“If you have heard rumors, then you have heard it is unwise to play games with me.”
He nodded. “True.”
The obfuscation annoyed him. He held Christian’s gaze, let his aura flare, then pushed his will into his next question. “How do you know the Rains?”
Christian’s expression tightened. His hands curled on the table. “I’m not a threat to you.”
“Answer my question, and I will release you.”
A bead of sweat formed on his forehead, and his next words came out between clenched teeth. “I can… help… you.”
The statement was so extraordinary Jared let him blink. Let him breathe.
Christian slumped. His gaze dropped to the center of the table, and slowly he unclenched his fists.
“I have no need of help from someone like you,” Jared said.
Christian swallowed. “Everyone needs help.”
The man sounded like he believed his own words. Ridiculous. “Let us try this again. How do you know the Rains?”
Christian looked up. He even managed a smile. “We help each other.”
“If I chose to kill you, they could do nothing to stop me.”
“It doesn’t violate the treaty,” he acknowledged, “but they wouldn’t be happy about it.”
“What do you know about the treaty?”
“Enough.” He had found his confidence again. He took another sip of his drink, set it down, then took his wallet out and dropped a few bills on the table. “I’m going to ask you for a favor in the future.”
If Jared had not known what he was, he might have wrongly guessed Christian was fey. He was eccentric enough. Suicidal enough. “Oh?”
“If you need something before then, contact me. The Rains have my number.” He rose without permission, turned his back on Jared, and walked toward the exit.
Deagan took the abandoned chair. “That was an intriguing conversation.”
It was. Christian should not have been able to keep his composure. “What do we know about him?”
Deagan smoothed down his wrinkle-free coat. “Very little. He arrived in town a few months ago.”
“He was involved in the Sheldon affair.”
“Yes. We believed he helped two of the vampires disappear.”
Jared slanted a look at his companion. “Disappear or die?”
“There’s no evidence of either. If you had not killed Sheldon so quickly, we could have asked.” When Jared scowled, Deagan shrugged. “I’m just pointing out your increasing tendency to kill too quickly.”
“He was a nuisance and dangerously violent. I want Christian followed.”
“Of course.”
“And I want to know when Nora returns.”
Deagan cocked his head. “Don’t you mean if?”
Jared glared at his vampire.
