Awakening the Fire

chapter Twenty-Five

Steffan’s sobering words stayed with Ari after the call ended. A war between the races wouldn’t just destroy Riverdale. In a world of instant news, the panic would spread across the country. The mastermind behind this was taking a terrible risk.

With that thought in mind, she headed for the door. She’d used up the afternoon; dusk had fallen. It was time to find Andreas.

As she reached for the knob, vampiric energy sent her witch blood racing, and the door swung open. Lucien, the vampire council representative, filled the passageway. Ari didn’t like him, knew he didn’t like her, and had no interest in talking with him today.

She scowled. “What do you want?”

As usual Lucien was dressed in a suit that made him look like a banker. Ari had a sudden vision of him as a successful executive, climbing the corporate ladder, until someone changed his career choice and he joined the ranks of the undead. On second thought, Lucien had never been that mainstream. Maybe he’d been an accountant for the mob.

Today the suit was gray, perhaps to match the hair.

“May I come in?” he asked.

She raised a brow. Way too polite for Lucien. “What do you want?” she repeated.

“I have a message for you.”

Lucien was being congenial. Ari wasn’t buying it. Maybe he should have shown a little courtesy at the Council meeting. “Then deliver it.”

“I would prefer more privacy for this conversation. Perhaps I can come in, and we can close the door?”

“I don’t think so.”

Lucien’s eyes dilated. “Andreas said we could trust you.”

“That’s nice, but I don’t trust you. If Andreas has something to say to me, why isn’t he here?”

“The message is not from Andreas.”

Ari frowned, fast losing patience. The only reason she was still listening was because he implied Andreas knew something about this. “We’re not getting very far with this conversation, are we? Either give me the message or leave.” He’d picked a bad day for a chat. She pointed her chin at him and clenched her fists. Lucien clearly didn’t know what to do, faced with conducting his business in a doorway or leaving before he accomplished his task. Part of Ari was amused by his dilemma, but it was wasting time. Her time.

“Oh, fine,” she said, grudgingly ending the stalemate. “You can come in, but the door stays open.”

She backed toward her desk, slipping behind it without taking her eyes off the vampire. Lucien pulled a chair from the conference table. As he sat, he arranged his jacket, checked the creases on his trousers. It was all for show.

Finally he spoke. “I am here on behalf of Prince Daron. He wishes to speak with you this evening.”

“About what?”

Lucien’s pinched face told her he didn’t want to answer that. “We have had an incident.” The creases on his face grew deeper. “One of the prince’s staff was staked in his sleep. Normally we—”

“Who was it?” she interrupted. A heavy pulse beat in her temple. Not again. Too soon. Why wasn’t Andreas the one here talking to her?

Lucien’s frown became a fierce scowl.

“Who was killed?” she repeated.

“Does it matter?” he snapped. He caught himself—he’d obviously been told to play nice. “Frederick.”

Ari’s muscles relaxed, her heart resumed its normal beat.

“As I was saying,” Lucien continued, his voice still heavy with disapproval, “normally we handle our own affairs. In this matter, the prince has decided to consult with you.”

Yeah, right. Ari waited for the punch line. “Go on,” she said.

“That was it. That is the message. I am here to take you to him. The prince wants to speak with you immediately.”

“Consult about what? What exactly does the prince want from me?”

“He will explain when you meet.”

She shook her head. “Not good enough. I’m not putting a foot outside this office with you, Lucien. Especially not to meet with the biggest, baddest vampire in the city. If Prince Daron wants to talk to me, have him come here.” She wasn’t sure she’d be safe even then, but she could arrange for others to meet with them. She’d learned from Sebastian just what the old ones could do. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.

Lucien stared at her. “I don’t think you understand the situation.”

“Maybe not, but I know how to remedy that little problem.”

She grabbed her cell and dug out the scrap of paper from Ryan. It rang so long she’d almost given up when Andreas finally answered.

“What’s going on?” she demanded. “Lucien is here in my office.”

“What has he said?”

“That Prince Daron wants to see me. He won’t say why, except it has something to do with a dead vampire. This isn’t another accusation of Ari as a vampire hunter, is it?”

“Unfair, Ari. I apologized for that. Frederick was murdered in his sleep. Do you understand what that implies?”

“I think so.” Among other things, it meant the vampires had a problem they couldn’t handle. A daylight killer.

Lucien watched Ari during the conversation with a blank expression, but she saw the angry flicker in his eyes. She was pretty sure this “consult” hadn’t been his idea.

“So, what’s this got to do with me?” she said into the phone. “Come on, Andreas, talk to me.”

She heard a heavy sigh. “I suggest you meet with Prince Daron and find out for yourself. I honestly don’t know what he decided. And I would rather not speculate.” The line was silent for a moment. “What concerns you, Arianna?”

“I don’t know these guys. And no one, including you, is giving me much information. All I know for sure is a really old vamp wants to meet on his own territory. After Sebastian, I have trust issues.”

Andreas chuckled. “Always honest. An invitation from Daron’s court is an honor not frequently offered to outsiders.”

“Yeah, well, it just feels dangerous to me. Why didn’t you deliver the message?”

“The situation has been…complicated, since Frederick’s death. And I didn’t know they intended to approach you so soon. Would it make a difference if I told you I would be there? And guaranteed your safety?”

Ari thought it over, chewed her lower lip. Something had changed between her and Andreas on the night of Yana’s death. She felt safer with him than other vampires, but did she trust him this much? Would he deliberately put her in danger? Probably not, but how could he guarantee her safety? Daron was reputed to be more than 500 years old. As old or older than Sebastian. Could Andreas stand against his prince…or would he even try? Ari didn’t think so. She had to be crazy to consider this.

On the other hand, Daron’s request was unprecedented, a rare chance to see the inner court. It was tempting. Lucien had quit harping about the Second Chance incident, and she couldn’t think of anything else she’d done recently to piss off the vampires.

Besides, Andreas would owe her.

“All right. As long as you’ll be there, I’ll do it,” she said. She’d survived the encounter with Sebastian. Maybe her luck would hold. “But I’m not going anywhere with Lucien,” she added.

“You are the most obstinate witch.” Andreas’s voice was both exasperated and amused. “Club Dintero. Say, forty-five minutes. Now let me talk to Lucien.”

The vampires didn’t talk long. When it was over, Lucien rose to leave. “Don’t be late. Your absurd demands have taken Andreas from more important duties.”

Since she’d won that round, Ari let him have the last word. She didn’t even smirk at Lucien’s back.