I stride across the concrete until me, Heinz, and the new man are only a few feet apart.
“Who the fuck are you?” Heinz snarls at the obvious Elite.
He tilts his head and gives a snake-like smile. “Bonjour, mon ami.François de Vaux. A pleasure.”
French. The one language I kind of know my way around. Mom had fostered a kid from Lyon for a couple of years. But why is the name ‘François’ pinging with recognition in my head? It’s not like I know a lot of fancy French fucks.
I cross my arms and sneer, wishing that I wasn’t an inch shorter than this asshole—orsac à merde,as his countrymen would say.
His eyes slide to me. “A welcoming committee, I am touched.” The prick’s gaze doesn’t stay on me. It drifts past my shoulder again, back toward the Digger bleachers. Toward her. I see a slight flare in his eyes and it makes my blood run cold.
This is a predator who’s looking to claim his prey. And that appears to be Aurora.
I take a half-step sideways, blocking his line of sight, my hand inching down to my shiv. I want to rip that Gallic charm right out of his throat.
Heinz kicks at a rock that just misses the Frenchman. “Enough chit-chatting,” he growls, stepping closer and looming over him. “You look like money and Elite pampering, little man. What brought you here?”
François de Vaux doesn’t even flinch. He just adjusts his collar, looking Heinz up and down with bored disdain. “Let’s just say I’m here to protect an investment.”
The German narrows his eyes, clearly not liking the riddle, and spits on the concrete. “The Guild will take any investment you got, if you wish a place with us. It’s either that or remain a no-man. The Diggers won’t take you. Their gang is human-only.”
“Gang, how quaint,” the Frenchman says. “I haven’t ever been, what do you say, a joiner? But needs must, it appears. I have no interest in your ‘guild’,” he says to Heinz, waving him away dismissively with a flick of his elegant wrist. “I find myself much more drawn to this society of Diggers. So earthy and industrial.”
He turns his gaze slowly toward me, his dark eyes flickering with an almost unnatural light. “And you must be the one holding the keys to my admission. Tell me, Digger, what’s the application to your country club?”
A low murmur ripples through the crowd. “The Diggers don’t take witches, didn’t you get that memo?” I growl.
He fucking grins at me, showing perfect white teeth. “Ah, but I see you bend the rules, correct? Your charming friend hiding away at the top of theescaliersis a very important Elite.”
“That bitch,” Heinz snarls.
François whips around and glares at him. “That is not polite. Know your station,animal stupide.”
Heinz growls menacingly. Shit is going south, fast. The two men enter a stare off, but within a beat, Heinz ducks his head and takes several paces back. Fucking weird. But I can’t focus on that, Aurora is my priority. She obviously knows this man, and is terrified of him.
He needs to be put in his place.
I force out a laugh. “Enjoy the No-man zone. I’m sure someone can show you the ropes.” Then I turn my back on him, even though my every instinct says that’s a fucking dangerous move.
“I think…not. No, instead I shall challenge.” His words stop me from taking another step. Looking back, he raises an eyebrow, giving a little smirk. “I believe you have a by-law,n’est-ce pas?I can challenge for a position in the Diggers if I win against their leader—and then take his place.”
What?
His shark’s grin widens. “Please,mon ami, take this as a formal challenge, or is there some little tradition I’m missing. Do I swipe your face with a glove, or some such unforgivable insult?”
The yard falls silent, and my hands curl into fists. Fucking great. The last time anyone challenged the Bossman, it was me. Against an OG—Zed.
I won, just. You don’t challenge for boss unless you’re a contender, or a complete idiot.
This man is not an idiot.
“T, what the fuck is going on?” Clay is suddenly in my ear, his voice frantic.
“I told you to stay with Aurora.”
“She sent me down. Said this guy is dangerous. He’s a Conclave kid.”
Right, that makes sense.
