shook his head. “You should work on your people skills.”
“I’ll make a note of it. Were you here all this time? Gem was searching for you.”
“I had an appointment. Now what is this about Raven?”
Christian closed the distance between them and lowered his voice. “There was trouble at the club. Someone gave Raven pure sensory magic. Claude had no choice but to call me in. He could have handled it, but it would have raised suspicion. They’re on top of this job.”
Christian held his breath at the click of high heels in the hall behind the stairwell. When he recognized a light hum, he shook his head at Viktor. “I didn’t know you had company, or I wouldn’t have said anything about the assignment.”
“It is okay.”
Lenore appeared from behind the stairs with a light grip on Hunter’s hand.
“Did you find the washroom?” Viktor asked. “It can be confusing.”
“Yes. I just had to powder my nose,” she said with a wink. “This little guy wanted to escort me back.” Her slender fingers cupped the back of his head. “I adore children—especially the quiet ones. I could just eat him up.”
Christian pressed his lips tightly together.
Lenore let go of Hunter’s hand, and Hunter skipped toward the room where Switch usually held lessons. “I would like to include Christian in our meeting if that’s okay. I trust him.”
Viktor gave Christian a cursory glance before turning away. “As you wish. Follow me.”
Christian and Lenore trailed behind Viktor. He passed the office where he often held intimate meetings and headed toward another study at the back of the mansion. The windowless, dark room was suitable for Vampires, but Viktor lit up all the lanterns and candles.
“Have a seat.” He gestured to the two wingback chairs before an empty fireplace. The chairs were angled so they faced each other more than the hearth.
Christian sat down on the brown leather and watched Viktor drag over a third chair from a statue of an archer aiming his arrow at Christian’s chest.
“I love the Old World charm of your home.” Lenore crossed her legs and straightened out one of her wide pant legs. “The courtyard is simply a treasure. I adore greenery, but I can’t seem to keep it alive without professional help.”
“That sounds about right,” Christian muttered.
She sharpened her gaze at him but looked more curious than cross.
Viktor positioned his chair facing them with his back to the fireplace. “Apologies I cannot offer you a drink. I do not have meetings in here often and forgot to replace the wine I finished off last time. If you would like, I can—”
“Please don’t trouble yourself,” Lenore insisted. “I much prefer tea to wine, and I had a cup earlier.” Lenore’s lips twitched when she looked at Christian again. “I always seem to catch you without your shirt on. Where on earth would you be at this early hour only half-dressed?”
Christian dramatically crossed his legs but held back from giving her a dirty look. “Getting my chest waxed.”
Viktor cleared his throat and shifted to face Lenore. “It is not my habit to include my team in business matters with my clients and contacts. I relay the information to them, and they complete the task.”
“And I respect that,” Lenore said. “Clearly this is making you uncomfortable, but it’s my first time working an assignment like this, and I don’t know all the rules.”
Christian furrowed his brow. “What do you mean that by that?”
Viktor gestured to Lenore. “Miss Parrish is my secret contact for this mission.”
“You don’t say?” Christian’s stomach turned. No wonder she’d popped in the other day, but why would the higher authority give a new person that level of responsibility?
Lenore swept a blond tress away from her face and then studied her pearl ring. “I wanted to preside over execution hearings, but I suppose the powers that be preferred me to start on the bottom rung.” She reached over and touched Viktor’s hand. “No offense.”
“None taken.”
She sat back. “I prefer to be involved with seeing justice done. They initially wanted me working on redeveloping district twenty, but I insisted on something more challenging. I despise paperwork.”
Viktor clasped his hands together. “I am honored to have you working with us.”
Lenore’s graceful movements drew attention whenever she did something even as innocuous as admiring her fingernails. “Viktor and I were in a closed meeting unrelated to this case, and he offered to drive me home. I suggested coming here since I enjoyed my last visit.”