“He’s the next logical choice. We have a meeting with his Night Court tonight.”
“And he actually agreed to it?”
“Yes,” Wade said with a surprisingly straight face. He didn’t mention Lucien, so Riordan held his tongue on that detail as well. “My pack has dealt with vampires before, and I told Ella I’d help keep her pack and Riordan’s clan safe when we met up tonight. But Patrick couldn’t come to Boston with me, and we’re kind of short on magic users. I was wondering if you had any artifacts we could borrow or buy for defensive purposes?”
“Most people would request a magic user themselves when going into vampire territory.”
“The fewer people involved, the fewer people there are who can become targets,” Riordan said.
“Your magic isn’t capable of protecting them?”
Riordan smiled, teeth sharp against his lips, stung by the insult but refusing to show it. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Hey, that’s a little rude. Riordan’s doing just fine,” Wade said, scowling.
Gwen raised a hand in a calming manner. “I don’t mean any disrespect. I’m well aware of how magic differs.”
“Then you’ll give us an artifact? I just need one that has a shield ward for them.”
“Not for yourself?”
“Do you have one?”
Gwen sighed. “An artifact spelled with a shield ward is something we have in our inventory. My coven is not in thehabit of selling or loaning them out, but I know Patrick Collins wouldn’t have sent you here if there truly wasn’t a problem.”
“You are in danger, whether you believe us or not,” Riordan said.
Wade nodded in agreement. “Yeah, this Niall guy is definitely an asshole. If your coven hasn’t been targeted yet, that’s great, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be. We’re trying to stop him before he hits anyone else.”
“If you’re asking for an alliance—” Gwen said.
“I’m not,” Riordan cut in. “And I doubt Ella will as well.”
He’d speak on Ella’s behalf, but he wouldn’t speak for her about an alliance without her input. Neither would he place his clan in a quid pro quo position with a coven. Wade initiating the request kept Riordan and his clan from being boxed into a corner, bound by a promise. Fae didn’t make promises lightly. Oh, they’d scheme to get a mortal or any other creature to tie themselves to a bargain, but it was rare any fae was the one offering. Fae were taught from a young age that words were a weapon as well as a trap.
“I don’t have the authority to ask for any alliance. Boston isn’t my territory, and only Patrick and Jono have the authority in my god pack to do something like that,” Wade said.
“I understand. But because it is the New York City god pack asking for an artifact of protection, I will let you borrow one of our artifacts spelled with defensive wards,” Gwen said.
Wade smiled at her. “Thanks. You should still be on the lookout for threats from the fae.”
“I’ll warn the members of my coven.”
“Niall would be after you since you’re their high priestess.”
“I’m a combat mage and was in the Mage Corps for twenty years, but I’ll take your warning under advisement.” Gwen stood and went to open her office door, poking her head out in thehallway. “Grab me the warded box with the crystals from the room upstairs.”
Whoever had been standing guard outside the office murmured an affirmative before leaving. Gwen returned to her seat, neatly crossing her ankles.
“We appreciate the help,” Wade said.
“It’s a temporary loan. I’ll expect it returned to me.”
“Yup.”
A few minutes later, the same young man who had answered the front door stepped into the office, carrying a carved wooden box, the glossy stain on it reflecting the light. Gwen took it and pressed her thumb to the pentagram carved above a metal latch. Soft mauve light cascaded over the box, following the carved lines before disappearing. She opened the box, and Riordan let the hint of magic that escaped it wash past him. “I can offer one artifact. The shield wards aren’t military grade and aren’t meant to cover more than a handful of people.”
“How big is a handful?” Riordan asked.
