As they entered the room, Julian looked up. Still speaking, he raised a finger, and Xavier nodded.
While they waited for Julian to finish his call, Tess looked around curiously. Whatever she might have imagined, the reality of Julian’s living space was not it. The place was austere, and gave almost no hint of the kind of wealth and power he must truly have.
Black leather couches were arranged in front of the fireplace, with a thick, heavy wool rug between them. Plain, sturdy wooden tables and a matching cabinet completed the furnishings. The only expression of extravagance was a massive landscape painting that dominated one stone wall, depicting a sun-drenched scene that appeared to be Italian, or at the very least European.
A laptop and a pile of papers were stacked on one end of the coffee table. Julian finished his phone call, tapped the Bluetooth device at his ear then tore it off and flung it at the table.
“Melly isn’t answering her cell,” he said to Xavier. “Her publicist claims she’s on location for a new shoot. And Tatiana is not inclined to waste Light Fae time and send another representative to redo proposals that have already been agreed upon. Goddammit.”
“Give me a moment.” Xavier pulled out his cell phone, dialed a number and a moment later said, “Hi, Melly, how are you?” He paused, giving Julian a wry glance. “Good for you. A skiing trip to Aspen sounds delightful.”
Julian’s rough expression darkened with fury. Hand out, he strode forward, silently demanding the phone. Xavier stepped back and shook his head warningly.
Xavier said into his phone, “Listen, I have a favor to ask of you. Yes, it does have to do with why Julian’s been calling and leaving messages. No, I promise, it doesn’t require you coming back to Evenfall. All I want you to do is say, ‘Julian, I agree with all of the trade proposals that Xavier and I chatted about in New York.’ Then Julian is going to say, ‘Melisande, I agree with all of the trade proposals that you and Xavier chatted about in New York.’ You don’t have to really talk to each other, just say the words. Meanwhile, I’m going to put you on speaker and record everything, all right? Thank you.”
As Tess watched in fascination, Julian’s eyes flashed red. Lips peeling back in a silent snarl, he held up his hands, fingers curled, and pantomimed strangling an invisible person in front of him.
Xavier checked the screen of his phone. He said, “Melly, I’ve got you on speaker now. Can you hear me?”
“Of course.” The Light Fae princess’s warm voice sounded clearly in the room.
“Okay.” Xavier’s thumb moved over the screen. “I’m recording you now. Go.”
Melisande said, “Julian, I agree with all of the trade proposals that Xavier and I chatted about in New York.”
Xavier pointed to Julian. The Nightkind King growled, “Melisande, I agree with all of the trade proposals that you and Xavier chatted about in New York. And would it have killed you to pick up the fucking phone just once?”
“You never know,” Melisande said. “It might have.”
“If I ever get my hands on you again,” he snapped, “I’m going to throttle you senseless.”
“Dream on,” she sneered. “You only wish you could get your hands on all of this awesomeness again, and that’s one thing I promise is never going to happen.”
Xavier said rapidly, “Okay, thanks again.”
Melisande’s voice changed drastically, and she said with obvious affection, “Any time, darling. ’Bye.”
Xavier signed off. For a moment, he and Julian looked at each other, and in spite of the severity of her own problems, Tess was hard put to keep from laughing. Struggling to keep her face straight, she put a hand over her mouth.
“It’s not pretty or dignified,” Xavier said. “But it is a recording of an agreement between the two of you. Maybe it’ll be enough to back Justine off, because you know the other members of the council won’t take kindly to being called to reconvene over a technicality of law that appears to have been resolved already.”
“I’ll take it,” Julian said. “I can back Justine off with this and boot her out of Evenfall, at least until next year’s council sessions.”
Xavier paused. “Gavin can probably cut off the last bit, if you prefer to keep that part private.”
“Fine. Get me an abbreviated copy as soon as you can. Now, about your issue you couldn’t discuss over the phone.” When Julian looked at Tess, the red in his gaze had faded. He said, “I remember you. You interviewed with Xavier at the Vampyre’s Ball. You’re the one who sent an email to everyone on the Evenfall server. Including me.”
Her humor died, and she nodded nervously.
For a few moments, Julian studied her with the same clinical dispassion that he had shown at the Ball. He turned to Xavier. “Tell me.”
“Have you heard of the pariah Djinn named Malphas?” Xavier asked.