Ada's Protective Mate Read online

  “Control your urges, werewolf. The brownie will not appreciate your kind’s tendencies in this regard.”

  Nico was right, and Nate knew Ace well enough to know he wouldn’t go after someone else’s mate, though he was a flirtatious, very amorous fairy with anyone else.

  “Let’s go.”

  They caught the private elevator to the basement where Nico had one of the vamps limousines and a driver waiting. Ace could of course shift himself anywhere in the world in a millisecond but chose to get in the limousine and immediately lounged back in a leather seat. He produced a bowl of grapes with magic and offered them around, everyone declining. Nate and Nico suspected Ace zapped them up from his big brother, Dareios, so weren’t getting involved. From the basement, the limousine slipped through the streets with the occupants mostly quiet except for the occasional comment from Ace.

  In most capital cities throughout the world, there were places more commonly known as “doorways” to Galdorcwide. Each was secret to their kind and monitored to ensure that no human, or witch and warlock, either sneaked or accidentally slipped through. In New York the doorway was set up in a little old house in SoHo. The limousine dropped them outside, and Ace bounded ahead, greeting the three guards inside the house cheerfully and opened the door for them. It was the moment before they stepped through that Nate felt Ada pause. It was only a very brief moment, and then she straightened her shoulders, lifted her chin, and stepped through ahead of him and behind Ace and Nico.

  What was it about Galdo that shook this unshakable female? He’d have to find that out.

  They came out in exactly the same spot as any other doorway around the world, inside the Galdorcwide Guard building, which was like a police headquarters or customs at an airport. Everyone was screened as soon as they stepped through, and those who weren’t allowed were stopped and interrogated.

  “Well, this has certainly changed in the last forty years.” Ada murmured, studying everything around her.

  “It’s really been forty years since you came home?” Nate asked in wonder. As much as he loved going out in the world, or the Outside as most referred to it, Galdorcwide was still home, and he missed it when away for extended periods of time.

  She nodded. “This isn’t my home.”

  Well, that attitude he was going to have to change. How was he going to go about convincing his brownie that Galdorcwide was just as good as the Outside? Fortunately he liked a challenge.

  “Gotta dash!” Ace kissed the brownie’s cheek, startling her, then rushed outside into the city’s main square.

  Immediately you could hear the shrieks that were often elicited when the middle fairy prince was around. If it was the younger prince, they’d be gasps, the older, sighs of great appreciation.

  Stepping outside, Nico coolly surveyed the main square that was shrouded in early evening light. Galdorcwide was about three hours behind New York, time wise.

  “Come, the seer is waiting.”

  They trailed after Nico through the square and turned right at the first lane. From here you could see across the city and up on the hill to where the big black demon castle sat, surrounded by a moat and high rock walls. Inside the walls was a city in itself, just like with the werewolf compound, fairy palace, vampire vortex, and imp castle. The immortal sorcerers spread themselves out, but the Emperor had a grand old palace that wasn’t as big as others, and the brownies had suburbs.

  In Galdorcwide creatures wore a different fashion than on the Outside, a mixture of old-world with a very modern twist. It was as flamboyant and individual as the creatures’ own natures. Ada seemed mesmerized by the city and creatures, peering into shop windows and covertly watching nearly everyone they passed. Nate thought she was seeing their world with a whole new outlook. And that could be a damn good thing.

  The seer lived in a building a few streets from the main square, occupying the upstairs as living quarters and downstairs as her seer shop. One of the vamp personal assistants had rung ahead and booked a meeting, so she was waiting for them in the office.

  “Good evening, Your Highnesses. Brownie Ada Gerritsen.”

  “Madam Lydia.” Nico made a big production of kissing her hand and staring into her eyes. “As attractive and talented as always.”

  Madam Lydia was as susceptible to Nico’s smooth charm as most others. With a big smile and reluctance to loosen Nico’s grip on her hand, she urged them to the seats around a table in the middle of the room. Like most immortals, Madam Lydia was formal when addressing them.

