Page 26
“Being aware of us and becoming a full-fledged vampire hunter are two very different—”
“How many times? How many times will you try to convince me—”
“Of the truth? I will never stop.”
Lawrence was giving him a headache.
“Can we not agree to disagree?”
The Scot’s glower told him he took exception to the sarcasm in his tone. Little wonder he took such a sunny view of the Cheld—they were his own family’s descendants, the traitor.
“Shouldn’t you be somewhere?” he pressed. “Hiding in the shadows, protecting Alessandra perhaps?”
Lawrence took another sip of a drink Kenton knew he had no taste for. Only one thing tempted their taste buds now.
“I know you’re here, so she’s in no danger.”
He sat up.
“I ask again, what do you want?” This time, he was not so cordial.
“Merely to propose a gentleman’s agreement.”
“If only two gentlemen were present.”
The term was a sensitive one, even all these years later. Back in the day, when the two men had been border lords—one in England, one in Scotland—“savage” had been a slur the English had leveled at the Scots. Never had there been a fiercer conflict than that between his family and Derrickson’s clan.
Surprisingly, Lawrence did not rise to the bait.
“Go ahead,” he offered reluctantly, “what are your terms?”
“You’ve already admitted you want Alessandra alive for long enough to learn her secrets. We both know I wish her alive indefinitely. And so, we are at an impasse. I propose a two-week truce.”
Did Derrickson think him daft?
“So you can wait for your reinforcements? You expect me to sit here while the great Clan Karyn descends on Stone Haven to pull the Cheld from my evil grasp?”
Lawrence put his drink down on the cast-iron table between them.
“I’ve not sent for them, nor do I intend to, Kenton. You have my word. They are . . . otherwise occupied.”
Truth. Lie. It mattered not.
“There will be no truce. I’m done with this game, Lawrence.”
“Her family—”
“Is small. And while your siblings are ‘otherwise occupied,’” he said, knowing he tipped his hand, “so are mine.”
“There are more of them.”
He shrugged, knowing he took a risk by killing her now. But it would be more dangerous to let her live if Lawrence persisted in his interfering ways.
“So help me, Kenton—”
The maid was coming. She was some distance away, though close enough for him and Lawrence to hear her footsteps.
They waited.
