Caliste shoved down the panic threatening to rise. If she gave in now, it would swallow her whole. She tried to block out the images her fear conjured. Vampires—a room full of them. Her, alone. All eyes on her.
What would stop them from attacking her once she was in their domain? Her gris-gris flared against her skin. Would her magic be fast enough to keep her safe?
Logic told her she didn’t have anything to fear. The vampires wouldn’t start trouble with the witches. Not when they were outnumbered and out powered. But this wasn’t just any blood sucker.
Gerard Bergeron. The viceroy.
She’d seen him before and knew of his lavish lifestyle. He was the queen’s bonded sireling after all. Handpicked and groomed by her to oversee and rule New Orleans on her behalf. How was she going to convince him to help?
Pushing away the fear and doubt, Caliste made her way up the stone steps and into the front entrance of the giant building.
Ignoring the stares, she marched up to the secretary’s desk. “Hello. I need to speak with the viceroy please. I have something urgent to discuss with him.”
The gorgeous vampire lady sniffed and sent her a scathing look. “Is this some kind of joke?”
As if she couldn’t believe Caliste had the audacity to request an audience with the viceroy dressed in her simple skirt and blouse too.
Caliste scowled back at her. “Do I look like I’m joking? I’m not here for my own amusement.”
The vampire’s eyes narrowed. “I’m sorry, but the viceroy is busy. He doesn’t have time to chat with some lowly witch.”
Caliste’s face flushed. Busy, her ass. She’d seen him on his terraced roof, sipping what she hoped was wine or a cocktail.
Her fingers itched to cast, but she refrained. This was their territory. She had to play nice.
Forcing a polite smile on her face, she leaned forward, invading the vampire’s space. “I think he will make an exception. This is very important. But if he’s too busy, I’ll just send word to Queen Damaris. I’m sure she’ll love to learn what I have.”
The vampire recoiled at her desk. Her lip curled as she studied Caliste. Probably contemplating the validity of her threat.
It was a bluff. Even Stephanie wasn’t important enough to have any contact with the vampire queen. Using her best poker face, Caliste held the secretary’s stare.
“Let her through.” A deep, accented voice interrupted them.
Caliste stood straight and turned, surprised to find the viceroy himself.
He smirked at her. “This sounds intriguing. Come with me, witch.”
She gaped at him. He stood tall and intimidating in a well-tailored dark suit. Who wore a full suit in the heat of New Orleans summer? Though she had to admit the effect was striking.
Amusement shone in his bright blue eyes and his lips were pulled back in a smug smile. Immediately, Caliste schooled her features.
“It’s Caliste.” She lifted her chin.
He arched a manicured dark brow. “I’m sorry?”
“My name is not witch. It’s Caliste. Caliste Baudin.”
The room fell silent as he regarded her. Caliste fought the urge to squirm under his penetrating stare. His pale skin, golden wavy hair, and giant stature painted him god-like, but it was his dark blue eyes that unnerved her. Eyes that had seen much and knew too much.
Right away she could tell despite the rumors of his indulgences and smirks, he was no court monkey. He was… well, that was the part that scared her. She didn’t know what to think of him and even more she didn’t know how she could convince him to help.
“Well, Caliste, you’ve caught my attention. Let’s discuss this over a drink, shall we?”
Without waiting for a response, he started walking toward the door. Caliste hurried to follow.
He paused and glanced back at the vampire woman. “Clear the rest of my day.”
Her eyes widened. “But, the ball preparations—”
He stilled and gave her a silencing stare. The secretary snapped her mouth closed and glanced at Caliste, scowling, as if it were her fault she’d gotten in trouble.
Caliste cast a quick protection spell over herself as she followed the viceroy. Their estate was just as lavish and gaudy as the rumors portrayed. Her head spun as she took it all in. Was this for the Queen or did Gerard decorate it to his own tastes?
He was French, after all. Or so, she had been told.
She glanced at him and flushed, realizing he’d been watching her all along. He led her through the hall and up a winding staircase. He was taking her up to the roof, she realized.
Had he seen her enter? Is that why he had come down to retrieve her?
Once on the roof, he motioned her to a lounge chair and signaled another gorgeous vampire lady to him. Caliste sat on the stiff cushions and folded her hands into her lap. Gerard took the seat opposite her as his vampire companion disappeared.
Sweat gathered on Caliste’s forehead, and it wasn’t solely due to the blazing summer heat. Being in his presence was much more intimidating than she’d prepared for. If Stéphanie knew where she was and what she was doing…
“Tell me, Caliste. What business does a witch have with the viceroy?”
Caliste sucked in a breath and sat up straighter. “Do you know about the secret market?”
He frowned. “If it’s a secret, how would I know about it?”
“The market in Shadow Street. Do you know what your vampires are doing there?”
