‘I am not at liberty to say.’ Chester responded smoothly.
Mallory shrugged. ‘I don’t require specifics, but if I am to approach the Witches’ Council on your behalf I need to know if your temporary possession will help you harm another sentient being in any way. And I am certainly not willing to participate, even indirectly, in any criminal activity.’
‘I can assure you,’ he said with a stiffness that suggested he was affronted by her suggestion, ‘that there is nothing criminal or underhand about this venture.’
He hadn’t answered her so she pressed the question. ‘Will you use it to harm another sentient being?’
His eyes shifted. Oh dear.
Despite her earlier statement about criminality, potential violence wasn’t necessarily a deal breaker for Mallory – thiswasColdstream after all – but she wanted to know what she was getting into so she could make an informed decision.
There was a short silence before he replied, ‘Not without provocation.’
She sighed; he was being deliberately obscure. ‘I’ll need you to elaborate on that.’
‘Titanium,’ he murmured. ‘Very well. Before we proceed, I require your spoken vow that you will not repeat anything I tell you to anyone else.’
‘I’ve already told you I will not reveal what is discussed here to anyone else and, as we’ve already established, I am a squib. I do not suffer the same consequences for breaking my word as a Preternatural does.’
Chester nodded. ‘I’m aware that is the case, but I would still like your word. In the unlikely event that you break your vow, there will still be consequences.’ His cold eyes gleamed and for a second Mallory had a glimpse of the predator lurking beneath his artificially enhanced skin.
‘Consequences that you will carry out personally?’ she enquired lightly, pretending that her heart rate hadn’t suddenly ratcheted up.
His only answer was to curl the corners of his thin mouth into a half-smile.
Despite her reputation as a trustworthy broker of secrets and favours, Mallory was often presented with similar promises of violence; it was par for the course in her line of work and she wasn’t offended. She certainly had no doubt that Chester Longchamps would carry out his threat if she talked. She’d probably be disappointed if he didn’t.
‘Very well,’ she said. ‘You have my spoken vow that I will reveal nothing of what is discussed within these four walls to any soul.’
Chester leaned back and relaxed slightly. ‘Thank you.’ He drew in a quick breath. ‘I require the Clouded Map to locate a creature who has been attacking vampires. This creature has caused several deaths.’
‘Vampire deaths?’
‘We are not truly immortal, Ms Nash. Nobody is.’
Mallory knew that, but she was still surprised because killing vampires wasn’t an easy task. Yes, it happened from time to time but it was rare. ‘You want to kill this creature?’
‘I want to prevent any further deaths among my kind. If killing the culprit is the only way to achieve that, then that is what will happen. If an alternative solution presents itself, then that will be acceptable.’
Mallory eyed him. She could be mistaken but she was certain she saw a glimmer of fear in the old vamp.
‘Ms Nash,’ he said quietly. ‘Mallory. We are desperate.’
Every client presented a gamble in some way but Mallory suspected that everything Chester Longchamps had told her was the truth despite the aggression lurking beneath his calm facade. The fact that he’d now switched pronouns and was referring to all vampires rather than himself sealed the deal as far as she was concerned. ‘Okay,’ she said.
His eyebrows shot up. ‘That’s it? You will procure the Clouded Map for us?’
She smiled slightly. ‘I didn’t say that. What I will do is find out whether I can achieve what you are asking and what it will require from me. Then I will present you with my terms.’ She thought about it. ‘Twenty-four hours should be long enough for me to gather enough information to determine what is and isn’t possible.’
Before Chester could express any gratitude, she added, ‘I expect my fee will be high.’
He didn’t flinch. ‘Whatever it is, we are prepared to pay it.’
If that were true, Mallory could reap rewards from this venture for many moons to come but she knew better than to count her chickens. A lot could happen between now and the blood drying on a contract between them. However, she’d maintain her customary attitude to life and remain optimistic.
Chapter
Two
