that hunch that told her something wasn’t right. She wanted to alert Ryan. If she didn’t show up later, he could at least call out the Mounties to look for bodies.
“No calls. Sebastian said no calls or the meeting is off.”
“Well, your boss is the one who’s so anxious to meet.”
The vamp gave her the same stone-faced look.
Non-negotiable, huh? She pocketed her phone. Ryan was too far away to help anyway. What did she care if they found the bodies? “Fine, but the Toronto Guardian and I go together or not at all. We’ll follow you in our own car.”
The tattooed vampire frowned but offered a compromise. “You can go together, with Pierre in the backseat. No calls. Let’s go now. Prince Sebastian is waiting.”
* * *
An hour later, they pulled into the rear parking lot of a modern twenty-two-story hotel. Zoe parked her VW next to the vampires’ black sports car. As they entered the hotel rear entrance, additional escorts arrived to take them to the top floor. VIP suite. Vampire guards stood at every entry.
Once inside the suite, the tattooed vampire directed them toward a seating area near the large bay window. The drapes opened to the night sky, and Ari looked out on a spectacular view of Toronto’s lights. Zoe chose the nearest chair and made herself comfortable, casually crossing her legs. Ari elected to stand.
Double doors opened on the left, and five vampires glided into the room. Even though the haughty demeanor of the vampire in the lead identified him as Sebastian, Ari had to stop herself from gaping. The Toronto prince was the most underwhelming vamp she’d ever seen.
Squat, stubby, but it wasn’t his diminutive size that drew her attention. She didn’t dare look at Zoe. Ari swallowed hard to force down a wayward giggle and peeked again at the very weird mustache dominating his upper lip. History book pictures of Hitler came to mind. The same black, bristling scrub-brush. Only larger. It couldn’t be real.
Sebastian suddenly focused on her, and she forgot the mustache. A sense of malevolent loathing slithered over her. She clamped down her magical defenses. Too late. Sebastian’s power pushed through her outer walls like they weren’t there. Blinding pain sent her collapsing on her knees, and she squeezed her fingers to her temples.
She dropped her hands to call the witch fire, but muscled arms grabbed her from behind, trapping her hands to her sides. Throwing her body against him in a frantic attempt to break free, she knocked them both to the floor, but her hands remained imprisoned. Curling in against the pain, Ari teetered on the edge of panic.
A sudden rush of heat flared in her head, a mental door slammed shut, and the pain lessened. Sebastian’s intrusive magic battered unabated against the barrier. She couldn’t push him out, but the certainty grew that he wasn’t going any farther.
The pressure seemed to last forever. In reality, it was only seconds. Then Ari was able to think clearly again. She relaxed her struggles, and as soon as the guard let go, she shot to her feet. Five vamps formed a circle around her. Zoe’s arms were held by two others, a knife at her throat.
Sebastian stared at her with cold, calculating eyes. “Interesting. Have a seat, Guardian. I am sure you would be more comfortable.” His words, even recited in a soft, singsong voice, were not a request.
She sat. It was a minor issue, and Sebastian had made his point. By some miracle, Ari had blocked him, but she had no idea how she’d done it. Or how to do it again.
“Tell me, Ms. Calin, how do you like our city so far? Is it not fabulous? I believe this is your first visit.”
Well, hell, now he wanted to chitchat? “I find it…overrun with dead things.”
“How unfortunate. I thought we provided a rather lively nightlife. What would you say, Ms. Vesper?” A benign smile beamed at Zoe.
Released by the restraining guards, Zoe stretched to her full height. “You can leave me out of this, Sebastian. And in the future, if you have anything to say to me, do it through the Magic Council.”
He barely spared her a glance. “I was merely being polite, my dear. I have absolutely no interest in you or your Magic Council.”
“So what do you want?” Ari asked, grabbing the offensive. “I have a plane to catch. If there’s a reason for this meeting, beyond your obvious power demonstration, let’s get on with it.”