Page 32

Chapter

Twenty-Two

T he silence would have continued far longer if not for Alexander MacTire. He crossed his arms and gazed down at Mallory. ‘That’s my wine.’

She drained his glass. ‘Did you choose it? It’s delicious!’

That clearly wasn’t the response he’d been expecting. ‘That’s also my chair.’

‘Oh.’ Her messy curls shivered as she looked around for another one. ‘You’d think an upmarket place like this could afford more seating.’ She caught the nearest waiter’s eye and gestured for help. He looked at MacTire for approval.

The werewolf alpha frowned. ‘Five more minutes,’ I said to him. ‘I want to find out more about this silphium stuff.’

Mallory glanced between MacTire and me. ‘Oh no!’ She clamped a hand to her mouth. ‘Are you on a date? Have I gatecrashed? I’m so sorry. I’d hate to interrupt a budding romance.’

MacTire nodded at the waiter to bring a third chair. ‘On that count you’re safe.’

‘Ah.’ Mallory nodded wisely. ‘Your hunt continues, then.’

‘What do you mean?’ he growled .

‘Your search for the perfect mate. You’ve not found her yet.’

His eyes narrowed and I hastily raised my hands. ‘Don’t look at me – I didn’t tell Mallory I was having dinner with you. She had no idea who I’d be here with. In fact I’ve never mentioned you to her.’

She was oblivious to his scowl. ‘Kit is right,’ she said cheerfully. ‘I figured it out all by myself. Go me!’

The waiter arrived with the chair and MacTire sat down, unappeased. ‘And who are you?’

‘Mallory Nash,’ she said. ‘And you are Alexander MacTire.’ She raised her empty glass towards the waiter. ‘Could we get another bottle here?’

When the waiter looked at MacTire again, he nodded reluctantly. I smirked; this was more fun than I could have imagined, though from Alexander MacTire’s expression he didn’t seem to agree. I jumped in to explain. ‘Mallory is a broker,’ I said. ‘Of sorts.’

‘Secrets and favours,’ she added. ‘Not stocks and shares.’

‘I asked her to find out what the witches’ council is worried about this week in return for an as-yet unspecified favour.’

MacTire’s eyes flicked to me. ‘Risky.’

‘There are caveats as to what Kit will do for me in return,’ Mallory assured him. ‘There are always caveats.’

As he leaned back and gazed at her, it was difficult to tell whether he was fascinated or horrified.

Perhaps both. ‘How do you know about me?’ he asked.

His voice was low and silky but it held an edge of danger.

Alexander MacTire was alpha of one of the most powerful werewolf packs in Coldstream for a reason; he wasn’t a cuddly puppy, he was a predator. I hoped Mallory realised that.

Oblivious, she went on. ‘Let’s say that a potential client came to me not too long ago and asked for a favour – she not only wanted you to notice her but also consider her seriously for the position of First Mate.

I’m only telling you because I declined the opportunity for reasons we won’t go into. ’

She looked at me. ‘My real clients’ business is sacrosanct and I’m not in the habit of gossiping. I won’t go blabbing about your request to anyone, Kit.’ I believed her.

MacTire wasn’t mollified. ‘Who?’ he demanded. ‘Who asked you to do this?’

She waved an airy hand. ‘I’m not going to tell you that.’

His eyes glittered with annoyance. ‘You declined because you couldn’t help her. Right?’

‘Wrong.’ She eyed him over her empty glass. ‘I knew exactly how to achieve what she wanted, I just didn’t want to do it.’

‘How?’ he demanded. ‘How would you have done it?’

This conversation was veering in directions that didn’t interest me. ‘If we could get back to the matter of this silphium…’

Neither of them looked at me. The sommelier appeared, smiled at us all and started refilling our glasses. I said thank you; Mallory and MacTire didn’t even glance at him.

‘It’s the annual Wolf Ball next month,’ Mallory said.

‘So?’

‘You’re attending the ball with your beta wolf, Samantha, as your date,’ she told him.

Wow. How did she know that? I sneaked a peek at MacTire. His expression was controlled but I reckoned he was as surprised as I was at her insider information.

‘When you arrive at the steps of the Grand Hotel, it would be an easy matter to distract Samantha. While she’s busy, my potential client would appear dressed in blue because it’s your favourite colour.

I’d also advise her to wear a natural perfume based on roses because that would grab your attention.

Then she’d make her approach. I didn’t iron out all the details because I didn’t take her on as a client, but I expect it would have been something along the lines of a little drama where she helped an elderly guest in front of you so she appeared both strong and compassionate.

’ She shrugged. ‘But I’m only conjecturing. ’

‘It wouldn’t have worked,’ MacTire said.

Mallory grinned. ‘I beg to differ. It definitely would have worked – up to a point, at least. Even my wiliest machinations can only go so far.’ She took another sip of wine. ‘There would at least have been consensual sexual congress. Beyond that, I can’t say.’

Alexander MacTire was open-mouthed, and so was I. The only difference between us was that I believed Mallory could have pulled it off whereas MacTire remained more sceptical.

‘Okay-dokey,’ I said, more loudly than I’d intended. ‘About that silphium…’

Mallory shook herself and gave a small tinkling laugh. ‘Yes, of course. Sorry, Kit. We can go elsewhere to discuss it privately, if you wish?’

