"You surprise me, and I don't say that about many people." Peter took a step away then paused. "You should ask our host about the Scattered. Rumor has it he has contacts among them and that there might even be one here tonight."
He touched his forearm where Caroline had told me they carried their mark. He disappeared between one step and the next, leaving me no time to ask questions.
Frustration that I'd lost another lead caused me to take a larger than was wise sip from the wine in my hand. My lips tingled and my skin flushed in response.
"Foiled again. I’m beginning to sense a theme with you tonight." Arlan stepped out of the tree, the roaring bonfire of his power singeing my senses. I breathed through the pain from the sudden onslaught, conscious of Liam and the others tensing to interfere.
I waved them off with a small gesture. This was what we'd been hoping for, even if the manner was a little unorthodox.
My distraction gave me time to process Arlan's sudden and unexpected presence beside me. Damn, I didn't realize how right I'd been before. Arlan had gotten a massive upgrade after Niamh's death. If anything, I'd underestimated the extent.
His power pressed in on me, making it hard to think.
"You could always help me out and tell me everything I want to know about the Scattered," I suggested when I could control my voice again.
"Hmm, I certainly could." He leaned forward, avarice on his face. "If you ask nicely enough, I'll even wrap the person you seek in the finest of silk's and deliver them at your feet."
I snorted. Did he really think I was that stupid?
Arlan's smile was slight as he straightened. "I see someone has advised you of the consequences of becoming indebted to one such as I."
That was an understatement. Liam and Connor had been adamant that under no circumstances was I to incur a debt. I'd take umbrage with the fact they thought they could give me orders if I hadn't agreed wholeheartedly.
Arlan wasn't like the sorcerer. Owing him a marker would be like offering up my life to capricious fate and hoping I didn't end up dead in the end. On the off chance I survived, I wouldn't be the same Aileen. I'd be some broken shade of myself.
And yet, I didn't walk away.
I didn’t know what that said about my decision-making process.
The sorcerer thought Arlan had the answers I needed to get to the bottom of this. That meant I was going to play his game. I was going to tango with a being known for his treachery.
Arlan's head tilted as he considered me. "Perhaps an even exchange will set your mind at ease. Level the playing field as humans would say."
I waited, knowing it couldn't be that easy.
"There is one from the beginning of the night who I sensed held great anger toward you. Why?"
It only took me a moment to realize who he meant. "Kat?"
He quirked an eyebrow.
"Red hair? Looks like she thinks she's better than everyone?"
His nod was brief.
As a question, it was unexpected.
"I made her look bad in front of Liam during our first encounter."
Arlan’s attention shifted to Liam. "I've never understood why the Wolf of Galway fascinates women. But if she held the same obsession for him as Niamh, I can see why she is currently plotting your death."
I arched an eyebrow. "Jealous? I wouldn't have thought it of you considering how you let your wife be hunted down like a stray animal."
"Our marriage wasn't a traditional one. We each got something from the alliance." A dark look entered his eyes. "Her more so than me. When her usefulness faded, so did my need of her. She'd have acted the same if our situations had been reversed."
I shook my head. That didn't sound much like a marriage to me. It sounded like a hostile business alliance. Then again, Niamh had been an awful person. A true monster despite the beauty of her exterior.
If I'd been married to that, I likely would have done the same.
