Natalya stayed quiet. Jackie did, too. Somewhere among the trees, a branch snapped.
“Rather than extend these pleasantries, I’ll just get to the point,” Natalya said after a long moment. “One of your subjects had an altercation with one of mine. Your wolves have every right to visit St. Louis, but right or not, they need to stop interfering with Chains business.”
“Interfering?” Kieran snarled. “That fucking vamp is the one whointerfered. She got right in my face and—”
“Quiet.” Jackie’s voice produced immediate silence.
Though the therian Courts were small and their titles different, Jackie was still the second most powerful creature present, as long as she stayed on her side of the clearing. Regents received power from the territory they held, scaling with the number and strength of their members. But only while within their own borders.
When Kieran kept huffing out labored growls, Diana walked forward. Maya followed, hoping the man would lose his cool enough to step past the invisible line neither party had crossed. Then she might get an excuse to tear his fucking throat out.
Maya stopped in place, making Diana do the same. Where had that thought come from?
“What business do the Chains even have in St. Louis?” Jackie asked. Natalya narrowed her eyes.
“Investigating humans for potential initiation. We aren’t breaking any laws by being there.”
“Really?” Jackie let out a dry laugh. “Funny you should mention those. Thelaws.” She nodded at Kieran. “Tell her what happened. Howlawfulthis fiend’s subject was being.”
“Your vampire stepped way out of line,” Kieran snarled, turning his glare onto Natalya. “The human I was with last night doesn’t need some bloodsucker defending her. I Claimed her.She’smine. I wasn’t going to hurt her, no matter what that vamp says. Harper just likes playing hard to get.”
Maya was at the clearing’s center before she even realized she’d moved. She bared her teeth, fangs extended, and Kieran flinched backwards. A wave of fear pulsed off him, but before Maya could tear his flesh to bloody ribbons, Diana yanked her back.
Claiming humans was common in all the Courts. It put them under the protection of whatever creature they were Claimed by, marking them as off limits. The Chains were considered progressive, since they had the decency to involve the human in the process and ask for permission first.
These wolves clearly didn’t bother with that part. And the thought made her focus narrow until all she could see was Kieran and the ways she could make him scream.
“What the fuck, Maya?” Diana pulled her back a few feet. “What the hell are you doing?”
The question dimmed her fury enough that she could retract her fangs.
She couldn’t answer that question. All she knew was that Harper’s name didn’t belong on this man’s tongue and, only seconds before, she had been ready to tear it from his disgusting mouth.
“Ms. Novak acted on instinct.” Natalya hadn’t taken her eyes off Jackie. “She saw your wolf forcing himself on a young woman and chose to let him go rather than respond with violence. As far as I’m concerned, she acted with restraint.”
Jackie’s upper lip twitched. “Implying she should have taken a bloodier approach?”
Natalya let the silence hang just long enough that tension crept into it.
“Your Claim of her is symbolic at best,” Natalya said. “The woman lives in St. Louis, and unless that gets added to yourterritory, you have no power over its residents. I trust you aren’t interested in that changing. A play like that would upset more Courts than just the Chains.”
Jackie glanced in Kieran’s direction. “Indeed. The painted symbol your people found has already been removed.”
“Good to know. But to avoid more unnecessary conflict, it would be best if our factions steered clear of one another. Just until our business in the city is concluded.”
Jackie’s gaze hardened. “I can think of an easier way. You Chains are vicious. That daywalker most of all. In my eyes, it would bebestif you kept them closer to home, rather than extend them further than their links can handle.”
“Our reach only extends as far as it needs to,” Natalya said tightly. “Our work in St. Louis is confined to a club called the Lucky Penny. Until our business within is concluded, I would appreciate it if you and your wolves stayed away from the area.”
Fire sparked in Jackie’s pupils. She took a step closer to the center of the clearing.
“What a coincidence. Kieran’s human works at that location.”
Natalya raised an eyebrow. “Does she?”
“Don’t treat me like a fool. You know that fucking girl.”
“I’ve never even met her.”
