“So you think that Clarion is the one working with the nightwalkers and lycanthropes?” Danaus asked.
Valerio gave a noncommittal shrug. “Possibly. Did you get a good look at him?”
“No, not at all. Just say a vague outline in the darkness.” Danaus shoved his hands into the pockets of his long leather coat as he frowned at the vampire. “In the hotel room, I was too worried about keeping the lycanthropes away from where I thought Mira was. I could only sense his power in the air, marking him as a warlock.”
“On the way to Veyron’s, I got only a glimpse of the figure on the rooftop. No details,” I admitted with no small amount of frustration. “But what are the odds that there is more than one powerful warlock in the region?”
“Pretty good, unfortunately,” Valerio stated, pulling a growl out of me. I felt like I had stepped in quicksand. With every movement, I was getting sucked further down into the thickening insanity that permeated every inch of the dark occult side of Budapest. I was seriously beginning to long for my home of Savannah—away from Veyron, his flunkies, and the schemes of Macaire, which I had yet to figure out.
“How is that possible?” Danaus demanded. “I didn’t think warlocks and witches played well together. Too territorial. Even more so than nightwalkers and lycanthropes.”
“It’s true, but this one seems to have found someone that he does get along well with. I have encountered Clarion only a few times during the past several years, but I had heard that he doesn’t work alone. There’s another magic user that he associates with here in Budapest. Unfortunately, I don’t know whether it’s a warlock or a witch yet. I can’t gauge the creature’s strength, but can only guess that he or she is at least as powerful as Clarion or he wouldn’t bother with this creature.”
“You mean, he would have either killed the person or pressured him or her out of the region already,” I said.
“True.”
“So what’s our next step? Do we go after Veyron?” Danaus asked. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to deduct that he sent a hit squad after you,” he added, bringing a frown to my lips. “You were expecting him to send some people after you.”
“Yes, but the problem is that I was expecting him to send humans with big guns and wooden stakes, not a pack of werewolves with a warlock as backup. That makes this whole situation more complicated, Mr. Rocket Scientist,” I said, not caring how bitchy I was starting to sound. We were all getting more than a little frustrated by Veyron and his minions, and that didn’t get us any closer to taking care of the naturi infestation we were originally sent to take care of. I might have let Rowe slip through my fingers tonight, but I wasn’t through with the one-eyed naturi. I wasn’t going before Aurora again unless I had an edge that would finally take the naturi queen down. In the meantime, I needed to take care of Rowe so he wasn’t constantly at my back with a knife.
“We first need to understand the power structure in Budapest.” Valerio artfully wrapped his dark red scarf around his neck, showing the same skill as when he tied a cravat a few centuries ago just prior to our attending the various balls and soirees that filled our evenings together in Europe. “If we aren’t careful, we could kill a simple pawn, which would leave the bulk of the power structure intact and us vulnerable to retaliation.”
“Agreed. We need to be sure we take them all out before we leave Budapest,” I said, smirking at his close attention to his scarf. Valerio shrugged, unmoved by my teasing.
Danaus frowned at us both, determined not to be distracted. “Could that be what Macaire planned all along? Why he’s here now? If we destroy the reigning power players in Budapest, it will leave it vulnerable enough for him to move in and take over.”
“I doubt it was his plan since he prefers to stay close to Venice,” I replied.
Valerio reached into his pockets and pulled out a pair of supple leather gloves, which he proceeded to pull on. “Besides, Mira has spoiled that plan by claiming Budapest as her own. She may not truly want it, but she is the keeper of this domain now. As keeper, it’s her responsibility to clean out old management.”
“Which you approve of,” Danaus sneered. “Being as Budapest is so close to Vienna and you’re sure that Mira won’t encroach on your territory.”
“You make it sound like it’s awful that I approve of Mira’s new acquisition. Of course I like having her close at hand once again.” Valerio paused and narrowed his dark eyes on the hunter as a wicked grin spread across his full lips. “Mira and I have a long history. It would be nice to have her around again.”
Danaus took a step forward, his hand dropping down to his waist where I knew he kept an assortment of knives. Valerio was taunting him, seeing how far he could push Danaus. I had no doubt that he was also testing how far my relationship with Danaus went. The Ancient nightwalker smiled at the hunter, his fangs peeking out from under his upper lip. I didn’t have time for this chest beating and territorial pissing. We needed to find Clarion.
“Enough!” I shouted, placing a hand on both their chests. “I need to find Clarion. Do you have any useful suggestions?”
Valerio laid his hand over mine, stroking my fingers in an attempt to annoy Danaus just a little bit more. I was about to smash my fist into his jaw. Instead I shoved. Valerio simply stood there, smiling down at me. “A coffeehouse called Gerbeaud Cukrászda,” he said. “It’s been around for ages and is located in Central Pest between the Chain Bridge and the Elizabeth Bridge. Any taxi driver should be able to locate it with no problems. I can come along—”
“No,” I said sharply, causing his smile to widen. I was beginning to think that he and Danaus had spent more than enough time together. I knew that I had already spent enough time with Valerio. This was a case of too much of a good thing. “There are naturi hanging out on one of the islands in the Danube. Last I saw, there were three islands in the region. I want you to go check them out.”
“This is my punishment. Taking on the naturi alone?” he demanded incredulously.
“Would I be so cold?”
“Yes.”
I smiled up at my friend for the first time, shaking my head. “I’m not asking you to hunt the naturi. I simply want you to locate them for me. Find which island they have claimed as their own. It will be easier for the four of us to hunt them down if we are sure of their ultimate location. Don’t engage if you can help it. Meet us later tonight back at my hotel room.”
“Aren’t you planning to change hotel rooms? Or are you planning to stay with me in Vienna?”
“I’m staying at the Gellért,” I said. “I’m not leaving Budapest again until this mess has been cleaned up.”
“It’s not safe.”
“Danaus will be there. I’ll be safe.”
“As you wish,” Valerio said with an easygoing shrug of his broad shoulders. He took a single step backward away from Danaus and me before disappearing from sight. I looked forward to the day when I attained that ability. It would be so much easier than trying to grab a car or a plane or any other vehicle to get from point A to point B.
My eyes strayed over to Danaus’s face and I winced inwardly. The hunter was not happy with me, and it was most likely Valerio’s fault. Of course, Danaus could also still be upset over my choice to control him than use my own powers. My excuse had been extraordinarily thin and weak. I didn’t think he actually bought it, but then I had been desperate and we weren’t exactly in the best spot to discuss it. To my glee, we still weren’t. The night was fading away and we still had to locate Clarion.
“I know.” I sighed. “He’s a complete pain in the ass.”
“Reminds me of someone else I know.”
“Yeah, well, that could be a long list. You’ll have to narrow it down for me.” We glared at each other before finally turning in separate directions. I looked over at Ferko to find that he had yet to move from where he lay. I didn’t expect him to be unconscious much longer. He’d eventually pick himself up and scurry back off to Veyron to complain about the slaughter of his people. If Ferko was lucky, our destruction of the local pack might succeed in drawing out a few of the nightwalkers. I had a sinking feeling that this entire town needed to be thinned out. Veyron and his gang had a negative influence on everyone there, like a sickness eating away at the brain tissue.