Heart of Ice

by Lisa Edmonds

  She nodded slowly. “I can see that. An alpha werewolf wouldn’t like the idea of his girlfriend using herself as bait. In that case, maybe we should hold off and let the Hunters find him.”

  “Sean’s not here,” I pointed out. “And I’m the one who makes decisions about what I do and don’t do. I guess I am wondering why Charles isn’t willing to do it.”

  “Oh, he is willing, very much so,” Arkady assured me. “But Valas has forbidden him to go near any of his properties. He hasn’t left Niara’s house since Fortune was killed, except to attend the auction with you the other night. Valas wasn’t very happy about that either, especially given what happened afterward.”

  “Charles was hardly to blame for that,” I protested. “That creepy Seattle vamp attacked us trying to steal the item Charles bought at the auction.”

  “And you as well, from what I understand. Well done dealing with him, by the way. It’s another reason I like the idea of stopping by the wine bar and seeing if Stevens is hanging around. I get the impression you’re a force to be reckoned with. If you can take out a vampire, you can deal with Stevens, especially if I’m there too. The Hunters can have him when we’re done.”

  The more I thought about it, the more I liked her plan. As much as it had bothered me to be under guard these last few days, what had frustrated me more was that we had been doing nothing to take Stevens out. The Court had dispatched Hunters and other resources to find him, but sitting on my hands while someone else acted had never been my style. I did feel some guilt about doing this against Sean’s wishes, but if we could eliminate Stevens that would be one less problem for Sean to deal with. It looked like Sean was going to have his hands full with Jack as it was without also worrying about whether Stevens was still out there gunning for me.

  “How about this,” I said. “Let me keep researching for about another hour or so. That will give you time to think about our strategy and contact whoever you need to coordinate with about baiting a trap tonight at the bar. When the pieces are in place, we’ll head out.”

  She grinned. “I like how you don’t even hesitate once you’ve made up your mind. I’ll start making some calls. One thing: the bar has a dress code. I’m assuming you’ve got something appropriate to wear?”

  “I have a couple of options. What about you?”

  “I’ll have someone bring me what I need.” She cracked her knuckles and reached for her phone. “Let’s do it.”

  While Arkady went to the kitchen to make phone calls, I got back to the database and its entries on magical cuffs. I noticed that a number of the articles were by the same person, an Ella Potter from Portland. She seemed to have quite a bit of knowledge about shifter magic, particularly spelled arm cuffs. If I couldn’t find what I needed in the database, I might be able to contact her for information. Her webpage invited inquiries by e-mail.

  My phone rang about a half-hour into my reading. I took a deep breath and answered it. “Hello, Charles.”

  “I should never have left your safety in the hands of the wolves.” His voice was as cold as I had ever heard him be. He wasn’t just angry; he was livid.

  I found myself trying to defuse the situation. “It was my decision to hire Maclin Security, and it was the right one. Sean and his employees provided excellent security up until this afternoon. It was also my decision to ask Bryan to send someone from the Court to take over this afternoon instead of waiting for a replacement team from Maclin Security. I’m grateful to the Court for responding so quickly. I’m not going to defend what Jack did because he went against Sean’s orders and he’ll have to answer for that to both the pack and his employers.”

  “Mr. Hastings’s actions constitute a breach of contract.” His tone was icy. “I have instructed one of my attorneys to proceed with legal action on the matter.”

  I sighed. “Charles—”

  “Alice, this is not acceptable!” he thundered.

  I stared at the phone in shock. I’d only heard Charles raise his voice one other time in the entire five years I had known him, and that incident occurred on the first night we met, when he thought I’d killed a Court mage without warning or provocation.

  He lowered his voice, but his fury was still evident. “The Court placed an enormously valuable asset in the hands of a contractor and you were left unarmed, without so much as a vehicle with which to transport yourself to a safe location. Other companies who work for the Court must understand that such a violation of trust will not be tolerated.”

