by Helen Harper
‘Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry.’ Mack gasped. ‘How embarrassing.’
There wasn’t the faintest trace of a blush on her cheeks. She made a little move as if to bend down and scoop everything up but when the bouncer did it for her, the self-satisfaction in her eyes was obvious. I watched with some amusement, trying to work out exactly what it was she was hiding. I still didn’t believe it could be a weapon but there was definitely something she didn’t want found.
‘Thank you so much! You’re terribly kind,’ she gushed, when he handed her the purse back.
I took her hand again and placed it on my arm, my fingers brushing against her pulse as I did. It was thrumming a fast staccato beat.
‘I have to admit, I’m impressed,’ I told her, as we strolled inside. ‘However, you got lucky. My shifters would never have fallen for that.’
‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’
I almost laughed. ‘Of course you don’t. I am going to find out what it is you’re really after, you know, kitten.’
‘Only the pleasure of your company, oh great Lord Alpha of the awe-inspiring Brethren.’
I let out a smothered laugh. I’d have asked her to go into more detail about just what pleasures she was taking from being by my side but unfortunately we were interrupted by a waiter. Instead we both took a glass and studied the crowd. The mages, for once, had come dressed in style. It wasn’t just the Arch-Mage wearing his full regalia – they were all in their formal black robes. At least it made them easy to spot. The vampires themselves were keeping themselves well away from the rest of us, remaining in tight little huddles. I couldn’t help but notice the sidelong looks several of them gave me though. I wondered how long it would take them before they brought up the subject of the Albus seal and the ravens again.
Despite his own formal wear, Tom seemed even more fresh-faced than normal, bouncing over towards us as soon as he caught sight of Mack. He still acknowledged me first but I knew who it was he really wanted to speak to.
‘My Lord Alpha,’ he said with a small bow.
‘You know Miss Smith, of course,’ I smiled, teasing him gently.
Tom turned towards her. ‘I almost didn’t recognise you without any hair! What the hell happened, Red?’
‘It’s a long story,’ she muttered.
‘It suits you,’ he said, as I frowned. How could he get away with commenting on her new hairstyle and I couldn’t? ‘And that dress is hot! I don’t actually think I’ve seen you wear a dress before. Sexy!’
A ripple of irritation ran through me. ‘Where is your fiancée?’ I interrupted, before this went any further. Betsy should have been here too. I’d made certain the invitation was extended to them both.
‘She’s not feeling very well, my Lord. She decided to stay at home but she wanted me to thank you for inviting us along.’
‘So,’ Mack said, keeping all her attention on the werewolf, ‘Tom, are you enjoying serving the Brethren or do you wish that you were still back in Cornwall?’
He shot me a nervous look as if he was suddenly worried about how I’d react to her obvious attempt at goading me. ‘Well, I wouldn’t call it serving the Brethren.’
I decided to help him out. ‘Tom here has been promoted, because he’s a very helpful and loyal wolf.’
‘And of course you demand abject loyalty from all your subjects,’ Mack sniped, pulling away from me, ‘don’t you, my Lord?’
‘For someone who spent so much time living with a Pack, you seem to have a remarkably weak grasp on how all this works,’ I responded calmly. ‘The hierarchy keeps the system working. It prevents discord. Not only that, but it’s in our blood and in our genes. To pretend otherwise would be to deny ourselves our true nature. Without the Way Directives and the chain of command, the Pack wouldn’t exist.’
It was tempting to tell her exactly what I’d been doing by simplifying the Directives and slimming down the chain of command so that it was less hierarchical. I didn’t think anything I said would be good enough to meet her independent set of principles though - and I was taken aback by the sudden flash of melancholy in her eyes. Perhaps for all her assertions to the contrary, Mack actually missed the Pack.
‘Well, it certainly makes your life more comfortable,’ she snapped, as if afraid to let me see her sudden vulnerability.
No longer wishing to have Tom privy to every word, I used my Voice to speak to her privately. Careful, kitten. Remember that you’re supposed to be my ever-so-willing date. If you continue to look as pissed off as you do right now, then you’ll draw attention to yourself. And I don’t imagine that will help your plans, whatever they really are.