  “Count Blaine dropped off a bracelet belonging to the missing imp that was collected from her apartment. I have awaited your arrival before seeing what information it may be able to provide.” Madam Lydia, with her attractive patrician features and glossy chestnut hair, often looked as serious as she sounded. “Lady Penelope allowed me to look inside her mind at the destruction of the witch Sandra’s house and her memories of the imp. Hopefully with all of these, I can lock in on Remika Alberts, and find where Grydern hides himself.”

  Nate hoped so too. They had few leads to follow and time was important. He, like most of the other sentinels, was beginning to think Grydern may well know where the fragments of the bowl were for him to make a snatch of a creature now. And if he were getting ready for the ceremony to absorb every creature's power, then they were in for a hell of a time. It was bad enough they had the Revmiras without having to deal with Grydern’s lunatic antics.

  They waited silently while Madam Lydia did her thing. First she seemed to meditate, though thankfully there was no humming. Nate had no patience for that type of shit. After a good few minutes of meditating, in which he moved around in his seat, the immortal seer picked up the bracelet his cousin Blaine dropped off and held it firmly between both hands. Her eyes fixed on the item eerily.

  It was a good ten minutes before she spoke and by then even Nico was becoming restless, and he usually had a great deal of respect for other creature ways and patience for what they did. Patience in other things was not necessarily the vamp’s strong point otherwise.

  When putting aside the bracelet, Madam Lydia sighed and shook her head. “I am sorry. I’m seeing nothing which leads me to believe the disloyal Grydern has used his influence to overshadow the imp’s presence from being seen. You will not find her through visions, nor scent and objects, I fear.”

  Greatly disappointed, they thanked the seer and left. Outside they stood to the side of the cobbled street, each silent and absorbed in their own thoughts. For once Nate was at a loss of how to continue with a hunt. He couldn’t use scent, the bastard used magic to cover his and Remi’s. He couldn’t use magic as again, the bastard was using his own to cover. There was ground work, going to every source and underground channel they knew but they’d done that before in the hunt for Grydern and come up with nothing.

  Ada suddenly turned to them. “Of course! That is what Prince Ace was going on about!”

  “I do not understand, cara,” Nico said distractedly.

  “He was asking about Remi, where she may have run across Grydern and drawn his attention, but it wasn’t really Remi he was interested in, but Grydern’s movements! Do you not see? Your sentinel colleague is researching all about Grydern.”

  “Ah, si, Glitterbug is very resourceful at times.” Nico allowed a smile small.

  “Let’s go see if he’s come up with anything useful.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  “I shall visit Glitterbug. Why do you not go see Divij and Penny?” Nico asked.

  Nate agreed. As much as he enjoyed going to the fairy palace, as there was always such merriment and fun despite Dare’s unfortunate lack of emotions, he knew they didn’t have time to waste.

  Nico turned into mist and traveled that way, as it was faster for a vampire, while Nate steered Ada back through the main city square. They crossed the square, lots of creatures out and about on their way from work or to activities, a lot pausing to watch them curiously. Five blocks from the square and they we
re in the busy business district where Divij owned and ran a business that assisted creatures with the transition into the Outside. Div’s company helped them set up legitimate work, passports, birth records, bank accounts, businesses, and whatever else they may need.

  “I’ve heard of this business,” Ada stated as Nate held open the door for her. “By reputation, it is said to provide an invaluable service. A lot has changed the last few decades.”

  “Yep, and we’ll keep developing, just like the Outside.”

  “Do you honestly believe so? I am not convinced. Yes, there has been a great many changes that I can easily see.” She hastened to add when he went to interrupt. “But creature natures will always dictate the amount of change they can withstand.”

  “So what, you’re exempt?” Nate scoffed. Man, his brownie could be narrowed minded! “Bet you didn’t know that Nico loves nothing more than to play the stock markets without influencing any minds and that we have one of the biggest companies in the Outside of any creature. And Sev the Snarl specifically designs ornaments and objects for the Outsiders—”

  “I can see where you are headed with this, Nathaniel, but that does not necessarily mean that a few can make the changes that are truly needed by Galdorcwide creatures to fit in with the Outside.”

