“She isn’t a Druid.”
Dr. Daniels drew herself up, her bosom heaving. “She could be. We could train her.”
I smiled and laughed in her face. “Please, with what skills? I’m going to take her back to the States with me where a Coven will train her properly.” I actually only had begun to formulate that part of things, but no need for them to know it.
Her eyes flashed. “She belongs here, with us.”
Holding up my hands in mock surrender, I did my best to curb my tongue, but failed miserably. “Listen, you are a serious pain in my ass, don’t tell me that you are the one familiar with Will?” It seemed obvious that she was, but then why didn’t he just phone her, or better yet, call her down to the police station?
A second Druid stood. “Familiar would be the correct word, useless Tracker.”
Ah, here we go, someone to spar with.
“Useless? This from a bunch of bathrobe wearing” —I stepped forward, leaving my sword where it was— “overweight” —there was a gasp from the group— “child-thieving douchebags?”
All of the Druids stood up and the tension rose with them.
“I’m here to speak with one Druid. The one who knows Will the best.” Gods, I seriously hoped it wasn’t Daniels.
Finally, there was movement from the back of the group, and a slender Druid stepped forward, flipping back her hood and baring her face to the rain. Strawberry-blonde hair, and seriously pissed hazel eyes tried to pin me down. She was pretty, but there was something familiar about her . . . her lips twisted downward in a sharp line and my eyebrows went up.
“Fuck me, you're Will’s sister, aren’t you?”
Her frown deepened and with it, so did the likeness. All I could think was that I was so glad I didn’t have to deal with Dr. Daniels.
“I am his sister. Where is my wayward brother? He said he was bringing you in and I’ve been waiting all night.”
I glanced past her to the other Druids. “You sure you want to talk about this in front of them?”
Will’s sister flushed to the edge of her hairline. “They are my family. I hide nothing from them.”#p#分页标题#e#
I shrugged. “He was attacked by another cat and drew it away from us.” I Tracked him, felt him slowly making his way closer to us. He was hurt, but his life wasn’t draining away. “He’s on his way now.”
The Druids shifted, and then Dr. Daniels stepped forward. “I told you Will was not welcome here.”
Will’s sister’s spine seemed to snap straight as she whirled on Dr. Daniels. “And I told you repeatedly that you are an initiate. You are to speak when spoken to and otherwise—shut the fuck up!”
Nice, at least I wasn’t the only potty mouth around here.
Dr. Daniels fell back, did an awkward curtsey and turned away, as if by giving us her back she was giving us privacy.
I didn’t want to wait for Will, couldn’t if we wanted to get this case over with. “We need your services.”
“For what?”
“To help block access to the Veil.”
There was a moment of silence, then. “And why do you think I, we, can help you with that?”
Competition is key in any group, and supernaturals, no less. “Well, I’d get one of my Shamans to do it, no problem. They’re tough like that. But they’re across the water and Will thought maybe you might be able to help. He wasn’t sure you had the skills, but figured we could at least ask.”
Will’s sister pursed her lips. “I don’t like you.”
“Feeling's mutual.”
“Give me a reason, a real reason, to help you.”
This was where it got tricky. Being so ambiguous, Druids just didn’t step out of their comfort zones. Ever.
“I’m Tracking a Necromancer who's been stealing dead, and close to dead, children, and using them for his own purposes. . . .” I didn’t know what exactly he, the Necromancer, had been using the children for, but I would let her mind fill in the blank.
Several heartbeats passed, and with each one, her face paled a little more. “Children, used for his own pleasure. . . .” It seemed she didn’t want to name it, either.
I nodded and she shook her head slightly.
She touched her fingers to her throat. “My name is Deanna. I will help you.”
There was an immediate shuffling of the Druids and again, Dr. Daniels stepped forward.
“Deanna, you can’t help her.”
Will’s sister spun on the initiate, and I didn’t even try to hide my grin.
“Penance is what you’ll be doing for the next month. Now go!” Deanna’s back was to me, but by the look on Dr. Daniels’ face, this was a first.