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“You said it yourself, the viscount hasn’t attacked anyone since we met. While that in itself isn’t proof of anything, it would be too much of a coincidence to ignore if someone were attacked the one night I was not with him.” The words stick together in my throat as if they were made of cold sap. “After this past week, I doubt there’s a single person in Sangate who wouldn’t expect to see me in his company. Not even the hired help knows we won’t be meeting today.”
“You would risk another innocent’s life to test him?”
The accusation hits its mark precisely as he intended. A sharp thorn piercing my chest. It makes me sound cold and uncaring—he knows that isn’t what I meant. Though, if he notices the hurt it causes, he doesn’t acknowledge it.
“Of course not!” I say indignantly. “You will find a way to send the authorities an anonymous letter.”
Ben scoffs. “And what will this letter say?”
I hadn’t made it that far in my planning yet, but truthfully, it is one of the least important details. Tilting my head to the side, I smile and pat his cheek. “I’m sure you’ll think of something to lure them out.”
His jaw goes slack, then he snaps it closed. “Zadie, what—” Benjamin knocks the heel of his hand against his forehead and groans. “Please tell me your plan isn’t to entice him to kill and hope the authorities will catch him in the act?”
“Not exactly,” I say. “The authorities are merely a precautionary measure. If they catch him in the act, then all the better.”
“I’m almost afraid to ask about the rest of your idea,” he says, not even bothering to hide his cringe.
After all these years, he still can’t wrap his mind around the way I scheme. His style of thinking has always been straightforward, relying heavily on action. He has always thought my ideas were overly complicated.
In reality, mine have always been the simplest, relying on far more than actions I can take. It’s easy to guess what someone might do if you observe them enough. We are creatures of habit, after all. From there, it’s only a matter of timing and creating opportunities. I’ve always thought of him as a ship sailing against a storm and myself as a leaf floating with a river’s current.
“I found something in an old ledger of his, but I will need this week to read up on it and prepare everything. If it works, then this will all be over by week’s end.”
“How can you be sure that bastard didn’t fill a dozen ledgers with lies to trap someone trying to do the very thing we are doing?”
“He’s a vampire, but even he can’t read minds,” I grind out. I can’t escape the bitterness coating my tongue. “Besides, the ink from the entries was too worn to have been written anytime in the last few decades.”
“I don’t like this,” he says with a shake of his head. “The viscount is long overdue to feed again. I don’t want you to become his next victim.”
“How can you know that? Even I couldn’t tell—he’s maintained perfect control every time I’ve been around him.”
Benjamin shrugs, blatantly pleased I haven’t figured it out. “The murders were increasing in frequency, but once the two of you began spending time together, they’ve all but stopped. It’s obviously a ploy to use you as an alibi. Half the city believes he’s courting you now, and since you’re unharmed… what is more innocent than a vampire seeking the favor a human? You’re the only logical choice for him to use. You have status, and wealth, and you’re still innocent.”
I prickle at the insult—he doubtlessly doesn’t even realize the insult he flung so carelessly at me. “I might not be the most worldly person, but I am far from a dewy-eyed girl who is easily beguiled by a handsome face and a few pretty words.”
Benjamin tilts his head and offers a sympathetic frown. “Iknow that, Zadie, but what other reason could there be for him to work so hard to pursue you?”
The implication that Thomas could only want me to use as a pawn cuts deep.
“Compromise with me. Give me until this weekend, and if we are no closer to ending this, then I will admit defeat, and the four of us can come up with a new plan.”
“What would you have the rest of us being doing this week? I don’t like the idea of you doing this on your own.”
“I won’t be alone. Just like before, when I meet with him, you three will be close by as you have been in case I need you and to keep an eye out for anything or anyone suspicious. There’s still the chance we’re wrong about him, and the killer is someone else.”
Ben’s gaze turns sharp. “You don’t sound so confident of his guilt anymore… If I didn’t know you better, Zadie, I would say you are under his thrall—are you positivenothinghappened?”
We are rarely at odds with each other. I’ve forgotten how harsh it is to be the target of his displeasure. I meet his gaze, unflinching. He is not the only one who can be stubborn.
“Benjamin Browning, you are not the only one who wants to stop these murders. If there is something else on your mind that you would like to discuss, then speak plainly—but you will do so with respect.” Each word is clipped, and I no longer feel like holding back my irritation.
“Zadie… I—I’m sorry.” Awareness of what he implied finally dawns on him. Regardless of the truth, it is not his place to demand I share details of that nature.
“Apologize later.” My voice takes on a slight glowing quality as I reach the limit of my patience. “Tell me if you will agree to my plan or not so I can either go inside now, or quickly explain the rest to you. Either way, I don’t plan to stand here discussing this much longer.”
Undeterred, Benjamin takes his time to mull over my offer. My eyelids grow impossibly heavy as I wait. Each second stretches out, slower than the last. The heaviness spreads through me until it takes more strength than it should to remain standing and alert.
“All right,” he says finally.