  Nate snorted. “Man, brownie, listen to you! Who says we creatures have to make all these needed changes. We behave as per the rules and customs in Galdorcwide, just like we do on the Outside. What it comes down to is cultures and differences. We respect each of those, nothing more, nothing less. Give creatures more credit.”

  Striding across the upstairs office, leaving the brownie stewing over his words, he gave a sharp rap on a corner office door then pushed it open.

  “Nathaniel, good. I heard that you, Nico and Ada had arrived home. Come in and shut the door.”

  Power vibrated around Divij naturally, and to Nate, it shone in an icy blue. Not a lot of creatures, and certainly not humans, saw the vibrating color of Div’s power and Nate was often amused when Div got annoyed by someone and revealed that power. Scared the shit out of them.

  “Firstly, Ada.” Div turned his ice-blue eyes on the brownie who sat beside Nate stiffly. “I have spoken to the Galdorcwide High Council and enquired as to why your services have not been called in. You are a highly skilled creature which the High Council needs, especially during these difficult times of Revmiras and the threat of Grydern. Expect a formal letter requesting your attendance within the next day or so. Of course, there will be time given while you search for your friend. Now, -”

  “I do not see what business it was of yours whether I provide my services to the High Council or not, Grand Duke.” Ada’s tone was pure ice. “In the future, if you have a concern, discuss this with me.”

  Nate winced. Not many would contradict or deem to put Div in his place, after all, a pissed off immortal sorcerer was a frigging scary sight. But Nate was finding his brownie was fearless when it came to her personal interests and beliefs. These two would cross swords heavily if they were not on the same side.

  Div’s brows rose. “As my position dictates, it is my duty to draw the High Council’s attention to what is needed, as it is every sentinel’s. Take up your objections with them.”

  “I do believe I will.” Her expression fierce. “I will also lodge some other concerns, such as creatures interfering in others business and why it is Galdorcwide has no brownies as guards, sentinels, or on the council. Perhaps they could explain the prejudice.”

  “Perhaps times need to change in that regard, Ada. I am sure you will be the one to make the changes, and with your future position—”

  “Div,” Nate growled.

  “What do you mean, my future position?” Ada demanded.

  “If you work for the High Council or join their ranks.” Nate glared a warning at Div who immediately nodded. Now was not the time to bring up the fact the brownie was his mate, and how that would change her future considerably. Sheesh, that would likely set him back ten or so years in his dealings with her.

  “Yes, this is what I mean. Shall we move on to the matter of Grydern?” He didn’t wait for ascent. “Penelope and I went over the witch’s house and her files. While we found a great deal of worthwhile information, which we returned to the witch’s kind, we unfortunately could not find anything that would direct us to the imp who was taken, or to Grydern.”

  “So the bastard is still untraceable,” Nate snapped.

  “He hides himself very well.”

  “Maybe then we should find the bowl,” Ada said thoughtfully. “If pieces are collected, this will bring Grydern out.”

  “You are right.” Div agreed. “He needs the pieces to work the ceremony. Without them, his activities are worthless.”

  “And what about this Myles Byrnes who blew up the vamp car?” Ada turned to Nate. “Didn’t you say he was probably tipped off by Grydern?”

  “That’s the general concessive. Grydern will use whoever to aid his own cause.”

  “So how did he contact this Byrnes? What more does he know and can tell us?”

  “We’ll discover that when we find him,” Nate said. “Hopefully Ace’s research into the disloyal immortal will help us out.”

  “There isn’t much to go on,” Div said quietly.

  “Nope, but that hasn’t stopped us before…” Nate frowned. “I have an idea.”

  “Your ideas cause a great deal of mayhem and worry.” Div sighed. “But they are usually successful. What is it?”

  Even the museums around the Outside world couldn’t possibly hold as much history as was housed in the archives of Galdorcwide.