  “I’m never unarmed, Charles,” I reminded him. “I have magic. The storage facility was a pretty secure location, all things considered. I was less vulnerable there than almost anywhere else. I’m not telling you not to be angry, because I’m angry too, but don’t assume I was defenseless and left out in the open, because I wasn’t.”

  Silence.

  “Arkady is here with me now,” I said when he didn’t reply. “There’s an SUV full of Bryan-sized enforcers parked outside. I’m safe.”

  “A condition which you must find irksome, as I understand you wish to use yourself as bait for Kent Stevens.” He was still angry, but his tone was dry.

  “I’m tired of hiding, Charles. I’m a mage, Arkady’s got two really big guns, and we have the full force of the Court as backup. I want this over with. I want him to come at me and I want Arkady to have the chance to put bullets in both of his kneecaps.”

  His tone hardened. “As much as I endorse Ms. Woodall’s desire to do so, I would have refused her request for the operation, which is why she asked Valas instead.”

  I smiled to myself. Crafty Arkady. “The sooner we nail this bastard, the sooner we can all get back to our normal lives, including you.”

  “If you are harmed in any way, I will hold Ms. Woodall responsible.”

  That got my hackles up. “Don’t be ridiculous. It was my idea. The only person responsible for my safety is me.”

  “Ms. Woodall cleared this plan with Valas last night,” Charles informed me.

  That changed nothing, as far as I was concerned. All it proved was that Arkady had been planning a way to get to Stevens, probably since the moment she found out Fortune was dead. I would have done the same.

  “She didn’t bring it up; I did this afternoon. I’ve been wanting to do something to draw him out but Sean wouldn’t go for it.”

  “How very annoying to find myself agreeing with the wolf.”

  I paused. “You haven’t asked about Sean’s condition, so you must know what happened.”

  “I understand the cuff attached itself to his arm and forced him to shift. He was taken to a place of safety, where his condition has deteriorated to the point that he must be sedated to prevent him from harming himself or others.”

  I wasn’t surprised he knew the details; the Court had eyes and ears all over the place. I did, however, take exception to the cold way he said it, as if it hadn’t turned my life upside down. “Then there’s nothing more you and I need to talk about.”

  “Alice.” Charles’s voice stopped me before I could end the call. “There is no love between the wolf and I, as you well know. But I would not have you suffer, and I know his condition weighs heavily upon you. What assistance can I offer?”

  “What would you want in return for your assistance?”

  His response was exactly what I expected. “The answer would depend on what was required.”

  I sighed. “What would it cost to give me access to the Vamp Court library so I can try to find out what this cuff is and how to remove it?”

  “That is not a simple request. A great deal of the information we possess is considered confidential and our resources are designated for Court business only. However, the welfare of an alpha like Maclin is of interest to the Court because the stability of local packs benefits us as well. As such, I believe that as a gesture of goodwill it would be possible to assign one of our researchers to the task.”

  I closed my eyes. A Court researcher was more than I could have
hoped for. I might have an answer in minutes or hours instead of days.

  Charles’s next words, however, brought me crashing back down to earth. “If we do this research on behalf of the shifters, we will have to share our findings with Maclin’s pack as well. It cannot be given to you alone.”

  My heart sank. “So if you find out what the cuff is, you’ll have to call Jack?”

  A pause. “We would pass the information to the Were Ruling Council, who would no doubt pass it on to Mr. Hastings, as he is currently acting as the head of the Tomb Mountain Pack.”

  I read between the lines and recognized an opportunity for negotiation. “How much of a head start can you give me with the info before you contact the Council?”

  I heard the smile in Charles’s voice when he replied. “Perhaps a few hours. Communication between the Court and the Council is a delicate matter that must be handled carefully. It will take some time to compose the document and have it reviewed by the necessary personnel.”

  “Do it,” I said. “Please.”

  “I will see if Ms. Dade is available, since you have worked with her before. Would you prefer to be alerted as soon as she has discovered something?”

  “Yes, anytime day or night.” I took a deep breath. A little of the weight lifted off my chest. “Thank you, Charles.”

