Page 10

CHAPTER TEN

Delphine maintained a neutral expression as she watched the masked gang break inside the restaurant, Tarang materialize his presence, and Vlad and a man who could only be Enrique Cortes face their enemy in a devastating show of power bathed in gold and crimson magic.

It was her first time seeing the powers Serena had once described. Powers that were as otherworldly as the ones she herself possessed by virtue of the Immortal DNA weaved into her flesh and bones.

She couldn’t drag her gaze away from the dazzling sight that was Vlad in action. The way his eyes gleamed with scarlet fire. The diamond blades that sang in his hands. The formidable energy bombs he manifested.

He was a fighter in his prime, as bewitchingly beautiful as he was deadly.

Her pulse quickened at the sight of Vlad crumpling to the floor before the footage ended in a burst of static. The hollow look that flitted across the incubus’s face told her he had relived that moment dozens of times.

“This was meant to be a delicate negotiation,” Yuliy said in clipped tones as he stopped the video. “The Black Devils were brokering a peace deal between the Lucianos and the Red Dragon Triad. Instead, the place was attacked by a highly organized team that seemed to know exactly what they were after. Not only that, they disabled all the cameras in and outside the restaurant minutes before the attack.”

“They were targeting Vlad,” Delphine said.

Vlad flinched. Gustav and Lena exchanged a confused look.

Yuliy narrowed his eyes at Delphine.

“You catch on fast.” His tone was laced with admiration.

Delphine studied the crime lord with fresh understanding, the tension coiling through her since the moment she’d stepped foot inside the mansion slowly abating. “That’s why you reached out to Gideon. Only a super soldier can protect your nephew right now.” She paused. “I believe you hired me to assist with your investigation because I hold insight others might not.”

“I can see why you came so highly recommended.” Yuliy’s gaze shifted to Vlad. “Now, how about you tell us what you’ve been keeping from me?”

Vlad swallowed, brow furrowing. “Why do you?—?”

“Because something is wrong with you and Tarang,” Yuliy snapped. “Neither of you have been your normal selves since that night. And Ilya can’t meet my eyes for love or money.”

Vlad cursed under his breath.

Delphine studied him with a focused look that seemed to see straight through him.

“If they were after your blood, they could have killed you the moment you went down. Why didn’t they?”

A muscle jumped in Vlad’s jawline. He remained stubbornly silent.

“Killing Vlad would not just mean messing with the Black Devils ,” Yuliy explained in a steely voice. “It would incur the wrath of the Bratva syndicate we answer to. There may not be much love lost between us at the best of times, but we protect and avenge our own.”

Delphine mulled this over. “So Vlad’s death would mean war.”

Yuliy dipped his head. “Correct. Which implies they were after something else.”

They gazed pointedly at Vlad, Gustav and Lena joining in to frown at the Black Devils’ heir.

Vlad held their stares mutinously, refusing to give them an answer. Tarang made a soft sound.

Delphine’s gaze shifted to the familiar.

The tiger appeared depressed as he laid his head at Vlad’s feet.

Just like his master looked when he was trying to forget his troubles last night.

Her mind raced as she connected the pieces of the puzzle she’d been presented with. Super soldiers weren’t just renowned for their physical strength. Their intellectual acumen was on a whole other level.

If those men couldn’t kill Vlad because it would mean war, then they did something else to him. And the only thing they could do that would take an incubus and his familiar out of the equation is ? —

The answer came to her with an intuition borne from years of being on the field. Her stomach sank.

“They took your powers.” Her gaze bore into Vlad’s stiff face. “Or rather, they did something to you and the tiger that means you can’t use your magic.”

The way Vlad’s eyes darkened told her she was right.

Yuliy froze. Lena cursed in Russian.

“Say it isn’t so,” Gustav mumbled hoarsely in the stunned silence.

Vlad crunched his eyes for a moment before blowing out a heavy sigh and raking his hair with his fingers. “Goddammit!”

