coming war?
Cormac would say to go after Roman until we completely smoked the bastard. Trouble was, we’d tried that one before. Maybe we had to come at this a little more defensively.
I straightened, caught their attention, spoke. “In summary, you’re worried that London is in danger from Mercedes and her allies, and you don’t know who to trust among the vampires. So why not turn to the werewolves? Ally with them.”
Antony chuckled. “I don’t mean to sound rude—I’m happy to listen to any and all recommendations of course—but what can the werewolves possibly do to help?”
I managed to keep my voice calm. “Caleb has united the werewolves of the British Isles. They can help you.”
“Ah, yes, you’ve gone and met Caleb all on your own. When were you going to tell me about that?” Ned sounded genuinely put out. As if he wasn’t the greatest actor of his generation, able to sound however the hell he wanted.
Flatly I said, “You never asked. As I was saying, the werewolves here are independent, not under your thumb at all—”
“Because I don’t need them,” Ned said. “Caleb understands that. We don’t bother each other. It’s an equitable arrangement.”
“You don’t need each other, either, I understand. Rick in Denver and I have the same deal—except we go a step further. We help each other, because the city is stronger when we work together. That’s how we’ve kept Denver out of Roman’s hands.”
“Werewolves aren’t that powerful,” Antony said.
I spread my arms. “Hey, I’m the one who broke up your party the other night.”
“Regina Luporum. Hmm,” Antony said, tapping a finger on his chin, considering.
Facing the ceiling, I growled. Ben patted my shoulder and kissed my cheek. “You brought this on yourself, hon.”
“Fine. I quit.”
He just grinned at me.
“Perhaps she’s right, Ned: you should arrange a meeting with Caleb,” Marid said.
London’s Master regarded me with a narrowed gaze. “Kitty, perhaps you should arrange the meeting. Since you two apparently get along so well—”
“I wouldn’t say that—”
“If I approach him he’ll think I’m conspiring. He won’t trust me. But if you mediate…”
“But you
“Yes, for all our benefits,” he replied.
I’d practically asked for this, hadn’t I? I put my hand over Ben’s and glanced at him. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s worth a try. You’ve said it before—the more people are keeping watch against Roman, the better.”
I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and walked to the other side of the room to make the call.
His greeting when he answered was practically a bark, designed to make the listener cower. I resisted the urge and tried to sound annoyed. “Hello to you, too. It’s Kitty Norville.”
“I can hear that. What sort of trouble have you gotten yourself into?”
“Nothing yet. I’ve volunteered to mediate. Ned Alleyn wants a meeting.”
“He does, does he? What for? Going to try to convince me that due to current turmoil I need to put myself under his protection? For my own good and the good of my wolves, of course.”
“Sounds like you two already had that conversation.”
“What’s he want, then?”
“I believe he wants to discuss an alliance.” Smiling pleasantly, I turned to look at Ned, who was watching me with a raised brow.
“Now I’m confused. What are you all playing at?”
“Agree to a meeting and find out.”
The rumble over the line might have been distant static, or his growl. I hoped I dangled enough bait in front of him. He had to be curious.
Finally he said, “All right, but we meet on my turf. Hyde Park in an hour. My people have used the park for emergencies before—we can disable enough of the CCTV cameras to create a protective blackout.”
“I think that sounds entirely reasonable.”
“And just him. He can bring flunkies to stand watch, but when it comes to talking it’s just the two of us. I don’t want any of those other Masters there.”
“As long as the same applies to you, I expect. A few flunkies, and that’s it.”
“He’ll never agree to terms I set. Just watch.”
“We’ll see you there, Caleb.” I clicked off before he could harangue me further. “There. Meeting set.” I relayed the details.
Ned pursed his lips like he’d tasted something sour. “I was hoping we could meet someplace a little more … sheltered. Like here, for example.”
He’d overheard the whole thing. Just meant less for me to explain. “I think he has every right to avoid that. You’re not worried, are you?”
“Don’t worry Ned,” Antony said, smiling. “We’ll be there to back you up.”
“Ah, no you won’t,” I said. “Caleb said just Ned. You all have to hang out somewhere else.”
“Isn’t that a bit unreasonable?” Ned said.
“Not to mention presumptuous,” Antony said. “We agreed to the meeting with certain assumptions in mind. Who are you to undermine that?”
“A werewolf?”
“Exactly! The nerve—”
“Get used to it,” I said. “If this is going to work, you have to treat Caleb and me as equals. If you can’t do that—why are we even here?”
Antony slouched back in his chair, glowering.
“There there,” Ned reassured him. “Humility is a lesson we all have to learn.”
“Remind me again—why are we listening to her?”
“Because she’s faced Dux Bellorum and lived to tell about it. Pay attention, Antony.”
They planned among themselves, which of Ned’s followers should tag along as bodyguards, and how close Marid and Antony could get without violating Caleb’s terms.
“I assume you and I are going to this?” Ben said, leaning in close and whispering. We couldn’t guarantee that the vampires didn’t hear us, but we could make the attempt at privacy.
“I’m the mediator, right?” I whispered. “You know, this makes me seem a whole lot more badass than I actually feel.”
“Just keep playing badass and you’ll do fine.”
“Thanks, dear.”
Chapter 14
I HAD A sudden need to look up where the Jack the Ripper murders had taken place. Not near Hyde Park, it turned out, which was only mildly reassuring. At night the place was spooky enough to start my imagination running. The nearly new moon and gas lamp–looking lights on posts gave the wide lawns and straight paths a sepia tone cast: gray, orange, murky. Stands of trees ringed the area like sentinels, and the buildings beyond the park seemed unnaturally far away.
I was a creature of the night, I wasn’t supposed to be afraid of the dark. Not that it was the dark I was afraid of—it was the