  “I would prefer to be with you during this operation tonight,” he said quietly. “You are not merely an asset of the Court to me, nor is your safety purely a matter of protecting a resource. Others may look at you as such, but I do not. Some may consider it a higher priority to apprehend Stevens than to ensure your safety. I do not believe Ms. Woodall is one of the latter, or I would send Adri Smith in her place. Even so, be cautious.”

  I’d been thinking about that in the back of my mind since I’d first proposed using myself as bait to Arkady. The Court wanted Stevens. They wanted to protect me too because I was useful to them, but if it came down to it there were undoubtedly some who would throw me under the bus if it meant getting Stevens. Like Charles, I didn’t think Arkady would be among them, despite the fact Stevens had killed Fortune.

  I might have even wondered about Adri and Bryan if it came down to it. Arkady worked for the Court; Adri and Bryan belonged to the Court. I hadn’t known Arkady long, but I was usually pretty good about reading people. You got good at that sort of thing when you were a prisoner of an organized crime syndicate and surrounded by enemies. My instincts told me Arkady wanted Stevens’s hide, but not at the expense of mine.

  “Thanks for the warning,” I said finally. “Wish me luck.”

  “I do not believe in luck, only in planning and strength. I wish you success and a safe return.”

  “Good night.”

  We disconnected. Arkady appeared in the kitchen doorway. “What was the warning about?” she asked.

  I put my laptop aside and stood. “There’s a chance some of our backup tonight might want Stevens in custody more than they want me to come out unscathed.”

  She snorted. “As I’m sure you’d already guessed. Good thing I’ve got your back.”

  “And I’ve got yours. If he does show up, he’ll never know what hit him.”

  My perimeter wards tingled, signaling a visitor’s arrival. “Are we expecting someone?” I asked.

  She didn’t ask how I knew. “That’s my change of clothes. We’re due at the bar by nine-thirty, so we’d better get moving.”

  I frowned. “It’s not even seven yet. How long will it take you to get ready?”

  Arkady headed for the front door just as footsteps crossed the porch and someone knocked loudly. “Oh, honey, you have no idea.”

  Up until two nights ago, I had wondered how Charles’s newest wine and cocktail bar had gotten its name. Thanks to our walk in the sun and the story he’d told me, now I knew: it was the year he’d become a vampire.

  Our SUV pulled up in front of 1792 at precisely nine thirty. Our driver was a Court enforcer named Kirwin. I’d met him not long after I moved to the city and saw him occasionally at Northbourne. Our other escort was Matthias, who’d accompanied Charles and Arkady to my house the night Fortune was killed—and who, unless I was very much mistaken, had a bit of a crush on Arkady. I hadn’t noticed it that night, but I caught him making googly eyes at her at least twice during our drive from my house to the bar.

  Matthias opened the rear door and gallantly offered his hand to help Arkady out of the back. She was wearing an emerald green pantsuit with heels, her hair back in a loose twist. The matching jacket covered her shoulder holster and the long pants hid her ankle holster. She had the skills of a professional makeup artist and put them to good use on both of us. She looked absolutely gorgeous, like a Norse goddess.

  I’d resigned myself to wearing something that would hide my vest, but Arkady had surprised me with a form-fitting and very feminine vest shaped like a corset. She assured me it would stop rifle rounds. It was no more comfortable than the one Sean had given me, but at least I didn’t look like I was wearing a vest. I quickly made up my mind to try to keep it when this was over.

  Though his eyes were on Arkady, Matthias helped me out of the SUV. I wore a short purple dress with over-the-knee boots. Like Arkady, I’d styled my hair up. I wore diamond earrings and a charm bracelet with Malcolm’s crystal on it, but the ghost was still in his crystal in my basement, regenerating slowly. The crystal would allow him to jump to me, or for me to stash him in it, should trouble arise.

  Matthias stayed with us as Kirwin drove away to park nearby. Well-dressed couples came and went through the front door of the club. We waited outside for a few seconds to make sure Stevens saw me, if he was watching.

