him. But given his sloppiness, there’s a good chance we’ll find traces on that, too. When we get him. Which we will.”
“What about the letters Levi sent to Cadogan House?” my father asked. “Do they help?”
“Not yet,” Theo said. “There were some references to Chicago—including a friend who’d lived here once, who we thought might have offered him a place to stay. But the friend moved to Philly ten years ago, and his apartment is now home to a very nice human family. We didn’t have any more leads until he sent you that very sloppy message.”
“That’s our ticket,” I agreed. “I think we pick a time and place, and we lure Levi out. Maybe send him a fake newsletter saying Connor and I will be there for some kind of event. Something that will make him think he can get to both of us at once.”
My mother frowned. “He may be too smart to fall for that.”
“Not if we add one more element,” I said. “Not if we tell him we’ll be at Cadogan House.”
There were sounds and nods of agreement. “He’ll want to come back here,” Dad said. “He can close old wounds.”
“That’s my thinking.”
“And we’ll be there to wrap him up,” Gwen said.
“How does this help with the AAM?” my father asked.
“We know the AAM only selectively enforces the prohibition on making new vampires. When I talk to Nicole, I can offer him up in exchange for her dropping the issue.” I leaned forward. “He’s killed another vampire, attacked a human, stolen a car, hit a shifter. He’s doing damage throughout the city, attracting human attention. She’ll want him wrapped up. And that might be enough to have her drop her claims against me—especially if I offer not to press charges.”
“It’s a good argument,” my father said. “I don’t know if she’ll agree, and it presumes you can get Levi to Cadogan House, but it’s a start.”
“Clive isn’t going to like that at all,” my mother said. “Assuming he’s been released by then, he might see his brother’s arrest as your fault, regardless of what the AAM does.”
“I think there’s a pretty good risk of that. But I also think, if we can get Clive to Cadogan House and he sees his brother, maybe he’ll have a reckoning.”
“That’s a gamble,” my father said.
“I know. And that leads me to my next option.” I gathered my courage, looked at Connor. “As Alexei suggested: a duel.”
“No,” Connor and my father said simultaneously.
I held up a hand. “At least hear me out before you start with the pronouncements. If we can get the pieces in place, it’s a way to wrap up everything at once. To put Levi behind bars, and deal with Clive.”
I laid it out for them: my Canon hunt, the Rule of Satisfaction, and the likelihood Clive was going to be a problem we had to solve, regardless of what the AAM did.
“And if they hurt you?” Mom asked.
“I have no intention of getting dead,” I said. “I get to pick the weapon, and I’m very good with a katana. I’d rather fight for my life than be forced into seclusion by the AAM. Or worse,” I added, willing her to understand the real choice. “You’d do the same thing in my place.”
As if resigned, she sighed, looked at my father. “Thoughts?”
“The Rule of Satisfaction hasn’t been used in a long time. But based on what we know of him, Clive may welcome the opportunity to best you. And rules can be put into place—limitations on the scope of the duel—that would reduce the risk.”
Clive would never agree to limitations, but I didn’t need to voice that here.
“I want the rest of the AAM out of my city.”
We all looked at Gwen, at the ferocity in her eyes. “I’m just getting to know many of you, and you seem to be good, honorable people.” She made a point of looking at me, which I appreciated. “They aren’t. I want Heart’s agreement to move them back to Atlanta as soon as Levi is in custody. We’ll let the attorneys worry about prosecution.”
“We’ll do what we can,” my father said. “I’ll talk to the guards, and we’ll arrange for additional, but unseen, eyes and ears on the grounds. Nicole will arrive shortly after dusk. She plans to speak with Clive and the others before your discussion.”
“Which is at midnight,” I said. “So we should try to get Levi here by one a.m. at the latest.” I looked at Petra.