point, he’d cupped my face, his hands soft against my roughened cheeks.
Wrapped in his tails, I was cocooned in warmth.
Hikaru’s golden-green eyes tracked back and forth, as if he were looking into my soul, searching for something.
His easing features and softening gaze made me think he’d found it.
“There you are,” Hikaru’s words were whisper soft.
“Make no mistake, it’s hot when you go all, ‘grrr’ protective mode, but you were getting a little too caught up in your rage.
I was starting to worry you’d do something foolish.
” Hikaru’s head tilted to the side. “Just to be clear, doing foolish things is my territory, not yours.” With a wink, his hands slid from my face, his fingers softly tracing along my jaw before pulling away completely.
Words were stuck somewhere between my brain and my lips. All I could do was stare. I couldn’t decide if my racing heart was due to fear for Erasmus or from Hikaru’s proximity. I suspicioned one had started its hammering and the other sustained it.
“It’s okay.” Hikaru patted my cheek before pulling away. I would never admit how much I missed the warmth of his tails. “I get it. Sort of.” Hikaru’s eyes narrowed in either thought or confusion. “Seriously though, I think, for now, your son is safe.”
For now. I should have found those words more comforting than I did. Erasmus seemed to leap between moments of safe reflection and imminent death. It was a roller coaster I was desperate to get off.
Stepping further away, Hikaru’s tails flicked with agitation. “Right now, I’m more concerned about what Danzig’s plans are for you.” Fingers pressed against his chin, Hikaru’s face lowered, his gaze focused on the ground near his feet. “I didn’t like the smarmy look on his face.”
“Smarmy?” I don’t know why, but the word struck me as funny.
Hikaru waved me off. “It’s a good word and if the expression fits…” Hikaru shrugged his shoulders.
Maybe I found it funny because I’d always found Danzig a little smarmy myself. Regardless of Hikaru’s concern, I would much rather Danzig’s focus was on me than my son. “I can handle Danzig,” I confidently stated.
Hikaru cocked an eyebrow. “You think so?”
“I know so.” I extended my fingers, allowing the magic to dance along them. “I’m a much more capable warlock than him. Danzig knows this.”
My words were meant to inspire confidence.
Instead, Hikaru shook his head, rolling his eyes as if I were an idiot.
“Of course you’re more powerful than that asshat.
” Hikaru stepped closer, eyes intense. “And just as you said, Danzig is well aware of that fact. Even still, he had that smarmy, self-satisfied smirk on his face.” Shoving a finger into my chest, Hikaru huffed.
“That’s the problem. He’s got something else planned, something that you’ll never think of because your brain doesn’t work like his.
” Hikaru spun on his heel, walking closer toward the cliff’s edge.
“It’s a story as old as time.” Tilting his head my way, sadness filled Hikaru’s eyes, darkening them and pulling out their green hues.
“Being in the right doesn’t equal victory.
Raw power doesn’t always win either. Sometimes, it’s the most cunning opponent that’s the true threat.
Trust me, I’ve seen individuals like Danzig before.
There’s no level low enough he won’t stoop to get what he wants.
And that’s the problem. Those lower levels aren’t something you can foresee because your mind doesn’t sink that deep. ”
Hikaru could have been speaking of his experience with Tenzen Huxley.
Given how old the kitsune was and my utter lack of knowledge regarding that life, there could have been countless others he alluded to.
Part of me wanted to inquire. It was alarming how much that part of me had grown since first meeting Hikaru.
I was rarely this curious about others. There was just something about him…
something that had latched on to my soul and held on with unusual tenacity.
Closing the distance between us, I came to rest close by his side. “Are you saying I will fail?” The very thought seemed ridiculous.
“On your own? Possibly.” Hikaru’s grin pinched his cheeks. “Lucky for you, you’re not alone. You’ve got me.”
“Oh? Forgive me. I had not considered your presence the tipping point you seem to believe it to be.” The very thought seemed laughable.
“Don’t you dare underestimate me,” Hikaru huffed in annoyance, his arms crossed over his chest. “You need someone with a more devious mind than yours.”
“And that someone is you?”
“You know it is.”
“Are you comparing yourself to Danzig?”
Hikaru’s appalled expression was worth the dig.
“I will cut the tongue from your mouth if you suggest something so vile again. There are different levels of deviousness, or more importantly, different intentions driving that deviousness. Besides, I’m more mischievous than devious.
” Tilting his hand back and forth, Hikaru’s gaze settled back on the ocean.
“They are but different sides of the same coin.”
“Hmm…despite my better judgment, I have to admit your words bear consideration.” I thought back to what Hikaru had originally relayed.
I’d been so upset regarding Danzig’s intentions towards Erasmus, that I’d failed to concentrate on the other important points.
Now that I was calmer, my earlier anger seemed premature and counterproductive.
“Do you have any idea what it is that Danzig believes I will interfere with? What he believes my moral compass will not allow?”
“He didn’t say,” Hikaru disappointingly answered. “Not even really a hint to be truthful.”
That was unfortunate. “And what he plans to do to remove me as a complication?”
“He wasn’t specific on that threat either. All he said was there was more than one way to eliminate you.”
Admittedly, that was a little alarming.
I was still musing on this when Hikaru said, “I can go back.” His nose adorably scrunched. “It’s irritating being around him. Infuriating really. But I suppose I can tolerate it.” Hikaru sounded very put upon.
“It sounds like you plan on staying.” The relief fluttering through my chest was far from welcome.
“Of course.” Hikaru’s smirk was back full force. “I’m not that easy to get rid of, Niki. Besides, you like me being here.”
“And others consider me arrogant. Obviously, those individuals have never met you.” I turned, attempting to hide my blush-stained cheeks.
