Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 180: One last card

"What did she say?" Lord Dragomir turned to Lauden the moment his servant came through the lounge room doors.

"She refuses to answer our enquiries," Lauden bowed before him then walked around his chair to stand by his side.

"That stupid cow!" it was Reubon that hissed those words through gritted teeth, "I knew she was trouble the moment I laid my eyes on that good for nothing floor mopper,"

It went unnoticed but Lauden’s eyebrow twitched upon hearing those utterances. They did not concern anyone he personally cared for but were sure rich coming from a man who couldn’t keep his human daughter under control.

"Come now, Reubon," Darick spoke up, "The girl isn’t helping us out of the goodness of her heart or for a sense of duty whatsoever. After the dismal defeat we suffered, it is no surprise that she doesn’t trust us for the time being, but she’ll come around eventually,"

"I wouldn’t concern myself with the wants or needs of a mere maid. Inviting her to sit among us around the same table the way you did has clearly gotten to her head and now she believes she gets a say in any matter," Reubon gripped his wine glass so stiffly, its thin leg threatened to cave under the pressure.

"Well, as the maid so.... Kindly explained it," Lauden put emphasis on his words, "We are not in Lustris, and your rules seldom apply here,"

Reubon’s demeanor twisted further. If stares had the power to kill, the one he’d offered Lauden would have null doubt burned holes into the vampire’s head.

Although, the human did not comment on the servants’ recent remark and instead asked a different question, "What about the other one? The other informant you speak of,"

"She does a well enough job," Dragomir picked the small vial sitting next to the wine bottle and spilled a few drops of its content into his own glass, "But I’d like to think of her as dormant. She contacts us when there is news, but never the other way around. The last thing I wish is for her position to be compromised,"

"That might be a little inconvenient," Reubon muttered under his breath.

"Not at all, my dear Reubon,"

"In any case, this ordeal has lost me seven, very hard working and competent men and as if that wasn’t enough, the Eleazars have the bodies," Reubon hit the arm of the chair with his fist.

"Take a deep breath, now," Darick took a sip of his wine, "Even the goodest of men are replaceable if paid the right amount and as for the bodies well, ... If they were to find anything out from them, they already would have, and we wouldn’t be sitting right here. We covered our tracks well enough,"

"Still... How unfortunate am I that yet another obstacle stands in my way. An Alpha? Really? Nothing less?"

"Having met your daughter, all I can say is that I understand why she is so popular among people in general but especially with men," Darick chuckled, "It is clear you’ve invested greatly in your daughter’s education,"

Reubons’ clenched fists did not go unnoticed. Not that he tried to hide it, "It seems I should’ve been more invested in it than I was. I was swayed by her mother and gave her too much freedom, look where that got me,"

Dragomir had a certain impartial expression on him that Lauden knew all too well. It was the kind he gave someone when their words meant very little to him.

From what he’d observed, the servant quickly gathered that Reubon was not an easy man to deal with, nor was he honest in his proceedings.

In simpler words, he was not to be trusted. but the man knew his craft, always delivered and never sold himself short.

His position was enviable, yet Lauden couldn’t yet decide, by his own standards, whether it was deserved or otherwise.

"She, without a doubt, would have gotten in the prince’s good graces in no time and with great ease at that," Dragomir chuckled again, "But it still isn’t too late,"

"Perhaps after he teaches her a well-deserved lesson or two can we finally move on to do business like we used to. The king does not have much time therefore I do not have that long either," Reubon stared at the swirling liquid in his glass. ƒгeewebnovёl_com

"Is your situation truly that dire?" Darick asked.

"You better hope, for your own sake, it isn’t. Because if I do lose the right to the mines after the king’s death, I doubt the prince will keep our current deal alive without making any modifications to it,"

"Let us not dwell on what may or may not happen," Dragomir put his glass back on the table, "We better start thinking of our next move,"

Reubon leaned back into his chair, eyes on Darick, all pensive looking. Lauden failed to read him at that moment. The vampire was never the soft edged type; entertaining scum was a common occurrence for him and yet a man that pushed his entire family to either flee him or take their own life... Reubon most certainly was a different kind of scum.

Then again, Lauden did not need to reach far for proof in his case. It was right there in front of his face as that Sterling attempted to bring his daughter back for the sole purpose of using her as a bartering chip.

"I think I already have a plan," Reubon put an end to the silence that settled in the room, "But it needs time to breathe and as much as it costs me to admit it, we do need someone on the inside. So, unless that other informant of yours plays along, I truly hope that stupid blonde gets over her sensitivities soon enough for us to act,"

"Well, then speak up! Don’t make us beg!" Dragomir nudged him verbally.

"I am still thinking about it, but if I play this card right, my daughter may come to me on her own two feet and I won’t have to chase her,"

The distant smirk on him caused Lauden’s insides to sting for a reason even he couldn’t fathom.

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