matter. If we reach an agreement, Prince Daron will inform the Council President.”
She studied Andreas’s face, but his lean features and hooded eyes told so little. The vampires were still hiding something. She wanted to refuse—she had her own mission to find the wolves—but Andreas had played their ace in the hole. He’d asked for the Council’s help. What choice did he leave her? Hell, she could be such a sucker.
She looked at the city’s vampire leader. “You have my attention, your highness. Give it your best shot.”
Daron frowned, appealed to his lieutenant.
“I believe she wants you to make your proposal.”
“Ahh.” The prince’s mouth spread in a broad smile, revealing a flash of fangs. “Andreas tells me that money would not be sufficient, so I propose an exchange of services. You provide protection for the vampire compound from dawn to dusk. In return, the resources of this court and my first lieutenant will be at your disposal to assist with this problem of the wolves. I understand you already discussed some kind of joint working relationship.” Daron smiled again, and Ari wondered exactly what Andreas had said to him.
“I can relieve him of other responsibilities, when necessary,” Daron continued. “Increase his availability.” He waved a careless hand. “Of course, these arrangements will end as soon as the traitors are exposed.” He unfolded his large frame and stood. “Are those terms satisfactory, Ms. Calin?”
Unprecedented entry to the vampire court. Access to their resources. And the vampires would be indebted to the Council. More than satisfactory terms. But most important to Ari, Andreas would have to help her track the wolves.
She darted a glance at Andreas. She thought she’d seen a smile when Daron asked if the terms were satisfactory, but she asked anyway. “You comfortable with this?”
“My duties are whatever the prince says they are.”
That answer didn’t help much, but it raised another question. She turned to Daron. “How can you offer me one of your lieutenants right now? Don’t you need him here, protecting the court?”
Daron scowled and exchanged a look with Andreas.
“Fine,” she said in exasperation. “You’re still holding out, hiding something. It's your call. But in that case, I’m out of here.”
Andreas grabbed her arm before she got more than two steps. “I suggest we tell her the rest of it,” he said over his shoulder.
“Then do so.” The vampire prince dropped back into his chair.
Ari brushed Andreas’s hand away. “Well?”
“Solving one problem may solve both,” Andreas admitted. “The attacks on the court, the drug activities around town, all of it may be at Sebastian’s orders. The moment he met with you in Toronto, I feared his ambitions had caused him to look in our direction.”
“The drugs I get. But why attack your court? What does he gain?”
“I told you Daron and Sebastian were enemies.”
“You said they weren’t friendly,” she muttered. “That was the understatement of the day. If he’d go to this much trouble, this must be a feud of ginormous proportions.”
“I’m not sure what that means, but this is not a simple matter of bad blood between vampires.” Daron raised his voice in irritation. “Sebastian is after my court.”
Ari stared at him. “But he has Toronto. No offense, but why would he give up that for Riverdale?”
“Not instead of Toronto. He wants to add Riverdale to his control. Spread his influence and power,” Andreas said. “We suspect Sebastian is waging war, a challenge for the throne, without coming here or declaring himself. If he can set up a puppet leader, he would gain immense status, especially with those in Europe. And I think we can safely assume he has already selected the successor prince. Someone who will do as he dictates.”
“You’ve known this several days,” Ari said, her eyes filled with accusation. “When were you going to tell me?”
It was Daron who answered. “I asked him to wait.”
“Why? For how long? Until somebody else got killed?”
“Can the recriminations wait?” Andreas was getting angry. “You and I can discuss this later. Right now, we need to make decisions about moving forward.”
“Fine. I can hardly wait for our little talk.”
Daron looked at his lieutenant. The corners of the old vampire’s mouth quirked. “I am not sure I pay you enough.” He wiped the amusement from his face before he turned to Ari. “Does this mean you accept?”
Did it? In typical vampire fashion, both parts of this agreement benefited the vampires the most. But if they were right, someone in Riverdale had done terrible things in support of a