‘I’ll enter,’ Lady Guantes said. ‘You’ll refrain from taking action against me. My men and I will refrain from action against you and your allies. After we’ve talked, you’ll return my husband, and my men and I will leave – rather than launching the attack we have planned. Then I will leave you and yours unmolested for the rest of the day. I swear this by my name and power.’
Irene considered. It sounded reasonable – but then, Fae bargains always did. ‘What if you’ve already ordered your men to take action?’
Lady Guantes sighed. ‘I suppose I should expect a linguist to be pedantic. I give you my word that, if you agree to this truce, my men will not be a threat to you or yours for the rest of today.’ She paused. ‘Calling for the police to save you won’t work either. We’ve planned for that.’
Irene’s brain whirled with options. But she and Catherine were completely outnumbered here. She took a deep breath. ‘I agree to your terms,’ she said, ‘but give me a moment to disable the door alarm.’
‘One minute,’ Lady Guantes said, tapping her watch.
Irene slid the window shut and ran to where Catherine stood over the bound Lord Guantes – fortunately out of Lady Guantes’ line of sight. ‘Get behind the counter,’ she said briefly, indicating the receptionists’ barrier along one wall. Irene scooped up one of the minions’ dropped guns as Catherine concealed herself, and then she hurried back. ‘I’m about to open the door,’ she called.
‘I’m waiting,’ Lady Guantes answered composedly.
When she entered, she glanced at Irene’s gun with an air of mild disdain. ‘I thought you were above the need for such things.’
‘Needs must.’ Irene frowned as the men began to follow Lady Guantes inside. ‘Wait. I’m not sure I want them in here too.’
‘Well, they can’t stand around on the street. People will talk. Either you trust me to be bound by my word and not attack you, or you don’t. Make up your mind.’
Irene had a horrible feeling that she’d overlooked something crucial. But Lady Guantes was right – either she trusted the Fae, or she should have kept the door shut. ‘Very well,’ she said, leading the way and feeling the back of her neck itch with every step.
Irene came to a stop next to the unconscious Lord Guantes. ‘Do you want to check his condition?’ she asked.
‘I can see that he’s breathing,’ Lady Guantes replied. ‘Anything else can be handled by a doctor. Now, let’s talk like reasonable women.’
‘I’ll come to the point straight off, then,’ Irene began. ‘These attacks against me and my allies are inconvenient. What would it take for you to call them off?’
Lady Guantes smiled. ‘Your surrender to me. I would also require the surrender of the young dragon and the detective.’
‘So, death or . . . slavery?’ Irene said. ‘That’s not much of a choice.’ Lady Guantes’ choice of words had been very specific too. She’d only referred to herself in this bargain. There was no mention of Lord Guantes – or Alberich – neither of whom would be covered by any bargain made by Lady Guantes.
‘If you don’t surrender, a great many people could die.’ The two of them faced each other over the body at their feet. ‘Even if you don’t care for the inhabitants of this world, your detective friend does. Perhaps I should make my offer to him? He’s the sort who would sacrifice himself for the things he cares about.’
Irene raised an eyebrow. ‘And we wouldn’t, madam?’
‘Oh, we’re both too practical. We’d far rather sacrifice others instead.’ There was something dreadfully casual about her manner. For her, it wasn’t a question of whom she’d sacrifice or how many, but simply a case of organizing the logistics.
‘There will be extremely serious consequences – for you – if you pursue this vendetta. Kai and I have been nominated to oversee the dragon—Fae treaty. If you attack us, you’ll make very powerful enemies.’
‘You’re assuming I care about your patrons,’ Lady Guantes said. ‘There are others out there who’d reward me handsomely for disrupting your treaty. On both sides.’
Unfortunately true, Irene knew. ‘But are these risks really worth taking? When you could just as easily work with us, rather than against?’
Lady Guantes looked briefly dumbfounded – and then she actually laughed. ‘Miss Winters, are you seriously trying to recruit me? To employ me?’
‘Look on it as a compliment,’ Irene said. ‘It means I recognize your abilities.’ She didn’t hold out much hope of Lady Guantes accepting, though – not if Alberich really was the Guantes’ secretive patron.
‘I’m genuinely flattered. It doesn’t change anything – but I am flattered.’
‘But no?’
‘But no.’
‘Where do we go from here, then?’ Irene pressed. ‘If you keep on doing this much damage, you’ll have the authorities after you.’ A thought struck Irene. ‘I’d assumed Lord Guantes was the Professor. Should I be pointing the police towards you, instead?’
Lady Guantes ignored Irene’s conjecture. ‘I can avoid the authorities for longer than you can avoid me. But maybe there is something else you could offer me, to avoid this . . . impasse.’
‘I’m listening.’
‘Another Librarian. Alive, of course, and not in a condition to fight back.’
Irene’s eyes widened. As if she’d hand over another Librarian – one of her own brothers and sisters – to whatever fate Lady Guantes might have in mind. And if Alberich was the Fae’s evil genius, why would he want a Librarian? She didn’t want to speculate about that. ‘No. Non-negotiable,’ she said, and heard the ice in her voice.
‘Such a pity. It would have kept you safe.’
‘The answer, madam, is still no.’
‘Very well. Then our conversation is over.’
‘Aren’t you going to threaten me?’ Irene asked.
‘Miss Winters, if you don’t already feel threatened, I’m not doing my job properly.’
‘Oh, I absolutely do,’ Irene assured her. ‘Ultimately, though, is it worth all this effort to get revenge for me killing your husband? After all, he seems to have – survived somehow?’
Lady Guantes considered, a pensive look on her face. ‘Some people would say it was worth it.’
‘Would you?’
‘No. No, I wouldn’t. You’re correct about that, Miss Winters. You may congratulate yourself.’
‘Then what do you get out of all this?’
Lady Guantes looked down at her unconscious husband. ‘I could say we’ll gain power if we destabilize your precious treaty. And rewards from our patron, but ultimately . . . Would you believe that I’m doing all this for my husband’s sake?’
Irene tried to parse that statement. ‘You’re pursuing revenge because Lord Guantes wants you to?’ No, Lady Guantes made her own decisions. ‘Or pursuing power to help him somehow?’
Lady Guantes clicked her tongue. ‘Now that’s what I get for rattling on. My dear husband always said that was his speciality, and he was absolutely right.’