Page 43 of Wicked Allure
“I trust that this conversation between us will be discreet,” she murmured.
Roderick’s gaze fell on the gold coin. His eyes widened at the sight of it.
“I’ve never seen you a day in me life,” he muttered.
She lifted her hand from the coin, satisfied by his response. He practically dove across the table and snatched up the money. He eyed it before slipping it into his pants pocket.
“I am looking for a vampire male. Someone who’s supposed to be dead. He was once known by the name of Solomon Winterborne,” she accounted quietly.
She gripped the bag in her hand and kept it in Roderick’s eyesight. He eyed the pouch and nodded.
“Is that so?” Roderick met her gaze. “What did this Solomon do? Why would a general for the crown be looking for him? Especially if he’s dead?”
“That’s my business,” Dru replied dryly. She pulled out another coin from the bag and held it between two fingers where he could see it. “Now are you someone who has information that I need, or are you wasting my time? I assure you, you don’t want to be wasting my time.”
Dru flashed her fangs. Roderick’s audible gulp was the only sound aside from the water dripping from the ceiling.
“I may have information.” He combed his fingers through his dark hair and nodded. His gaze was now locked in on the coin she held. “What did this vampire do?”
She put it down on the table but this time kept it near her.
“He’s a traitor,” she growled. “And anyone helping this traitor will become an enemy of the crown—and me.”
Roderick took a step back from the table. He glanced around at her warriors, then returned his gaze to her.
“I know someone. He’s aboveground. He lived here for years, then about ten years ago he went to the surface. He comes back here once in a while. He may be who you’re looking for.” He eyed the prize on the table.
She smirked. It was funny how a few gold pieces could get a person to talk.
“And if this person is who I’m seeking, why are you willing to give him up?” she asked.
“I don’t want to become a target of the crown. It’s just me and my boy. I don’t want any trouble with the royal family.” He rested his hands on the table and met her gaze head-on. “If I tell you where he stays, will me and my son be safe?”
Dru slid the coin across the table to him. She had a weakness for a father who wanted to protect his child. He snatched the coin up and slipped it into his pocket with the other one.
“I have never seen you before a day in me life,” she repeated what he’d said.
He nodded again. “I’m serious. This man is a danger to vampires. He’s not a good man. He’s ruthless and don’t care about our kind.”
Dru paused. This sounded just like the individual they were hunting. She eyed the vampire across from her. He was telling the truth. She had a good sense about detecting those who lied to her, and this vampire was being completely honest.
“You don’t say. How is he a danger to vampires?” she asked.
“That lycan attack that happened years ago? Its rumored that he’s in cahoots with them.” He ran a trembling hand across his face. Fear filled his expression and eyes now. He leaned forward. “I need your word that at least my boy will be safe.”
“You have my word, Roderick.” Her word as a general for the crown was solid. It held much weight. If she said the kid would be safe, then he’d never have to fear anything.
Ever.
“Very well then. If this is who you’re seeking, he goes by the name Sol Winters. From what I know he lives out in the woods in a cottage. Deep in the woods. There’s a ravine near his home. If you get to the ravine, you’ve passed it.”
Dru held back her smirk. The son of a bitch was cocky. He could have at least changed his name more. He probably figured after all of these years he could keep a similar one. She reached in her bag and took two more coins out and tossed them to Roderick. He fumbled but caught them before they hit the floor.
“If he’s the vampire who I’m seeking, you’ll be well rewarded.”
“I find it funny that I promote you, then you leave on a mission for my mother.” Lethia’s holographic form stood in the center of Dru’s private quarters at the inn she and her men were staying at.
“What was I supposed to do? Refuse Her Royal Majesty’s request?” Dru arched an eyebrow at her friend. She removed her daggers from her waist and placed them on the nightstand. She paused, remembering how Tomesha had taken great care in ensuring her weapons were near her. She blinked, unsure why she couldn’t get the human out of her head. She straightened and turned to face Lethia. The moment she’d walked into her suite, the holograph had started ringing.