The way he tousled his curls reminded Delphine of how she’d sunk her own fingers into his hair last night in the throes of passion. She ignored the heat coiling through her belly and concentrated on the matter at hand.

“So it’s true?” Yuliy said in a troubled voice.

Vlad met his uncle’s gaze.

“Yes. Tarang and I can’t use our powers. I’ve been cut off from my incubus energy too.”

Yuliy curled his hands into fists. “But—how?!”

Vlad hesitated. “Cortes and I sensed a strange kind of magic during the fight. We’re pretty certain that’s what did it.”

Delphine furrowed her brow. “But it didn’t affect Cortes or his familiar?”

“Correct,” Vlad said bitterly.

She filed that fact away for future analysis.

A muscle jumped in Yuliy’s jawline.

“Have you spoken to Mae?” His tone turned harsh. “What about the New York coven?!”

Delphine’s ears perked up. Mae?

Vlad’s face grew pinched. “I can’t just run off to the Witch Queen whenever I have a problem. Besides, Cortes and I are pursuing our own line of inquiry.”

Yuliy lowered his brows. “This isn’t some kind of game, Vlad. Mae Jin is probably the only one who can help you regain your powers.” His expression darkened. “Don’t tell me you’re refusing to seek her help because you still have feelings for her?”

An icy feeling slithered down Delphine’s spine at that.

The silence that fell inside the study could have been cut with a knife.

A thunderous look clouded Vlad’s face.

“My… feelings for Mae have nothing to do with this!” he spat out. “And I’m over her.”

“Are you sure?” Yuliy retorted bitterly. “Then why have you been celibate since your war with the Sorcerer King ended?”

Delphine’s pulse quickened, the chill in her veins dissipating. She did her best to maintain an impassive expression as she stole a covert glance at Vlad.

Does that mean I’m the first woman he’s hooked up with in a while?

“Are you keeping track of my junk, old man?” Vlad growled at his uncle. “Who says I haven’t been sleeping around?!”

“Oh, please!” Yuliy scoffed. “Milo would have tattled to our men.”

Vlad swore. “I’m going to shoot that guy once he’s all better,” he said savagely. “And FYI, I haven’t been celibate. I hooked up with someone last night.”

Lena almost dropped the teapot. Gustav sucked in air.

Yuliy squinted, like he didn’t believe one word of his nephew’s claim.

Wariness knotted Delphine’s shoulders at the defiant light that dawned in Vlad’s eyes.

Please tell me this guy isn’t about to ? —

“I slept with her.” Vlad pointed squarely at her.

Tarang made a smug sound, his tail swinging lazily.

Delphine closed her eyes.

Kill me. Kill me now.

She opened them again and found herself the focus of the incubus’s triumphant gaze and a battery of shocked stares.

“It was an accident,” she said levelly. “A one-night stand. I didn’t know who Vlad was and I doubt he knew of my identity either.”

Yuliy recovered first.

“I trust whatever happened between you won’t compromise this arrangement,” he said carefully, his gaze swinging between them.

“It won’t,” Vlad grunted. “Like she said, it was a one-night stand.”

Irritation tightened Delphine’s chest for a moment. “He’s right. Also, I believe this attack wasn’t just about taking Vlad’s powers. The timing of it and the leaked footage makes it clear whoever is after him wanted people to see him fail.”

The way Vlad’s knuckles whitened in his lap told Delphine her insight had struck uncomfortably close to home again.

Yuliy’s face tightened as he absorbed the meaning behind her words.

“The Black Devils maintain peace in this city by being the biggest predator in the pond,” he said slowly. “And we now have a new role to play as a negotiator between the most influential crime families in New York.” His eyes darkened. “Showing weakness, even for a moment?—”

“Makes you a target,” Delphine finished. “Not only that, it will bring down the reputation of the Black Devils , which could be one of their goals.” She leveled a sharp gaze at Vlad and Yuliy. “I’m going to need complete access to your security protocols and personnel files, and a detailed layout of all the properties Vlad frequents.”