Chapter 2 #2
The cat lady offered her a friendly smile that was definitely tinged with relief; it appeared her intrusion was more than welcome even though Kit had clearly dressed up for the occasion. She looked good; Mallory hoped that Alexander MacTire appreciated her efforts.
She sat on the chair he’d vacated before offering up a white lie to excuse her tardiness.
‘Sorry I’m late – it took longer than I expected to get the information you needed.
The Witches’ Council has been in disarray all day.
’ She raised an eyebrow. ‘Something about one of their own getting arrested for murder, which I believe you know about?’
Kit also raised an eyebrow. ‘You’re well-informed.’
Mallory’s smile stretched wider. ‘That’s my job. Anyway, I’ll knock a month off your waiting period because of the delay. If I don’t come to you for the return favour within the next eleven months, you are released from further obligations. Is that okay with you?’
‘Sure.’ Kit looked delighted at the suggestion.
Pleased that she’d been right about Kit’s relaxed attitude, Mallory leaned forward, took a slice of bread from the basket and started munching.
The last thing she needed was for her conversation to be interrupted by her stomach growling.
Although she’d told James the truth about not wanting any food, now she was inside the restaurant with its delicious aroma of garlic, tomato and oregano she realised she was desperately hungry.
Far too often she became so absorbed in her work that she forgot to eat.
‘So,’ she said. ‘You wanted to know what was top of the council agenda this week. Despite the spanner in the works with the murder arrest, there’s one topic that’s been consuming the witches.’
She swallowed a mouthful. Yum. Thank heavens for focaccia – it would keep her going until she managed to get home and heat up a proper meal.
‘This is great bread.’ Without thinking, she leaned forward and picked up the nearest wine glass, drinking from it and swirling the goodness appreciatively around her mouth. ‘Good wine, too. A Tuscan merlot?’
‘So I’ve been told.’
‘Tasty. Very full-bodied. I like the notes of fig.’
A tiny frown marred Kit’s forehead. ‘The council?’ she prompted gently.
Mallory jumped guiltily: it had been a long day but that was no excuse for getting distracted by good bread and even better wine.
‘Oh, yes. They’re preoccupied with silphium.
In fact, the witch who’s been arrested for murder – Fetch Daniel Jackson?
– had been tasked with retrieving it.’ She paused and watched Kit, whose expression suddenly displayed studied nonchalance. ‘Interesting, wouldn’t you say?’
‘What the hell is silphium?’ Kit asked.
Before Mallory could explain, a male voice answered. ‘Silphium is the most desirable, most potent, most magical herb that has ever existed.’
The werewolf had it in one. Mallory flicked a look in MacTire’s direction.
He was dressed formally, in a navy suit and pink shirt that perfectly set off his tanned skin.
There were a few glinting silver hairs visible in his dark locks that indicated his growing maturity, though she knew he was only in his early forties.
His sculpted cheekbones, brief shadow of stubble and arresting amber eyes added to his appeal.
Alexander MacTire was an incredibly handsome man but Mallory wasn’t fool enough to fall for a pretty face.
The werewolf alpha was definitely dangerous.
Even if she hadn’t been aware of his standing, she’d have recognised him as someone who was used to being in a position of authority.
Brooding masculinity rippled off his skin as if in dark waves directed at her alone.
Mallory glanced at Kit, who didn’t appear perturbed that MacTire had joined the conversation. She shrugged and nodded at him. ‘What he said.’
‘It’s also been extinct for the last two thousand years,’ he added.
Mallory winked. Alexander MacTire didn’t know everything, and that was surprisingly satisfying.
‘Supposedly. Although perhaps “dormant” would be a better word. Whatever – it’s priceless.
If it existed today, Preternaturals would kill not just for its power but for the money a tiny silphium cutting could command. ’
‘Kill for it?’ Kit asked.
‘Oh yes.’ Mallory noted the agitation that was now visible in Kit’s twitching fingers.
She didn’t blame her; from what Mallory had learned, silphium was both extraordinarily powerful and extraordinarily dangerous.
Still, if anyone knew how to deal with such a desirable herb, Mallory reckoned it would be Kit McCafferty.
‘I’m quite certain. Rivers of blood would run through the streets of Coldstream if somebody possessed silphium.’ Mallory took another sip of the wine and then, in a bid to diffuse the tension, she said, ‘This really is an exquisite merlot.’
MacTire crossed his arms. ‘That’s my wine,’ he informed her.
Oops. Mallory tightened her toes briefly then decided to brazen it out. It was, after all, what she did best. She drained the glass then asked in an overly bright voice, ‘Did you choose it?’ He glowered darkly so she doubled down. ‘It’s delicious!’
MacTire remained unamused. ‘That’s also my chair.’
‘Oh.’ She hadn’t anticipated that the werewolf alpha would err on the side of grumpiness and that had been a mistake on her part. She was usually adept at anticipating clients’ needs and analysing their emotions. Then again, Alexander MacTire wasn’t her client.
She glanced around. ‘You’d think an upmarket place like this could afford more chairs.’ She caught the snooty waiter’s eye and gestured for help.
If anything, MacTire’s irritation increased. ‘Five more minutes,’ Kit said to him. ‘I want to find out more about this silphium stuff.’
Something about her tone made Mallory realise that this wasn’t a mere business dinner; she’d got it wrong and she was interrupting a romantic evening by candlelight. ‘Oh no!’ she blurted out. ‘Are you on a date? Have I gate-crashed? I’m so sorry. I’d hate to interrupt a budding romance.’
There was a definite growl in MacTire’s voice when he answered. ‘On that count you’re safe.’
