“Of course,” Mattias agreed.
“What is going on?” a different male voice called out from the depths of the conference room. The door was only half-open, so we couldn’t see in. “What is the holdup? We have things to do to prepare for the attack. Remove the Zorya at once.”
“Mattias?” I said, smiling as he turned back to me. I shoved a handful of light into his face.
“Pia, Pia, Pia!”
“Get rid of the chick,” I said, nodding toward Amber.
She gasped and started to summon light again when I grabbed her by the strap of her purse and hauled her out into the hallway.
“Stop that!” she shrieked, slapping at my hands. “You’ll stretch it! Do you have any idea how much I paid for this bag?”
“Dump her outside,” I told Mattias. “And don’t let her gather up light!”
He grinned and grabbed both of her hands, frog-marching her outside, her squawks of protest echoing down the empty hallway. The two ghosts followed her, neither of them looking very happy.
“I’m sorry,” I told them as they left. “I hope I didn’t screw anything up for you guys, but things are bound to get a bit hairy, and it really is better if you’re not in the middle of it.”
The door was jerked open just as I turned toward it.
“Ah. You have arrived at last,” Frederic said as Kristoff tried to shove me behind himself. I poked him in the shoulder and scooted to the side. Frederic’s eyes bugged out a bit at the sight of me. “Zorya Pia! You . . . er . . . are here as well?”
“As you see. Good morning, Frederic,” I said brightly, clutching Kristoff’s arm. I might not be a wimp, but I wasn’t stupid, either. “You can stop whatever horrible plans you’ve set into motion with the capture of Alec, because the cavalry has, in fact, arrived.”
Both his eyebrows rose in genuine surprise. “Capture of Alec? Dare I assume you mean a Dark One?”
“Don’t try to be coy,” I said sternly, leveling my best glare at him while keeping a firm grip on Kristoff’s arm. He was as tense as a panther about to leap. “We know you know who Alec is, and we also know you captured him a few minutes ago. I’m sure, if you put your mind to it, you can figure out how-”
He stopped me with a slightly raised hand, his lips curling in a sickly approximation of amusement. “My dear Pia, I haven’t the slightest idea of what you’re talking about.”
“You . . . er . . . don’t?” I looked at Kristoff. Is he bullshitting us?
I don’t think so. Kristoff’s gaze was unwavering and intent on Frederic. A lesser man would have backed up a step, but Frederic simply maintained an expression of mild interest.
“You knew we were coming, though,” Kristoff said, relaxing just a smidgen.
“Yes, of course. We were told you would be arriving to kill us.”
“We’re not here to kill you,” I said, attempting to figure out whether he was trying to pull something over on us.
He looked just as surprised as I felt, his demeanor cracking for one second as he glanced to the side.
Kristoff pushed past him into the room. It was a standard conference room, although the long table in the center had inlaid marquetry that I wished I had time to admire. Two men and a woman stood grouped at the far end, none of them shrieking threats, performing a chant to initiate one of their ghastly ceremonies, or doing anything, really, other than looking somewhat scared and nervous.
I looked at them for a few moments, then back at Frederic. He looked even more nervous than they did. Something did not add up.
“All right, where are all the high-powered reapers?” I asked, putting my hands on my hips.
Frederic backed into the room when Andreas walked toward him. He waved at the group of three. “This is the governing board. Rather than let you kill innocent members, we opted to clear the building and meet you here, face-to-face, in a fervent hope that we might reason with you. In fact, I think it would be best for all of us if I might have a word alone with you. . . .”
“Oh, no, I am not so naive as to fall for that old trick,” I said with a knowing look.
He glanced at the governors, and again I was struck by how nervous he was. “I feel there may be some discussions that are more suited to a private situation.”
Does he seriously think he’s getting me alone?
If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was frightened of you.
Of me? That’s silly. I’m no threat to him.