Both Phoenixes were naked, and Viève found herself discomforted by the fact. Cordo was a very well-endowed male and much larger than the Chieftain had been. More muscular. Overall he was a very handsome male, in a savage sort of way. And Ceara was only slighter in build than her counterpart, but she was very much all curves and all female. With their matching broad features, red hair, and dark skin, they could have been brother and sister. Viève wondered if they were.

“Welcome to the house of the Politic Bodywalkers…and the commune of almost all the known Nightwalker races. With your arrival and Viève’s presence, that leaves only one group of Nightwalkers not represented here. The Mysticals.”

“We are here as seekers of knowledge. We have come to examine your claims. Nothing more,” Ceara said.

“Of course,” Kamen said. But the fact was, he felt calmer knowing they were here. Now he was desperate for the Mysticals to get on board. If he could just get one of each member of the Nightwalkers there, maybe he could devise a way of breaking the curse. It certainly seemed as though that would be the key component. Then, perhaps, with a little magical assistance…

But he was getting ahead of himself. Having them represented was only a small part of it. The races all needed to come together, to be a part of this wholeheartedly. That would mean convincing the Phoenixes that there was trouble worth their attention. He had to figure out how to achieve that shy of Apep attacking them again.

That was it! He could cast a witness spell! He quickly ushered them all into the house. There he found Jackson and his wife, Marissa, as they were entering the living room. The couple came to a surprised halt when they saw their naked guests. Viève as well.

“Menes,” Kamenwati said, “this is Ceara and Cordo, representatives of the Phoenix tribe.”

Jackson’s Bodywalker soul was known as Menes, a great Egyptian pharaoh of the past and now Pharaoh of all the Politic Bodywalkers. He went by either name, but usually was known as Jackson.

Jackson moved forward and extended a hand toward the male Phoenix. The Phoenix looked at the hand then looked up into his eyes.

“This one says there is a threat to the Phoenixes. We are here only to assess that threat.”

“Well, we can help with that,” Jackson said. “But first we should introduce you to the others in the house.”

“We do not have time for such things. Nor does it matter who is here in this house. All that matters is the threat. You do not look threatened at present. You look quite at ease.” Cordo narrowed suspicious eyes on them all.

“If you give me a few moments to recover from the streak that brought you here,” Kamen said, “I think I can show you what you need to see.”

Jackson lifted a brow. “How will you do that?”

“You will have to place a small amount of trust in me.” Kamen knew just how difficult that was for the Pharaoh. “This is Viève. She is a Wraith representative.”

That elicited gasps from the two Phoenixes. “You ally with the Wraiths? They are wicked creatures!” Ceara said.

“We are allying with all the Nightwalkers,” Kamen said harshly. “Including the Wraiths. And she has done nothing wicked, I assure you. Indeed, she has been most accommodating and understanding of the plight we are all facing.” Which was more than he could say for them. But he didn’t blame them. He was asking a lot of them in a short period of time. Still he would not have them denigrating Viève. She did not deserve that. Other Wraiths perhaps, but not Viève.

“Well, you are all welcome here,” Jackson said, running a hand back through his crisp, short black hair. “We have a lot of Nightwalkers in this house and in the two other houses on the property. Some of them you can’t see, but believe me when I say they are there. We’ve got the laundry to prove it.”

“What other proof do you have?” Ceara asked curiously. “How do you know they are there?”

“The humans on the property can see and speak to them. They act as our interpreters. If you have anything to say to any of the First Faction you have to go through them.” Kamen quickly explained who the members of the First Faction of Nightwalkers were.

“You allow humans to know about you?” Cordo asked, clearly appalled at the notion. “Where we come from the humans only speak of us in legend.”

“They speak of Vampires and Lycanthropes and Demons in legend. Djynn as well. But if we are to communicate with each other, humans are essential. Humans and half-breeds.”

“Half-breeds?” Viève asked, perking up.

“Nightwalkers bred with humans can write to one another. Or that has been our experience so far. They can feel each other as well. But they can’t see each other any more than we can,” Kamen said.

“So you mean they’re useful to you?” she asked. “To communicating, I mean.”

“Yes. Very useful,” Kamen said. He reached out and touched her face briefly.

Jackson’s eyes widened at the gesture. Was that affection he had just seen from Kamenwati? The coldest, most analytical and calculating man he knew…showing affection? It boggled the mind.

Jackson put that aside and focused on all of his new guests. “Would you like some clothes? We keep clothing in many sizes and styles for guests such as yourselves.”

“We don’t wear clothing.”

“Usually,” Ceara spoke up giving Cordo a hard look. “But in this case we are willing to do so.”

“Why? To make them more comfortable?” Cordo scoffed. “We are not here to make friends.”

“Yes, you are,” Kamen said harshly. “You are here to assess the need to strike an accord between our peoples. To do that means you have to get along with everyone here. You might make an effort to that end. Especially since, once you see the threat in question, you will need us as much as we need you.”

“That remains to be seen,” Cordo said coldly. “Very well, bring us these clothes.”

Marissa gestured for them to follow her and they didn’t seem to understand.

“Follow me,” she said, clarifying the gesture. Cordo frowned but did so, pulling on Ceara’s hand and leading her with them. Once they were out of the room, Viève sighed. “They are very unpleasant,” she said.

“There are those who would say the same about your race,” Jackson said candidly.