I don’t have any plans. She threw on a fake smile and turned away from me again.
‘I hope that Betsy isn’t very sick,’ she said to Tom.
‘No, it’s nothing serious. But she’s tucked up in bed with a hot water bottle. She’s gutted that she didn’t get the chance to come and catch up with you though.’
‘And Julia?’
‘She’s gone back down to Cornwall. Anton needed her for some things.’
Mack’s eagerness for news of her old friends was giving her away. Before I could comment on it, however, Aubrey interrupted, addressing the entire gathering as if he were the one to organise it all.
‘Ladies and Gentlemen of the Otherworld. Welcome to Kingsway. We encourage you to sample our humble offerings, partake of our wine and use this opportunity to mix and mingle with friends. This unique event offers much scope to forge new contacts and prevent unnecessary conflict, and we are honoured to welcome you.’
‘Trumped-up little shit,’ I commented, unable to help myself.
Mack shot me a surprised look but I forced myself to keep my attention on the vampire. He was surveying the room like we were his willing subjects. It was difficult not to react when his eyes fell on Mack with predatory interest. I knew she could take care of herself but I still didn’t appreciate the gleam in his eye. It was worth it, however, when she inched towards me as if for protection. I tried not to grin in delight but it was bloody hard.
‘Don’t fret about it,’ I said, throwing her a bone as she suddenly seemed embarrassed by her action, ‘he has that effect on most people.’
Mack didn’t answer. Reminding myself once more of Leah’s words, I didn’t mention it again. If she didn’t want to draw attention to the repulsion she felt at Aubrey’s gaze, then neither would I - as much as I wanted to show her that I could protect her from him too.
‘Lord Alpha, the meeting is about to begin in the drawing room,’ a waiter hummed in my ear.
I nodded my acknowledgment and leaned over to Mack. ‘I need to go and do some of my jumped-up, arrogant Lord of the Brethren stuff now,’ I purred. ‘Be good.’ Then I raised my eyebrows at Tom. I know she’s your friend but she’s up to something. Keep an eye on her until I return. We don’t need to antagonise the vampires any more than we already have.
He jerked his agreement. Sensing our unspoken communication, a look of misery crossed Mack’s face. I almost apologised to her for ruining her fun. If she wasn’t going to tell me what all this was about, however, I wasn’t about to let her get up to any mischief that might ruin the oh-so-very fragile relationship we had with the bloodsuckers. If the mages needed something accomplished, then they could do it themselves without bringing Mack into it. Life wasn’t fair and we all damned well knew it.
CHAPTER EIGHT
We seated ourselves around the large walnut table. In the centre stood an ornate crystal jug filled with a dark red liquid. I didn’t need to use my sense of smell to work out that it was blood. Clearly, the vampires had decided propriety be damned. I balled up my fists underneath the table and breathed through my nose. Gathering with all the main Otherworlders every quarter had been my idea. I couldn’t get all upset now because I didn’t like the refreshments on offer, even if I knew that Aubrey and cronies had deliberately used the blood to get a rise out of everyone.
/> The Arch-Mage took a seat to my left, flicking out his long robes as he sat down. He stared impassively at the jug for a moment then apparently chose to ignore it in favour of annoying me.
‘Miss Smith looks rather fetching in a dress, does she not? Academy life must be agreeing with her after all.’
‘Your reports so far have suggested otherwise,’ I answered in an even tone. ‘I’m not sure that shaving off all her hair is an indication that it’s going well for her.’
He shrugged. ‘Well, we’re in for the long haul with her now. Besides she seems to finally be making some friends. One of our more ... hard to please teachers has been indicating his approval of her progress.’
‘Oh yes?’ I asked through gritted teeth, wondering exactly where he was heading with this.
The Arch-Mage smiled. ‘Mage Thomas, that’s Jeffrey Thomas,’ he added in case I was in any doubt as to this teacher’s gender, ‘actually has quite a lot on common with her. Maybe something will come of it. They both have temper problems so perhaps a relationship between the pair of them would keep them equally calm.’
