It was a challenge, less serious, though no less important, Anna understood, than the near fight between Charles and Chastel. Are we important to you? was what the Spaniard meant.
"If I manage it, you'll pick up the tip." Charles was as relaxed as she'd ever seen him.
"Fine."
"Sergio del Fino," said Charles. The man he addressed stood, put a hand over his heart, and bowed.
He went through the others without a misstep until he got to the last two: the dark-skinned man and a redhead. He paused and then indicated the darker man with a tilt of his head. "Hussan Ibn Hussan." Then the other man. "Pedro Herrera."
Hussan smiled. "Wrong. I am older than Pedro."
Pedro smiled wider. "Hijo, I saw you born. I didn't know Charles knew that."
Charles lowered his head without lowering his eyes. "Asil let it slip."
Hussan slapped his leg. "I think I've been set up. Tell me my father didn't tell you to pull this one on me."
Charles just smiled.
"You're Asil's son?" Anna asked. Now that she paid attention, his skin tone was nearly as dark as that of her mentor in all things Omega, and the nose was the same.
"I have that honor," agreed Hussan.
"Ibn Hussan? My Arabic is nearly nonexistent, but shouldn't you then be Ibn Asil?" asked Sergio.
"Hussan is my father's given name. But for a long time he has used Asil," explained Hussan with a shrug. "He is old. He can do as he chooses." He gave a sour smile. "And he usually does. How is my father? He is still annoyed with me for refusing to kill him when he asked. He will not answer my phone calls or my letters. So I have stopped calling and writing."
"He's fine," said Anna. "Better."
Charles smiled a little. "He'll probably take your phone calls now."
Hussan tilted his head. "Something happened?"
"Yes." Charles pulled out a chair before a clean place setting and indicated that Anna should take a seat. "If we don't start eating, these devils will have it all gone, and we'll have to wait for the next round."
Anna sat, and he pushed in her chair before taking his own. He might sound casual, but he was still acting formal. Maybe it was because these were mostly older wolves, who would expect Charles to treat her this way. She wasn't sure she liked it, but she was willing to play along. Mostly. She used the tongs and dumped a double handful of ribs on her plate: it had been a long time since she'd eaten.
"Asil will be fine," she said. "Unless he annoys Bran too much."
She glanced up and noticed that Hussan was staring at her.
"It is you," he said. "Omega. You saved him."
She shook her head. "Ask him."
"He'll tell you it was her," Charles predicted. "She'll tell you it was not. Still, he will be fine for another century or so-as fine as he ever is."
THEY walked back to their hotel. It was still pouring, but water had never bothered Anna-and Charles seemed to be of a like mind. They walked side by side, not touching.
"Are we going to accept the invitation to Arthur Madden's dinner?" she asked him.
"If you would like. Angus has scheduled some entertainment the next night, but tomorrow is open."
"Is it going to present some diplomatic problem if we go?"
He made an impatient gesture. "As I keep telling them-this is not a negotiation. We've agreed to hear their concerns, and I will address them. But my father is adamant. The first chance my father sees to present ourselves in a favorable light, we are coming out to the public. It doesn't matter if some are offended or feel we are playing favorites. We are not courting them."
Anna kept quiet.
Finally, he said, "Arthur can be charming-and he's interesting." He glanced at her face and then back at the street. "He tells everyone he's Arthur. The king returned."
"What?"
"He's serious. He honestly believes he is that Arthur."
"Really?"
"Really. Before his Change, he was an amateur archaeologist-his family isn't royal, but noble and still wealthy enough back then that he didn't have to find real work. It also meant that he didn't have to have any training to pursue his hobby. He claims that shortly after his Change, he found Excalibur in a dig, and when he took hold of her, he was possessed by the spirit of Arthur."
He shrugged. "Afterward, he began taking over all the packs in Great Britain. First he killed the Alphas-but combining packs creates its own set of problems. So he modeled his rule after my da's." He smiled at her. "Da's pretty convinced that it was his decision to use Marrok as a title that sent Arthur to declare himself as the Arthur. After all, Sir Marrok was only a knight of King Arthur's."
"So your father thinks he's faking it? How can he do that without everyone smelling a lie?"
"My da can lie so well that no one but Samuel or I can tell," said Charles. He gave her a look-the first time he'd looked her in the face since they'd left the restaurant. "Don't tell anyone-it's supposed to be a secret."
"How old is Arthur?"
Charles smiled. "You mean this time around? I think he was Changed just after the First World War. You think he's not old enough to pull the same tricks an old lobo like my father can get away with? Da says the secret is to convince yourself you aren't lying."
"So he might just be believing his own press as hard as he can?"
"He probably brought Excalibur with him," Charles said. "He usually keeps it close. He might show you if you ask."