His eyes searched hers and it was all she could do not to squirm in her chair. Though vampires couldn’t cast magic, they were powerful in their own right.
“I’m aware there’s a black market. If that’s what you mean.”
Caliste bristled. “And the ordinaires? What do you know about them?”
He cocked his head at her. “I know they sometimes wander and find themselves lost where they shouldn’t be. You came here on behalf of… the ordinaire?”
She drew herself to full height and held his stare. “Yes.”
His lips twitched in amusement. An amusement Caliste was beginning to find more and more irritating. Viceroy or not, he was no better than her.
“What does a witch care about a few ordinaire?”
He chuckled. As if her concern for innocent humans was funny.
Caliste frowned at him. “A few? How long has this been going on? You think it’s amusing to lure ordinaires, change them without consent, and harvest their bodies?”
Gerard gaped at her. She could see the surprise written on his face. So, he hadn’t known. At least not the extent of what the vampires were doing.
Before she could say more, the vampire servant returned with a tray holding two wine glasses filled to the brim. Did his total immortal existence consist of day drinking and wearing suits?
He waved the vampire girl away and took one of the wine glasses. Caliste watched as he took a sip, mind seeming to be somewhere else. Draining the glass, he set it back down on the coffee table and looked at her.
“Any ordinaire that ends up on Shadow Street is there for a reason. Misguided, probably, but no one forces them to seek out trouble. I don’t see how this is my problem.” He shrugged.
Anger coiled in Caliste’s gut. Not his problem?
“And when it draws attention? When the GRIMM come to investigate, I think you’ll care then.”
His lip curled at that. “The GRIIMM here are useless. What can they do?”
Heat spread up her neck. “Your queen then. I’m sure—”
A sharp laugh escaped him. His face turned stony as he appraised her. “You think the queen is going to care what happens to some ordinaire?”
“She will if it gets her in trouble with the GRIMM.”
He shrugged again and motioned for her to take her wine glass. She folded her arms across her chest and met his stare.
“Allowing this to continue will bring the GRIMM eventually. This is going to be trouble for all of us in the future.”
He smirked. “Did you see that in your cards? Or your crystals?”
Caliste shot to her feet. “I did not come here to be mocked by some useless suited connard. If you can’t help me, just say so. I will deal with this on my own.”
Her cheeks flamed. He looked at her, eyebrows nearly touching his hairline. What had she done? She was almost certain no one dared speak to the viceroy in such a way. No one who had lived to talk about it.
They stared at each other. Noise from an outdoor market drifted up. Heat swarmed around them, but it was the tension that made Caliste sweat. The air was thick with it. What would he do?
To her surprise, he laughed. A deep, hearty laugh that made her stomach flip-flop.
“Alright. You’ve convinced me. I will help you.” He stood and stretched.
Caliste blinked at him. She’d been prepared to use bribes or threats, but he was agreeing to her…insults? She studied him. Was this some kind of set up or ruse?
“So, what do we do?” His question threw her off guard.
She gaped at him.
His lips quirk into an amused grin. “You mean you don’t have a plan?”
Caliste’ face burned. “Well. I need time to prepare. That’s all.”
He chuckled and sank back into his chair. Though he was laughing at her and no doubt thinking her naïve, she couldn’t help but feel the urge to react to the deep, sexy sound.
Her skin flushed. Sexy or not—he was an ass.
She narrowed her eyes and lifted her chin. “I didn’t realize working with the viceroy meant I’d have to shoulder all the planning and work alone.”
His eyebrow arched. “No? What did you think it would be like? I’m curious.” He folded his hands together and gave her an expectant look.
Pompous royal ass.
Even when she thought to cut him down with her words, he had a retort. She had a chant ready on her tongue to cast at him but stopped herself. Making him fall out of his chair and land on his face would be petty and could cost her the mission.
Though, it would be satisfying.
“You’re smiling. What are you thinking?” He cocked his head at her.
She schooled her face. “Nothing you would want to know, Viceroy.”
Face sobering, he stood and regarded her. “Alright, Caliste. You’ve swayed me. I will assist you in this endeavor. I’ll even come up with a plan for our success.”
Hope stirred inside Caliste. Surely, his status would result in the vampire’s immediate obedience. They would stop and Babet would have to find another means to practice her magic.
“Come back tomorrow. Meet me here at the same time and I’ll reveal my grand plan.” He smiled at her, eyebrows wriggling.
Caliste could hardly believe it. Somehow, she’d convinced him to help and so quickly, too. Maybe he was more a man of action than the lazy royal the rumors portrayed him as. She followed him downstairs and waved goodbye, her mind already noting the supplies she needed.
She would put an end to their horrific crime. Babet wouldn’t be happy, but Caliste could deal with the witch later. They had humans to save.