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One side of my lips lifted in a humorless smirk. “But you were too busy thinking about getting laid to care?”
“Ivy!” Kelly snapped and threw a dishrag at my face. “Stop being rude. It’s too early in the morning.”
“Actually,” I said, taking another slow sip of coffee and swallowing, “it’s almost noon.”
Kelly shot me an annoyed look before telling Brian, “Make yourself at home. There’s cereal in the cabinet and milk in the fridge.”
Brian eyed me nervously. He knew this was my territory and was an uninvited guest. When he smelled my scent and entered my domain, he should have asked permission or left. He did neither.
His eyes shifted between Kelly and me until he said, “I should go.”
I didn’t like being around other shifters for long periods of time. And I especially didn’t like for any to know where I lived. It was too dangerous, and I risked exposure if they got too close and started asking questions as Devon had. Of course, a night of drinking and sex usually clouded one’s vision, so I didn’t count that. But this—him being in my home—that was dangerous. I secretly gritted my teeth because I could tell that Kelly really liked this guy. And he had to like her as well or he wouldn’t have risked entering my territory or wasting his time on a human. That, and his eyes kept hungerly straying over to Kelly, drinking her in.
Sighing heavily, I gripped the coffee cup until the handle cracked. It went against everything I believed—everything I was taught—to let this shifter stay. But Kelly was my only family, and she obviously liked the guy. I finally relented. “You might as well stay. Kelly will give me hell if you don’t.”
“Ivy!” Kelly shot me the big round,I can’t believe you just said thateyes, while Brian grinned.
Closing the distance, Brian helped himself to a cup of coffee and a bowl of cereal while I scanned the article again. Knowing that I wouldn’t do anything until nightfall, I planned on keeping my phone with me, knowing Curt would text at some point.
“Has there been another attack?” Brian asked, peering over my shoulder at the paper.
“Apparently so. The authorities call it an animal attack, but it sounds like another vampire. Except he didn’t drain the victims dry.”
Brian shifted his weight, covertly eyeing Kelly. It wasn’t normal to talk about supernatural affairs with humans around.
Leaning over my other shoulder, Kelly glanced at the paper too. “But you killed Fang.”
Brain’s face barely registered surprise at Kelly’s comment. He was good.
“I did. Maybe Fang had a partner? And why would he leave his victims to bleed out instead of draining them dry?”
“Doubt he had a partner,” Brian supplied. “I’ve never seen vampires work in pairs.” Then, after swallowing a bite of cereal, he mused on. “You know, there’s been a rumor for the past year that the vampires are organizing again. If that’s happening, whoever attacked could’ve been trying to change the humans and was interrupted.”
I turned, eyes narrowed as I asked, “Again? What do you mean,again? And why change them?”
“To create an army. About twenty-five years ago, the Master Vampires organized and made a treaty. They even convinced a few mages to work with them. It forced other supernatural species to band together and take them down before they became too powerful.”
“Why would they do that?” Kelly asked, saving me the trouble.
“It’s the same old story. Supernaturals are stronger, live longer, and some species don’t think we should take a back seat to humans.”
“So why would they kill those students?” Kelly asked.
That was a good question. Turning humans didn’t ring true. As I thought about the randomness of every killing, how I was always too late, the seclusion of some places, the crowded areas of others…everything clicked into place. Someone was watching, monitoring our response times and how we operated. And then Fang’s comment drifted back, and I knew. “They are drawing out the agents.” But as I replayed Fang’s words again, I couldn’t help but wonder if he somehow knew about me. I mentally replayed the encounter. He said,you…a forbidden shifter. Did that mean he was looking for me instead of random agents? Not that it mattered now, Fang was dead. But it still unnerved me a little just thinking about his creepy message and maniacal laughter.
“I think you’re right. It’s the perfect plan. First, get rid of the agents, and then there’s no one left to stop them from creating an unstoppable army.” Brian said solemnly. “Not until it is too late.”
“What do you mean by too late?” Kelly asked, eyebrows lowered.
Brian smiled and then kissed her forehead, the wrinkles instantly smoothed. “My pack doesn’t worry about killings or crimes unless it directly affects us. So, we wouldn’t notice if the agents were being picked off until it was too late. I suspect the other clans or packs are the same.”
My heart thudded in my chest. I felt like I had stumbled upon pandora’s box, and I didn’t know if it was opened or closed at the moment. “Tell me exactly what happened twenty-five years ago.”
Caroline taught me what she could about different shifters and hierarchies. Taught me to avoid the council at all costs. They ruled with a strict code of law and an iron fist. The rest of our time was spent in defensive and offensive fighting techniques, never thinking I would join the supernatural society.
Brian rested a hip against the bar and crossed his arms. “As you know, the elves are a mean, greedy bunch and will do anything they can to help themselves. So, they could care less if other species live as long as they prosper. And then you have dark fey, demons....”
“Wait, there are demons? Here?” I asked. Even though I knew that Jackson pretended to be a demon, it still came as a shock for some reason.
