he was caused by having to come, but too polite to actually say so aloud.
“Greetings, alpha of Clan Goliath. What can I do for you this evening?”
Paul didn’t bother to rise.
“Greetings, Alec Royce. I understand I must be inconveniencing you and I apologize.” ‘I owe you nothing, not even my respect.’ “I have been anxious to speak with you.” ‘I tore down kingdoms of your kind.’ “I would like very much to have the cub returned to me.” ‘Give me the cub or I will feast upon your flesh.’
‘Oh, I’ll just bet you would,’ Alec thought. ‘Your apology sounds as sincere as my regrets.’
“I can understand your wishes, but your people attacked me without provocation and in broad public view. Per the agreements made, I am allowed retribution and you—I do hope Christoph informed you—are treading dangerous ground by entering this city without the permission of the local pack leaders.”
Royce was confident that he had the upper hand, particularly at the jolt his words gave the Goliath alpha.
“Analie is safe and unharmed. I will protect her as if she were one of my own until she is returned to you. She has only to do what I ask of her until then. I should think you’d be pleased that it is only temporary servitude that I demanded, rather than their heads.” ‘Choke on it, you mangy dog.’
The alpha wondered if Gregory could run the pack if he were to go down in a blaze of glory with his teeth affixed to Royce’s neck.
“I understand.” ‘I’m going to murder you.’ “However, I am prepared to offer you something that would very much benefit you and your” ‘—sordid empire—’ “business for the safe return of the cub. One of my pack owns a distribution company that deals with a number of useful and unusual—legal—foreign imports. I would think this could be of great interest to you.” ‘Please, for Seeker’s sake, let it be of interest to you.’ “We are prepared to begin negotiations with a business deal greatly benefiting you.”
The alpha smiled without teeth and tried to suppress the prickle of his hair creeping down his spine.
Royce pretended to deliberate the alpha’s request. ‘I wonder how hard I have to push you to make you attack me, too? Imagine the benefits of having you at my beck and call.’
“I’m prepared to listen to your offer, but I require that either Analie or Christoph remain with me as payment for the damage they have caused. The time limit is negotiable, but I intend to teach them the folly of revealing their abilities so publicly. This would be of benefit not only to me personally, but to you, the rest of your pack, and all Others who might otherwise have been endangered by their rash actions.” ‘Plus give me the satisfaction of knowing there isn’t a damned thing you can do about it.’
Meeting the alpha’s golden eyes without flinching, Royce made a point of keeping his voice level and reasonable, if only to infuriate the alpha further.
“Now, I did make the offer to Christoph at the time that I would accept either his or Analie’s service. If you choose to revoke his decision and send him in her stead, I would find that agreeable. However, he would present more of a danger than she does, and I would need some form of personal guarantee if he caused any further damage.”
The alpha stared at the sleek, reflective surface of the table, thinking. This was bad. Goliath’s way of life was centered around killing and eating vampires. People used to appreciate this.
Now Royce was the one being legal, making the humans happy. He had the cub and no one was arguing with that. If the alpha were to tear off his head right now, he would be the one at fault, and hunted for it.
Goliath needed to change with the times. Unfortunately, they were ill-suited for this. They were toothless in this modern world, and almost witless. Their violent tendencies were no longer tolerated in a world of liability and taxes and property.
Never had the alpha felt so powerless. He needed to make a decision. Nothing seemed like the best path. He had been quiet for too long.
God, he hated vampires.
Royce studied the alpha who was obviously stumped by the options left open to him. All of this was almost too easy.
“If you’re worried that Analie will have no interaction with other Weres, you need not be concerned. I have friends and allies in the local