Page 80 of Soulmates
Suddenly, my clever idea about asking him to issue the challenge for me seems like the work of a grade school kid. He offers me his hand, and boy howdy do I want to run the other way.
Instead, I man up and shake. His touch makes Trajan feel like a heat wave and he’s using his gaze to dig around in my soul. He must have touched something tender, because I give an instinctive growl and jerk my hand away.
He coughs gently, smiling around the hand he uses to cover his mouth. “Nice to meet you, young alpha. Please, let us all sit.”
We do as we’re told. Trajan starts off by asking why Jacques wanted to meet him, but his maker waves him off. “Later, Trajan Gall. I want to hear from our young guest.” He gives me another one of those soul-searching stares, one I’m unable to dodge.
“I understand your vacation ended rather badly, wolf. No thanks to your erstwhile bodyguard.”
His tone makes Trajan blanch, and I have to clench my teeth to keep from growling. “It is what it is, sir.” I give him a slow blink, breaking the connection he’d established, and when he tries to crawl back into my head, I’m ready for him. Third time’s the charm and all. I block his prying gaze, earning a scowl that makes me shrug. “Things could be worse.”
Because yeah, they totally could be. I’ve got Trajan to my right and Connor to my left, and if Jacques tries anything really rude, they’ll back me up. They’ve been walking the walk ever since I was cut out of the pack. The four-seater table is small enough that I can rest my hands on their thighs, connecting our energy.
A waiter stops by. He’s more Goth-glam than our hostess, and without looking at the menu, I order a beef burrito and a beer. Connor orders too, and Jacques waves a wad of bills at the waiter so he’ll bring another bottle of tequila and two more glasses.
When the waiter’s gone, Trajan breaks the silence. “Randolph Collins told us it was Brendan Collins who suggested he hire a vampire to look out for David while he was in LA.”
Jacques gives a laugh that dissolves into a spurt of coughing. He’s one of the most frightening supernatural creatures I’ve ever met, but this cough is a definite sign of weakness.
“It was Uncle Brendan who led the charge against me. He forced me to break my ties to the pack.”God, but the words burn on the way out.
“Seems like you must know Brendan fairly well.” Connor’s cool observation gets at the heart of the matter, but Jacques waves him off.
“Never met the man, actually. I don’t know why he told his brother to contact me.”
Trajan’s snort perfectly captures my own sense of disbelief. A werewolf wouldn’t randomly suggest asking a strange vampire for help. Still, his denial works for me. “I’m wondering, then, if you’d mind callingbeurteilungagainst him on my behalf.”
Jacques’s smile slips for a single heartbeat. “What? Bertiloo? What’s that?”
“I’m going to challenge him to the ring, to face the consequences of acting against me, but I can’t do that on my own. I need someone older, more powerful, with more clout.”And did I mention powerful?I might be laying it on a little thick, but he needs persuading.
“My understanding is thatbeurteilungis the wolves’ equivalent of the vampire counsel, a place where behavior is judged and punishment called for.” Connor’s explanation earns him a sneer from Jacques. His rational observations make him the good cop to Trajan’s irritable bad cop.
“That’s close.” I interrupt their budding stare-down. “We’re less about testimonials and evidence and more about throwing two wolves in the ring. The one who walks out alive is judged to be innocent.”
Jacques gives me a narrow look. “I thought lone wolves couldn’t shift.”
Squaring my shoulders, I give him every ounce of confidence I can muster. “When the time comes, I will.”
He smirks. “No pack, no shift.”
“You call him out, and I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Prove it.”
Trajan smacks his palm on the table. “That’s enough, Jacques. If David isn’t worried about shifting, you shouldn’t be either.”
My need to cover my right hand in fur and claws is about a milligram less than my fear of doing so. The thing is, I know I can do it. I just can’t force myself to try.
Jacques takes a sip of tequila, appraising each of us in turn. “You two support this farce?”
“You mean, do we respect David enough to help him make things right?” Connor asks, his remote expression belonging on a member of the Elite. Which, duh.
“I agree.” Trajan rubs his knee against mine. “If you set things up, Jacques, David will be ready.”
“Fifty thousand.” Jacques twirls his snifter, sounding bored. “Twenty-five up front and another twenty-five thousand dollars afterward, whether or not you win.”
I’m still trying to un-bug my eyes when Trajan starts to laugh. “That’s all this is about, isn’t it? How much did Randolph Collins pay you for my services?”
