“Maybe things are different in Budapest than the rest of the world,” he suggested, but again I wasn’t buying it. Things were extremely different in Budapest from the rest of the world, but I was willing to bet that the warlock/witch community wasn’t.

“Well, I thought you might help me. If not, I am more than content to contact Ryan in London,” I said. Dropping the name of the extremely powerful and dangerous warlock that was the head of Themis caused Danaus to softly rattle his cup and saucer together. “He’s been more than happy to help me in the past, and I’m sure that he would be able to ferret out the culprit in short order.”

Mira! Danaus said in a warning voice in my head.

There’s no way he’s heard about our falling out, I replied quickly. Ryan’s not going to advertise that he failed to lure me to his side, and for all he knows, I haven’t turned on him yet. He’s still the one with the extra special blood that I can’t resist. I’m just trying to rattle Clarion into making a mistake.

Just keep Ryan out of this. We don’t need any more problems.

“Ryan? From Themis?” Clarion asked.

“Yes. He helped us in the past with the naturi and I have no doubt that he’d be happy to help me with my little problem with Budapest. He does tend to know most of the powerful warlocks in the region.”

“What kind of a warlock problem do you seem to be having?”

“The murdering kind,” I said, losing all lightness from my voice.

“Oh. That is a problem,” Clarion said, his whole body seeming to go stiff.

“Yes,” I hissed, leaning a little bit closer to him. “Recently when Danaus and I were traveling to visit with Veyron, a warlock attacked us on a busy street. He not only threatened our lives, but threatened to expose our secret world. Not exactly something that is acceptable in our little supernatural community.”

“No, it’s not.”

“And then again today, my hotel room was attacked by three lycanthropes and a warlock. Danaus didn’t get a clear look at the warlock, but he’s confident he would be able to identify him under the right conditions. Naturally, an attempt on my life needs to be dealt with.”

“That is a problem,” Clarion stated again, rubbing his chin with his right hand. He didn’t sound as concerned as he should have. I knew I was sitting across from my would-be assassin, and I was sure that Clarion knew that I suspected him. My goal was to get him to run back to Veyron for help. Or at the very least, draw his magic-using companion out of the shadows. I needed a clear picture of the power structure in Budapest before I attempted to dismantle it.

“So you see, if you can’t help me, I have no choice but to draw Ryan into the matter. As a power player in the warlock community, I am sure that he will want to personally see to it that our supernatural nature is not exposed by a warlock.”

“Very understandable. I cannot currently help you, but I ask that you give me a day to look into the matter. This is all news to me, and I would like to be of assistance,” Clarion offered, taking my hand in both of his. Energy zipped around me and pummeled my flesh as if it were trying to enter my body. His growing anxiety was making it difficult for him to maintain his tight control over his powers. The air around us seemed to jump with a seeming electrical current. “I’m sure that Ryan would be eager to help, but with the naturi running loose, I have no doubt that he is very busy. Allow me to assist you.”

“Of course,” I said with a broad smile that exposed the points of my fangs. “We would greatly appreciate it. This city is becoming too dangerous between the naturi, the brutal lycans, and now a rogue warlock. It seems that I became keeper of the city just in time.”

“Yes, it would seem so,” Clarion agreed, releasing my hand. He glanced at the gold watch on his wrist, but I doubted that he actually saw the time. “If you would excuse me—”

“I understand,” I said with a casual wave of my hand as if I were dismissing him. “You may go take care of your business. I think Danaus and I are going to linger here a few moments longer so he can partake of some more coffee and one of these amazing little desserts.”

“Wonderful,” Clarion said absently. “I will seek you out soon with some new information.” He then stood, turned on his heel and walked briskly out of Gerbeaud Cukrászda without a backward glance. I sat back in my chair and stared across the large room at where I last saw him. He was rattled, and I wasn’t sure which had him more disturbed: the threat of the naturi purposefully hunting him down or the idea of Ryan coming into the region to hunt him down for trying to kill me. Either way, the hangman’s noose was dangling over his head.

With a soft sigh, I motioned for the server to bring Danaus more coffee as I turned to look at my private defender. He was frowning at me, less than pleased with my handling of the conversation. Unfortunately, he couldn’t voice his opinion here. There were more than a few warlocks and witches in the room who would be hanging on his every word. Of course, I had tried to use that arrangement to my advantage when I positioned Clarion so he would have to start naming names, betraying his fellow warlock. If he didn’t take care of matters very quickly, he was going to become a pariah within the supernatural community.

He’s going to come after you again, Danaus needlessly pointed out.

Undoubtedly.

Are you going back to Vienna during the day?

Only if you refuse to protect me.

I’m not sure I can effectively protect you against a warlock, he admitted.

I laid my hand on his and squeezed it. “Would you like to stay for something sweet?” I asked for the benefit of everyone listening in on our vocal conversation. If one of us didn’t say something aloud soon, they would grow suspicious.

“No, I’m fine. I’d rather take care of Margit Island so we can get back to the hotel,” Danaus said, fighting to keep from gritting his teeth as he glared at me. He wasn’t happy. He was worried about my safety now that we had successfully backed a dangerous warlock into a corner.

“Finish your coffee and then we’ll go. The night is still young,” I said, forcing a smile on my lips.

I continued our original conversation. He might not come after me tomorrow. He may want to have a few words with Veyron first.

He’ll want to take care of you before you have a chance to contact Ryan. No one wants Ryan involved, Danaus countered.

That was an accurate assessment if I ever heard one. I had pulled Ryan into my problems once, in the belief that he could actually help me and I could keep the situation under my control. I had been seriously wrong and it nearly cost me my life and Tristan’s. Ryan was too dangerous, especially when he claimed to be helping. Danaus and I were far better off if the warlock remained permanently out of our lives, but I didn’t think even that was possible. He was going to come back to haunt us eventually.

But for now, we had bigger problems to deal with in the form of Rowe and his fellow exiled compatriots. It was time to clean house.