Page 34 of The Last Slayer
“I’m not feeling diplomatic right now. I had to deal with two wyrms, my assignment is still waiting for me in Arlington, and basically, it’s just been a cranky day all around.”
“Help yourself to refreshments.” He gestured at the tray between us. “I know you’re hungry.”
A tempting offer. I hadn’t had anything to eat except the donut that morning. But what if they were poisoned?
“They’re neither drugged nor poisoned nor enchanted,” he said, reading my mind.
“Do you swear?”
“I vow to not drug, poison or enchant anything you eat or drink. Nor shall I allow my staff to do so.”
Phrased that way, it was a blanket promise, good forever. I relaxed slightly and took a small bite of the honeyed bread, which was excellent. Then I sipped the wine, which was nothing like what we have in the mortal world. It tasted sweet with a hint of mint, probably the best thing I’d ever had.
Ramiel steepled his fingers. “The Triumvirate of Madainsair wishes to destroy the one foretold by the Advisors.”
“Okay.” The bread was really good. “Why?”
“This person will alter the world order of supernaturals.”
“You’ve gotta be kidding.” Who could possibly have enough power to take
on all this magic?
“I assure you I am not.”
“So it’s true. The Advisors really exist.”
Ramiel gave me a peculiar look. “Did you suppose they were figments of our imagination?”
“Well, I kind of assumed they were made up to explain the unexplainable about supernaturals. Isn’t it just really convenient to say, ‘They did it because the Advisors said so’?”
“I…suppose.”
“Besides, none of the texts discuss them in detail, only that they were some women of unusually high-level divination, running around in a big group, ordering people—”
“Three.”
“Huh?”
“There are three Advisors. Never more than that at once.”
Okay. So I learned something new today. Still, Ramiel hadn’t told me why the Triumvirate wanted to kill me.
Unless…
Oh, no way.
Ramiel’s eyes sharpened. “I see that you understand. The triumvirs feel they must destroy you at all costs, even if it necessitates mingling with mortals.”
“Ridiculous.” I was a damn good hunter, but no mortal was good enough to change the mystical world order. He was talking about me like I was Julius Caesar or something.
“Is it?” Ramiel rested his chin on his fingers. “Do you believe they unleashed their wyrms for no reason? Your use of draco perditio merely confirmed their suspicion that the one they were looking for was in America’s capital.”
“So the book was a trap?” No wonder I hadn’t seen it before.
“I prefer to call it an aid. To keep you alive.”
My hand tightened around the wine goblet. “You revealed me to them.”
