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“You’re doing great,” Selene whispered as they passed. After setting a binder down, she opened the first page. “Hello, everyone. I echo what our future high priestess said. We do thank all of you for coming on such short notice, but I think we agree that discovering how the Rincewinds were robbed of their beloved family member is vital. My evidence was compiled with the assistance of Dr. Hiller, as well as an investigator from the Fontenot Coven in Shreveport.”
A stack of folders levitated from the podium, then floated into the hands of the individual leaders. “Enclosed within this report, you’ll find the autopsy of Mr. Rincewind. Forgive me, Asa, I know it’s difficult for the family to see these gruesome pictures.”
Asa bowed his head and steadied himself on Silvan’s shoulder. “Yes’m, it is. Thank you for your sympathy.”
“We determined the victim did have marks consistent with a vampire attack. Two puncture wounds spaced half an inch apart. His blood had been drained from his body, and his heart removed.”
Red-faced, Silvan jerked the report from his father, read it, then tossed the papers to the ground. Deep, damning lines cut through his brow. More than anything, Romy wished she could be close to him and offer some form of comfort.
“With the help of our friends in the Fontenot Coven…” Selene continued. “We discovered tracks leading from the northeastern area of the Lycan Woods all the way to the Bayou Segnette. From there, the trail leads into Lake Cataouatche, and we surmise the perpetrator followed the water all the way to the Mississippi.”
Romy drew back. She’d never heard any of that before.
“Our high priestess herself met with Monsignor Marchland, confirming the whereabouts of his guests, and both of them have been thoroughly vetted andclearedby the Preternatural Constibulitaries.”
Several groans echoed throughout the council. Selene tapped the podium and brought them to order. “It was the recommendation of the PC to our high priestess that we continue this investigation beginning in Lake Cataouatche and follow the lead to the river. I’ll now turn this over to my niece once again as she reads the sacred words of our high priestess. May I remind each of you that her word is law because she is the mouthpiece of The One and The Only.”
As Romy traded places with Selene, the older woman leaned in. “I just know Cassia wrote to continue this investigation. It’s smooth sailing from here, sweetheart. You’ve got this.”
“Thanks.” Romy swallowed the lump in her throat. Despite the earlier triumph, her fear of public speaking had returned tenfold, and she didn’t know where to start. Behind her, she could sense Dane’s calm and steady resolve. To her right, Silvan… so powerful, so fiery. And on her left, Bastian, with his depth and tenderness.
All three men were so different, and judging from the icy stares bouncing between the lycan and vampire, none of them would ever get along.
Still, Romy gathered strength from them all.
She tore into the envelope quickly and instead of reading it to herself first, she began reading aloud.
Big. Mistake.
“Regarding the matter of Claude Rincewind’s demise, the judgment of Cassiopeia Delacroix is that his death be ruled accidental, and all investigations cease and desist under penalty of imprisonment.”
Though Romy could hear herself speaking, she didn’t register her words until the first stone ruin crashed at her feet, and a rock hit her in the shoulder. Plumes of powdery dust rose high as the pack collectively shifted, then barked a sound Romy could only describe as a battle cry. Fifty-plus wolves returned to the circle, wrecking everything in their path. Asa and Silvan attempted to regulate them, but the fires, now an iridescent chartreuse, raged out of control, fueled by the crowd’s delirium. Disoriented by the smoke, a large centaur stumbled into the podium, smashing it to pieces. Romy jumped out of the way, but her foot caught on a root, and she twisted her ankle.
“Oww… fuckkk. Damn.” Her cries alerted four nearby wolves. Drunk off the chaos, they circled her. Stalked her. Her eyes darted from side to side to find a path of escape, but she was trapped. No one could see her in the fiery mess, and it was unlikely anyone could hear her scream either.
With her gaze fixed on the gray wolf she knew would attack, she dug in the dirt and found a piece of the podium slightly bigger than her hand. If she was gonna die, she’d go down fighting. Two wolves charged. The brown one that reached her first pinned her to the ground just as Romy slammed her weapon into the side of his head. The impact knocked him out, but the other wolf locked his jaw onto her empty hand and jerked hard. His bite should have severed several fingers, but when she turned to see the damage, another wolf, a familiar silver one, had pinned the other to the ground. Long, sharp teeth sank into his neck, accompanied by a low growl.
Silvan.
“Don’t kill him,” she pleaded. “Something’s wrong. Look around.”
Silvan’s amber eyes narrowed as if he thought she was crazy, but he complied, finally seeing what Romy did—a green haze drifting over the entire area. He released his hold but snarled a warning, and the wolf ran off with his tail between his legs.
Silvan nudged Romy’s bloody fingers and whimpered.
“I’m okay. I really am.”
Unsatisfied, Silvan sniffed twice, and then… he licked her entire hand.
Romy didn’t know whether to be mortified or turned on. Was he going to eat her? Was he upset she’d gotten hurt? She didn’t speak wolf, and before then, she’d never wanted to.
When he finished, her hand was clean and much less painful. Did he have some sort of healing ability?
“Thank you, Silvan.” With his help, she sat up and buried her face into his fur. Romy inhaled, simultaneously calmed and intoxicated by his scent. Pine. Leather. Like the woods in wintertime.
As she gained her bearings, she realized why the other two wolves had never reached her. Bastian stood between them with outstretched arms, emitting some kind of force field. Briefly, he turned and regarded Romy with a look that had the hair on Silvan’s back standing in a tall wave, but before the wolf could act, thunder boomed overhead.
From the sound of it, Romy knew it was no ordinary stormcloud… Her grandmother had released her fury uponTuiteam feòil is fuil.But why now? Why, after the lycans and centaurs had destroyed their circle and several preternaturals—including herself—had gotten hurt?
