The main dining area was empty of patrons, though several waitstaff darted between the door leading to the kitchen and the area the hostess was taking them to. Spencer decided he was glad for the fur coat Alyona had put him in as he followed Haitao to the pool and bar patio connected to the restaurant. Spencer flinched against the cold wind blowing across the water. He glanced over his shoulder at Alyona, who had already snagged the hostess’ attention and seemed intent on finalizing whatever details necessary for the dinner meeting tonight.
Spencer turned his focus on the group of people milling about the patio section of the restaurant. An infinity pool no one was using pointed at the horizon, the outdoor umbrellas perched over tables folded down for the night. The lights surrounding the patio weren’t bright enough to pierce the darkness beyond the railing all that much. Spencer wouldn’t be able to tell the water from the sky if it weren’t for the reflection of light from the Great Wheel on the waves below. The Ferris wheel was slowly turning, still running at this hour in the evening, but no one paid it any attention. All eyes were on him and Haitao as they approached the group.
He made sure to keep his personal shields thinned out, letting his aura seep through. The only reason Takoma would take on someone like him was out of usefulness, and what was more useful than a mage?
Spencer quickly took in the position of each group, how there was space between all three that could so easily be filled with bloodshed. The group of vampires settled against the railing in winter clothes that were more practical than fashionable was ranged around a tall blond man whose attention settled on Spencer with an intensity that made his skin crawl. When he smiled, the flash of fangs was unmistakable. What was also unmistakable was the way Takoma’s vampires eyed the strangers with poorly concealed contempt.
As for the Cascade Coven, Caitlin wore a pristine dove-gray suit that must have had some heat charms embedded in the material. The same could be said for all the others of her coven because the wind coming off the bay was cold even with the fur coat Spencer wore. She was missing her girlfriend, and it made Spencer wonder where that other sorceress was. He watched as recognition bloomed in Caitlin’s face before her eyes narrowed slightly.
“You were the human servant at the gala,” she said in an accusatory voice.
“That’s not news. Not worth whatever this meeting is either,” Spencer said with a shrug. He walked to where Takoma stood, looking stupidly hot in another well-tailored business suit, long hair loose down his back and over his shoulders. “I thought we had different plans for tonight?”
Takoma raised his arm so Spencer had room to step in close, leaning into his personal space without flinching. Takoma settled his arm around Spencer’s waist, holding him close, even as his attention never left the other master vampire. “We do.”
Theafterwas clear, and Spencer feigned annoyance, directing it at the coven standing across from them, dismissing the other Night Court for the moment. Caitlin was too well-bred to glare at him, but the faint downturn of her mouth was evidence enough of her displeasure. The wineglass she held didn’t have a hint of lipstick transference to the rim. One couldn’t do hospitality in a public place like this, but neutral ground was always chosen for a reason. It added an extra hurdle to everyone’s efforts to inflict wounds. Still, she wasn’t drinking, and he wondered if that was intended as a slight.
Spencer slipped his sight sideways, seeing that everyone present in the Cascade Coven tonight was human, no demons riding any of their souls, and their auras all shined with that telltale brightness of magic. He blinked his sight back to normal, not worried about anyone sensing that minuscule bit of magic that came to him as natural as breathing.
“If he’s holding you against your will, we can offer you a way out,” Caitlin said.
“He won’t take it,” Takoma said.
“I wasn’t speaking to you.”
Spencer laughed, watching how many of the coven members got angry at him for disrespecting a woman they held in high esteem. “Takoma can speak for me all he wants. I don’t need a way out, especially not one from you.”
Caitlin tapped a finger against the side of her wineglass, the delicate gold and diamond rings she wore catching the light. “Here I thought that’s why you came to our territory. I see your supposed cry for help wasn’t that, which begs the question of why you came where your Night Court has been uninvited for decades.”
Spencer turned his head, catching Takoma’s eye. “Oops? You want to punish me later?”
Takoma’s gaze darkened a little, the heat there at odds with the coolness of his body. “If you want.”
“I aim to please.”
“Like a good pet,” Rufus drawled. “That’s all your kind is to ours.”
Takoma’s grip on Spencer didn’t tighten, the master vampire remaining unconcerned in the face of that needling jibe. Spencer took his cue from Takoma and finally focused on the newcomer. “Haven’t seen you around before.”
“You wouldn’t. Rufus is allowed in Seattle only if he begs for pass-through rights or pays corrupt politicians to sneak him in,” Takoma said.
The flash of fury that crossed Rufus’ face happened so quickly Spencer thought he’d imagined it. Spencer tilted his head, speaking to Takoma but looking right at Rufus. “What made him want to come to Seattle this time?”
Takoma’s smile was tight, eyes half-lidded when he looked at Spencer. “You.”
Spencer bit back a sigh, wondering if Nadine would ever let him live this down because no world existed where Fatima wouldn’t tattle on him.
“I didn’tbeg,” Rufus said flatly. “I was invited.”
“Not by me,” Takoma replied.
Heels clicking on the floor and the clearing of a throat had everyone looking over at Alyona as she arrived. She inclined her head respectfully in Takoma’s direction. “Dinner is ready to begin.”
No one moved, not until Caitlin sighed in the way of someone extremely bored with her surroundings. “Shall we, Takoma? We’ve territory borders to discuss.”
She waltzed off, surrounded by her coven, several of whom never fully turned their backs on the Night Courts. Takoma didn’t move, staring Rufus down for a long moment before the other master vampire snorted quietly and sauntered off with his vampires, putting on a show of supreme unconcernedness.
Haitao offered his arm to Alyona to escort her back into the restaurant. The rest of the Seattle Night Court vampires glided back inside, but when Spencer would have followed, Takoma tightened his hold. “Wait.”
