I blinked and he smiled, but not like it was funny. “Disgust has a scent.”
Great. So not only did my dagger not work here, but the alpha was a walking lie-detector. “I don’t like bullies.”
He tilted his head, and there was nothing human about the way he appraised me. He may not currently be furry, but he was all wolf.
“My wolves could kill every human in this city within a day or two,” he said. “They’d regret it— many of them would spend the rest of their lives wracked with grief. But while it was happening, they would enjoy it. We’re monsters, Ms. Amana. And while the way I rule my werewolves may offend your delicate sensibilities, those rules keep people alive.”
I wanted to kneel again, and I bared my teeth as I reached for more power and stood instead. The alpha stayed seated– secure in his dominance– and while it was now impossible for me to meet his eyes, I stared at his chin. The fact that he’d justified himself to me— a stranger— was telling. I had a feeling Nathaniel didn’t particularly enjoy being king of the monsters.
“One more question, if you don’t mind.”
He raised his eyebrow, still relaxed, but something about the predatory way he watched me let me know I was pushing my luck. I pulled the picture out of my pocket and showed it to him. I highly doubted I’d ever get another chance to talk to the werewolf alpha. “Have you ever seen this woman?”
He was polite enough to study the picture, instead of simply glancing at it like most people did. “She’s beautiful. Your mother?”
“Yes.”
“I haven’t seen her. You may ask any of my wolves about her on your way out of my territory.”
“Thank you for your help.” I reached into my utility belt and miraculously found one of my cards. “If you learn anything about the murders, will you get in touch?”
He got to his feet and offered his hand. He didn’t squeeze or give a limp-wristed shake and I appreciated the gesture.
“Yes.”
* * *
Samael
I strode through my club, opening my senses to the lust that permeated every inch of it. Upstairs, some of the most powerful creatures in Durham gambled and drank with my demons, unaware that everything they said made its way back to my ears.
I fed automatically, but it held no true pleasure. Feeding from crowds like this was like ordering a salad when I really wanted a juicy steak. If that steak would taunt me, defy me, and plan to escape me.
Forcing my thoughts away from the little witch— and the thought of feeding fromherlust while I moved within her— I watched as Bael exited the elevator and moved toward me.
“You canceled Monday dinner. You never cancel Monday dinner.”
I raised an eyebrow. It was the early hours of Tuesday morning and Bael was usually balls-deep in Lilith by now. She must be curious enough to have sent him to attempt to get in my head. I almost smiled at the thought.
“You have an issue with having your Monday night free?”
He tilted his head. “It was because of the witch, wasn’t it?”
“The witch doesn’t factor into my plans.”
He gave me a long look. “You didn’t want to force her to come to the dinner so soon after becoming bonded to you. So you canceled the dinner itself.”
Bael always assigned honorable motives to my actions whenever he could. But he was wrong.
The little witch feared and loathed me in equal measure. Her terror and fury called to the deepest part of me, urging me tomakeher follow my orders. But I’d seen the way she looked at me– dread warring with an inquisitiveness she couldn’t hide. She was like a rabbit— curious enough that she couldn’t resist the urge to poke her pert nose out of her burrow.
And I was a patient predator.
The crowd parted as Agaliarept stormed toward us. An ember of rage took up residence in my gut at the thought of what had likely put that expression on his face.
I jerked my head and we moved to the smaller bar area behind the club where it was quieter.
“Tell me.”
