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Connor cocked his head. “Are you telling me you can’t detect the scent of bad magic, Cash? That’s an important skill for a clan leader.”
Cash unfolded his arms, and although he didn’t step forward, the move seemed hostile. “You just have answers for everything, don’t you? But your attitude, shitty as it is, doesn’t change the basic facts—your little girlfriend made a vampire within our territory without our consent, and in Ronan’s territory without Ronan’s consent.”
I bristled at “little girlfriend,” especially since Connor and I had barely talked since the fight. I felt the monster’s agreement. It was no mere companion, and it wasn’t little.
That we agreed was an odd sensation. But not entirely bad.
“If Carlie dies,” Cash continues, “or if she survives and regrets what happened to her, that will have disastrous consequences for the clan and the Pack.”
“Less disastrous consequences than her dying in the woods because of your people?”
“All sorts of strange things happen in the woods,” Cash said. His attitude—his carelessness toward human life—echoed Ronan’s.
“You’re so afraid you’d let a human die rather than save her life and face the consequences?” Connor’s tone was matter-of-fact and carried a shadow of censure.
“Fuck you,” Cash said. “I don’t care who you are. You don’t walk into the clan and call us cowards.”
“I didn’t call you cowards,” Connor said. “I said you’re afraid, and you are. I don’t know what you’re afraid of, Cash. Humans. Change. Pick one.”
“Fuck you,” Everett said.
Connor’s smile was feral. “I’ll offer again—you want to try me on, Everett? I’d be happy to oblige.”
The crowd began to move, to shift, to talk, anticipating a fight, willing one to happen.
“Let’s go,” Connor said. “Me and you, right here. We don’t even have to tell my father. It can be our little secret.”
He pulled off his jacket, let it drop to the floor. He’d worn a tank beneath, the fabric baring slick and strong muscle, and I heard more than a few sounds of throaty appreciation in the crowd.
“Come on,” Connor said, voice low and threatening, the room silent to catch every word.
Fury burned in his eyes like blue fire, all pretense of humanity gone from his expression. It was the haughty look of an angry titan, a primal god, enraged by the inanity of lesser beings.
It was impossible to deny he had the power, the authority, to be Apex. To lead the North American Central Pack and its shifters. And I bet every shifter in the room knew it.
Everett was either too dumb to figure it out or naive enough to believe he was stronger, because he curled his hands into fists, stepped forward until there was only a foot between them. That no fear crossed Everett’s eyes made me think he was even dumber than I’d first imagined. “Come on, pretty boy. I’ve hurt plenty of men in my life. Wouldn’t mind adding another to the list.”
He tried to shove Connor back, but Connor was younger and stronger, and resisted easily. And the expression on his face—full of cold hatred—didn’t change.
The crowd wasn’t sure what to think.
“Oh,” Connor said mildly. “Were we starting?” His fist shot out, snapping Everett’s head back.
Everett roared, and the crowd surged forward. I had my sword in hand in a heartbeat. I moved between Connor and the advancing crowd, felt Alexei sidle along beside me, and watched surprise light in the eyes of the shifters we faced. They hadn’t expected I’d be willing to fight or that a shifter would stand with me.
Ronan, for his part, merely stood by and watched, apparently content to judge, but not actually involve himself.
“Stop this!”Georgia’s voice boomed across the room. I glancedback, watched as she muscled Connor and Everett apart while Cash looked on with a bland smile.
“This is insane!” Georgia yelled. “Everyone calm down. Everett, step the fuck back.”
Everett growled, blood seeping from his lip, but he did as she demanded, working his jaw with a meaty hand.
“Connor.” Georgia’s word wasn’t a request, but an order.
He lifted his hands, put more space between him and Everett, nodded at me and Alexei. I put my sword away, and we took positions by his side.
Cash spared Everett a look of disappointment, then shifted his gaze to Connor. “The vampire broke the rules.”