Mallory felt a flash of relief that she’d not ruined Kit’s evening; if she was honest, she was equally relieved for Kit’s long-term future. The congenial cat lady could do better than this posturing alpha. Far better. ‘Ah.’ Mallory nodded at him. ‘Your hunt continues, then.’
His eyes glittered dangerously. ‘What do you mean?’
There was no point in pretending she didn’t know so Mallory shrugged. ‘Your search for the perfect mate. You’ve not found her yet.’
MacTire looked furious though Kit appeared amused. ‘Don’t look at me – I didn’t tell Mallory I was having dinner with you. She had no idea who I was coming here with. In fact, I’ve never mentioned you to her.’
‘Kit’s right,’ Mallory agreed cheerfully. ‘I figured it out all by myself. Go me!’
The waiter arrived with a third chair and MacTire sat down. His movements were controlled and careful but when he gazed at her with those assessing amber eyes Mallory felt a shiver of discomfort. ‘And who are you?’ he demanded.
She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing he was unnerving her.
‘Mallory Nash,’ she said. ‘And you are Alexander MacTire.’ She raised her glass towards the waiter.
If she was going to stay for even another five minutes then more wine was definitely called for. ‘Could we get another bottle here?’
After receiving a clipped agreement from MacTire, the waiter scurried off while Kit did her best to offer a more detailed explanation. ‘Mallory is a broker,’ she said. ‘Of sorts.’
‘Secrets and favours,’ Mallory added, in case MacTire assumed she was some sort of financial whizzkid. ‘Not stocks and shares.’
Kit went on. ‘I asked her to find out what the Witches’ Council is worrying about this week in return for an as-yet unspecified favour.’
MacTire frowned. ‘Risky.’
Bristling at his ongoing scrutiny – and obvious judgement that she was a wrong ’un – Mallory said, ‘There are caveats as to what Kit will do for me in return. There are always caveats.’
MacTire leaned back his chair, his amber eyes hooded. Suddenly he appeared less irritated and more intrigued, as if Mallory were a new species of creature he’d only just discovered. ‘How do you know about me?’ he asked silkily.
She felt herself relax; as long as he was asking questions and not growling at her, she reckoned she was onto a winner.
‘Let’s say that a potential client came to me not long ago and asked for a favour – she not only wanted you to notice her but also consider her for the position of First Mate.
I’m only telling you because I declined to help for reasons we won’t go into. ’
There was too much that could go wrong when clients’ love lives were involved, and Mallory had no interest in setting up blind dates.
Besides, something about the woman who’d approached her for help in snagging MacTire had rubbed her up the wrong way.
She’d had a cold, mercenary attitude towards nabbing one of the most eligible bachelors in Coldstream that was nothing to do with romance and everything to do with power and wealth.
Mallory had considered her options, researched how she might approach the situation and eventually decided against proceeding. Manipulating love wasn’t her style. Now that she’d met MacTire in person, she was even more glad she’d refused.
She realised that Kit might be concerned about her loose lips but Mallory was more than capable of keeping quiet when a situation called for it. ‘My real clients’ business is sacrosanct,’ she explained, ‘and I’m not in the habit of gossiping. I won’t go blabbing about your request to anyone, Kit.’
Unfortunately Alexander MacTire wasn’t interested in her promises to Kit McCafferty. ‘Who?’ he demanded of her. ‘Who asked you to do this?’
Mallory waved a hand dismissively. ‘I’m not going to tell you that.’ He could throw any number of lupine tantrums and her lips would remain sealed.
A note of triumph crept into his voice. ‘You declined because you couldn’t help her. Right?’
As if. ‘Wrong.’ MacTire was starting to irritate her now. ‘I knew exactly how to achieve what she wanted, I just didn’t choose to do it.’
MacTire snorted. ‘How? How would you have done it?’
Kit intervened, doing her best to steer the conversation back to the real reason for Mallory’s intrusion. ‘If we could get back to the matter of this silphium…’
Mallory barely heard her. For reasons she couldn’t quite explain, she couldn’t drag her attention away from MacTire.
His arrogant amber eyes seemed to penetrate all her defences.
She tilted her chin and reverted to brash confidence.
I’m not intimidated by you, she told him silently. Growl all you want.
MacTire’s mouth twitched. You can’t fool me with any of your tricks, he seemed to reply. I’m in full control of my own life. I’m the manipulator here. I’m in charge. Not you.
The sommelier appeared with a fresh bottle of wine.
‘Thank you,’ Kit said.
Neither Mallory nor MacTire broke their gaze. Fine. If he wanted to know how she’d have done it, she would tell him. ‘It’s the annual Wolf Ball next month.’
‘So?’
This was going to be good. ‘You’re attending the ball with your beta wolf, Samantha, as your date.’
Out of the corner of her eye, Mallory spotted Kit’s jerk of surprise.
MacTire betrayed little but Mallory was certain she’d also shocked him.
‘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. ’
MacTire’s lips curled up in derision. ‘It wouldn’t have worked.’
She grinned. He underestimated her abilities.
Considerably. ‘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 and tried not to let her grin turn into a smirk.
‘There would at least have been consensual sexual congress. Beyond that, I can’t say. ’
The alpha’s sneer vanished and his mouth dropped open. Mallory did her best not to preen.
‘Okay-dokey,’ Kit said loudly. ‘About that silphium…’
Mallory gave an embarrassed laugh; she wasn’t here to score points against Alexander MacTire.
She straightened her shoulders and turned her attention to her actual client.
‘Yes, of course. Sorry, Kit. We can go elsewhere to discuss it privately, if you wish.’ It would be preferable to continue this discussion without MacTire’s attention laser-focused on her.
‘It’s fine,’ Kit said. ‘Go on.’
Damn. Mallory smiled brightly. ‘Alright.’ She focused on Kit and told her everything she’d learned about silphium. There was a lot for her to take in.