Page 5 of Fangs with Benefits
I continue to pace around my apartment for the rest of the night. The next morning, I make my decision: I amnotgoing to tell the other witches about this.Yet. There will come a point when they need to know. But at least for now, I'm going to keep this to myself while I try to think of a way to deescalate the situation.
Maybe I can find a way to meet with Arman alone. I could strike some sort of deal with him on the coven's behalf. Maybe there is something we can give him that would persuade him to abandon his plans. He obviously is more selfish and greedier than anyone thought. Arman might besayingthat he is doing this in the name of peace and equality, but it's clear he has his own agenda. Peacekeepers don't kill in the name of peace.
"I need to meet with Treyton again," I mumble in the empty room as I grab my cell phone and shoot off a text requesting an emergency meeting.
Within seconds, he answers back and tells me to meet him at the subway station closest to my apartment. I grab my coat and keys and rush out the door to meet him. He's already at the station when I approach, reminding me just howfastvampires.
He looks flustered.
"What is it? Did something happen?" I ask with a frown. I don't think I can handle anything else right now. I'm mentally overloaded as it is.
"Nothing besides a crazed leader threatening to wipe out your entire coven." His tone is sarcastic and biting.
"On that note," I say, "I asked to meet with you because I have an idea."
Treyton stands there with visible anticipation on his face. He looks like he hasn't slept since I last saw him, but I'm temporarily distracted by how stunningly handsome he is even with fatigue clouding his eyes.
"Can you get me a private meeting with Arman?"
"Are you kidding?"
I shake my head. "No. I want to meet with him and see if I can strike a deal on the coven's behalf that would get him to abandon his plan."
"Which witch had this brilliant idea?" he asks sardonically.
"Mine. I haven't even told the other witches what is going on."
He looks shocked. I suppose it's surprising that I didn't run straight to the coven to warn everyone. But Arman didn't sound like he was something to kill us in the next few hours. It seemed more like he was still in the planning stages.
Hopefully my assessment isn't way off base—if it is, I'm putting us all at risk.
"Well, it's aterribleidea," he snaps. "You're crazy to even think it's worth the risk."
"I'm already at risk," I say with a pathetic little laugh.
"That may be so, but this idea is just downright dangerous. I don't support it." Treyton frowns, like my idea personally offends him. Either that, or he's worried. "If Arman is already thinking about wiping out the entire coven, what do you think would stop him from killing you on the spot if you meet with him?"
He's right. The thoughtdidcross my mind. But if I can't ask him to meet with the coven; he'll be too intimidated. And I have to get my foot in the door to meet with him somehow.
"Okay, fine," I concede. "You're probably right about that, so how aboutyouattend the meeting too. That way you can protect me if anything happens. And since you're already part of Arman's clan, he won't feel threatened if you're there."
Treyton laughs, making me wonder how ludicrous my suggestion sounds.
"Do you have any idea what a predicament that would put me in? If I offer to attend your private meeting with him and he accepts, Arman will assume that I'm there on his behalf. If something happens that puts you at risk, what am I supposed to do? Suddenly turn on my clan leader and jump in to save you? That would be a death sentence for me as well. I'm not sure how you expect me to help you if I'm dead."
I can't tell whether he is being overly dramatic or serious. But I spend the next few minutes pleading with him to help me and reminding him our alliance has prevented several conflicts between our factions already.
Finally, and very reluctantly, Treyton agrees.
He leaves, promising to give my message to Arman, and a few hours later sends me a text confirming a meeting scheduled for the next night.
Before I arrive at the den, Treyton sneaks out to give me the birth chart I made for Arman. I plan to use the token gesture of goodwill as my made-up reason for visiting the den. Hopefully I'll be able to steer the conversation toward the real issue that I want to talk to him about.
Just as I arrive, my phone dings with a text from Sybil, but I don't have time to look at it before the door to the vampire den opens. I shove my phone down into my jacket pocket. The vampire on the other side of the doorway isnotTreyton, and for a moment, I panic that maybe he was right, and I'm a sheep willingly going to her slaughter. The vampire stares at me and inhales deeply, like he is trying to pick up my scent off my skin or hair. It's unsettling, especially when he forms a hungry smile on his face. But then he turns and motions his hand for me to follow him. When we arrive at an open door into one of the larger rooms inside the den, the vampire announces my arrival.
"The witch is here," he says, stepping aside and practically pushing me through the doorway.
I'm startled at how much bigger Arman looks in the light, but I'm also instantly relieved to see Treyton is standing at the side of the thronelike chair Arman is sitting in, which is covered in black leather and encrusted with circular, silver studs lining the back. That's why Treyton wasn't at the door—he was here waiting for me.