  All were very neatly cataloged on the computer and extremely well taken care of. Each item was priceless and had been accumulating for thousands of years. There were three museums in Galdo, yet the archives held far more than they did, or even could. The staff of Galdorcwide archives was a mix of creatures with all the same mindset. To preserve and care for Galdorcwide past, present and future.

  A female vampire glided over to them. “How may the archives assist, my lords?”

  Nate knew the protocol and for once used it. The archivers had no bleeding sense of humor, especially a vampire one. Or, as he was stunned to see a moment ago when she approached them, a halfling vampire. Shit, that was extraordinary. Halflings were extremely rare.

  “The sentinels formally request the Tremor Hammer.”

  The vampire’s eyes widened, but that was all the expression she showed. Her eyes were peculiar, one violet, the other a hazy gray. Perhaps that was because she was a halfling. There was something about her niggling at him. His instincts were telling him something. He’d have to look into this creature when he got a moment.

  “Please be seated.”

  As soon as they sat in the lounges of the waiting room, Div questioned him.

  “The Tremor Hammer? That has not been used for a millennium, and only then to aid in unearthing victims of an earthquake. What is your plan, wolf?”

  “You use some of that magic of yours to direct the Hammer, then we give it a whack and see if a piece of the bowl pops up somewhere.”

  Ada frowned. “I do not understand.”

  “Ah, I do. Hmm, possibly…” Div rose and began pacing as he thought, hands crossed behind his back and panels of his pale gray tunic flowing to the sides and behind him. When in Galdo, Div’s attire was normally always strictly formal for his position of sentinel, grand duke, and successor to the immortal throne.

  And he was just stick up the ass rigid at times.

  “The Tremor Hammer has a specific use, or can be directed to a specific use by magic. We don’t know where the bowl pieces are so we need something that’ll unearth them in a hurry, without us having to scour every square inch of the earth.” Nate explained to his brownie. “What I’m thinking is, with Div’s magic as a directional force, we can hit the ground with the Hammer, and it will search the world for us. The first piece of bowl it comes across w
ill be thrust from the soil for us to collect.”

  Ada nodded, eyes holding his. “That’s brilliant, werewolf. I’m beginning to see why you’re a sentinel, and not just for your strength and werewolf skills. But I have a concern. Once the bowl is unearthed, how will we know where to collect it from? Or them from?”

  Two compliments in one day! Wowee. It wasn’t too often he received compliments that had nothing to do with his sexual expertise or fighting skill, and he smiled. First the one from Nico and now his mate, neither of whom were prone to flowery sentiment and displays of affection. He wasn’t either, for that matter, but Nate tended to be much more open and affectionate than either of them. It touched him greatly and surprised the hell out of him. He smiled and sniffed her, ignoring the way she automatically rejected this, and he picked up on the slight tremors of response she couldn’t quite hide. It gave him a semi.

  “Div or Chase said in the meeting that when a piece of the bowl surfaced or was found, a few highly magical creatures would feel this, like a cold draft ripping through them.”

  “I see. Divij or Penny will feel it.”

  He smiled at her firmly stated opinion. “Sure, I’d say they would. So may Dare, Ace, Ruine, and Chase. So could dozens of others, like the imps. We can use anyone of them to feel where the bowl is and retrieve it.”

  Ada frowned. “What of Grydern? He is highly magical and may very well feel the bowl surfacing also. He can shift himself to the location.”

  “True. But we’ll be prepared for the sensations the bowl coming to the surface evokes.” He shrugged. “He’ll have to figure out what it means, and that gives us a few minutes’ head start. Mind you, I wouldn’t be against him turning up while we’re there so I can grab the bastard—”

  “It would be better if you can follow him back to his lair. Then we can get Remi.” His brownie glared him down.

  “I guess I could hold off for that.” Nate glanced up as Div rejoined them. “Solution?”

  “We do not want any mistakes. I will consult with Chase, Dare, and Ace.”