a long look. “The inventory didn’t match the books we had left. You wouldn’t know what happened to the rest, would you?”
“Oh. Well. I didn’t want to get rid of all of them in case Meg wanted to read that kind of story. Not now, but sometime.”
“I think it would be smart to ask a human male if that’s the way human females typically respond to mating before assuming a story provides useful information.”
Well, of course. Something scary had happened to Meg in the compound, so a naked human male was still a confusion for her. But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t come into season someday and want a mate. No reason not to gain some understanding of what would make one male more attractive than another when a female wanted to do more than take a one-night walk on the wild side.
“Why is Stavros coming here?” Simon asked, changing the subject.
Another long look from Vlad. “He has things to discuss with Grandfather—and the Business Association.”
• • •
He’d been the leader of the Lakeside Courtyard for several years, but until tonight, Simon had never set a paw inside the Chambers, the part of the Courtyard where the Sanguinati resided. Plenty of game made use of the land and water—deer, ducks and geese, wild turkeys. The Hawks, Crows, and Owls might fly over that part of the Courtyard, but fly over was all they did.
Meg had been the first to receive permission to enter the Chambers, to walk up to the door of Erebus Sanguinati’s home to leave a package. Because of Meg, Simon’s nephew Sam had been inside the Chambers, protected by Erebus while Meg led the enemy away from the pup—an act of bravery that had almost killed her.
They drove up to one of the gates in the ornate black fences. Simon, Elliot, Tess, and Henry got out of the minivan and waited by the gate. The full moon was waning, but for a Wolf’s eyes, it was enough light to see the smoke flowing toward them. Four of the Sanguinati moved to either side of the gate. Only Vlad shifted to human form. He opened the gate, a silent invitation.
Tess’s green hair coiled tighter, a sign she felt uneasy.
I guess that means even a Harvester couldn’t survive a fight with this many Sanguinati, Simon thought as he followed Vlad down a curving path and across a footbridge to a weathered pavilion sheltered from sight by the surrounding trees.
Stavros Sanguinati, the Toland Courtyard’s problem solver, was already inside with Erebus Sanguinati.
“Welcome,” Erebus said. “Sit. Be comfortable. We have some refreshments. Vladimir?”
Elliot asked Simon.
Being there at all was unprecedented. They would consume whatever was offered.
“None of us enjoy the soda beverages humans are fond of, so I’ve brought along bottles of apple juice and made a pitcher of lemonade,” Vlad said.
“You know how to make lemonade?” Tess asked, eyeing the pitcher.
“After enduring a vigorous debate between Merri Lee and Ruthie about how many lemons and how much sugar make the best-tasting lemonade, I can’t say I know how to make it, only that I followed the instructions I eventually received.”
Tess laughed. “I’ll try some.”
“Sure,” Simon said.
Vlad poured glasses for all of them. Erebus and Stavros took a polite sip and set their glasses aside. So did Henry. But Tess seemed to enjoy the lemonade, and while it would never replace the good taste of water, Simon decided it was tolerable—and something he would drink if Meg decided to make it.
“Stavros has things to tell us,” Erebus said.
“About the Sanguinati?” Simon asked. He couldn’t think of any other reason they would be meeting within the Chambers—unless Stavros wanted to be certain that no one would overhear what he had to say.
“About many things, but, yes, about the Sanguinati and the Toland Courtyard,” Stavros replied.
“And the Toland police?” Scaffoldon, a police captain in Toland’s Crime Investigation Unit, went missing shortly after the murder of Lizzy’s mother, Elayne. Elayne’s mother also disappeared around the same time.
Did Lieutenant Montgomery realize yet that Stavros was the reason the humans who had posed a threat to his daughter were no longer a threat?
“They are not our concern.” Stavros made a dismissive gesture with one hand. “There have been no reports on the radio or television about bison being shot. This isn’t surprising; such a thing is not of interest to humans, especially in a city on the East Coast. Some stores and shops in Toland, particularly ones who do business with