MacTire had already heard most of it, plus he clearly knew more about silphium than I did. He could stay. He might even be able to add something to the conversation – if he could shake off his preoccupation with Mallory’s revelations.

‘It’s fine,’ I said. ‘Go on.’

‘Alright. Silphium is also called laserwort. It was well known in Roman times and was originally grown in the North African city of Cyrene, which is in modern-day Libya – although it’s nothing more now than a collection of archaeological ruins.’

‘I’ve never heard of it,’ I said.

‘Julius Caesar and Pliny the Younger both mentioned silphium,’ MacTire said. At my look, his lip curled. ‘I was forced to learn Latin when I was a kid. My father told me it would be useful, but this is the first time I’ve ever found that to be true.’

‘I feel the same way about algebra,’ Mallory told him. She was probably well aware that Alexander MacTire’s father had been a brutal, violent bastard. ‘What else do you know about it?’

He toyed with the stem of his wine glass. ‘Not much. It was potent and was believed to be literally worth its weight in gold, but it was over-harvested and became extinct two thousand years ago.’

Mallory nodded. ‘According to historical reports, the last stalk was given to Emperor Nero around AD54.’ She turned to me.

‘It was a remedy for both mental illness and physical complaints, an effective aphrodisiac and a seasoning for food. It was also used as a perfume. In its potent form, its resin could be a magical enhancement but nobody knows for sure how powerful it was. It’s not been seen for two millennia. ’

‘Then why is it a hot topic for the witches’ council?’

‘Because,’ Mallory said in a low voice, ‘ten days ago a witch passed them a sample of some fresh silphium leaves.’

I sucked in a breath. ‘This witch. Was he called Simon Campbell, by any chance?’

‘Yes,’ she answered, her cool, clever eyes watching me. ‘That was indeed his name.’

We finished the bottle of wine and declined dessert, although from Mallory’s expression she would happily have ordered every sweet on the menu then asked for second helpings.

‘All this silphium stuff is serious business,’ I said. ‘At least three people may have been murdered because of it – and although the killer has been caught, he’s a highly placed witch who sits on the council.’

‘A Fetch?’ MacTire was astonished.

‘Yes. The council knows about silphium and it seems likely that the druids’ board of governors are aware of it too, given how enthusiastic they were about questioning that particular Fetch.’

MacTire gave a low whistle. ‘If one of those groups obtained genuine silphium, they’d embargo it for everyone else in Coldstream so they could control its distribution, and they’d grow their own magic and wealth in the process.

It would shift the balance of power across the entire city – hell, maybe across the world. ’

‘I don’t know if silphium exists, or if it’s in Coldstream,’ I said. ‘If it is, I certainly don’t know where it might be. But I need your word that you won’t speak about this to anyone else unless its existence is proven and it becomes public knowledge.’

MacTire eyed me. ‘You ask a lot. There are plenty of werewolf packs that would be just as interested in obtaining silphium as the witches and druids. We could write our own cheques for generations to come if we became its sole suppliers.’

I snorted. ‘Your life is complicated enough.’

He grinned. ‘True. Even if I wasn’t already in your debt, I have no interest in starting a war over a plant. The money would be nice, though.’

‘You’re already rich.’

MacTire’s white-toothed grin stretched wider. ‘Nobody will hear about silphium from me.’ I waited, keeping my gaze on him. ‘You can trust me, Kit.’

‘All the same, I’d like your word,’ I returned. And because I was prepared to play hard ball, I added, ‘You told me when I rescued your nephew that you’d do anything I wished to repay the debt.’

His smile disappeared at my heavy-handed approach. ‘Fine. You have my word that I won’t mention it to anyone.’ He gestured to Mallory. ‘Your turn.’

Mallory laughed easily. ‘You have my word, Kit – of course you do. For one thing I’m a squib, so silphium’s magical properties are no use to me.’ Alexander MacTire stared at her. ‘And I don’t need money. It doesn’t interest me.’

He looked sceptical. ‘Really,’ he said in a flat tone of voice.

She smiled serenely. ‘Really.’

I believed her even if he didn’t. ‘Thank you, both of you.’ I caught the waiter’s eye. ‘Please allow me to pay for dinner.’

‘Not a chance,’ MacTire growled. ‘I invited you here.’

‘Then let me pay for Mallory’s share of the wine.’

‘No.’

I glared at him in mock irritation and he returned the look.

The waiter moved smoothly over to our table. ‘Your evening has already been taken care of.’

We stared at him. ‘What do you mean?’ the werewolf alpha asked.

‘Compliments of Mr Vallese himself.’ He turned a half-inch and bowed to Mallory. ‘He hopes you enjoyed your evening, Ms Nash, and reminds you that you are always welcome to dine here with any of your friends.’ With that, he backed away.

I smothered a laugh; MacTire still looked confused. ‘Wait. What?’ he asked.

Mallory didn’t say anything but her eyes were dancing with amusement.

I patted his hand. ‘I need to get home. I promised my cats that I’d be back before midnight.’

Although my blood was fizzing with the anticipation of telling Thane what I’d learned about silphium, it was late and neither of us had slept well recently. If Thane was sensible, he’d already be curled up in bed with Tiddles snoozing beside him.

I decided to find him in the morning so we could track down Adrienne together; she was the one remaining person who might know where the silphium was. For now, I would jump on the first tram to Danksville, secure in the knowledge that there was a murderer behind bars and a motive in the bag.