Corrigan Fire Bloodfire - Helen Harper Page 0,27

improvements, I’d simply have to suck it up. It still took everything I had not to slam down the receiver after forcing out a polite goodbye, however.

I stalked out of the office, immediately spotting Lucy in deep conversation with one of the Cornish girls. She must have sensed my frustration because she immediately glanced in my direction. I tipped my chin and she came over.

‘You know, my Lord, if you want to get my attention, all you have to do is use the Voice.’

‘Except when you’re not expecting it, it can be rather jarring.’ On more than one occasion, I had spilt food or drink all over me when Brady contacted me that way without prior warning. And there’s nothing quite as unsettling as starting to urinate when someone suddenly appears in your head without warning. I had no desire to start over-relying on my new Lord Alpha abilities – plus, I was still regretting using it to compel Mack to show me what had happened on the beach.

Lucy grinned at me, displaying the quirky gap in her front teeth as she acknowledged my words. I’ve obviously not been the only shifter in town to experience a bit of Voice trauma in the past.

‘Have we made any headway on the cloth?’

She shook her head. ‘There are strands of silver running through it and I’m fairly certain the stench of death is going to stick to it for all eternity, no matter how much fabric softener or pixie dust is poured on it. But, beyond that, nada.’

‘Do we have anything to go on?’

Lucy shrugged helplessly. ‘Very little. We’ve examined the body and all we can say for certain is that whoever killed the alpha here was freaking powerful. No-one has found anything extra at the site where he died, other than an odd ring of coal. It’s unused but whether it was part of the kill scene or merely left by someone planning a barbecue, we really don’t know.’

‘We should contact the human police,’ I said, as much to myself as to her. ‘Perhaps they’ve noticed something themselves. It’s unlikely, but we’re out of options until the mage gets here.’

‘I’ll get on it immediately,’ she answered.

‘No,’ I said, holding up a palm to forestall her, ‘I’ll do it. Beyond pacing around these four walls and alternately scaring and impressing the shifters here, I don’t feel I’ve been much use. Besides, I want to get some fresh air. You should stay here and draw up the final paperwork for solidifying Julia as the new alpha.’

‘Okay, my Lord.’ She threw me an arch look. ‘You know, the girl over there was just asking me if you’re single. You could always invite her to go with you.’

I rolled my eyes. ‘I have enough problems as it is, Lucy. I don’t think involving myself romantically with someone is going to solve any of them.’ I thought of Mack. There was no need to tell Lucy that I could be persuaded in her direction, however.

‘It doesn’t have to be romance. You could just…a wicked spark lit her eyes, ‘loosen up a bit.’

‘There’s more than one way to skin a cat,’ I told her, relieved that she’d stopped feeling she had to tiptoe round me now that I was officially her boss and was able to banter. ‘The walk will do that.’

‘If you say so, my Lord.’ She dipped into a curtsey.

I harrumphed. I wasn’t sure I’d ever harrumphed before. I hoped it didn’t mean I was also about to start wearing tweed and smoking a pipe. ‘Back to more serious matters, has Mel managed to finalise the list of who will join us?’

‘There are only two. If you agree to both, we can put them out of their misery and let them know the good news.’

‘Which two?’ I knew who it wouldn’t be, of course.

Lucy scrunched up her face, trying to remember. ‘Um, Betsy and one of the werewolves.’

I looked at her. Realistically, only one of the wolves had acquitted himself well enough in the fights to be considered. And I was fully aware that he was keen to become a card-carrying member of the Brethren. But still, I wanted confirmation. ‘Tom?’ I asked.

She snapped her fingers. ‘That’s it. Tom. You have a better memory for names than I do.’

‘Mmm,’ I nodded absently. ‘Where is Tom right now?’

‘I think I saw him out the back.’

‘Thank you.’ I gave her a quick look. ‘Let’s hold off on any final decisions just yet. I’d like to chat with