My spine went ramrod stiff. Yet another mage? And Mack? ‘It has been my experience,’ I said, doing everything in my power not to look utterly furious, ‘that opposites attract. And two bad tempers is not likely to work. They will simply be a bad influence on each other.’
The Arch-Mage, irritatingly, only looked amused. Unfortunately for me, matters seemed to get even worse when the Summer Queen, appearing seemingly out of nowhere, floated into the chair opposite. ‘So that’s the girl that Solus has been telling me about.’ She tapped her long fingernails on the table. ‘There is a considerable amount of power emanating from her. I can see why he likes her.’ She leaned forward. ‘He knows what she really is, you know. Apparently it’s a great big secret. Every time I ask him about it, he finds a way to change the subject. She’s your date, Lord Corrigan. Do you know her true nature?’
A strange hot tightness spread across my chest. The bloody Fae knew what Mack was? She’d trusted him and not me?
I was prevented at least from answering by the arrival of Aubrey with three other vampires in tow. They also took their seats. One of them reached over for the jug and poured a glass for Aubrey. He took a sip, rolling it around his mouth as if it were a fine wine. Then, slowly, he licked his lips.
‘So,’ he said without even bothering to attempt a smile, ‘shall we get started?’
The Arch-Mage pulled back his sleeves, as if to prove that he really meant business. He glanced in the direction of the Summer Queen and hardened his voice. ‘Your faeries have been causing havoc near one of our properties in Scotland,’ he stated. ‘They have been leading travellers astray, breaking into farms and causing milk to curdle...’
‘Dear me,’ the Queen laughed. ‘Milk to curdle? That’s so terribly old-fashioned. You must have mistaken a Fae for a sprite.’
‘I can assure you, I have not.’
‘Well, I can assure you, dear Arch-Mage, that it is not my faeries who have been acting thus.’
Aubrey turned to her. ‘You do speak in a very old-fashioned manner,’ he pointed out.
‘So?’
He shrugged. ‘I’m just saying.’
‘Get them to stop,’ the Arch-Mage hissed.
The Queen sighed dramatically. ‘It is not my faeries doing this. However, I will tell them to stop if that is what you wish.’
‘It is.’
‘But,’ she interjected, holding up a single finger, ‘I have a small caveat of my own first.’
I sighed internally. ‘What?’ he snapped.
‘Birnam Wood. I want it.’
He looked at her as if she was mad. ‘There’s only one tree left in Birnam Wood.’
She simpered. ‘Then it won’t matter if I have it, will it?’
‘Why do you want it?’
‘Actually,’ Aubrey interrupted again, ‘I rather think it should belong to us.’
The pair of them stared at him. ‘Why?’ The Arch-Mage ground out.
‘Birnam Wood caused the destruction of King Macbeth.’
‘That’s simplifying matters,’ he began to scoff.
Aubrey shrugged. ‘Either way. The wood played a part in his downfall. He was one of us and we want it for posterity’s sake.’
‘You seem to want a lot of things for posterity’s sake,’ I growled.
Aubrey lifted his eyebrows in my direction. ‘You are referring to the seal? I’m still waiting for it too.’
‘You have no right,’ the Arch-Mage spluttered.
‘Neither do you,’ said the Summer Queen.
I took a very deep breath. We’d barely been in the room for two minutes and already this was descending into chaos. ‘I don’t think that we should use these gatherings to deal with such petty matters.’
‘Petty?’ Aubrey said, his voice raised for nothing more than effect. ‘Petty? Birnam Wood is of vast historical import.’
‘To the Fae.’
‘It belongs to the Ministry!’
I closed my eyes. Dealing with Mack’s ever changing volatility was a hell of a lot easier than talking to this lot. It was going to be a long night, I thought, just as the door burst open and a panicked looking vampire appeared. ‘A monster!’ he gasped ‘In the front room!’
