Kadmus didn’t answer as the door closed behind him. Brasden was a dead man. He’d sealed his fate a long time ago and wasn’t worth thinking about.

He had told Brasden that he had a destiny, and that grand destiny was looming closer with every passing moment. He had never been more certain than after that call with Ling.

Ling was the path to Cameron.

And Cameron was the path to Kadmus’s destiny.

He pulled the lotus necklace that Brasden had tossed so contemptuously at him out of his pocket. He caressed the pendant with a gentle finger.

Destiny.

Shambhala.

THURSDAY

3:37 P.M.

“What’s happening, Catherine?” Erin was standing in the doorway of the library looking at Hu Chang and Catherine. “When do we leave? You’ve not said a word to me today.”

Catherine had been afraid of this confrontation.

“I was busy with Luke. I wanted—” She shook her head. Erin deserved the truth. “I was trying to think of a way to tell you that you’re out of it.”

“What?” She stared Catherine in the eye. “The hell I am. I’m in this up to my neck. Why does Cameron want me out?”

“He doesn’t, I do,” Catherine said. “Look, there’s no use your going to the fireworks factory tonight. I told you Kadmus seems to have changed focus. Leave it up to Cameron and me.”

“And my humble self,” Hu Chang said. “Whose help is magnificently useful and erases the need for anyone else.”

“No way,” Erin said flatly. “You’re not closing me out. If you leave me here, I’ll be knocking on the door of that damn Stars, Moon, and Heavenly—whatever. This is more my fight than anyone else’s.”

“You’re not needed,” Catherine said. “I don’t want you to go, Erin. And it may not be necessary now. I told you, Kadmus is narrowing his sights on me at the moment. I can be the bait.”

“I’m going. I’ll let you whisk me out of there as you planned because I don’t want you to risk yourself trying to protect me. But I will be part of this, Catherine.”

Catherine sighed. “You’re a very stubborn woman, Erin.”

“Yes.” Erin’s warm smile suddenly lit her face. “Hey, if Kadmus couldn’t break me, you don’t stand a chance. What time?”

“After dinner, as soon as we can slip away.” She paused. “Luke is not to know.”

“Trouble.”

“Dammit, he’s going to be safe here. Cameron promised me that the place would be surrounded by Blake’s guards and that he’d check on him frequently.” She didn’t like it, but she had no choice. Other than tying Luke up and stuffing him in a closet, Cameron’s solution was the only logical and safe one. “I’ll only be gone a few hours. I’m hoping Celia can distract him.”

“Distraction is certainly her area of expertise,” Hu Chang said. “But she’s limited in Luke’s case.”

“I didn’t need to hear that,” Catherine said. “Or maybe I did. I just hope she’ll rise to the occasion.” She got to her feet. “I can’t change your mind, Erin?”

She shook her head. “We’ve traveled this path together. I won’t leave you now.”

Catherine gazed at her with frustration, deep affection, and a trace of panic. They were so close to assuring Erin’s permanent safety, but tonight, anything could happen.

She smiled with an effort. “Just stay close as you did in that hot spring, and we’ll be okay.”

She nodded. “And I promise I won’t duck my head under the water.”

“See that you don’t.”

But what they might encounter tonight could be far deadlier than anything they’d yet faced together.

God, keep her safe. She’s gone through so much. Give her a break tonight.

7:40 P.M.

Celia gazed at Luke uncertainly. He’d been much too quiet for the past thirty minutes.

Luke turned away from the French doors to look at her.

“Where’s Catherine?” he asked uncertainly. “And Hu Chang? Something’s happening, isn’t it?”

“Something is always happening,” Celia said. “But nothing for you to worry about.”

“I saw men on the street at the front of the house and one near the corner. Who are they?”

“No one to concern you. Cameron has the house surrounded by several lethal-looking men who he assures me will take good care of all of us.”

“Why should he do that? Where’s Catherine?” Luke repeated. “I haven’t seen her since dinner. And Hu Chang, he always—”

“You’ll have to ask Cameron. He said he’d come around and check on you later.” She smiled. “He’s gone to a lot of trouble. He evidently cares a great deal for you, Luke.”

“I like him, too.” He added, “Most of the time.”

“I feel the same way.” Celia laughed. “But you may have more reason. He’s turned your life upside down.”

“No, he hasn’t. I’m the one who decided to go after Catherine when she left Hong Kong.” His gaze went to the garden. “There are two men out there near the summerhouse. Are they more of the men Cameron assigned to us?”

“Yes. Stop worrying. Come into the kitchen with me, and I’ll make you a cup of jasmine tea.”

“I’m not worrying. I just have to know what’s happening.” He didn’t turn around. “Catherine’s gone to that fireworks factory she was talking about with Erin and Hu Chang, hasn’t she?”

She went still. “I don’t know about any fireworks factory. I don’t ask, and I prefer not to be involved.” She paused. “How did you happen to hear about it? I can’t see Catherine’s discussing it around you.”

“She didn’t. I heard them talking, but I didn’t hear it all. I didn’t know it was tonight. She should have told me.” His hand tightened on the French doorjamb. “She should have taken me. But I knew she wasn’t going to do it.”

“So you decided to do a little eavesdropping?” Celia asked shrewdly. “What did you hear, Luke?”

“Enough. She should have taken me. We should be together. I should be able to take care of her.”

“I’m not sure how mothers usually think, but I don’t believe that’s the way it goes, Luke.” She shrugged. “Anyway, it’s too late. You’ll have to make the best of staying with me until Cameron gives me a call. He made it very clear that all of these guards were here to keep you safe and sound.”

“And what about Catherine?”

“Cameron will make sure that nothing happens to her.”

“But that’s not his job, it’s mine,” he said fiercely. “Catherine belongs to me.”

“Discuss it with him.” Celia moved toward the kitchen. “I believe he may have a different view. Now I’ll go in the kitchen and start the water boiling. We’ll have tea, and I’ll try to keep you amused for the next few hours. I’m not good at chess, but I’m one great poker player.” She hesitated at the door. “She’ll be fine, Luke,” she said softly. “You’ll have lots of time to take care of your mother when you get a little older. I’ll call you when the tea is ready.”

What was she doing babysitting a boy like Luke? Celia thought with frustration as she moved toward the kitchen. She liked the kid, but she knew nothing about what made boys his age tick. He was older in some ways than the men who were her customers, and there were depths that she had not been able to reach. But she couldn’t treat him as she did—

Her phone rang. Cameron.

“I don’t like this, Cameron,” she said crossly. “You told me to keep him busy. You didn’t tell me that he has some kind of obsession about protecting his mother. How the hell am I supposed to soothe him and make everything alright?”

“Soothe him?” Cameron repeated. “Why?”

“He knows what’s happening, dammit. He eavesdropped and came up with answers that didn’t compute when he didn’t see Catherine after dinner. I don’t know if I can—”

“He knows about the fireworks factory?”

“He mentioned something about it.”

“Shit,” Cameron snapped. “Where is he now?”

“In the dining room. I just left him glaring at two of the guards in the garden that you sent over. I’m in the kitchen making jasmine tea and trying to lure him with a poker game.”