Head tilted back, Hikaru’s laughter rose higher than the wind. “Why on earth would I want to leave when you say such sweet things?” Pointedly ignoring my aggressive eyeroll, Hikaru clapped his hands together, his tails madly twitching. “We just need a plan.”
I had no idea what type of plan Hikaru was about to formulate. Before he got too ahead of himself, there was a message I’d promised to relay—A message I’d put off long enough.
“Keir called while you were gone.”
The effect was immediate. Hikaru’s body stilled, his tails dropping and dragging the ground before flipping up again. “I don’t care what he has to say.” Hikaru waved me off, literally turning his body so his back was to me.
I didn’t believe him for an instant. “He asked me to relay a message, or, perhaps, more of a request.”
Hikaru refused to look at me. “I’m sure whatever it is, Keir can handle things. He doesn’t need me.”
“Actually, I get the impression he does.” I wasn’t ready to explore the reasons why I didn’t want Hikaru to leave.
Regardless, I could acknowledge the fact that I wanted him here, with me.
I could have remained silent. I’d considered it, but Keir’s words had played in my head, unwilling to leave.
He’d said some of the missing were Hikaru’s friends.
Was Hikaru’s desire to stay with me and not return to the Magical Usage Compound based on his fears regarding what had happened?
Was it too painful to face what he’d lost?
I had no idea. If that were the case, then Hikaru needed to face those fears, otherwise they would fester with time.
“Trust me. He doesn’t,” Hikaru stubbornly answered.
I cleared my throat. “Keir thinks he might have located some of the missing.”
Again, the effect was immediate. Hikaru sucked in an agonizing breath as his body doubled over. My reaction was instinctual. Arms wrapped around his middle, I held on, holding Hikaru up and preventing him from collapsing.
“Breathe,” I ordered. “Feel my chest. Move with it.” Hikaru’s stuttered breaths and frantic gasping evened out until his inhales and exhales matched my own. “That’s it,” I whispered as my fingers gently carded through Hikaru’s sweat-dampened strands of hair.
Placing my open palm on Hikaru’s chest, I felt his pounding heart slow to a more acceptable rhythm. Only when I felt Hikaru had calmed did I ask, “You know who Keir is speaking of?”
Hikaru’s nod was barely perceptible. “Members of…members of the council.”
I didn’t need to ask which one. “Huxley?”
Another nod. “He…”
“I know.” That wasn’t completely true. I’d gleaned that Huxley had gone after members of the Magical Usage Council before he’d sprung his trap on Erasmus.
While I wasn’t exactly certain who those members were, I’d heard that many were confused by which members Huxley targeted and those he did not.
The kitsune sagging in my arms was on that hit list. Hikaru had been too quick and wily for Huxley to succeed.
“Did he…did Keir say if they were alive or…”
I hadn’t anticipated that question. “He did not, but I did not get the impression he thought them alive. I could be wrong. I didn’t—”
“No. You’re right.” Hikaru released an animalistic growl laden with hate and more than a hint of sorrow.
“Huxley wouldn’t have taken the chance. If he thought them worth eliminating, then he would have completed the job, just as he attempted to do with me.
” Hikaru straightened and pulled from my arms, pushing me away in the process.
Arms at his side, Hikaru’s muscles bunched and tensed as his fingers clasped into tight fists.
Tails whipped around him, beating against the wind.
Standing behind Hikaru, it was clear where the eighth, missing tail had been.
Its absence was suddenly all I could focus on.
“Where?” Hikaru abruptly asked, that singular word barely recognizable through the guttural growl it was spoken with.
Others might have found Hikaru’s fury frightening. I did not scare so easily. “Keir did not say. Exactly. He…” I wasn’t sure how to soften my words, so I simply spoke without sugar coating their context. “Keir said they were deep within rock. Somewhere impenetrable to most modes of travel.”
Hands now fisted on his sides, Hikaru’s bent head shook back and forth. Instead of a growl, half-crazed laughter drifted on the wind. “That’s why he needs me.”
“A brownie could do it.” I wasn’t certain why I decided to argue. Only, I didn’t like the idea of Hikaru doing this. I didn’t like thinking of him being sent in alone to find…I wasn’t exactly certain what Hikaru would find. If Huxley was involved, I couldn’t imagine it would be pretty.
“They could. Too bad Huxley pissed off the brownie community when he captured and drained that brownie child, Deni.”
“That wasn’t Keir’s fault,” I argued.
Hikaru shrugged. “I don’t think they care.
It happened because a couple of brownies were trying to help the Magical Usage Council.
I don’t blame them for being gun shy when offering up their services.
Brownies have long memories, and their children are precious.
Huxley could not have committed a graver sin in their eyes. ”
I ran my fingers through my wind-whipped hair. “A fairy then. They could—”
“Keir would not involve Fairy. At least, not unless there were no other options.”
I ventured closer but kept my hands to myself.
The urge to reach out and offer tactile comfort was nearly overwhelming.
“Are there other options?” I knew there were.
I was looking at one. A djinn could also do what Keir wanted, but I don’t think any of us considered that a viable option.
Aurelia might help. Then again, she’d be just as likely to raise a questioning eyebrow, turn her back, and blink away.
Hikaru’s head lifted, his gaze settled outward toward the turbulent Pacific. Voice barely audible, he whispered, “There is,” before his body dissipated, whisps of green mist fanning out until there was nothing of the kitsune left, leaving me alone again.
Alone.
I’d once relished that word. I’d found solace in it, sought out its peace and basked in its quiet comfort. For the first time, that word created an ache in my chest that no amount of rubbing could ease.