The voice-recognition software swung into action, and the screen put on its psychedelic show as the number was located and dialed.
"Risa," she said, as her cool features appeared on the vid-screen. "It appears your reaper was right. Catherine Alston staked herself this afternoon. Good news from you will be the icing on this day’s cake."
Although her voice was light, there was something in her expression that suggested I wouldn’t have wanted to be the bearer of bad tidings. "I found Selwin."
"Where?"
"The where doesn’t matter. I offered her a deal."
Darkness flared deep in her green eyes. Darkness and anger. "You had no right—"
"If the Melbourne council wants to be free of the Maniae curse," I cut in, "then they will agree to the deal. Selwin is the only one who can stop the creature, and she has to do it willingly."
Hunter’s expression remained stony, and yet I still saw death in her eyes. "What did you offer her?"
"This all began because Whitfield was killed and his fledglings sentenced to death. Selwin underwent the blood ceremony with him, but has not yet turned."
"Ah," Hunter said softly. "Now it all makes sense."
"She only wants to live. If you offer her another master, she might call off the curse."
"I cannot imagine the councilors will want to spend the rest of their lives looking over their shoulders, so I cannot see that they have any other option." She paused, and once again something dark and vicious flared deep in her eyes. Ice curled through my veins. Though I’d never had any doubt that Hunter wasn’t someone you’d want to be on the wrong side of, that brief but stark glimpse of her true self was a more-than-ample reminder. Especially when she added—in a low, chillingly cold tone—"Though really, all they’d want to do is drain the bitch of blood and watch her die in brutal ecstasy."
There wasn’t a whole lot I could say to that, so I simply said, "I’ll let the Brindle know that the council will agree to the deal."
A cold smile touched her lips. "And the Brindle is the one place she is safe from us. Does that mean you do not trust the council, little Risa? Or just me?"
No one possessing a brain would trust the council or Hunter herself. "The Brindle can contain her magic. I couldn’t."