Allie snorted to herself, but gave me a supportive pat on the hand. "Don't worry about anything, Pia. I'm sure it's all just a big mistake. And I apologize right now for you being brought here without having the slightest idea why."
"To be honest, I came because I have my own agenda," I admitted, meeting Christian's gaze with what I hoped was composure.
"I have no doubt of that," Rowan said, speaking up for the first time since I'd seen him in the car. His voice was carefully neutral, but I sensed hostility from him that I hadn't felt in Iceland. I wondered if Kristoff had bad-mouthed me to his brother and cousin, but almost immediately dismissed the idea-Kristoff might not want me in the place of his dead girlfriend, but he wasn't the sort of man who would indulge in a smear campaign.
"Why did you want to see the council?" Allie asked, obviously curious. Esme perched on the edge of the table until Christian shot her a look. She drifted over to the wall, where a couple of satin-covered armchairs sat in a cozy arrangement.
"I... er... I want to talk to Christian about Mattias and Kristjana."
She looked surprised. "The two reapers? One of them is here. The woman is still in Iceland, though. Christian said something about it being more trouble to move her than was worth the effort. Did you want to see Mattias? I'm sure he'd be happy to see you. He's been a bit vocal about wanting someone, anyone to visit him. I think he's suffering from a touch of cabin fever, if you want to know the truth."
"They're all right, aren't they?" I asked her, since she seemed to be much more forthcoming with information.
"Of course they are." She smiled and glanced at the frowning Christian for a few seconds. "Honestly, Pia, these guys may look like badasses, but they don't hurt people without a really good reason."
"Our asses are as bad as they come," Christian insisted. He stopped himself, closed his eyes for a second, then opened them and said, "This conversation is not to the purpose of the meeting at hand. If we might start?"
"We'd better let him. He gets a wee bit cranky if he doesn't get to do things properly," Allie whispered.
"I heard that, woman!"
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sidetrack anyone. I just wanted to make sure that the Brotherhood people are all right."
Sebastian's eyes narrowed on me. "Why is it that I don't find it surprising that you are concerned with the welfare of the people who tried so hard to kill us?"
"Probably for the same reason I'm not surprised you would ask that," I heard myself say, somewhat to my horror. "You didn't like me back in Iceland, and it's clear you're still of the opinion that I'm the devil incarnate. Given that you obviously have your mind made up about me, I guess it's clear that whatever this hearing is about, it will not be unbiased."
"Brava, Pia," Allie said, applauding.
Sebastian, who had sat down after speaking to me, leaped to his feet again.
"Outbursts will not be tolerated," Christian said smoothly, shooting his friend a warning glance.
With a sharp look at me, Sebastian sat down again.
"That's the pot calling the kettle black," Allie said under her breath to me, a little chuckle following the observation.
"Nor will interruptions be allowed," Christian continued with a pointed look at his wife.
To my surprise, she blew him a kiss and sat back with a smile.
Christian eyed me for a moment before saying, "You are concerned about the welfare of the prisoners. As my Beloved says, the woman Kristjana is detained in Iceland. Would you like to see the sacristan?"
"Yes, I would. I don't believe you would deliberately harm either of them without cause, but at the same time, I can't help but feel somewhat responsible for their welfare."
Christian nodded to Rowan. "Have the prisoner brought in."
Rowan slid him a questioning glance, but Christian sat with calm assurance, his gaze flickering from me to his wife.
No one spoke for the next few minutes. Despite that, I had an odd sense that Christian and Allie were holding a mental conversation, for every now and then a frown would flicker across his face, and once I heard her laugh to herself.
The door opened at last, and behind it marched a familiar man, tall and blond, with an open, friendly face, and a manner to go with it.
"Wife!" Mattias said, taking a step toward me as if he were going to rush me.
Sebastian leaped from his chair, causing Mattias to flinch backward, yelling, "The evil one will torture me!"
"We haven't harmed you yet," Sebastian said with obvious lack of patience as he pushed Mattias into a chair along the wall. Esme drifted over to sit next to him. "Tempting as it is to fulfill your opinion of us, you will notice that we have thus far refrained."