“We’re here to gain audience with the Empress of the Mysticals,” Kamen said.

Grey burst out in a hard laugh. “And why would I let you do that? Especially with her.” He pointed rudely to Viève. “Do you have any idea what the Wraiths did to the Empress?”

“Wraiths?” Viève asked in confusion. “What did the Wraiths do to her?”

“They held her captive for months. They tormented her and fed her eggs so she would be stuck in her Mystical form and couldn’t escape, keeping her trapped in a room in a house. I think they tortured her. I’m not quite clear on all the details. She doesn’t exactly speak to me about such things.”

“But she does speak to you?”

“She does. She’s been recovering here where she knows she’s protected. She knows I would never hurt her. That I’m not just using her because she’s a very powerful nikki.”

“And how is her recovery going?” Viève asked.

“Between you and me, she’s more better than worse. She spent a lot of time being threatened with the possibility of a Wraith using their deathtouch on her. It’s the equivalent to a human being held constantly at gunpoint. She’s been traumatized.” Grey leaned in and narrowed eyes on Viève.

“That’s terrible,” Viève whispered.

“Indeed it was. So I ask again, what makes you think she’s going to want to talk to a Wraith?”

“Then let her talk to me,” Kamen said.

“You’re not much better. Everyone knows what you did.”

“She knows about Apep?” Kamen asked.

“I may have let something slip. But I’ve protected her from the goings-on in the outside world. She’s a very delicate creature.”

“Delicate creature or no, she’s the leader of an entire species of Nightwalkers. She needs to come to grips with this situation and lead them,” Kamen said.

Grey seemed to think on it a moment. “No,” he said then. “I don’t think I’ll let you see her.”

“Please,” Viève spoke up. “We just want the Mysticals to join in our fight against Apep. If they don’t then the Wraiths won’t join. And if the Wraiths don’t join we’ll never be able to fight off Apep.”

“What makes you so sure you’ll be able to fight him off anyway?” Grey asked.

“We’re not sure. But it’s better than doing nothing and letting him run roughshod over us. We’re the last line of defense between Apep and the mortal world and I think you know that.”

“What do I care about the mortal world?” Grey asked carelessly.

“No mortals, no wishes,” Viève spoke up quickly.

That made Grey go still. “Hmm. Hadn’t thought about that. Still, if Apep does try to dominate the world, there’ll be a lot of people wishing for a solution.”

“One you can’t provide. What happens, exactly, when a Djynn can’t fulfill a wish?” Kamen asked.

Grey paled a little. “It’s not a pretty sight,” he admitted. “But that’s why every wish is open to interpretation. So we can avoid the ones we can’t fulfill. Not every Djynn is powerful enough to fulfill every wish. Power comes with time, training, and niks. Take your little Kat for instance. She shouldn’t even ask for a wish because she’s a half-breed with no power yet.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being a half-breed,” Viève said defensively.

“No indeed. But it does make her less powerful than most…for the time being. I have hopes for your little half-breed Djynn.”

“Let’s get back to the Empress,” Kamen redirected. “It’s crucial you let us see her. Or at least point us in the direction of someone who can make these decisions for her.”

“Oh, she can make these decisions. She’s been ruling her people quite nicely from here.” He seemed to think on it a moment. “Very well. I’ll allow the visit. But only because she doesn’t look so much like a Wraith. Those ghouls still give her nightmares.”

“I don’t understand what the Wraiths would have wanted with a Mystical,” Viève said with a puzzled frown. “It’s not like it is with Djynn. The Djynn can get power from a Mystical…if it’s a nikki…right?”

“Right. Mysticals by nature are nikkis.”

“But what would a Wraith do with a nikki?”

“That is a very good question. One you might pose to the Wraiths who held her captive.”

“Does she know which cell it was?”

“I know which cell it was. I transported Leo and Faith there to retrieve her.”

“Well…I’m not certain they would tell me. I’m only…” She stopped short of saying the words “a half-breed.”

“It makes no difference. She’s safe now and that’s all that matters.”

“Perhaps,” Kamen said. “But it does make this more difficult. The Empress of the Mysticals is not going to want to strike an accord with the Wraiths.”

“You will have to ask her about that,” Grey said. “She may yet surprise you.”

“We hope so,” Viève said.

“Well then, come with me.” Grey paused a moment and eyed Viève. “Perhaps…yes, at least for the beginning we should color your hair so it doesn’t look so…so…Wraith.”

Grey lifted a hand and touched Viève’s hair. Kamen felt a visceral twinge at the sight of another man touching her in what could be described as an intimate way. As Grey stroked her hair he found himself fighting the urge to strike his hand away. The feeling shocked Kamen, disturbed him deeply. What is this? he asked himself. The last thing he should be doing in this situation was considering something so aggressive toward the man who was their only access to the Empress. He struggled with himself for that brief moment, and controlled the sensation. Still, it left its mark on him.

Viève’s hair changed color under Grey’s stroking touch. It felt odd to have another man’s hands on her. People just didn’t voluntarily touch her where she was from. Being with Kamen was the most she had ever been touched in her life. It was why she was so hungry for it. Starved really. But she didn’t want Grey’s touch the way she wanted Kamen’s.