Louis-Cesare’s eyes narrowed. “You said you wanted the vampire for smuggling.”
“No, that’s what Mircea told me he wanted him for. I took the job to help Claire.”
“Your fey friend?”
“She’s here looking for a little something that was recently stolen from the Blarestri royal house.”
Nobody had ever accused Louis-Cesare of being slow on the uptake. His blue eyes hardened to lapis. “No.”
“Yes. It’s her property!”
“And it’s Christine’s life!” He snatched the bag in a move even I had trouble tracking. One minute, I was holding it; the next, it was in his hands.
I grabbed it, but he didn’t let go. “It may be Aiden’s life if we don’t get the damn thing back!”
“Aiden? Who is—”
“Claire’s son! Half the fey are trying to kill him, and the rest aren’t sure that isn’t a good idea. The rune is his protection.”
“He has an army to protect him. Christine has no one!”
I glared at him and pulled hard enough that the bag’s fibers started splitting. “If you want Christine so badly, fight Elyas for her.”
“The Senates have prohibited duels between masters for the duration of the war.”
“Then buy her.”
“Do you not think I have tried?” He let go of Ray abruptly enough that my back hit the wall. “I offered him money, my vote on Senate matters, my sword to fight his duels! Yet the rune is the only thing he will take.”
“We can get the Senate involved—”
“They will not interfere in a private matter between two senators.”
“Your consul then.” The senior vampire in charge of a Senate could occasionally be persuaded to help out a valuable member, and Louis-Cesare’s fighting ability was a major asset.
“Dorina! Do you not think I have explored all possible options? I was told in confidence that, should I be so impolitic as to make an issue of this, they will only drag out deliberations until she is dead! They do not care about Christine. They care only about their precious alliance.”
And, okay, I could see that. The Senates had recently joined forces to fight a greater enemy, and after centuries of mutual dislike and mistrust, it wasn’t the sturdiest of alliances. No way were they going to rock the boat over a single vampire. But that didn’t change my position any.
“And I care about a little boy who deserves the chance to grow up.”
Louis-Cesare stared at me for a moment, before turning away with a cry of anguished frustration. “What do you wish me to do?” he demanded, whirling back to face me. “I am responsible for the woman whose life I ruined! I must put that right!”
“You didn’t ruin it. You saved her.” Louis-Cesare had made Christine a vampire to save her life. From what I’d heard, she’d been less than grateful.
A pulse jumped in his neck. “You cannot save someone if they do not wish it. She believes herself damned because of me. I cannot change what was, but I can prevent her from having to pay the price for another of my mistakes.”
“Not if it takes—” I stopped. Radu was down the hall, flapping his hands frantically.
“The desk just called. Lord Cheung is on his way up!”
I licked my lips. If Louis-Cesare broke the Senate’s prohibition, he’d be punished, probably severely. And he would break it rather than give in. He had a stubborn streak a mile wide and pride enough for any ten people.
“We’ll share,” I offered.
“How?”
“When are you meeting Elyas?”
“Now. I was leaving when you arrived.”
“Then we’ll go together. You promised him the information; you’ll deliver. And I’ll be there to hear it at the same time he does.”
“That does not guarantee you anything.”
“This is my city. I have contacts he can only dream of, and I have no intention of fighting fair. I’ll get to it first.”
He looked like he wanted to argue some more, but boots were coming up the stairs, and there was no time. “Agreed.”
Gunther appeared in his doorway, a Luger in his hand and a backup at his waist. They looked a little incongruous next to the blue satin robe. “Okay, I take it back,” he told me, heading toward the stairs. “You do know how to bring the drama.”
“You really are a bodyguard?”
“I like to diversify.”
I caught his arm. “They’ll shred you!”
“I’m not planning to fight them. But demanding what they want will buy you a few seconds. I suggest you use them.”
He disappeared into the stairwell, and Radu flew down the hall, dragging Ray by the arm. He pushed me back into Louis-Cesare’s room while pressing something hard into my hand. “It’s brand-new. I came to town partly in order to collect it. Please, please, please don’t scratch it!”
“What about you?”