  I felt exposed on the sidewalk with tall buildings on all sides, offering Stevens an almost infinite selection of sniper nests. But as I’d told Sean, I doubted Stevens would try to take me out from a distance. He’d want me to see his face. I felt no itchiness between my shoulder blades, however. That wasn’t a surefire way of knowing whether we were being watched, but I was willing to bet Stevens wasn’t here, not right now. I couldn’t help but be disappointed, but the night was only just getting started.

  At Arkady’s nod, Matthias opened the door to the club and ushered us inside. 1792 reminded me immediately of Hawthorne’s: dark wood, subdued lighting, and private booths along the walls with tables in the middle of the floor.

  The bar had the well-deserved reputation of serving the finest martinis in the city and its wine list was second to none. A pianist provided quiet music from a nook near the front windows. The men wore jackets, the women evening wear. The bar certainly catered to a much different clientele than Hawthorne’s, where I had been comfortable wearing jeans and a T-shirt and hanging out for an hour or two nursing a Scotch or beers. I doubted I’d be returning here anytime soon unless it was for business.

  We approached the host with Matthias behind us. Arkady unleashed a smile that could only be described as her third-most-lethal weapon, possibly her second. The host looked positively gobsmacked and couldn’t take his eyes off her.

  “We have a table reserved under the name of Vaughan,” she told him. “Party of two.”

  It took him several seconds to process her words and realize who we were. His eyes widened. “Yes, of course. This way, please.”

  He led us to one of the best tables in the club, a corner booth with an excellent view of the entire room. It had no clear line of sight to the front window, eliminating the threat of a sniper shot through the glass. Once we sat, I realized the lighting ensured we could see the room while we remained in shadow. The booth also had dark red velvet curtains that could be drawn for additional privacy. Very nice. Being guests of the owner certainly had its perks.

  The host had only taken two steps away from our booth when a tuxedo-clad young man appeared and presented us with menus. “Ms. Woodall, Ms. Worth, welcome to 1792. My name is Anthony. What may we serve you tonight?”

  I scanned my menu. There were several pages of martini
s that were specialties of the house, and then the wine list. I’d never been much of a wine drinker, and I wouldn’t know a good martini if it walked up and introduced itself.

  I glanced at Arkady over the top of my menu. Her expression mirrored mine.

  Our dismay must have been obvious. Before either of us could speak, our server gestured at another young man standing off to the side holding a tray with two glasses on it.

  “With the compliments of the owner.” He placed one of the glasses in front of me with a flourish. “A fifty-year Glenfiddich single malt Scotch whisky, neat.” The second glass went to Arkady. “And a sixty-month tequila for Ms. Woodall.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “I didn’t see any whisky or tequila on the menu.”

  Anthony smiled. “Mr. Vaughan anticipated your desires and sent some from his private stock. Would you like me to draw the curtains?”

  “Not at the moment,” I said. “I think I’ll people-watch for a bit.”

  “Thank you, Anthony,” Arkady added.

  He gave us a small bow and retreated. I didn’t see Matthias, but I assumed he was somewhere nearby, keeping an eye on us and listening in on the conversation among the various members of the Court security team positioned in and around the building.

  Arkady raised her glass. “To revenge.”

  I tapped her glass with mine. “May we serve it cold tonight.”

  My Scotch was almost unbelievably smooth, with a seemingly endless finish. I hadn’t been drinking much lately, so the whisky was a rare treat on multiple levels. I didn’t even realize I’d closed my eyes until Arkady chuckled. “I take it yours was good too?”

  I opened my eyes and set my glass back on the table. “Very, very good. I think I need a cigarette.”

  She surprised me by saying, “Me too.” She leaned forward conspiratorially. “What do you think they’d do if we both lit one?”

  “I think we’d see how quickly and politely Anthony could ask us to put them out.”

  She sighed. “Maybe later we can smoke in celebration back at your house.”