He picked the ID up, examining it. The species listed was dhampir. It had all the normal government seals on it, with the most noticeable one, and the only one not faded in the background, being the one that depicted a trait from one’s species. In his case, it was similar to the vampire one, except there were four fangs instead of two.
His date of birth, and all that other legal stuff, was there. The picture was oddly…recent—just a headshot on a white background, his expression empty. If Harlow wasn’t wrong, it was captured from surveillance footage at the Guild. It’s a good thing they use some high-quality security cameras, he supposed.
Tony grunted. “You’ll be amazed what can be pulled off if you kiss enough asses and pull a shit ton of strings. Me vouching for him did help. As did the fact that Harlow had just recently had a Guild physical due to his back.”
“It’s official,” Charity chimed in. “And the information is live. I even checked the database myself. Good timing all around as now I don’t have to bother faking a vampire registration form for you.”
“Really, all that is left is to wait and see how the vampire council reacts when they find out,” Tony said with a sigh.
“And they will find out,” Foxx stated. “Even if they aren’t supposed to have access to the database, they do. Someone willbe monitoring the system, especially after the one successful registration…followed by a few failed attempts.”
“What about my job?” Harlow asked.
As great as it was that he was registered, it didn’t really address his lack of humanness. Which had been a requirement, as far as he knew, for his current partnership with Foxx.
“I started talking to the higher ups about that…but…” the man hesitated.
Charity snorted. “You say that when you already know what is going to happen. Not nice, lightning bug.”
The other human rolled his eyes.
“You, my dust bunnies, are being restricted to paranormals only. I read the new law, and the bylaws of the Guild, along with the shit ton of legalities surrounding hunters, and…technically there is no law or rules against it.
“And on another wonderful and convenient technicality, the new law is actually quite vague when it comes to the section about granting paranormals permission to join the Guild in a partnered capacity. While it clearly states thathumansmust be paired with a paranormal partner, there is no such requirement mentioned for paranormals, in terms of them having to be paired with a human. In fact, it only mentions—again, vaguely—that you must be paired, but doesn't state with who.”
“So, we are good to stay together?” Foxx asked with a giggle.
“Yes, sunshine,” she laughed. “You two are good to stay together and carry on in your insanity.”
Tony scoffed. “For now… We don’t know what the higher ups will ultimately decide or try to change. But for now, you two are in the clear to continue your jobs in a limited capacity. Cases involving humans are off the table, as neither of you are human. There are protocols dealing with safety, that due to how the current laws are written, you can’t use them now.
“Harlow, you should know exactly what protocols I’m talking about. As for you, Foxx, you should know at least one of them, considering it was activated in order for you to wipe out those human cult members last year.
“Either way, the laws could change, but probably won’t. Which means, if you get put on a case and discover humans are involved, you will have to step back and call in another team.”.”
Harlow blanched. “Call in another team?”
There were a lot of protocols coming to mind that he would assume he couldn’t use now, due to him no longer being human. And as for the one case last year…Harlow remembered it a bit too well. Hewasthe one who activated the protocol. A protocol that Foxx, at the time, had no clue about…and no ability, or as it turned out, permission to activate on his own. Harlow had apparently firmly joined the club of people who did not have permission to activate shit—lucky him.
“It is what it is.” The human shrugged. “Normally, human cases are easier to handle. So having a team just for paranormals shouldn’t cause too many problems. But that brings us to the next pain in the ass situation…the not so easy, human-involved case.”
“Maverick,” Harlow grunted.
Foxx cleared his throat.“We have something to say about that too. And as what we have to say may change what you have to say…we should probably go first.”
Tony’s brow pinched as he slowly said, “Okay…”
“Okay, as in…go?” Foxx asked with a frown.
The human rolled his eyes and waved him on.
“Right. We secretly took a pint of blood from the last infected vampire we faced.”
Tony’s eyes widened, while Charity cried, “Ahhh, my honey bunches are so smart!”
“Did anyone see you do it?” their boss asked.
“If you’re asking if anyone has tried to blow us up like they did those trucks, the answer is…not yet,” Harlow drawled.
