it’s more fallout from the attack on Prince Daron. I’m going to drop by the club and find out.” Ari sighed. “How long do we keep putting out fires?”
“As long as it takes,” Steffan answered. “What’s the alternative? If a major disturbance breaks out in the Otherworld community, all of us are in trouble. Humanity’s fears hover just under the surface. And that’s on a good day.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Steffan’s sobering words stayed with Ari after the call ended. A war between the races wouldn’t just destroy Riverdale. In a world of instant news, the panic would spread across the country. The mastermind behind this was taking a terrible risk.
With that thought in mind, she headed for the door. She’d used up the afternoon; dusk had fallen. It was time to find Andreas.
As she reached for the knob, vampiric energy sent her witch blood racing, and the door swung open. Lucien, the vampire council representative, filled the passageway. Ari didn’t like him, knew he didn’t like her, and had no interest in talking with him today.
She scowled. “What do you want?”
As usual Lucien was dressed in a suit that made him look like a banker. Ari had a sudden vision of him as a successful executive, climbing the corporate ladder, until someone changed his career choice and he joined the ranks of the undead. On second thought, Lucien had never been that mainstream. Maybe he’d been an accountant for the mob.
Today the suit was gray, perhaps to match the hair.
“May I come in?” he asked.
She raised a brow. Way too polite for Lucien. “What do you want?” she repeated.
“I have a message for you.”
Lucien was being congenial. Ari wasn’t buying it. Maybe he should have shown a little courtesy at the Council meeting. “Then deliver it.”
“I would prefer more privacy for this conversation. Perhaps I can come in, and we can close the door?”
“I don’t think so.”
Lucien’s eyes dilated. “Andreas said we could trust you.”
“That’s nice, but I don’t trust you. If Andreas has something to say to me, why isn’t he here?”
“The message is not from Andreas.”
Ari frowned, fast losing patience. The only reason she was still listening was because he implied Andreas knew something about this. “We’re not getting very far with this conversation, are we? Either give me the message or leave.” He’d picked a bad day for a chat. She pointed her chin at him and clenched her fists. Lucien clearly didn’t know what to do, faced with conducting his business in a doorway or leaving before he accomplished his task. Part of Ari was amused by his dilemma, but it was wasting time. Her time.
“Oh, fine,” she said, grudgingly ending the stalemate. “You can come in, but the door stays open.”
She backed toward her desk, slipping behind it without taking her eyes off the vampire. Lucien pulled a chair from the conference table. As he sat, he arranged his jacket, checked the creases on his trousers. It was all for show.
Finally he spoke. “I am here on behalf of Prince Daron. He wishes to speak with you this evening.”
“About what?”
Lucien’s pinched face told her he didn’t want to answer that. “We have had an incident.” The creases on his face grew deeper. “One of the prince’s staff was staked in his sleep. Normally we—”
“Who was it?” she interrupted. A heavy pulse beat in her temple. Not again. Too soon. Why wasn’t Andreas the one here talking to her?
Lucien’s frown became a fierce scowl.
“Who was killed?” she repeated.
“Does it matter?” he snapped. He caught himself—he’d obviously been told to play nice. “Frederick.”
Ari’s muscles relaxed, her heart resumed its normal beat.
“As I was saying,” Lucien continued, his voice still heavy with disapproval, “normally we handle our own affairs. In this matter, the prince has decided to consult with you.”
Yeah, right. Ari waited for the punch line. “Go on,” she said.
“That was it. That is the message. I am here to take you to him. The prince wants to speak with you immediately.”
“Consult about what? What exactly does the prince want from me?”
“He will explain when you meet.”
She shook her head. “Not good enough. I’m not putting a foot outside this office with you, Lucien. Especially not to meet with the biggest, baddest vampire in the city. If Prince Daron wants to talk to me, have him come here.” She wasn’t sure she’d be safe even then, but she could arrange for others to meet with them. She’d learned from Sebastian just what the old ones could do. She wouldn’t