Kristoff’s cousin shook his head slowly. “I do not think it would be wise for the Zorya and the sacristan to be together. We have no guarantee that the reapers will do as they have promised her.”
“Agreed. Andreas?” Sebastian looked to the man who’d been standing so silent, it was easy to overlook his presence.
Andreas roused himself from what appeared to be a deep meditation. His face gave none of his thoughts away. “I object to the release of reapers on general principles. There is no reason to believe they will not later harm our own people.”
Mattias sneered.
“You are not helping,” I told him. His sneer faded away to a pout.
“Christian?” Sebastian asked.
Christian was even slower to reply than Andreas. “We have held reapers before who have not been directly responsible for harm. Since Kristjana and the sacristan are both members of an active chapter, a chapter that we know has made several attacks against both Kristoff and Alec, we are within our right to continue to hold the two of them, regardless of whether or not they themselves participated in the attempts to harm Dark Ones.”
My heart sank. So much for doing this the easy way.
“There is also the possibility that they do, in fact, have information regarding Alec’s whereabouts,” he added.
“That, at least, I think we can clear up.” I turned my attention on Mattias. Beside me, Kristoff stiffened. “Mattias, you told me once that since I was a Zorya, you were obliged by Brotherhood laws to honor any demands I made of you. You will now answer me truthfully-do you know anything about Alec’s disappearance?”
Mattias’s normally sunny expression turned petulant. “It is not right for you to ask me such in front of the evil ones.”
“Do you know anything about Alec?” I repeated.
His expression was sullen for a good minute. “No.”
I relaxed. “Then why did you tell the vampires you knew Kristoff and I were responsible for Alec disappearing?”
I thought for a moment that he wasn’t going to answer, but he finally did. “The evil ones would not bring you to me as I asked!” he answered, waving his hands around in expressive unhappiness. “I knew that you would come to rescue me if they would allow you in. Therefore, I said what needed to be said in order for them to summon you to me.”
Kristoff muttered a rude word under his breath, exchanging glares with Mattias when the latter heard it.
I looked back at Christian. “I rest my case.”
“This proves nothing,” Sebastian said, waving away Mattias’s confession. “They are working together to confuse us.”
“I believe,” Christian said slowly, with deliberation, “the charges against you precipitated by the sacristan’s original statement will require further investigation.”
I found a little smile. “That means you’ll let Kristoff go.”
“No.”
My spirits, which had been frolicking around happily, stumbled to a stop. “What?”
Christian shook his head. “We will investigate further. Once we know the truth of the situation, then we’ll act.”
“That is not acceptable!” I said, slamming my hand down on the table. “I’m not going to let you do this to us!”
“You’re a Zorya,” Mattias said with a gleam in his eye. “Use the power of the light to smite them.”
Sebastian rounded the table to stand near me, obviously prepared to spring if necessary.
Kristoff growled deep in his chest and leaped to his feet.
I jumped up to stop him from doing anything rash. That was impressive. Can you bark, too?
The look he gave me should have dropped me dead on the spot, but for some reason, I just found it amusing.
“I would be very unhappy if you smote Christian,” Allie said calmly, her hand on her husband’s arm. “Tempted though I am to see you use this mysterious moon power. But it’s probably best if you don’t.”
She’s not the only one who’s tempted , I told Kristoff. I don’t suppose if I distracted everyone, you could grab Mattias and escape?
No.
Too bad. I have a horrible feeling we’re going to have to do something drastic to get out of here. I just wish I knew what happened to Alec, whether the Brotherhood really has him, or if he’s off doing something covert. He said nothing to you after that night?
He said a few things, but they are not worth repeating, Kristoff answered, reluctance evident in the brush of his mind against mine.