Chapter 22

Ben laughed as Robin sank into a chair and burped. “Fuck me, Ben. That last one was a delight. I didn’t know you had that sort of calibre locally.”

“Commuter belt for London,” Ben said, licking a fang clean before retracting them. “Lots of city workers with rich diets, fat wallets, who don’t exert themselves too much. It adds up to quite a heady mix.”

Karl dragged away their now unconscious main course. “No doubt desperate for your patronage to help get even richer and fatter.”

“That one won’t remember, he was a bit of a prick to one of my favourite re-feeds so I decided to mess with him a bit. He’s going to wake up with a prostitute and a pissed-off wife in a couple of hours.”

“You’re such a bastard—don’t ever stop.”

“I like to keep my tastiest morsels happy.”

“Speaking of tasty things, how goes it with the Ashley creature?” Robin waggled his eyebrows. “You’re definitely in a better mood than last time we talked.”

“He’s not a creature, he’s a warlock. You’ll be pleased to know, I took your advice, and we’re seeing how it develops. I am a bit disturbed about the possessive side he brings out in me.”

“Right, so almost like as if he could be your Eternal.”

“Or that he’s so magnificent in bed, I don’t want anyone else getting the chance to sample him.”

Robin rolled his eyes. “Whatever makes you sleep better during the day, but denial is not going to change anything. Just accept you’re a lucky fucker, who gets to have his happy ever after and still be a blood-sucking monster.”

He bit back the accusation Robin was jealous because that would be too close to the truth. “Ashley’s more than satisfied with my sucking skills.”

“So he should be, you are top-notch.”

“There is more to it than that, including him knowing I’m Evelyn and I’m behind the investigation into my incompetency.”

“So you confided in him and he knows two of your biggest secrets and you’re still pretending you’re going to see how this goes…. I’ll tell you where it’s going, down an aisle accompanied by the ‘Wedding March’.”

Ben wasn’t going to argue with him because Robin had made up his mind and he didn’t want to waste his energy. “Yes, well, moving back to why you’re here, and not my sex life, there’s an additional complication.”

“Go on.”

“Catlin.”

Robin shrugged. “Don’t tell me, she’s not the sweet little sister everyone thinks she is. What’s she up to?”

“Why aren’t you surprised?”

“I deal with some of society’s worst fuck-ups, after all this time nothing surprises me.” He shifted so he sat up properly. “What’s the issue?”

“She’s been dripping the idea that Harry’s behind invoking the investigation.” He needed to be careful because Harry’s heritage wasn’t public knowledge, even to those from his own house. “But she’s also managed to infect someone with lingering dark.”

“How is that even possible?” Robin held up his hand. “I’m not sure I want to know as it’ll be some weird shit I don’t care about. Since we’re sitting here and her head isn’t on a pike, I take it you’re still gathering evidence.”

Robin was a shrewd man.

“Yes, I don’t want the same fallout as we saw for Denmouth. Isaac is a nice by-product, but the churn that caused is still going on.”

“And it will continue for years to come. But in that case, Jennifer tried to assassinate Richard, she might as well have been caught with the stake in her hand, and she had to be removed. That strikes at the heart of the hierarchy, no one should attack their sire in such a way and not expect comeuppance. Are you saying Catlin is guilty of something similar?”

“She’s done nothing against her sire, she’s not stupid. Charles is not her target. It’s me, and Harry is collateral damage—removing us both puts her into the line of succession. Charles wants out, he’s not going to spend another twenty years finding a new heir when Catlin is there ready and waiting.”

“In our society that’s fair play. Once you’re in place you’re untouchable, but until you get there then the knives are out and Charles might not even consider an offence.”

Robin wasn’t wrong but he didn’t have to let it lie. “She almost killed Jack, and tried to blame me. If I was found guilty I’d be extinguished. So I will present evidence to Charles and request I be allowed to dole out a suitable punishment.”

Robin scoffed. “The only punishment can be exsanguination. By your mouth, I take it?”

“Exactly. Karl is examining the idea of setting a trap for Catlin. He’s talked with Dara about finding something in the archive that’s given him cause for concern and being flustered by it, he runs across Catlin and blurts it out.”

