lost an arm.’
‘So your delaying tactics are nothing more than petty tit-for-tat? Anyway, that happened under Brady’s watch.’
He pursed his lips. ‘What guarantees do we have that you will treat us differently?’
‘We need mutual respect. We don’t have to be friends but we can work together more efficiently to ensure greater results for all. I give you my word that the next time you call upon us, we shall respond within the hour.’
I could see him mulling it over. ‘Very well,’ he said eventually, ‘I shall promise the same.’ He cocked his head. ‘You should remember, however, that although we may lack your brute strength, we are also powerful. We are capable of both attack and defence in our own right.’
I bowed slightly. ‘I would not deny it.’ I decided I could afford a little ego massaging. ‘The Ministry is indeed capable of a considerable amount. Not just in terms of defence or care in managing the Otherworld factions, but also in restraint. The Brethren can learn from you.’
It seemed to do the trick and I noted a flicker of self-satisfaction in his eyes. ‘Indeed. Perhaps I can offer you the opportunity to exercise such restraint now.’
Wary of his motives, I frowned. ‘How so?’
‘I imagine you are not merely here to offer me an olive branch and to demand greater punctuality.’
I shouldn’t have been surprised. It would have been no great leap for him to learn what had occurred with the Ghillie Dhu and to realise I required help in tracking down the little man. I was still not sure where the Arch-Mage was going with his enigmatic comments, however. ‘You are correct,’ I said slowly.
He snapped his fingers and a thin-looking mage with pinched cheeks peered inside, quickly blinking in acknowledgment and disappearing.
‘Not everything is black and white, Lord Alpha. And not all shifter blood is spilled without reason.’ He tapped the corner of his mouth thoughtfully. ‘Restraint, dear boy, restraint.’
There was an odd shuffling sound and I turned back to the open doorway just in time to see a short man with a bruised face almost hidden by a thatch of coarse, black hair appear. His clothing was a dead giveaway: carefully arranged moss and woven leaves.
‘The Ghillie Dhu,’ I said unnecessarily.
‘Just so,’ the Arch-Mage replied. ‘The ball is now in your court.’ With that he swept out, leaving the small man and me alone.
Chapter Fourteen
I stared at the Ghillie Dhu. It was hard to believe that he could be responsible for the deaths of two shifters. It wasn’t simply his diminutive stature. I spent my entire life around predators and beings who were not only capable of violence but who often enjoyed it. The Ghillie Dhu, however, exuded fear. I could smell it seeping from his pores. But was he scared because he knew I would mete out extreme – and justified – punishment?
‘Did you kill my men?’ I asked finally.
He swallowed, refusing to meet my eyes, reminding me for a moment of a certain truculent werehamster. ‘Yes.’
Damn it. His voice was level and calm, containing no hint of a lie. I ground my teeth together. ‘Why?’ He didn’t immediately answer. I had to batten down the urge to grab him and shake him as hard as I possibly could. I glanced down at my hands and realised tufts of dark fur were starting to appear. I clenched my fists, willing them to disappear. ‘Was it for kicks?’ I snarled. ‘I thought you were a peaceful Otherworlder.’
He cocked his head, mossy-green eyes looking confused. ‘Kicks? I did not kick anyone. I used the sword.’
Clearly, the Ghillie Dhu had indeed been out of society for some time. ‘I mean enjoyment,’ I explained. ‘Did you slaughter my shifters out of enjoyment?’
‘I do not like hurting others.’
‘So why did you do it?’ I repeated in frustration.
‘The children told me the shifters had hurt them.’ His eyes narrowed slightly. ‘It is not good when the children are in pain.’
I knew there were shifters, both within the Brethren and without, who would sometimes attack without provocation. Not everyone had control over their baser animal instincts. I could not lay credence to the suggestion that any of them had hurt a kid though. I was struggling to give the Ghillie Dhu the benefit of the doubt. ‘Which children?’
‘The Dark Flowers, of course.’
For one absurd moment, I thought he was referring to some teeny pop group I’d not heard of. Then something clicked. ‘Fae,’ I breathed. ‘You’re talking about the Unseelie Fae.’ No wonder