I thought I heard Christian growl, but maybe it was just Glass’s stomach.
“How did you find her?” I asked.
When Detective Glass steered his eyes my way, I looked down. It was hard to hold a Chitah’s intense gaze. He tucked the candy in his pocket and studied me for a long moment before answering. “An anonymous caller.”
“You don’t find that suspicious?”
“Most people don’t like to get involved. A lot of crimes are reported through anonymous tips.”
Viktor waved at Claude and Shepherd to head back to the van. It was almost completely dark now, and a few cars were pulling into the far end of the parking lot and filling the spaces.
“Have you been able to identify any of the victims?” I continued.
The detective inclined his head. “I’m sorry, but I didn’t get your name.”
Viktor stepped between us. “This is Raven Black, the newest Mage on my team.”
He smiled, revealing a crease in his cheek. Glass clasped his hands in front of him and widened his stance. “That explains your interrogation. You must be new in our world. When you’re speaking to me, you’re speaking directly to the higher authority. Tread carefully on how you choose to address Regulators and detectives. I’ll cooperate and provide my insight to your boss, but you should follow the chain of command within your group and leave the questions to him.”
I lifted my chin. “Only my boss can reprimand me. I haven’t said anything out of line, or he would have spoken up.”
Viktor didn’t silence me, and I felt his support even if I didn’t sense his approval. “We’ll leave you to finish up here,” he said. “I appreciate your cooperation.”
Glass bowed, his eyes still on me. “Delighted, Miss Black.”
Christian gripped my upper arm and led me away so quickly that I almost tripped over a metal rod.
I wrenched away. “You don’t have to be so forceful.”
“Maybe I don’t like the way he was looking at you. It’s unnatural.”
“If I didn’t know better, Mr. Poe, I’d think you actually cared.”
“Don’t be daft. I’m just trying to save your life.”
I barked out a laugh. “From a detective?”
He paused and turned to face me. “A Chitah’s your mortal enemy. Maybe that’s reason enough not to trust him.”
Claude stepped close and cleared his throat. “I missed that last part.”
But he hadn’t. He put his arm around me to make a point.
Christian held his ground and didn’t blink. “You might be chummy with the lass, but you know as well as I do that there are plenty of your kind who would like nothing better than to do away with every last Mage in the city.”
“I’m not going to argue that point,” Claude said. “But let’s not generalize.”
Christian’s fangs descended, and my heart skipped a beat when he stepped forward. “Don’t teach her to be so trusting. That’s how people get themselves killed. Trust a person, but never trust a Breed or a badge.”
I arched my brows. “Or a partner?”
He looked me square in the eyes, his fangs glimmering beneath the lamppost. “Aye. Don’t trust anyone who doesn’t give you good reason to.”
Wyatt caught up with us and put his hand on each man’s shoulder. “You’re all coming with me.”
Claude sputtered with laughter and lowered his arm. “I dare you to fit me in that car.”
“I’ll owe you big-time. Blue isn’t going to shift back right away—if at all while we’re here—and Shepherd’s being his usual dickish self. There’s a freshy hanging around my car, and if you don’t fill the seats, he will.”