We all rose at once. The Summer Queen apparently decided that this was the optimum time to take her leave, winking out of the room with an imperious click of her fingers. The Arch-Mage looked at me as if to say,’well, monsters are your problem, not ours’. I thought of Mack and Tom and the other assembled shifters. I didn’t need their blood spilled. Not here. Not anywhere.
I shoved my way out. Tom! What’s going on?
There was an animalistic roar of rage. I sprang forward.
No need to worry, my Lord. We have it under control.
I relaxed fractionally, slowing my pace. His tone was calm and he wasn’t about to lie. What is it?
Some strange furry thing with big teeth. We took it down. It vanished pretty quickly once it realised we meant business. I don’t think it’s coming back.
We?
The shifters. No-one else seemed to want to get involved.
I rolled my eyes. Typical. Then another thought struck me. Only the shifters? Not Mack?
Sudden silence greeted me. The very last person in the world to miss a fight was her. I sprung into the room, taking in the collection of dazed looking Otherworlders. Tom was in the corner, his head hanging. If he’d been in wolf form, his tail would have been between his legs. I should have known she wouldn’t let him keep her from her real mission. Whatever the hell that happened to be. If she had brought a monster here to cause a diversion, even if it had been easily taken care of, then I’d wring her bloody neck.
I was no longer in the mood for teasing. Where the fuck are you, Mackenzie?
In the bathroom, she answered back almost immediately. Powdering my nose.
I snarled in anger. Like hell she was. I could see the damned bathroom from here and it was empty. She was messing around with something – and it was probably something to do with the vampires that was going to end up causing me even more headaches with them than I already had. I thought about the blood that had been sitting on the table and wondered whether she’d gone in search of any human victims who were being hidden in the kitchens to be bled dry as and when was required. It was the kind of stupidly noble thing she’d try – even if I knew the bloodsuckers made contracts with those people that were unbreakable.
I pushed past a waiter and decided to try to see if she was there anyway. The closer I got to the back of the house, the stronger the smell of blood got. It turned my stomach. I cursed Mack for complicating everything.
There was only one human in the kitchen – a young man in his early twenties smiling dreamily at the ceiling. I strode over and grabbed his wrist.
‘Have you a seen a woman around here?’
His eyes drifted down towards me. ‘I’ve seen ma
ny women, mate.’
‘You’d remember this one,’ I growled. ‘Bald head. Unusual eyes. She would have tried to free you.’
He frowned. ‘I don’t want to be freed. I chose to come here.’
‘That wouldn’t make a difference to her.’
He just looked at me blankly. I cursed again and spun on my heel. Maybe she’d gone upstairs.
I was just about back at the main hallway when I finally spotted her, oddly barefoot. Aubrey was standing in front of her, his red eyes firing spite – and something else – in her direction. I felt a sudden ripple of fear. If he’d caught her doing whatever in the world it was she’d been doing, I wasn’t sure what I could do to help her. We were in his house and under his rules. Even the Arch-Mage wouldn’t stand in the vampires’ way if they wanted to take vengeance for some slight she’d caused. Like encouraging some Otherworldly nastie to gatecrash.
My heart pounding, I called out. ‘Honey! There you are! Did you find the bathroom?’
I walked up, looking as casual as I dared, and placed a proprietary hand on her arm.
‘No,’ she answered in an entirely uncharacteristic girlish tone, ‘it’s not up there. That creature out there has almost made me wet myself.’
I almost snorted in laughter. Whatever it had been, I very much doubted it would scare Mack. Then I realised she was barely breathing. Aubrey was watching her like a hawk, sniffing the air as if trying to scent out her real identity.
‘Aubrey, this is Mackenzie.’ Using the thought she’d already planted, I took her lead. I needed him to think she was nothing more than my date. No-one powerful or important. I prayed that she’d continue to play along instead of letting her famous temper get the better of her. ‘Say hello,’ I told her.
‘Hello, Aubrey,’ she cooed, batting her eyelashes. ‘I love your eyes. They’re so ... red.’
‘You’re not human,’ Aubrey declared.
‘No, no, I’m not.’
