Finally, Ava asked, "What brought you our way?"
Dumont smiled. "Work, I'm afraid. I'm doing business with some humans here and I didn't want to enter your territory without introducing myself."
It was a lie. That damned tingle on the back of my neck returned.
"Well, it's certainly lovely to meet you," Ava replied. "But I'd prefer the honest answer."
Dumont huffed out a small laugh. "Am I that obvious?"
Ava didn't respond. Instead, she cupped her hands around her coffee and held his gaze.
I felt rather than saw Callum tense his muscles, but Dumont surprised me by speaking rather than attacking.
"If what I've heard of you is true," he said. "Then you know I'm fairly young and my power is still growing. My parish is relatively small so I don't gather much attention from the older vampires in Louisiana, but I am close to the Texas border, which presents potential problems. For example, last year a powerful sorceress came through town on her way here. I couldn't have fought her, so I found myself in a position to play nice with someone I'd rather not associate with. Again, I've heard things about the four of you and your...entourage and your conflict with this sorceress. It's my understanding that she is no longer a problem, largely due to you."
Dumont paused and studied Ava, waiting for some sort of confirmation.
I had to give it to Macgrath's mate. She had one hell of a poker face. Even though I'd known her for a year now, I had no clue what she was thinking.
"That is true," she stated after a long silence. "Rhiannon Temple is imprisoned and no longer a threat to us or anyone else."
Dumont visibly relaxed. "I have to admit that relieves me."
"This is why you came? To ask about Rhiannon?" Macgrath asked.
"Partially," Dumont said. "I also came to discuss the possibility of an alliance. I realize that I do not have your power or magic," he continued. "But I do have a coven of twenty-five vampires in my parish. We are all young, but that also means we will all grow in strength as the years pass. Should you have need of our aid, we are close enough to be here within a day if necessary. And..." he trailed off.
"If you find yourself facing another sorcerer or sorceress, we have the magic to help you," Ava finished for him.
Dumont nodded. "Yes. I realize that this alliance might not be of much benefit and create risk for you, but we are all long-lived and in twenty or thirty years, we would be a great asset."
Ava cocked her head. "I can see that." Her eyes deepened and grew brighter, the purple becoming almost electric in intensity. "I see a great deal." She paused. "For example, don't your...friends call you Digger?"
Dumont's olive skin paled beneath her perusal and I nearly felt sorry for the poor bastard. I'd been on the receiving end of those eyes and that power before and the weight was almost too heavy for me to bear. I couldn't imagine how it would feel to a vampire so young.
Ava blinked and the brilliant lavender in her eyes faded back to dark indigo. "Your proposal is an interesting one and definitely something I will consider further. However, I know very little about you or your coven. I'm assuming you brought a few of them with you?" she asked.
Dumont nodded, the ashen pallor of his cheeks slowly returning to deep tan. "I have three of mine with me."
"I would like a chance to meet with them." It wasn't a request but a subtle command.
Dumont knew it, too. "Of course. I would be happy to arrange that. You have my cell number, please let me know a time and place of your convenience. I will be here at least two weeks for my business."
Macgrath cocked a brow but didn't say anything. Strange that this vampire was so willing to meet Ava anytime, anywhere. I wondered if it was youth or a cunning scheme to make us feel more relaxed.
"Then I'll be in touch tomorrow," she answered, rising to her feet. "Thank you so much for coming to meet us today." She held out a hand as Dumont stood.
He hesitated for less than a blink, but we all saw it. Still, he was brave enough to take her hand and give it a gentle squeeze.
"I'm honored to meet you, Ms. Amaris." He looked at Macgrath. "And you as well."
Macgrath gave him a respectful nod but didn't hold out a hand. Dumont released Ava's fingers and nodded to Callum and then to me.
"Mr. Donalson. Mr. Vane. I hope I see you again as well."
We both inclined our heads in acceptance but remained silent.
"Come, I'll walk you out." Ava smiled up at him as she came around the table and hooked her arm through his.
After seeing his reaction to her earlier, I no longer worried quite so much about what his plans were. If he'd thought her an easy target when he planned this visit, it was obvious he'd learned otherwise in the last few moments.
Still, I was glad to see Macgrath follow them out of the office, less than two steps behind them.
He would protect his mate at any cost and I imagined that Dumont knew that.
After their footsteps faded, Callum turned to me. "Do you think she knows he's full of shit?"
"Of course she does," I answered with a shrug. "But he's not lying about the alliance. For some reason, he needs us."
"So he's hiding the lie within the truth?"
"Most likely. I think we need to keep an eye on Mr. Dumont while he's in town, Callum. Don't you?"
"Abso-fuckin'-lutely."
Whatever his scheme might be, Andre Dumont was in for an unpleasant surprise if he tried to cause trouble.
A very unpleasant surprise.
CHAPTER TWO
MERRY
I hit Austin just before sunset. As soon as I saw the city sprawling out next to the highway, something deep inside me relaxed.
All day, I'd been questioning my decision to come, even though I'd promised myself to trust my instincts in the foreseeable future.
But that tension didn't lie.
This was where I belonged. At least for now.
And because I felt that way, I decided to splurge on a nice hotel for the night rather than something cheaper near the highway.
My system was crying out for coffee, so I pulled off the highway at a Starbucks and ordered a cold brew with sweet cream. As I sipped, I searched hotels and found one on South Congress Avenue. The more I looked into the area, the more I liked the sound of it. It seemed fun and a little funky.
Feeling more optimistic than I had since before my ordeal with Rhiannon Temple, I decided to book a room at the South Congress Hotel. A few nights there would give me enough time to find an Airbnb or something a little more long-term. I winced at the price, but I had to believe that it would be worth it.
As if to further prove that my instincts were right, there was an available room for the next week. I booked it for five nights, though I intended to check out early. The price of the room was too steep for me to stay there for a full week, but I wasn't sure how long it might take for me to find a temporary rental.
Satisfied, I carried my iced coffee to the car and pulled up the hotel's address on Google Maps.
An hour later, I settled into the hotel room, surprised at the comfort and spaciousness of the room. It wasn't some sterile suite just like every other one in the rest of the hotel.