Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang(31)

 

“I really think you’re going to have to go with a verdict of death by a person or persons unknown,” Esme suddenly piped up. “Like they say in those fascinating police shows you like to watch when no one is around.”

 

“I do not watch television,” Christian said sternly. “That is a mortal pursuit.”

 

“Uh-huh. Think I didn’t discover your secret stash of those British homicide DVDs that are so conveniently hidden in your study?” Allie asked.

 

“Very well,” Christian said, obviously ignoring the teasing tone in his wife’s voice. “I am willing to withdraw the charge of unauthorized murder against the Zorya pending further evidence. But the last charge will not be so easily dismissed.”

 

“I don’t see how you can think Alec going to ground has something to do with us,” I said, wishing Kristoff would hold my hand again, but lacking the nerve to just take his.

 

His fingers curled around mine, warm and strong and bringing me untold comfort. I slid a quick glance at him, but his face was impassive, his attention on Christian as the latter reiterated the charges.

 

“I have not seen Alec since he left Iceland. Neither has Pia,” Kristoff said firmly.

 

“We have evidence to the contrary,” Sebastian said with a smug little smile.

 

“Evidence? What evidence?” I asked, suddenly worried. What if someone had gone to the trouble of manufacturing evidence against us the way they had against Kristoff?

 

Christian nodded to Rowan, who rose and left the room. “We will bring in our proof.”

 

I gnawed my lip a moment as I considered Kristoff. “Alec hasn’t been in contact with you at all?”

 

He shook his head. “I haven’t seen him since that night in Iceland. He said he was returning to his home in California.”

 

“Where do you live?” I asked, somewhat surprised to hear that the very urbane Alec made his home in California.

 

“Outside of Firenze.”

 

“That’s Florence, isn’t it? In Italy?”

 

He nodded as the door opened and Rowan reappeared with Mattias.

 

“First you put me in the cell. Then you take me out and taunt me with the sight of my wife. Then you put me back in, and now you bring me here again. Your methods to break me are most cruel, but I will never give in to you. Never!” Mattias said in a dramatic fashion. “Wife! Have you convinced them yet to set me free?”

 

“She’s my wife, not yours,” Kristoff grumbled as Rowan shoved Mattias into a chair. “I married her first.”

 

“She’s a Zorya, and I am the sacristan. A Zorya must be wed to a sacristan in order to have full access to her powers, and since we’ve all seen proof that she has those, it is the marriage to me that is valid,” Mattias retorted.

 

“I’m afraid he has a point,” I murmured.

 

Kristoff’s glower turned even darker.

 

“The discussion of your release hinges, as you have repeatedly been told, on your cooperation,” Christian told Mattias in mild chastisement.

 

My ears perked up. Christian was considering releasing Mattias? Perhaps it wouldn’t be as hard as I thought to get him to see reason.

 

“You will repeat what you told us earlier.”

 

Mattias’s pale blue eyes rested with consideration on me. “I will speak only to my wife.”

 

Sebastian made an impatient gesture. “We can force you to speak.”

 

“You may torture me all you like-I will speak only to Pia!” Mattias yelled.

 

I began to see a way to present my case. “Am I to understand that Mattias has said something that connects us with the disappearance of Alec?” I asked the council members.

 

“He stated . . .” Christian shuffled a few papers until he found one he liked. “He stated that he knew how you and Kristoff were involved in engineering the disappearance of Alec, and where he was now. He refused to say any more when pressed.”

 

“Tortured!” Mattias shouted. “I was tortured.”

 

“You look just fine to me,” I told him. And he did; he was practically radiating health, whereas poor Kristoff had nearly wasted away. “I’m afraid you’ve been had. Mattias is either confused or lying.”

 

“Wife!” Mattias sputtered.

 

Kristoff glared at him.

 

“That eventuality crossed my mind, which is why we asked you here,” Christian answered smoothly.

 

Allie snorted but said nothing.

 

“You know . . .” I looked at Mattias with what I hoped appeared as innocent speculation. “If you were to release him to my custody, I’m sure I’d be able to get from him everything he knows.”