"I will not tell you again. Get your clothes on and get out."
A trickle of a growl had entered his voice. It was enough to warn Jade that she had pushed matters as far as she dared. With a pout, she reached down to pick up her robe and roughly wrapped it about her body.
Storming toward the door, she paused long enough to shoot him a venomous glare.
"I may be a cur, but at least I don't pant after humans," she charged as she flounced through the door.
With a faint frown, Salvatore watched her exit. The woman was becoming a bother. Tomorrow he would have her sent to his pack in Missouri. His second in command possessed unique skills in punishing untamed curs.
The decision made, he awaited as Hess, a large, hulking cur, entered the room and offered a deep bow.
Although Hess was part of his personal bodyguard, and large enough to halt speeding bullets and leap over tall buildings, he maintained the proper deference due to his leader.
Moving to the desk, the cur rippled with bulging muscles that threatened to shred his black T-shirt and jeans. It wasn't easy to find clothes large enough to cover a small mountain.
"My lord," he rumbled in a low tone.
"You followed the trail?" Salvatore demanded.
"Yes." The man grimaced, his bald head gleaming in the candlelight. "We lost it just north of the city."
"North." Salvatore absently toyed with the gold signet ring on his finger. "So the vampire is not returning to his lair. Interesting."
"Unless he intended to circle back after he lost us," Hess pointed out.
"A possibility, but doubtful. Styx does not yet fear us. If he were returning to his lair, he would have done so and dared us to retrieve the woman."
Hess gave a snarl to reveal his elongated teeth. The Were hated vampires with a passion.
"Why was he at the bar?"
"That is the question, is it not?" Salvatore replied.
"You think we have a snitch?" Hess's blue eyes began to glow with a dangerous light. As a cur, he was unable to control his change when he lost his temper. "Not for long. I've always liked the taste of traitor tartare."
"Remain under control," Salvatore snapped. "We have no proof there is a spy among us, and I won't have the pack turning on each other over false rumors and suspicion. Not when we are so close. If there is a spy I will deal with the traitor. Is that understood?"
There was a moment when Hess battled against his instincts, and then with a shudder, the glow began to fade.
"You're the boss."
Circling the desk, Salvatore moved toward the map on the wall. He made an impatient motion toward Hess.
"Come and show me precisely where you lost the trail."
Joining his leader, the cur pointed to a small dot north of the city. "It was just beyond here."
"So he was definitely headed out of town. He had his Ravens with him?"
"Yes."
"He must have another lair," Salvatore concluded. "It is too cold to leave a human exposed to such elements for long. Take your best scouts and begin searching for their trail. They can't remain hidden forever."
Hess hesitated. Almost as if a genuine thought had managed to penetrate his thick skull.
"My lord?"
"Yes?"