“I want to speak face-to-face.”

David went quiet, considering this, but something told me he was only trying to make an opportunity out of my demands. “Very well. Tomorrow night, I invite you to the Hexen Manor proper.”

“No. I want to meet on neutral ground.”

Agitation deepened his voice. “Fine. We’ll meet in the buffer zone between our borders.”

“Nine PM tomorrow night,” I said. “Just you.”

“I expect it to be just you, too, then.”

“I’m a man of my ...