races I protect,” she continued before he could cut her off. “It’s a matter of duty, not friendship.”
Lucien frowned at the uninvited explanation. “Answer the question only, Guardian. We don’t need a soliloquy.” He rustled through her reports again. “Didn’t you, in fact, take the easy way out? The option that was popular with your human friends?”
“There was no easy way. In fact, there was no choice. Christopher had already killed that night. Lawrence nearly killed the weretiger. They were out of control, no longer acting rationally. Whether that was drugs or something else, I can’t be sure. But I know what I saw.”
Lucien leaned over his table and stared down at her. “If you must continue with these long, unresponsive statements, at least admit this is only your opinion. Are you aware that no vampires have come forward to support your claim?”
“No, but there were lots of other witnesses. A whole parking lot of them that could give you the facts.”
“Humans?” Lucien nearly spat the word. “Apparently you value their word above that of the vampires. Perhaps they are also more worthy of your protection.”
“That’s not true,” Ari snapped, unable to hold back any longer. “I would have saved the vampires if I could!”
The hall grew silent at her outburst.
Lucien sat back and smirked. “This Guardian is not only unfit for her position but disrespectful of the Council. Perhaps her services are no longer needed.”
“Lucien,” the president said patiently, “If you have no more questions for Ms. Calin, I think we should move forward. The elves have the floor.”
Ari wanted to continue arguing with Lucien, deny his accusations, but she’d already pushed beyond the limits of court protocol. Further infractions might only serve to prove the vampire’s point. And he wasn’t going to listen. No more than Andreas the night it happened.
Ari relaxed her clenched fingers and turned her attention to the elf’s questions.
To her relief, the rest of the members were more understanding and less accusatory about the vampire deaths. What alarmed most of the Council were the potential dangers from Fantasy, the unknown source of its alteration, and the part played in these events by the Canadian werewolves. Steffan, of course, was a staunch ally throughout the proceedings.
After more than an hour of questioning, Ari was excused to wait for the Council’s decision. An attendant escorted her to the vestibule of the Magic Hall, just outside the thick arched doors. Now they would deliberate.
Expelling her pent-up tension on a long breath, Ari sank onto one of two stone benches. It wasn’t unusual for Lucien to be antagonistic. He had that kind of personality. But today had been over the top even for him. Ari was still steaming over his accusations when Steffan slipped out of the Council room.
“I don’t have long,” he said, keeping his voice low. “Lucien made a motion to have you removed. Don’t worry. It won’t pass, but I want to be there for the vote. While he’s still ranting, I wanted to fill you in on the latest rumor. If it’s true, it could explain Lucien’s nasty mood today.” He glanced around to make sure they weren’t overheard. “Someone tried to assassinate Prince Daron last night. I don’t have details, except I believe Daron survived.” He looked at the closed doors. “I better go. Tell Martin. See what else you can find out.” Steffan ducked back into the Council chambers, leaving Ari staring after him with a thousand unanswered questions.
That would explain Andreas’s absence from the club and the increased security. Stepping outside the building to use her cell phone, she wondered which side of this Andreas was on. Was he loyal to the Prince? Or part of an attempted coup?
Martin took the news in stride and said he’d try to gather the details. She promised to call as soon as the Council was finished. “If I still have a job,” she added with an uncertain laugh.
For twenty long minutes, she paced the confines of the vestibule, fretted about the Council’s decision, and chaffed against the inactivity. She needed to be on duty. If the vampire community became unstable, the entire city could suffer.
At last they summoned her to hear the Council’s decision. Ari avoided looking at Lucien. In fact, she didn’t make eye contact with anyone except the president until he read the decision. It turned out fine. Her reports were accepted and approved as submitted and her removal voted down upon a vote of thirty-nine to one. It was obvious who