Dante shook his head. If he lived to be ninety, he didn't think he'd ever get used to this new world he lived in. It was like being in a never-ending episode of The Twilight Zone. "So, about our guy this morning," he said, putting the conversation back on track. "Rivera tells me any DNA that's at the chat's a scene is too degraded for testing."
"I really don't think Barry is responsible for the attacks in District Four. He said he wasn't, and I believe him. He may be dumb, but he's not stupid. He attacked the man this morning unintentionally. The attacks in District Four are full of intention. And foresight, obviously, if the suspect is doing something to degrade his DNA." She sighed. "They're calling for me. Look, I'll talk to the other liaison." Voices filtered over the line, people walking close by her, and her voice went husky as she lowered it. "I'll let you know what I find out."
"Okay. See ya later." Dante disconnected the call and sat back in his chair. God, that voice of hers touched places in him he hadn't known existed. He knew things with Tori could get complicated fast. She was a pret, a werewolf. He couldn't ignore the fact that she could break his neck with the flick of a wrist. He supposed it would make having sex with her very interesting. All things considered, it might be worth the risk.
It was just … the timing sucked. He had to keep things platonic between them. At least for now, when his attention was needed elsewhere. Maybe down the line he could learn to follow his feelings.
Only today was not that day.
Chapter Four
Tori slipped her phone into the back pocket of her jeans and started toward the big double doors of the main chamber where the council members waited. She couldn't go in and face three of the most powerful preternaturals in the region with fantasies of Mr. Tall, Dark, and Sexy floating around in her head and playing havoc with her libido. She drew a deep breath and blew it out, trying to clear her mind of everything Dante. As she passed the liaison coming from the room, she murmured, "Ash, I need to talk to you. Can you hang around for a while?"
His normally blue eyes held flecks of amber. "Why the hell not? It's not like I'm actually doing a job or anything."
She scowled. She wasn't going to take any crap from him. From anyone. "Don't take your ass-chewing out on me."
He pinched the bridge of his nose and grimaced. "Sorry. Sure." When he looked at her again, his eyes were their usual hue. "I'll be in the kitchen. Come get me when you're done." He glanced inside the chamber. "Hopefully, they've gotten their nasty mood out of their system."
Tori watched him walk away. Her phone buzzed, and she dug it out to find an e-mail from the hospital. Opening the attached report, she read that they had indeed verified that the victim from this morning was bitten by a werewolf and not a vampire. She heaved a sigh. Poor Barry.
Her name was called again, this time with impatience, and she shoved her phone back into her pocket as she went into the cavernous room to report her initial findings. She gave a slight bow to signify her deference to them. "Ati me peta babka?" she asked in the common language from the other dimension. How may I serve?
The bright center light, recessed in the ceiling, clearly lit the front of the auditorium-sized room. She looked at the three men sitting in ornate, high-backed chairs on the other side of the long mahogany table. Deoul Arias, president of the council, was a high elf who'd come through the rift over five thousand years ago. There were only two other preternaturals in the region who were older than him, one a vampire and one a demon. But not just any demon. The demon. Lucifer. He was the oldest of them all, as far as anyone knew, and he had tremendous power and influence because of it.
And Deoul couldn't stand it, which meant it rather pleased Tori. She'd use e.6any excuse she could to stick it to the snooty elf.
Sitting next to the president was Caladh MacLoch, a seal shapeshifter and frankly her favorite council member. She and Caladh had met in 1903 and soon thereafter developed a friendship that started as an apprenticeship of sorts, leaving her with a deep affection for the man who had helped make this world a little less lonely.
Next to him was the newest member of the council, vampire Tobias Caine. He had been appointed to his seat as a replacement for the former vampire councilor who'd been killed. His murder was still officially unsolved, though Tori suspected it had something to do with the rift device she had secreted away at her house. Tobias hadn't told her where he'd gotten it or how he'd come by it, but she didn't believe in coincidence, especially where murder was concerned.
She gave him a smile of greeting. His gray eyes held welcome and a hint of suppressed humor. He probably could tell from the look on her face that she thought this greeting ritual was a bunch of crap. It was a stupid formality put in place to make the council members feel important. Not that she would ever say that out loud. She knew when to hold her tongue and toe the party line. If a little kowtowing was called for, she could bow and scrape with the best of them.
"Tori," Caladh said, his dark eyes shining with pleasure. "It is agreeable to see you."
"And you." Tori bit the inside of her cheek against a grin. Caladh had such a formal way of speaking, he always sounded like a Vulcan to her. "My lord Arias," she greeted the president. She met Tobias's gaze and inclined her head. "Tobias."
"What news do you bring us?" Deoul asked.
"I've just received confirmation from the hospital that our human victim this morning was bitten by a werewolf, not a vamp." She stood next to one of the folding wooden chairs that were there allegedly for liaisons to sit on while they made their reports, but she had never sat in the presence of the council, nor had any liaison she knew. She tried to put a positive spin on things by saying, "The great news is that Barry didn't release any preternatural essence into the wound, so the vic won't turn."
"That is your wolf's only saving grace." Deoul glanced at the other two council members and then turned his pale gaze upon Tori once more. "Our laws are clear on this. The werewolf will be chained in silver, restricting his ability to shift, for one full cycle of the moon."
Tori swallowed. To change into their animal form was as natural a thing to a shapeshifter as breathing. To be unable to shift at the full moon would be a torture she wasn't sure Barry's mind would be able to endure. "May I plead mercy?" She looked at all three councilors. "Barry didn't attack the human on purpose. He was provoked-"
"Only with words, as I understand it from Aldis Knox. We expect better control from the members of our community." Caladh sat forward and clasped his hands on top of the table. "We have been able to maintain calm among the human population only tenuously, especially as the next Influx draws near. If Barry were allowed to go unpunished … " He shook his head.
"Of course he shouldn't go unpunished," Tori said. "That's not what I'm suggesting. I'm asking for leniency, that's all. Please don't restrain him during the full moon. It would be torture."
"A fitting punishment, I'd say." Deoul's face creased in a smug smile as if the thought of a werewolf in agony somehow made him happy.
Tori clenched her fists against the urge to vault over the table and wipe that smirk off his face. Or just get rid of his face, period. But no matter how close she might be to Caladh and Tobias, even they wouldn't be able to save her ifeou save h she ate the president of the council.
Tobias cleared his throat. "I agree with Tori. Binding him during the full moon is too harsh. Fit him with silver restraints for the next week, then remove them and let him shift during the full moon. Otherwise the strain-"
"He should have considered his actions first," Caladh broke in. He shook his head. "I must side with Deoul on this matter." He turned his gaze back to Tori. "I'm sorry, Tori, but as Deoul said, our laws are clear. Punishment would be even harsher had he turned the poor fellow."
"But he didn't," Tobias pressed. "Shifting from human to animal is an agony you're all too familiar with." He shot a glance at Caladh. "But from what I understand, not shifting is even worse."
"It is. Which would be the point." Caladh's gaze hardened. "On this I stand resolute. Actions have consequences. Preternaturals must be held to a high standard when it comes to our dealings with humans." He shared a glance with Deoul. "The decision stands. Barry will be restrained for thirty days, including the night of the full moon."
Tobias's lips tightened. He slumped back in his chair. "I'd like my objection to be on the record," he murmured. Looking at Tori, he said, "I'm sorry. A decision is based on majority."
"I understand." She uncurled her fingers and rubbed her moist palms against the outside of her thighs, before straightening her shoulders. "I'd like to be the one to tell Barry."
Deoul shrugged. "I have no objection." He glanced at his colleagues. "Caladh? Tobias?"
They both shook their heads.