“Overseer Clyde Blunton, leader of the Temple of the Pure Breed,” Bryce said out the side of his mouth. “Just nod and smile, everyone. I’ll deal with him.”
So, this was the guy whose religious organization who’d unwittingly spawned me and Seb’s work projects. He was dressed immaculately in a dark gray three-piece suit and a priest-style collar. But the collar’s central white square had the Temple symbol depicted in what looked like real gold, with diamonds studding the column tops and dove’s wingtips.
As they came closer, Bryce sighed and gestured for the grizzly squad to part several feet.
Hair and trimmed beard both frost white, the “Overseer’s” wild blue eyes and thin smile made me feel like I’d walked into the eyeline of a wolf. He looked like he was in his sixties, but his frame was robust and his skin minimally wrinkled. He was tall, but not by paranormal standards, about the same as Seb or Bryce. His younger, platinum blonde wife was mature but fit looking. Dressed in a white ballgown with matching gloves, her diamond necklace was sparkling harder than any of the chandeliers hanging above.
I couldn’t work out their species. Whatever they were, I wanted them to go away very soon.
“Well, Bryce Harding, as I live and breathe.” Clyde Blunton extended his hand, but before Bryce could offer his own gloved palm, Blunton pulled back, a glint in his eye. “I do apologize. I forgot that you’re… afflicted.”
His wife eyed Bryce up and down. “But oh my, you do lookexceptionally dapper this evening, Mr. Harding. I just feel so sad I can’t ask you for a dance.”
“That would have been my honor, Mrs. Blunton.” Bryce locked eyes with her husband. “Perhaps in the next life, God willing.”
The Bluntons’ accents were strong southern United States, straight out of some old cowboy movie. It would have been endearing if they both weren’t so creepy.
“And who is this lovely flower?” Blunton asked, extending his hand to me. “I don’t think we’ve been properly acquainted.”
Dammit. At least I had my elbow-length gloves on. “Serenity. Nice to meet you.”
His grip was uncomfortably firm, the kiss on my glove the same, as he rose, letting go. “Why now, if you aren’t the second human we’ve bumped into in as many minutes. You little ladies are practically swarming the place tonight.”
I assumed him meant Ceci and looked around for her, but didn’t see her or her guys nearby.
Blunton was drenched in a cologne blend that smelled like coffee grinds and earthy musk. It might have been oddly pleasant, had he not taken a bath in it. My nostrils stuffed up and tongue frozen, I stammered through a nervous smile, “Well, we bought our tickets, just like everyone else. So…”
He scoffed and smirked at Bryce, before telling me, “Oh, I very much doubt you bought your own ticket. Much the same as the other one of yourkindin attendance.” He sucked in air, shaking his head and sighing. “Seems these days paranormals of means always have money for fun but never for advancing the greater good of this fine state.”
The glints from his wife’s chunky diamond necklace were starting to irritate my vision. And me.
Scowling, Hunter motioned to reply but was interrupted by Bryce. “I have money for lots of things, Overseer Blunton, but notfor causes I don’t believe in. So, if you’re looking for a different answer from last time, I’m afraid you’re going to be disappointed.”
A thumping whoop of voices surged from the casino area. Dagger was high fiving people at his craps table, where an energized crowd had gathered to watch him play. I was glad he was enjoying himself after all his recent suffering. I smiled despite the company in front of me.
Blunton shook his head. “Are you absolutely sure an astute businessman like yourself doesn’t want to make a lasting impression with this gilded cage’s future governor? A modest—by your standards, of course—campaign donation could see to that.”
“The answer’s still no, I’m afraid. I’ve never met this candidate you’re referring to, but if he or she has your support”—Bryce paused, breathing deeply and smiling—“then I think it’s safe to say I see the world differently from them.”
Blunton tutted hard and shook his head slowly. “That’s a real shame then. Cause you ain’t in the world, Bryce. You’re in New Nebraska. You ought to think about that and the future…”
“I’m doing exactly that,” Bryce replied, slipping off his glove and clasping my bare shoulder, making the Bluntons’ eyes bulge. “I’m more than my money, sir, and not asafflictedas you might think. By the way, this delightful woman is both human and my partner, and I’m afraid I could never give my support to anyone with your views.”
Overseer Blunton’s cheeks flushed a fraction as he smiled broader, revealing a gold tooth. “You’re just full of surprises now, ain’t ya? But, come now, Bryce, I’m not heartless. I acknowledge the tragedies the human species has faced, despite most being caused by their own constant foolishness and follies. Why just earlier this evening, I heard a plane crashed in Los Angeles. Three hundred and two humans on board. All perished. Maybe could have been prevented if they let us lead things and work among them.” He pulled a white handkerchief from his waistcoat pocket and dabbed an imaginary tear as he churned out purposefully theatrical sobbing. “Damn nearbroke my heart, that did.” He wheezed laughter, wiping real tears now. “Cause there were six empty seats.”
His wife joined him in laughing. I didn’t know her name. Didn’t want to.
Bryce put his glove on and slipped his arm round my waist. His snug hold was reassuring as he said through pursed lips, “Right, I think we’d better get to our table. Enjoy your evening, please.”
“Oh, you folks too. You never know when the next life’s gonna come callin’, after all,” Blunton said over his shoulder as they ambled away, his wife winking at Bryce when her husband wasn’t looking.
“Come on,” Bryce said in a huff, tugging on his suit jacket like it had suddenly become too tight. “Let’s get a bite to eat and get the taste of those two out of our mouths before wemingleanymore.”
“They were absolutely horrible. I mean, they’re not wrong to wish paranormals could work openly among humans in the rest of the country, but all that other stuff!? What species are they, anyway?”
“Creeps.” Hunter was close behind me, peering at and inspecting any vampire attendees or staff that we passed.
“Rare creeps,” Bryce expounded. “White tiger shifters. There must be only a few hundred in the whole state. Which means the whole world. Unless they’ve hidden away somewhere. But all the DNA tests required by humans now make that unlikely.”