Robin chuckled. “A flustered werewolf, that I have to see.”

“When he’s not in his furry phase he’s rather charming, and an excellent actor. He’ll make sure whatever they come up with is useful for Catlin’s purpose and when she acts, it’ll be proof of her complicity.

“So where do I fit into this? I was working on the premise that you wanted to create a persona who could take the fall but that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

Ben had been thinking about this. “I still want you to do that, but with a twist. They’ll have been the one who submitted the protest, but will have done so under Catlin’s request. Maybe she could have been blackmailing them—Charles would hate that.”

“Shouldn’t be a problem, I have a lovely young man who is desperate to help. He’s incredibly eager to please and begs ever so prettily. If you weren’t gone over wizard boy, I’d have offered to share.”

Ben laughed. “You’ve always been very generous.”

His sixth sense made him glance over to the door, Ashley was there, and he appeared pensive.

“Ashley, to what do we owe the pleasure? Please come and join us.”

Robin grinned. “Oh, this is the legendary Ashley Niven. Ben, you have excellent taste.”

“I couldn’t sleep, and remembered you were going to talk to your… friend. I thought I’d introduce myself.”

It seemed that Ben wasn’t the sole possessive arsehole in this relationship. “This is Robin Flint. He does bite, don’t get too close.”

Ashley shook Robin’s hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“All probably true. I’ve cultivated a reputation that I’m very proud of.”

Robin had the kind of lifestyle most could only dream of. He didn’t just rub shoulders with the rich and famous, he had made many of them what they were.

“Is it true you’re fucking a dragon?” Ashley asked. Ben found his boldness delicious.

“A dragon shifter, and not his dragon form. Scales don’t do it for me.”

Ashley took a seat. “Not all scales are bad. Ben knows a good friend of mine has them, although he’s not as accepted as a fire-breathing Hollywood A-lister.”

Robin smirked. “Jack Webb, I take it. Rumour has it he’s part-siren.”

Ashley glowered at Ben. “Did you tell him?”

Robin tutted. “Don’t be daft. He’s not going to do anything to annoy you. I make it my business to know these things, or at least be able to make an educated guess where I can manipulate others to confirm it.”

He could feel Ashley’s annoyance and Ben wanted them to get on if at all possible. “Robin, would you please not goad the warlock powerful enough to reduce this house to rubble.”

Robin raised his hands. “I apologise. I assure you we are all on the same side here, and my affection for my housemate is not like yours, so there is no need for us not to be friends as well.”

“Ben said you would be able to help with a fake accuser. Aren’t you worried you’ll be implicated?”

“I could ask the same of you. Ben has been my friend for a long time, I am willing to take a risk because of it, but your… whatever… is new.”

“I’m not doing this because we have an understanding but because, as a representative of the Invigilators, I have a duty to ensure the best outcome for the Council, and that would not be Catlin Redbourn being the Dark Countess of Crofton.”

Ben knew there had to be more than him being a great fuck behind Ashley helping, although at this moment, he didn’t care because he’d take any help, whatever the motive. “I thought you were meant to conduct a fair investigation.”

“I am and what I’ve uncovered needs to be dealt with. You started this, not for malicious purposes, but Catlin has tried to use it for her benefit and if she were to succeed, it would unbalance the House of Hewel.”

“I doubt those words will go down well in your report,” drawled Robin. “Charles would not like to be associated with risking his House.”

Ashley chuckled. “Somewhat of an understatement, I’m sure. But not everything has to be recorded for posterity, the Invigilators want to keep the peace between the families, that doesn’t always mean the truth or full transparency. And it’s not just that, I want revenge for Jack.”

Ben suspected he wore the same shocked expression as Robin. “That’s not exactly the company spin, Ashley.”

Ashley snorted. “Why would you think an organisation that has successfully helped keep the peace between four Houses of bloodthirsty vampires isn’t just as bad as those they police?”

Robin laughed. “Ben, I think you’ve finally met your match.”

Ben grinned at Ashley. He was a livewire, and Ben was more than happy to see where this might go between them. Robin was giving him a knowing look, tinged with a sadness he realised was due to losing who he thought would be his special one. Ben would learn from Robin’s disappointment and not risk losing Ashley prematurely.