"Seline being the chairperson of this Damask Circle you work for?" Ethan queried.
"He's a cop," Kat said with a smile. "They tend to dig."
"They do indeed." Gwen's gaze was amused as she looked at Ethan. "And yes, she is."
"Did she give you any idea how to stop this thing?"
"Not yet, but if it's some sort of vampire, then we could try all the traditional methods of killing a vampire."
Ethan's expression shut down. "I said stop, not kill. This thing has to be brought to justice and face trial."
"You don't really believe that," Gwen said. "And besides, no court or jailhouse currently built could ever hope to hold this thing."
"You know, I think white ash works against it," Kat said, remembering the soul sucker's reaction in the warehouse. "I think I wounded it when I slashed it with the stake."
Ethan's expression was incredulous. Gwen patted his hand. "Don't worry, dear, it's going to get a lot worse." She leaned back in her chair. "I think I might try a little scrying."
Kat rose and retrieved Gwen's crystal then nudged Ethan and nodded in the direction of the sofa. He rose and walked over. She sat down opposite him. Anything else just wasn't safe.
"So," she said. "Who were you talking to on the phone?"
His gaze was doing a slow tour of her body, lingering appreciably on her bare legs. She hugged a pillow close to her chest and wondered at her sanity in choosing a skirt over jeans. This man had her hotter than hell.
"Nosy type, aren't you?" Amusement glimmered briefly at her actions.
"It's a gene all women are born with. You going to answer the question?"
"I was getting an update from my partner. Preliminary analysis confirms a large dog gnawed the bones. They believe it was only one, not a pack."
"Which is what I saw." She looked at her grandmother and saw her unfocused expression. The scrying appeared to be working this time. "I don't suppose they have any indication of the time of death?"
He studied her for a moment. "Why is that important, beyond the obvious?"
"Because it would give us an idea how long this thing is keeping the kids before it kills them." And how long his niece might remain alive.
"They won't know until later today. Mark will call me as soon as he can."
She nodded. "Did you tell him you've joined us?"
"No. The less he knows in that regard, the better. If the hammer falls, I don't want to take him out as well."
"So what reason did you give for suddenly disappearing from home?"
His smile made her breath catch. "Said I'd met a pretty lady and intended to do nothing more than have incredible sex for the next few days."
Her pulse leapt into overdrive. "And do you?"
His smile was a wicked promise of things to come. She shifted slightly and resisted the temptation to fan her face.
"Whenever I can."
His voice was rich and husky and conjured images of those sheets again. Though even the floor would have done right now. "And your partner didn't think this a strange deviation from a man who has no one in his life?"
"No one permanent. I'm a werewolf, not a monk."
"So when the moon rises, you're not overly fussy?"
He raised an eyebrow. "I've never sunk to prostitutes, if that's what you're asking."